Wheelchair-Accessible Camper Prioritizes Accesibility, Boasts a Cozy and Spacious Interior

Camper-Camper is a Liverpool, UK-based company specializing in van conversions. Its mission is to create exceptionally crafted camper vans that inspire you to travel and experience van life. In 2020, the company developed this wheelchair-accessible camper van explicitly designed for a customer's needs and ability.

It's a 2019 Volkswagen Crafter with a long wheelbase built for a young, disabled couple. On the exterior, this rig is finished in run-of-the-mill white paint, but it also boasts a striking vinyl artwork toward the rear, depicting mountains and a forest that gives the vehicle some personality.

All it takes is one glance at the vehicle to figure out that, unlike many other camper vans, this rig isn't meant to go off-road because it boasts standard tires and a low ground clearance. However, you'll notice some practical exterior features. At the rear, you'll discover a tire carrier.

On top of the van, there's a roof rack holding a huge 305 W solar panel. Other notable elements include a skylight, a Maxxair fan, and a front LED bar. This latter accessory comes with a remote, which allows you to select various effects, including one that flashes an SOS signal.

One of the challenges of being a wheelchair user and having a camper van is entering the vehicle. In this sense, The customer opted for a wheelchair lift mounted underneath the left side of the rig, where Camper Camper normally installed gas and water tanks.

The spare tire is also fitted as standard underneath the vehicle, but the company added a 52-liter (14-gallon) propane tank in its place. What's more, it also managed to fit a 60-liter (16-liter) freshwater tank and a 40-liter (11-liter) waste water tank.

The challenge of having this under-mounted wheelchair lift is that it sits very close to the ground. So, the already low ground clearance is now even lower. After the van was delivered to the customers, this lift was replaced with a different model due to its weight and position.

That's about it regarding the exterior. Let's move on inside, starting with the driver's cabin. Besides all the van's standard features, you'll also find two distinctive systems. One is designed to allow the customer to drive the van using only their hands.

First, flip the foot pedals up out of the way. Next, you attach a steering wheel hand control, and you use a lever to control the acceleration and braking: push to brake and pull to accelerate. Furthermore, there's even a tiny switch that enables you to operate the vehicle's indicators. The other useful addition is an air suspension system, allowing you to adjust the van's height slightly.

The driver's cabin isn't separated from the living space, so you can step inside directly. You'll discover a layout specially designed to allow the customer to move freely in a wheelchair. The kitchen is located on the right side of the interior, featuring an L-shaped counter integrating many drawers for storage, a small pull-out fridge, a round sink, a two-burner stove, and two overhead cabinets with rattan inserts.

Regarding aesthetics, Camper Camper opted for bright white walls paired with wooden textures on the floor and ceiling. The look is completed by striking blue cabinetry, a marble effect countertop, and hexagon marble tiles for the kitchen's backsplash.

Right next to the kitchen, you'll find a floor-to-ceiling storage unit comprising four shelves holding custom wicker baskets. Moreover, the bottom section of the unit serves as a dog crate.

I was taken aback by how spacious the bathroom is, not in width but in length. It's made out of a fiberglass shell and features plastic tiles that imitate marble on the walls, a shower, a composting toilet, and a small bench.

The bedroom is located toward the rear of the living space. The bed is decently sized, barely big enough for two people to sleep in - it's around 110 centimeters (43 inches) wide. Notable features in this space are two brass reading lights, a USB port, and some shelves for storage.

Although it doesn't look like it, this rig can accommodate up to three people. Camper Camper has come up with a clever solution to create an additional seating and sleeping spot.

Hidden inside a cabinet under the bed is a fold-out guest bed. To set it up, pull out the foldable bed frame, take out four slats from underneath the main bed, attach them to the frame, and add the cushions. It's a tight fit, and you'll be sleeping very close to the floor, but it does the job.

The door for the cabinet that houses the bed can also be flipped up and propped up by two brackets. This way, you can add a cushion on top, and it can serve as a seat. What's more, there's a mount nearby for a swivel table, making this spot ideal for enjoying a meal or working on your laptop. It can also be attached somewhere behind the driver's seat.

The last part of this camper van I have yet to talk about is the garage. Located underneath the bed and accessible from the rear, this spot offers a ton of storage space. It's also where the electrical system is housed, featuring three 110 Ah batteries, a Victron Multiplus inverter/charger, a solar charge controller, and a DC/DC charger.

While we're on the topic of utilities, let me tell you about how heating works in this rig. A Truma combi boiler was installed in the garage, providing both warm air and hot water.

All in all, despite the additional challenge of making the interior wheelchair accessible, Camper Camper managed to create a fantastic tiny home on wheels fitted with most of the things you need for a comfortable life on the road.