There are therefore many solutions. Whether wheelchair-accessible lift and ramp systems, a door widening or a barrier-free interior with adapted sanitary facilities, the mobility experts at the conversion specialists are never at a loss for customised assistance. Paravan, for example, specialises in the optimal and individual solution for campers with reduced mobility. It is also possible to customise the input devices, such as equipping the vehicle with suitable driving and steering systems with pedal raisers or hand knobs.
"Enquiries are increasing," says Joachim Glück, Head of Technical Consultancy at the company, which is based in Pfronstetten and Aichelau in the Swabian Alb and is known for its solutions in the car sector. "There is a great need to be able to travel independently and we have the experience and possibilities to offer solutions and implement them on site." He and his team support customers from initial contact through to delivery. Conversion measures can be carried out regardless of brand and model.
The entrance to a motorhome or caravan is usually higher than that of a car. Wheelchair users can overcome this obstacle with a cassette lift and a door extension. For people with restricted mobility who have difficulty getting in but can still cover short distances on foot, the standing footboard lift is the right solution. It is installed in the interior to save space and can be swivelled into the entry or exit position in a few simple steps. A remote control activates the lift function.
Doris Frey's campervan, for example, was fitted with a pedal and a raised cushion for the driver's seat. This enables the administrative assistant, who is only 1.38 metres tall, to reach the steering wheel safely. She has been travelling Europe with her partner. They have now travelled more than 15,000 kilometres in their motorhome, crossing Europe from north to south and from east to west. "We had wonderful experiences with campers from all over the world and especially with the locals," says Doris Frey.
For more severe restrictions and large motorhomes, the fitters at Paravan install a rail lift system under the ceiling to make it easier to use the shower and toilet. This means that even people with significant mobility restrictions can overcome the obstacles. Paravan does not want to give a price. After all, it is purely a manufacturing process and not series production, they say. Nevertheless, the range extends from around 5,000 euros for simple aids such as pedal and seat raisers to several 10,000 euros for complete solutions in the integrated liner, the purchase of which is already in the high six-figure range.
Another specialist focuses primarily on caravans. The Caravan Brecht dealership in Heilbronn (Germany) offers two floor plans from the Hobby brand, among others. The owner of the company, Manuela Brecht, is a member of the German Caravanning Trade Association and works closely with Hobby on the conversions. Many of the necessary interior conversions are already carried out by the manufacturer at the factory in Fockbek. The finishing touches and the installation of an access ramp for wheelchairs, for example, which can be pushed under the floor when not in use, are then carried out on the Maxia 585 UL-R model in Heilbronn for between 5,100 and 11,000 euros.
For an extra charge, there is also an electric winch that pulls the wheelchair and its user over the inclined plane. A manoeuvring system and hydraulic automatic supports are also available, which make it possible for a person in a wheelchair to couple or uncouple the caravan and position it on the parking space.
The factory preparations include widening the entrance door by 20 to 75 centimetres and shortening the right-hand bench seat as required. The caravan is also supplied without a partition wall for the toilet compartment. Instead, a curtain provides privacy. Thanks to the Maxia's width of two and a half metres, there is enough manoeuvring space for a wheelchair between the two single beds in the rear.
However, Manuela Brecht not only serves hobby customers with disabilities. At Fendt, a further seven layouts are suitable for barrier-free conversion. And even for panel vans, the Heilbronn-based dealer offers solutions that make camping possible for people with limited mobility. (cen)