Everything you need to know about renting an RV for your next trip including: the good, bad, and ugly. Plus Cruise America RV rental prices.
RV Rental Tips: All You Need To Know!
Our family has always wanted to rent an RV and we finally did it! We learned so much from our first trip. I'm excited to tell you all about the things we learned so you can have a great experience renting an RV, too!
If you are planning on renting an RV, here's the good, bad, and ugly so you can know what to expect. But first, know the prior requirement, which is a driving license. Make sure that you have a driver's license, before you even think of renting an RV or any other vehicle, for that matter. If you don't, get it made immediately. Those who have already planned the trip already and don't want to be late can check out driving test cancellations to find a slot for their driving test and get the license real-quick.
By the way, this is not a sponsored post, although it would be really amazing to get paid to take another one.
FIRST TIME RENTING AN RV VIDEO!
WHERE TO RENT AN RV
We rented through Cruise America and were really pleased with the process.
There are a lot of different sizes you can rent. We rented the 7 person RV and were happy we did. It was large, yes! But it was nice to have a little extra space.
Our children were 7, 5, 3, and 1 at the time. The older 3 slept on the upper bed and the baby in a porta-crib. There was still extra sleeping room on the table bed and couch bed that we didn't use.
RV TRIP: THE GOOD
- Considering you are renting an RV instead of buying one, if you look for details, you could find a well-maintained RV that has been cleaned with the best concentrated wash and wax for RV, and insides that are in excellent condition.
- Unlike staying in a hotel where you have to carry all your stuff in and out, everything is in your RV all the time. So that means if you are moving from place to place, there is no packing up required because it's all with you. We loved how easy it was to get moving.
- With the help of reliable internet plans (like starlink internet plans, for example), you can stay connected with your loved ones wherever you are and also use the internet connection to your best advantage and keep yourself occupied throughout.
- Since you have all your amenities with you, you can sleep anywhere that's allowed. That means you don't have to stay in a designated campground unless you want hook-ups and facilities.
- The Cruise America Kitchen Kit including pots, pans, utensils, plates, and basic cooking gear is supposed to be an extra fee. But our RV was stocked with the entire kitchen kit we didn't have to pay for it.
- There is a ton of storage room! Granted we went on a short trip, but there was lots of cupboard space we didn't even use. Plus there are huge lockable storage areas that you can access from outside in case you want to take bikes, hiking gear, or store your bulky items you don't want inside.
- You'll find plenty of storage space for games, bathroom supplies, and food.
- There are seat belts around the table so you can play games and eat while you are moving. There are also seat belts on the couch bed for carseats.
RV TRIP: THE BAD
- You are pretty much driving a bus, so don't expect good gas mileage. Luckily the RV has a big tank so you can go a long ways before filling up again, but it will cost you a lot to fill up.
- There's lots of little things to remember. Gas/propane has to be turned off before you drive.
- Getting into the gas station can be an event and there are certain things you have to do before you can fill up. (My husband did this, so unfortunately I don't remember what he had to do.) You'll get the hang of it, but it's not as easy as filling up your regular vehicle.
- There isn't a lot of room for a pack n'play if you are traveling with a baby. It is possible, but it will take up most of the kitchen/walkway space.
- There is not a lot of storage room for clothing. We kept our clothes in travel bags and stored them on the upper bed while we were driving.
- You will not find a TV in the RV. For us, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but if you want to watch movies, bring along your own laptop or Ipads.
- There is a shower, but the heated water supply is limited. Don't expect to be able all shower at once with hot water.
- If you are going to National parks or other touristy areas, you will have to park farther away.
RV TRIP: THE UGLY
- Our first night was rough, rough rough. We found a place to stop on the side of the road. Therefore, we had no electrical hookups. When we went to bed, we were toasty and warm. But around 2 am our baby woke up and we were all freezing. Trying to figure out how to use the generator for the first time in the middle of the night is not something I'd recommend. My husband eventually got it figured out, but by that point we could never get our little guy to go back to sleep. So we woke up pretty ornery that first morning. We were able to use the generator
- There is a cleaning fee if you do not return the RV clean. So after spending a few days living in it, the RV can get pretty messy. Be prepared to spend some time cleaning it out before you return it to avoid the cleaning fee. And if you somehow damaged the RV, cracked windshield or windows for example, you may also be charged for the auto glass repair costs.
- You are required to dump all your waste before returning it. To avoid this stinky job, plan to pre-pay for the dump fee so you don't have to do it.
HOW TO SAVE MONEY RENTING AN RV
Renting an RV on the off season seems to be a lot cheaper than during the peak summer time. You'll be able to save a lot of money if you can choose a time that isn't prime travel time. This is what the Cruise American prices were when we went (prices October 2019):
- Three nights with the zero deductible insurance plan, plus the propane and dump charge = $511.99 (If you buy propane in a large quantity from firms like Kelly Propane, this charge could perhaps be reduced)
- Gas - $219 (around 609 miles)
- Ruby's Inn Campground= $58.06
- Camping on side of road= free
Keep in mind that if you exceed your estimated mileage you will be charged for extra miles. I can't remember how much you can go over without avoiding an extra fee, so be sure to estimate your miles as close as you can when you are booking.
You can rent sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, and kitchen gear for an extra cost if you don't want to bring your own. However, we saved hundreds of dollars packing our own.
WHAT TO PACK ON YOUR RV TRIP
Are you convinced to take an RV trip yet? If so, here's what you should plan to pack:
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows
- Clothing
- Bathroom supplies (they will charge you for TP), soap, toiletries
- Cleaning wipes and dish soap, wash cloths, paper towels
- Food
- Basic cooking gear, paper plates
- Hand towels and shower towels
- Baby porta-crib and portable high chair to eat in
WOULD WE RENT AN RV AGAIN?
Yes, definitely! Now that we know what we are doing, our next RV trip will go much smoother. If you want to buy one, you can also go to dealers like Bill Eads RV. Then, make sure you get an auto insurance in case an accident happens. This will guarantee that you're covered.
MORE RV RENTAL TIPS
If you have never gone on an RV trip before, I would just suggest that you have low expectations. Don't go into thinking it will be perfect or you will be frustrated. Having the mindset that "this is an adventure" will make your experience better.
You can park your car at the rental pick-up location while you are gone. This just means that you have to pack everything twice essentially since you will put it into your car and then into the RV.
On our way back, we actually had an extra night before returning it in the morning. So we drove home and parked it in our driveway. It was so much easier to empty the camper out and clean it out while it was at home. Next time, we will plan to have enough time to pick it up and bring it home to pack it before we leave instead of loading into our car and then packing it onsite.
QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR RV TRIP?
I hope this was helpful and I hope you will take an RV trip! Let me know where you end up going! And feel free to leave a comment with any questions you have and I will answer them.
Amy Saunders says
Hmm.. okay. Somehow, I just couldn't stop thinking about my sister and her husband who plan to spend their wedding anniversary in Seattle next month when I read this article. It was quite fascinating to learn about RVs and how better it is to bring some additional equipment on our own to reduce our overall expenses while renting them. I'll make sure they check out this article before making any reservation some time later. https://outdoorsrvrentals.com/rv-rentals-1