If You're a Senior With an RV, You Need These Safety Products
Safe Travels
Those living the RV life need to hit the road with more than just a sense of adventure. Gear that offers a helping hand can be a lifesaver. Read on for a selection of products ideal for seniors and RVers with disabilities, items designed to ensure that travel is not only enjoyable but also safe.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Plastic Grab Handle
$8 from Amazon
Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by 250+ Amazon buyers, this handy, nearly 9-inch grab handle — an easy-to-install item typically used outside of the RV’s entry door — offers an extra boost when it’s time to head indoors. Choose black or white.
E-Z Lock Raised Toilet Seat With Arms
$84 from Camping World
Camping World notes this product is ideal to assist “those with bending or sitting difficulties,” as it adds 5 inches to the height of the toilet seat. With built-in hand grips and a lightweight design, the safety feature also offers an easy locking system that ensures it stays in place no matter how bumpy the road gets.
RMS Toilet Safety Frame and Rail
$100 from
When the standard toilet height isn’t an issue, but you still need a steadying hand, this toilet safety frame and rail easily slips around the toilet seat. It also folds easily to be portable, so store it away when not in use.
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Vive Bed Rail
$50 from Amazon
There’s no denying the practical use of a bed rail, sometimes a necessity as one ages or has mobility issues. But as with all aspects of RV life, space is always at a premium. This compact assist railing (4.6 out of 5 stars from 3,000+ Amazon buyers) is a standing bar handle with fall prevention guard that can be secured to any size bed frame and help someone get out or ease into bed.
Rock Steady Adjustable Walking Cane
$85 from Amazon
This highly rated stand assist/walkable cane is suitable when you’re puttering around outside the RV or perhaps taking in the sights of a roadside attraction. The self-standing cane is more portable than a walker, but is said to offer ease of use, as it’s height-adjustable and easy to maneuver.
ReaNea Unbreakable Plates
$20 from Walmart
There's a built-in feeling of safety when you know the plates on your table will not break (we're not saying you'll be driving recklessly but sometimes things get bumpy). These 9-inch plates are not only lightweight and deep, ideal for any meal but especially good for pastas, but are also unbreakable and reusable, crafted out of BPA-free plastic.
Related: 33 Amazing 5-Ingredient Recipes for Cooking in a Camper
Ultralight Transport Wheelchair
$215 from Amazon
When a wheelchair is needed for short spurts, or perhaps as a safety precaution when a long day out is planned, this ultralight transport model — originally designed for airline boarding — may just offer a fitting alternative. It features breathable fabric, a hand brake, folds easily and is said to have a weight similar to that of a conventional folding chair.
Step Stabilizer Kit
$50 from Walmart
This Solid Stance RV Step Stabilizer kit is designed to give ground support to eliminate bounce and instability when going in and out of fifth-wheel travel trailers and motorhomes. The easy-to-install, adjustable system (for uneven terrain) also helps protect the bottom entry step from excess wear and sagging, which could lead to more safety issues. It remains attached to your steps for easy storage, so you won’t be dismantling and reassembling with every trip.
Related: 15 Tips and Tricks for Cold-Weather RV Trips
Vehicle Support Handle
$13 from Amazon
For those whose RVs are of the travel trailer variety, this handle provides ease when getting in or out of your lead vehicle. A highly rated — and inexpensive choice — this ergonomic grip offers an added level of stability and support. It simply can be attached (and detached) from the door’s striker plate to facilitate an easier entry and exit from the car.
Long-Handle Shoe Horn
$12 from Velette Store
Getting dressed in a tight space can be a challenge. More than one of us has lost his or her balance when bending over to put on shoes. Make the task a bit easier with a pair of these extra-long metal shoe horns that offer smooth edges and durability, speeding the process as you ease into the day.
Mac Sports Collapsible Utility Wagon
$99 from Amazon
When the party’s a bit farther than your RV’s front door, this multifunctional item will prove handy. Stock it up with up to 150 pounds of whatever you may need — from extra towels and sunscreen to lunch provisions and badminton sets — and roll on to your destination. It also features a folding table and drinks holder. When done, it folds up to just 8 inches thick.
Lantern
$30 from L.L. Bean
Sitting outside in the evening is a perk of RV living. But no one wants to trip when it’s time to head back inside for the night. This Trailblazer 400 Lantern offers up to 400 lumens to brighten up any campsite or use indoors when needed. A unique carabiner handle allows the user to carry it easily or hang it just about anywhere.
Portable Beach Umbrella
$50 from Amazon
If your RV doesn’t have an awning — or your day’s travels take you a bit farther afield — consider this 6.5-foot beach umbrella with a sand anchor and windproof design. No one wants to overheat or get a scorching sunburn when relaxing. The built-in UV protection adds a layer of cooling, as well. And it’s equally at home at the beach or on grass, folding up into a convenient carrying case when done.
Walkie Talkies
$40 from Walmart
Sure, walkie talkies may seem more like a reminder of childhood games — or unnecessary in the cellphone age. But when your travels take you to destinations where service is spotty (or nonexistent) this long-range communication set, designed for adult use, may come in handy for both convenience and safety.
Fast-Drying Travel Towels
$10 and up from Amazon
Everyone’s taken a slip on a wet bathroom floor. Stock up on these super-absorbent, fast-drying towels (available in multiple sizes and colors) to hopefully avoid creating a slick surface in your RV’s shower area. They can also be useful when using the common showers at a RV park or campsite, keeping you from dripping your way back to home base to change your clothes.
Wireless Backup Camera for RV
$256 from Amazon
Those new to RV maneuvering might find straight-ahead driving okay but backing up and/or parking a bit hairy. If your unit’s not already equipped, check out this wireless back-up camera kit complete with a 7-inch color monitor to aid navigating tough turns.
Twinkle Star Emergency Roadside Flares
$17 from Amazon
No one wants to think about things going wrong, but as the old scout motto goes, it’s best to always “be prepared.” This Roadside Flares Kit features a pair of LED safety strobe warning lights, ideal for a highway beacon alert when you’re broken down or otherwise in distress. Complete with magnetic base and a detachable stand, the kit also features a sturdy storage case. Each battery-powered flare offers three strobe settings with the light visible from up to a mile away.
Refrigerator Bars
$9 from Amazon
Having cans or jars spill out of the cupboard or fridge can create a potential for things getting underfoot, even broken glass. These spring-loaded bars, sold in packs of three, are ideal for keeping items in the fridge or cupboard in place if you need to open the door during travel.
Protect Life First-Aid kit
$25 from Protect Life
Again, one never wants to anticipate an accident or other medical issue, but having a 200-piece first-aid kit onboard can ease the pain, whether it’s from a cut to a bug bite to a sprain. Gloves, bandages, scissors and more are among the emergency supplies fit into this compact addition that any moving vehicle should likely have on hand.
Decathlon Backpack Cooler
$40 from Walmart
For those who are not "young and able" enough to carry a full-size cooler or are not necessarily traveling with a brood of youngsters who can pitch in, the Quechua hiking cooler allows you to take your food-and-drink essentials, carrying them with ease. That then leaves hands free for navigating trails and making sure you can reach out for steadying if the terrain becomes unsteady.
First Alert RV/Marine Fire Extinguisher
$25 from Amazon
This one’s a given — a rechargeable RV/marine-grade fire extinguisher. It’s something to always have on hand, and, hopefully, never have the occasion to use.
Cascade Mountain Tech Ultralight High Back Chair
$90 from Costco
When you pull up to the RV park and all you see is a field dotted with picnic tables, you can almost hear your back groaning in anticipated pain. For those who need ample back support, this 2-pack of ultralight chairs come complete with removable headrests. They are also fully collapsible, offering a space-saving seating option.
Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
$8 from Amazon
What’s a campfire without s’mores, right? But for those with limited mobility, it might be a challenge to get close enough to the flames to properly roast their marshmallow. This “telescoping” set of four roasters easily extends to offer ease of roasting, while maintaining a distance from the hazardous flames. Bon appétit!
Brainteasers
$20 from Uncommon Goods
Let’s face it — RV travel keeps you in close proximity to your travel companions. That can be wildly fun or, sometimes, wildly challenging. Think of an endless rainy day when you’re confined to the RV or the crawl of a massive traffic jam. Ease the tension — and ensure the “safety” of all involved — by breaking out this set of five Around the World Brainteasers, which will keep minds occupied and, ideally, the atmosphere convivial.
This article was originally published on Cheapism
