RVing with Special Needs: Embarking on a Full-Time Adventure Requires Special Preparation

The challenges will be worth the reward

When anyone starts considering RVing full-time, there's likely to be a lot of uncertainty and potential deal breakers that need researching. Having a disability or requiring specific accommodations can create unique challenges that an able-bodied RVer wouldn't need to consider. Things like the physical demands of RVing with special needs--am I capable of leveling an RV? What about my medical needs? Prescriptions? Doctor’s Visits? I had a handful of concerns that I knew I had to address before it made sense to look any further. If I couldn’t solve for these variables, I couldn’t confidently tell loved ones I was taking this crazy adventure.

I approached these topics by first asking, “How do I handle this now?” This gave me the perspective that some things don’t need to change. For example, when certain symptoms get too much, I simply go lie down and this doesn’t have to change. In fact, I believe it will ease some of the guilt I feel when I must take a rest, since I won’t be tied to a schedule, and I won’t be letting other people down. Other worries, though, are going to require more pre-planning and mental effort to avoid an overwhelming situation.

As I started researching these topics, I realized most lead to an extensive rabbit hole of more questions, winding options, and roadblocks. Due to the complexities, I’ve decided to make this a series. In future articles, I will delve deeper into a few of these unique issues arising from RVing with special needs.

This is not an exhaustive list of all my considerations before deciding, only the ones related to my health challenges. You’ll find lots of insight and resources to help navigate answering these challenges for your own situation, so make sure to check back often!

The Physical Demands of RVing: Am I Capable on My Own?

Most RVs don't require too much physical labor to get it level. All the developed campgrounds I've researched have relatively level sites, so it's as simple as a button press!

We’ve all seen the funny videos of the wife trying to direct the husband while he backs the 40-foot rig into the 41-foot space. And making sure the RV is level is of utmost importance to ensuring the integrity of its structure and systems, as well as the occupants’ comfort. I don’t think I could physically handle hand cranking leveling jacks or having to get in and out of the truck while backing into position, since I won’t have a spotter. Fortunately, technology in 2025 offers solutions.

RVing with special needs solo adds another question of backing up the trailer on my own. Of course, most vehicles come with a back up camera these days, and a lot of RVs have them now too. The ones that don’t come with it standard are typically pre-wired to install one on your own. There are also a lot of full monitoring systems that will provide you a 360-degree view on demand, great for security too!

Hitching, unhitching, leveling, and stabilizing are all made very simple these days with electric and sometimes even completely automatic systems. I was concerned about the stabilizer jacks on one of the travel trailers I looked at, because they were meant to be cranked by hand. The salesman pointed out that with the right socket, you can use an impact driver to do the work for you. I looked at models that had completely automatic leveling systems, where you push a button and the RV levels itself. Even the ones that aren’t automatic are as simple as pushing a button and watching the bubble in the levels on either side of the trailer.

After talking with multiple salespeople that were RVers themselves, my mind was eased in that the physical demands of RVing aren’t really any more than the physical demands of managing a traditional home. Instead of raking the leaves in the fall, which I greatly struggle with, I’ll be doing my quarterly inspection and maintenance; most of this quarterly check consists of fairly simple tasks like checking cables are connected well and bolts are tight.

There are other tasks that are bit more complicated or could become a safety issue that I will trust to the experts regardless of my physical ability. Things like checking the propane tanks and regulators, checking electrical cords and systems, as well as anything relating to the roof – these are all things I would hire a professional for in a traditional home anyway.

As with this entire adventure, if all else fails, I’m not afraid to ask for help. I haven’t found any challenges I foresee consistently needing help with, needing a little help from time to time isn’t a dealbreaker. In my research, I’ve found there is a very helpful community amongst RVers and I’m confident if I’m ever in a pinch, I can find someone to help me. Being prepared with roadside assistance and remote maintenance programs won’t hurt either. Check back for more resources on finding help with your rig while on the road.

My CPAP machine (Or other medical devices that require consistent electricity)

Some medical equipment that require constant electricity include CPAP, nebulizers, and oxygen concentrators - needing these devices doesn't have to stop you.

RVing with special needs may mean you have a medical device that needs constant power. I was recently diagnosed with moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the effects of which can be rather intense. Sleep Apnea is even suspected to be a contributor to my iron deficiency and ultimate severe anemia. The improvement in my symptoms when I started on CPAP was immediate and immense. If I don't have CPAP for a night, the fatigue and brain fog the next day make getting anything done impossible. Because of this, even an occasional possibility of not having CPAP for a night was a dealbreaker.

A gas generator was an obvious first option for a back-up, as they are the more traditional route and some used RVs already have one, though this isn't as common as it used to be. The cost of owning a generator is rather high too, it needs fuel to run, regular maintenance and being mechanical, it's probably going to break at some point. Add to that the impact on the natural environment and others around me, this wasn't the route for me.

Solar systems require far less maintenance and since there are no mechanical parts, it’s less likely to break. This results in lower cost to own and far less risk of unexpected, expensive problems. My physical limitations would only compound those problems into an overwhelming situation rather quickly. Solar offers a lot more portability, and while, yes, there are limitations, the sun (fuel) won't cost me any money.

I have already purchased a Jackery portable battery with a solar panel for tent camping locally. This will be an invaluable tool in ensuring my CPAP runs all night, even if I can’t plug into shore power. There are a multitude of options for portable batteries and solar panels, with solid brands like Jackery, as well as Bluetti and Ecoflow. There are so many options, you’re sure to find a set up capable of keeping your medical devices powered when you’re off-grid.

Accessing and Affording Healthcare without Medicare

Bring able to access and afford good medical care should be a priority for anyone breaking from traditional insurance. Disability and chronic illness make it even more critical to have stable healthcare.

This has become one of the most complex factors for me to solve and honestly, I almost gave up because of it. The healthcare coverage factor will easily be the most difficult aspect to navigate. There is no one size fits all product or solution, and I haven’t found a single option that will meet all my needs. The Escapees RV Cub blog (Escapees.com) has the most comprehensive articles and resources on navigating this before Medicare age I was able to find.

It’s no secret the disabled community is severely underserved by publicly funded healthcare. With extremely high requirements to qualify as disabled, many folks under 65 who truly cannot maintain a traditional job are left without the benefits they desperately need. Pursuing a non-traditional lifestyle makes that even more challenging since most private and state funded insurance is geographically restricted to the state you reside.

There are some health insurance alternatives available for the self-employed, small businesses or even international digital nomads. Non-insurance memberships that have low monthly costs and affordable access to the basics, primary care, urgent care, labs, imaging, etc. Faith based health-share ministries that pool resources to cover individual costs, these, however, specifically exclude pre-existing conditions, since pre-existing conditions will inevitably be a “burden” on the system. These programs are great for folks who are mostly healthy and are seeking coverage for mostly preventative and wellness care; there's certainly no program dedicated to disabled nomads.

I carefully evaluated my situation and determined what exactly I need from my coverage. I have been able to cobble together multiple memberships and plans that will cover all my healthcare needs somewhat affordably. Between a membership plan with a national network, a fixed rate plan, and a couple of other discount programs, I was able to get all but one specialty taken care of. My costs should remain about the same, but it was no easy task to put it together.

As I said at the start of this section, it’s an extremely complex topic and it’s going to require extensive research specific to each individuals’ situation. Be on the lookout in coming weeks for more information on this topic.

My Pets: What happens if I’m hospitalized?

While I'll never intentionally leave my pets alone intentionally, emergencies happen. What if I become incapacitated and can't get back to them?

As with many of the scenarios that need to be considered before RVing with special needs, this one comes down to careful pre-planning and asking for help. What happens if I have an emergency and I’ll be away from the RV for longer than the pets will be safe? Here in Colorado, I have a friend who lives just down the street from me and my dad isn’t far either. If something happens, they can take care of my pets for me. If I’m in another state, that’s not so easy.

I have used the Rover and Wag apps in the past for pet sitting and dog walking and have always been very happy with my experience. I have scoured the subreddit r/RoverPetSitting and found I am not the first to prepare for this possibility. At least two different Rover or Wag sitters in the area is one of the requirements for the areas I choose to stay in.

I’ll reach out to the Sitters in the area and explain my situation

. If they agree to be the emergency contact for my pets, I’ll pay for a 30-minute drop in visit up front on the potential I never end up needing to call on them, and then of course they’ll be paid for any services they do end up providing. I’ll then provide their phone number to my emergency contacts back home, in case I’m unable to contact them. Then, in the event of an emergency, the Sitter will be contacted and will get to my dogs in a timely manner and they will work through next steps with my family.

The response to this question on Reddit was very positive, with many experienced Sitters saying they’d absolutely agree to do this. I am still working on where exactly I’ll be staying for my first destination, so I haven’t tested this out personally yet. There is definitely more to come on this topic!

With these Questions Answered for, All That’s Left is the Leap!

Getting to try out a new front patio every few weeks sounds nice to me!

As I’ve said before, I have researched the full-time RV lifestyle for many years and I was already confident in my ability to do it. I had already built skills through that research that would help me generate income, maximize campground memberships and other discount programs, and selecting the best maintenance, roadside and emergency protections possible.

More importantly, though, is the personal growth, that has allowed me to shift my perspective from, “welp, I can’t” to “hmm, how can I?” I no longer see the excuses I used to use as reasons not to go, I see them as challenges to overcome while I’m on my way to where I’m going. That’s an incredibly powerful mindset. Having found comfortable answers to all my dealbreakers, and even learning of a few I hadn’t thought of and answering those, I am confident in my ability to persevere.  

So come with me! Check back next week for the next blog in the series where I take a deep dive into one of the topics outlined here. Also coming soon, I put a deposit down on a travel trailer!