Ultimate Guide To RV Rental: What You Should Know Before You Go

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Introduction to RV Rental

Table of Contents

Do you plan to rent an RV in the near future? An RV rental is a great way to save money on travel, and it can offer many benefits. If you and your family are one of the many first-time renters, we have compiled some of the most important information for your convenience. In this post, we will discuss:

– The Benefits of RV Rental

– The Different Types Of RV Rental Vehicles

– What To Consider Before You Rent An RV

We hope that this blog post has helped prepare you for your big trip!

What Types of RVs are Available For Rent?

There are many types of RVs available for rent. Finding the perfect RV for you will depend on a lot of things. The size, type, and style will depend greatly on where you are going, how many people you plan on taking, and what your individual needs are. Here are some different types that you can rent for your travel adventures.

– Class A RV:

A Class A RV is the most luxurious RV. These are usually much larger and provide a more comfortable experience for the RV traveler. This is a drivable recreational vehicle (motorhome or large coach). This will likely be a more expensive option for renting. It will require more space at campgrounds and won’t fit in many of the national park sites. These are some things to consider when renting this type of vehicle.

– Class B RV:

A class B RV is not as large or lavish as those in the Class A category, but they still offer many luxuries that make them popular among travelers. This type of vehicle is also a drivable RV but, is much smaller than a class A and easier to navigate into smaller campsites.

– Travel Trailer RV:

Travel trailers are a popular type of RV that is towed behind a truck or car and can be set up quickly. These RV’s are usually much smaller than the other two types of RVs, but they do offer some luxuries such as air conditioning units and TVs. You will need a truck with a hitch (possibly available for rent as well) to tow this type of RV.

– Class C RV:

Class C motorhomes are the smallest drivable RV. Like the class A RV, this type of RV offers many features.

– Fifth Wheel RV:

A Fifth wheel RV is similar to a Travel Trailer RV, but this RV is towed by a truck with a fifth-wheel hitch in the truck bed. These RVs are very popular and offer many features that make them easy for the traveler.

– Pop Up Camper:

A pop-up camper offers a lot of conveniences because it folds in on itself so the RV can be packed easily. These RV’s are usually the smallest RV type and can be transported easily.

What Are The Benefits Of RV Rental?

There are a ton of benefits of renting an RV for your upcoming vacation.

RV Rental is relatively cheap
It is a fantastic way to see a lot of places
You can travel with a large group
It is a great way to experience or test out the RV lifestyle prior to purchasing an RV
You can travel with your pets
It is an extremely flexible way to travel
It allows you to bring the comforts of home with you

Where Can I Rent An RV From?

RV rental has become more popular over the past decade. This means that more and more outlets are offering this service. This is great news for you!! More places that offer this service mean that prices are more competitive. Here is a list of just some of the most common places to rent an RV.

Outdoorsy:

What is outdoorsy? Outdoorsy is a website that connects an RV owner with RV renters. On their site, you can find an RV to rent in just about any area of the country! They have all sorts of different types and styles for travelers looking for something new or adventurous.

RVshare:

RV Share is another RV rental website that offers RV rentals of all sizes and types. You can easily find an RV on their site to rent for your upcoming adventure!

Good Sam RV Rental:

Good Sam has an RV rental program as well. RV rental on their site is available to RV renters in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They offer RV rentals of all types as well!

Road Bear RV Rentals:

Among many great features that Road Bear offers for RV owners, they also have an RV rental program. You can find a list of locations near you by visiting their RV rental page.

Cruise America:

Cruise America has been around for a long time and has a great reputation among RV renters. They are also RV rental providers in many major locations across the United States.

How Much Does an RV Rental Cost?

The answer to this question varies greatly. It depends on many different factors. RV rental prices can differ based on RV type, RV size, RV age, and location. For a Class C RV Rental, for example, you could pay anywhere from $250 to $1500 depending on your requirements and length of rental!

Are There Any Extra Costs?

There are many hidden expenses that come with renting an RV’s such as gas usage (including RV fuel), RV parking, RV storage fees, and RV insurance. Make sure you are prepared for these extra costs before renting an RV!

How Many People Can I Bring With Me in an RV Rental?

You can bring as many people with you on your trip as there is space inside the RV rental that you have booked. Most RVs come with a maximum of eight RV beds, so you could bring up to eight people with you.

What Should I Know Before Renting an RV?

There are some things that must be considered before renting an RV for your upcoming vacation! These include: how often will the RV need to stop for gas and rest; what is your budget (if you do not have an RV budget in mind, you should set one before looking); and what are your RV driving capabilities?

What should I know?

– Will the RV be suitable for your needs or will it be too small/large/heavy (you may need to rent something specifically made for off-road RV travel)

– What RV and motorhome rentals are available?

– How many people can the RV hold and how will this affect your budget?

– Will you need a tow vehicle or RV rental insurance in order to rent an RV for your upcoming adventure?

Are There Any RV Rentals That Offer Free Delivery And Pickup?

Can I have my RV delivered? Yes! Many of the RV rental companies offer free delivery and pickup programs for RV rentals in the US. This information will be available on each individual company website. If this is something that you are interested in, make sure to check with each company for details!

What Additional Services Do Rental Places Offer?

roadside assistance
pickup and delivery
trip planning
insurance

Do I Need Insurance When I Rent an RV?

You will most definitely need insurance for the RV that you are driving during your trip. If you are renting from a reputable company, they will require this upon delivery or pick up. Most companies will offer this as part of the rental package for an additional fee.

Do I Need a Special License To Rent an RV?

If the RV is under 26,000 lbs, you will not need an RV license. If the RV is over 26,000 lbs, then you may be required to get a class B license from your state or province in order to rent and drive it on public roads.

What About Trip Planning?

Trip planning is an extremely important factor to consider when organizing an RV road trip. There are many roads that are difficult or unpassable for heavy or large vehicles. There are bridges that have weight limits or height limitations. These things need to be examined prior to heading out on the road.

Many campgrounds and RV resorts require advanced reservations. Due to these possibilities and situations, it is best to make a plans in advance for your RV vacation. Here are some things to think about.

Campgrounds: Plan and research your campgrounds, national parks, and RV resorts. Find out about the available sites (size, restrictions, etc.). Make advanced reservations if needed. Find out if they have 30 amp, 50 amp hookups, sewer, water, and other amenities.
Apps That Can Help: Check out this article for trip planning apps, dump stations, fuel stations, and more.
GPS: plan routes that are appropriate for the size and weight of your vehicle.

Will The RV Be Easy To Drive?

Most people have not handled a larger vehicle such as an RV. Before hitting the road, be sure to take time to orient yourself to the vehicle. Practice driving and parking in a parking lot prior to taking it out on major roads. This will help to build confidence and skills.

You can get RV driving lessons to prepare for your RV road trip! It is important that you know how to operate the RV before taking it on a big adventure.

Here is an article to assist with some important driving tips.

Be prepared Before Your RV Trip

Knowing how a recreational vehicle works is very important. When you pick up the vehicle, you will have a walkthrough/ orientation (more on this below). Be sure to know how to dump tanks and use the RV systems properly before you hit the campgrounds.

Dumping tanks:

Check out this article to understand how the black tank system works.

Equipment:

There is a lot of equipment that is needed to make an RV work properly. Hoses, plugs, adapters, surge protectors, and more. The company that you rent from should provide all of these items for you. You will want to make sure that you know how each item works. It is best to be prepared so that you are not overwhelmed when you are doing your orientation or arriving at the campground for setup. Here is a list of accessories to help acquaint yourself.

Checklists

Set-up and Departure are probably the most daunting tasks when traveling by RV. Having a checklist handy for these times will keep you level-headed and safe. Knowing what and when to do things is important. Here is an article with checklists for setting up upon arrival to your campsite and what to do for departure. This will help you to stay on task and help so that you don’t miss any important steps!!

Travel Day/ RV Rental Day (Things To Ask)

When you pick up your RV from the rental company, there are many things to ask. They will give you a walkthrough of your RV. They should tell you about all of the systems and how everything works.

Things to ask:

Deposit: Is there a deposit?
Can I have the RV delivered?
Insurance: How much is insurance? What does it cover?
What is the pet policy? Deposit?
What items are included? linens, kitchen items, RV-specific items (hoses, cords, adapters, surge protector, etc.)
Do you offer any discounts?
What about Mileage?
What if there is Damage to The RV? Who Repairs It?
Are There Cleaning Fees?
Am I responsible for emptying tanks prior to return?
Is there a Generator?
RV specs? Size/ dimensions
Is a GPS included?
What type of fuel?
How do slides work?
Do I need special toilet paper?
Rental return time/ information?
Is there roadside assistance?
What if I have a problem? Who Do I call?

Returning The RV Rental

When you return the RV to the rental place/ person. Make sure that you both go over every detail of the inspection together. Make sure that all equipment is returned in the agreeable and same condition and that all paperwork is completed to satisfaction to complete the contractual obligation.

Don’t forget any personal items behind!!

Additional Tips From the Pros

Bring Gloves: Gloves are an important item to bring. You will need them if you empty the black tank of the RV.
First Aid Kit: This is an important item to bring on any camping-type vacation or road trip.
Roadside assistance: If the company doesn’t offer any roadside assistance, you may consider purchasing your own. Tire blowouts happen. Accidents happen. You don’t want to spend your vacation stuck on the side of the road!!
Do Your Homework: Planning and preparing ahead of time will assure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible and that you will be able to get out and make memories with your family with less stress!!

Conclusion to RV Rental Guide

In conclusion, the RV is a great way to travel and explore. You’ll be able to see more of your surroundings and experience new things while you are on vacation with your family or friends. The material covered in this blog post should help prepare you for your next RV rental and embarking on your next big trip!

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