Deana and Brian have pitched tents in Florida campgrounds and music festivals. They know there’s nothing like unzipping the “door” come sun-up to the great outdoors, whether in Florida’s Wekiwa Springs State Park or the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park for the Wanee Festival. But when they bought tickets to the Runaway Country music festival this year in Kissimmee, Florida, they decided to change their lodging to one with a real door – and a host of other amenities – and they rented a camper.
Many people who have tent camped all their lives often decide to “get off the ground” and borrow or buy a trailer or RV. An increasingly popular solution is to rent a unit.
The two considered corporate RV rental companies, like CruiseAmerica, El Monte, and a host of other providers. The new stream of private rental services, akin to what AirBNB is doing for vacation home rentals, caught their attention.
So Brian registered with both Outdoorsy.com and RVShare and began scouting available units. He posted his needs: a self-contained unit large enough for two to be comfortable, but small enough to mimic what they might one day want to buy for themselves. They wanted a bed, a dinette, and a bath and shower. No more festival fairground latrines for these campers.
Brian found the process pretty simple. Outdoorsy’s search function was refined with more filters. But prices varied widely. He found 16-foot trailers priced from $95 to $170 a night. He saw an Airstream Bambi for a steal at $85 a night. Then the ka-ching started. A $250 delivery fee; and costs for hook-up, drop-off, and set-up, and sewage tank dump and sanitation. Final tally: $900 for four nights.
“I went through a lot of that,” he says of the up-charge experience.
Brian then found a 16-foot 2017 Starcraft. With a pop-out bed, slide-out dinette, and a shower and toilet. “Big reason for renting was for our own shower and toilet for a festival,” he says.
The couple’s lessons and tips for future renters…
Be clear. Having a camper delivered and picked up can be an expensive option. Brian was specific about the festival’s location and that he wanted the owner to drop it off and pick it up.
Watch the fees. The more you discuss up front, the less you’ll experience sticker shock. Linens, towels, dishes and cook wear, and other accessories may result in a charge. If you bring your own linens, ask about the bed size first.
Know your unit. Ask for the specific model and year. This way, you can research specifics online at the manufacturers’ website and learn more about details like refrigerator size, bed size, and – a surprise for the couple – whether the unit has a wet bath, or a small bathroom where the toilet is exposed to the shower.
Kindness pays. The friendlier Brian was to the owner, the more accommodating she was on price and service.
The couple enjoyed their outing and appreciated the learning experience. They won’t rent again, though. Before year-end, they plan to buy their own trailer. As Brian realizes, “From tenting to renting is the practical path to eventual RV ownership.”