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Accessible RV Checklist
Access Travel Rights
Handicapped Travel Club
Rolling Down The Trail
Family RVing
Schooling Options for RVers
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Oscar Scherer State Park
10 RVing Tips for Newbies
The Accessible RV Site
Riding The Rails
The Enabled RVer Resources
Access Travel Guides
Selecting a Cane for Travel
Fulltime RVing Challenges
Campground Access
HTC Accessible Park List
Arizona Day Drive
Touring Arizona
Columbia River Region
RVing with Kids
Volunteering and RVing
RVing and Children
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| An Introduction |
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| The Accessible RV Site: An Introduction by Hope Sykes Now that you have that accessible RV, it's time to search out an accessible RV site. But, how does that differ from any other RV site? Campground directories don't always give the clearest picture about accessibility and many park owners are still learning about the needs of special travelers. To find out more, I asked Ed and Colleen Pearson of the Handicapped Travel Club for their recommendations: "It might be best to start by describing a perfect RV site for a wheelchair person-- a solid, flat surface, preferably concrete or blacktop. Hard packed dirt is fine,if it isn't raining. A slab that's say--50 feet long and at least 25 feet wide. That's usually enough room for a 30-foot RV plus the vehicle towing the rig, or a vehicle being towed, and enough room for access around the back. Twenty-five feet wide gives you 10 feet for the rig, three feet on the hook-up side for wheelchair access, and 12 feet for lift/ramp access, plus room for a picnic table somewhere out of the way. The hook-ups should be right at the edge of the concrete, so you don't have to roll off the concrete to do the job. (Concrete slabs usually have a drop off all around.)." I agreed that grassy sites could work but ground conditions will vary. If you select a park with a grassy site, you might want to keep an eye on the weather. Rain can quickly make the site boggy and slippery for wheelchair travelers. "We have a 26-foot travel trailer with a lift, pulled by a van with a lift. When we park, we need a wide, level spot that will handle two lifts. Sites are often a little humped in the middle so they'll drain. That means your lift won't go down flat on the ground, so you park off to the side and then your rig isn't level," Ed adds. In comparing our travels, we agreed that the most variety (and sometimes frustration) will come with the campground hook-ups. There is a great selection of locations where the hook-ups may be on the various recreational vehicle makes and models. The electrical and phone outlets may be in the middle with sewer and water connections at the end of the vehicle. Some of the newer units even have the hook-ups centralized. Campgrounds, too, vary in location and accessibility to utilities. Knowing your rig and keeping important dimensions recorded and in your glove box will be well worth the effort a little research before pulling into a site. Don't forget to drive around the campground first before signing up for a site. Just let the office know first and they probably will have some suggestions of which sites might work best for you. Height of the hook-ups are usually agreeable, but sometimes the frustration is not with the site, but in the plugging in and hooking up. "Access of hook-ups can be tough. Hook-ups can be surrounded by railroad ties or deep crushed rock. They might be in rough ground or placed such that you might have to pull your van (in our case) almost out into the road to get the connections opposite your rigs outlets," Ed comments. In the end, don't let the thought of checking out a campground first dampened your spirit. Basically many people do it since the rigs, driving ability, and personal preferences vary widely. The campground owners that I've met have all been very accommodating and I agree with Ed and his wife that most parks will have some sites that will work for you. To find that accessible site, just take a little time for research and don't be hesitant to ask around. In the meantime, happy travels. For more information: The Handicapped Travel Club http://dbyeaw.com/htc/ The Handicapped Travel Club (HTC) encourages people with varying kinds of disabilities to travel, meet, and share information on camping spots and adaptive equipment for recreational vehicles. Formed in 1973, the 260-member club publishes a quarterly newsletter, has local get-togethers, and holds an annual rally, which rotates among various sections of the country. The club motto is "For Fun and Fellowship." For more information contact Merle Young, 12555 Lantern Road, Fishers, IN 46038. E-mail: mry@netdirect.net. Copyright ©2000-2002. Hope Sykes. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
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