Accessibility meets luxury in Newmar coach

The new Canyon Star 3911 gas motor coach garnered many second glances at the Tampa RV Show in Florida in January, because instead of a regular second door near the back, it has a wheelchair lift.

While other RVs may be retrofitted to accommodate wheelchairs, this coach is designed to be fully accessible, not to mention luxurious.

Inside, all the light switches, the interior control panel, and the system monitor are placed lower for easier access. The kitchen counters are also lowered, the microwave is located below the cooktop, and the dinette is L-shaped.

“Even with the slideouts in, you can move a wheelchair throughout,” said Kevin Richardson, RV Consultant for the North Trail RV Center in Fort Meyers, Florida. “It’s fully accessible, right down to the roll-in shower. It’s very well insulated, so you can use it right down to 0° Farenheit. It’s a very nice unit. It’s like driving a real house down the road instead of a pre-fab home.”

The roll-in shower has a seat and a lowered showerhead. There are grab bars in the bathroom and a roll-under sink.

Wheelchair-bound RVers can stay safe in transit too. Wheelchair lock-down brackets are located behind the passenger seat.

This 40-foot coach sells for $198,000. This is a slightly higher price tag than similar coaches in the Canyon Star line, which Richardson said is due mostly to the Braun Century 2 powered wheelchair lift that has been turning so many heads.

“We have other 39-footers like this that are $185,000 or $190,000, but those have four slides and this only has two. But the ramp itself weighs 1,000, and is easily $10,000, and this coach is designed specifically to allow someone who’s in a wheelchair to be able to enjoy the RV lifestyle.”

For more information, visit www.newmarcorp.com.