When Rusty Greiff and his family toured Nevada and Arizona last December, they joined an increasing number of Americans hitting the road in a rented recreational vehicle. Undaunted by friends who predicted a fiasco, Mr. Greiff, of Washington, went big, choosing an R.V. with two bathrooms, six beds and a kitchen.
The only hairy moment came on the first night, in Sedona, Ariz., when Mr. Greiff had to back the 38-foot beast into a parking spot in the pitch black. As his wife and one son directed him, the other two sons roared. “The boys were laughing at me, like cracking up. I’m kind of stressed,” said Mr. Greiff, who is in his 50s. “But that’s part of the insanity and the fun.”
Some travelers might blanch at renting a gas-gulping vehicle the size of a fire truck, yet R.V.s are growing in popularity with young travelers and families looking for freedom, togetherness and a comfortable way to explore the outdoors.
Jon Gray, the chief executive of RVshare, a peer-to-peer rental service, said business had grown nearly tenfold from pre-Covid levels. Two-thirds of his renters are first-timers.
Here are some tips for renting an R.V.
Choose the right rig.
R.V.s generally include a bed, bathroom and kitchen, and come in three classes — A, B and C. Class A’s, shaped like tour buses, offer the most space and comfort and suit larger parties. Class B’s typically sleep two, have a small kitchen and a bathroom, handle like a van, and run up to 24 feet long. Class C’s, with their distinctive bump over the driver, can sleep up to eight.
Daily rentals average $277 for a Class A, $251 for a Class B and $255 for a Class C, according to RVshare, with prices varying by vehicle, timing and location.
While you generally don’t need a special license to drive an R.V., you do need R.V.-specific insurance, usually provided by the service that owns the rig. Coverage isn’t cheap — insuring a Class A rental can add $350 a day, though smaller models cost less.
Watch out for hidden fees.
Rental options range from dealerships and companies like Cruise America to peer-to-peer services like RVezy and Outdoorsy, which connect customers with private owners. Check reviews and rental agreements carefully. Some owners charge for essentials like bedding and kitchenware, while others provide necessities but may charge for items like camp chairs and firewood.
Maddie Simental, 33, of Las Vegas, rents out her family’s R.V. and includes everything necessary for a house on wheels — and extras like an air mattress, lawn games and s’mores fixings. “A lot of people are flying in,” Ms. Simental said, explaining why she doesn’t charge for extras. “You can’t fly with sheets and dishes.”
Don’t expect a cheap vacation.
You may save on hotels, but R.V. trips can add up. Luxury models can cost $600 a day and campgrounds more than $100 a night. Fuel economy ranges from six to 23 miles per gallon.
Summer is peak season, and campgrounds sell out. Reserve at least your first night — especially if you want electrical and sewage hookups — through sites like Recreation.gov for national parks or via aggregators like Hipcamp, the Dyrt, Spot2Nite, and Campspot that link to public and private camping sites.
Pack light.
R.V.s are marvels of storage efficiency, but still, it’s easy to overpack. If nights get cool, do bring warm layers for sleeping since R.V.s tend to be poorly insulated.
“You’ll be very happy about what you left back at home,” said Markus Dickhardt, the chief executive and a co-founder of Roadsurfer, an international rental company.
Get to know your R.V.
Most people adjust quickly to driving and maintaining these vehicles. Still, R.V.s have novel systems like wastewater tanks, awnings and generators. Make sure you know how they work. Should you want a head start, YouTube offers tutorials.
Make sure you know your R.V.’s height since some cannot clear low bridges, gas station canopies and even drive-throughs.
As with car rentals, take a video of your R.V. before departure and upon return to make sure you’re not billed for someone else’s damage.
Take it slow.
Drive slowly and cautiously. Allow extra space and take wide turns to avoid tipping or clipping anything. Pull over in high winds and park on level ground.
“It’s not your Prius or your Lexus. An R.V. carries a lot of weight,” said Tom Wigginton, an executive with El Monte RV, a division of the international R.V. operator Tourism Holdings Limited.
R.V. life isn’t for everyone, but many find the mix of togetherness, adventure and comfort appealing.
“My wife was like, ‘That was awesome, maybe one of the best family trips we’ve ever had, and there’s no need to ever do that again,’” Mr. Greiff said. “All three boys were like, ‘We would do that again.’”
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