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Are you searching for an affordable RV Rental by owner?
Well, one of the most affordable ways to Rent an RV is by renting from a private owner – think of it like AirBnB for RVs.
But, figuring out how to find an RV for rent by owner and not get ripped off takes a little know-how.
- How do you find an RV Owner you can trust?
- Who draws up the lease?
- What about insurance?
- What are your options?
Read on to discover How to Find the Best RV Rental By Owner!
Why are RVs for Rent by Owner So Popular?
RV vacations are surging in popularity throughout the United States. Whether you are traveling as an individual, couple, family, or large group, the benefits of renting an RV for your vacation are numerous. The main reasons people are choosing RV vacations over other options are low cost, flexibility, and adventure. And, in a post-pandemic world, RV travel can feel safer and more hygienic.
Renting an RV is a very affordable way to travel. Most nightly RV rental rates are less than the price of an average hotel room. You will also find more amenities in an RV rental than you would find in a basic hotel room, which makes an RV rental a great value. A full kitchen, bathroom, and beds for up to eight people are all possible in an RV rental.
As you can see, an RV rental offers much more than you would get from a similarly priced hotel room! If you take a trip for a week or more, many rental companies or RV owners will discount your nightly rate, making it an even better deal.
With an RV rental, you also have the flexibility to travel wherever you would like to go. Some travelers move to a new location every night while others find a place they love and stay there for their entire trip! With an RV rental, the choice is yours!
If you are looking to rent an RV, we recommend looking for a peer-to-peer RV rental to save money and increase your options.
What is a Peer-to-Peer RV Rental?
A peer-to-peer rental allows you to rent directly from an RV owner. This is the same business model used by companies like AirBnB. The peer-to-peer system is different from a corporate RV rental where you are renting from a company that has a fleet of RVs.
What are the Pros and Cons of Renting an RV From a Private Owner?
When choosing an RV rental, your choices are either renting from an RV rental company such as Cruise America or renting directly from a private owner. There are pros and cons to renting directly from an RV owner.
On the plus side, renting directly from an owner usually means a lower cost. Individual RV owners can set their prices and may even be willing to negotiate the price with you. Another plus is that you have a large selection of RVs to choose from. Most corporate RV companies offer just a few different rental options. When you rent peer-to-peer from a private owner, you can choose from thousands of different types of rigs.
Renting directly from an RV owner is an excellent choice because the owners have a vested interest in keeping their rig in good shape. After all, they use it themselves! Most RV owners take great pride in their rigs and care for them well, which means you will get a higher quality product.
When Susan and I rented our RV from Cruise America we had to pay extra for the Kitchen Package, the Bedding Package, and Camp Chairs. Then we had to drive straight to Walmart and buy a grill, coffee pot, toaster, bikes (which we had to keep in the RV since they didn’t even rent bike racks), spices, a can opener and more which added over $600 to our overall cost.
The biggest con of renting directly from an RV owner is that you may not have insurance protection in the event of an accident during your vacation. Another downside is that if a problem arises during your trip, you will be dealing directly with the RV owner, and there will not be anyone to help you mediate any dispute that may occur.
One way to avoid these issues is to choose an RV rental from a reputable peer-to-peer rental service such as RVshare or Outdoorsy. This way, you will have insurance and customer service support to assist you if there is an issue of any kind on your trip.
Where Can I Find RVs For Rent By Owners Near Me?
Craigslist
Many folks are listing their RVs for rent on Craigslist. Renting an RV on Craigslist can be convenient because you can search for rentals in your local area. You may even know the person renting their RV!
Remember that when using Craigslist for an RV rental, there is no guarantee that you are renting what is listed. Also, the search feature on Craigslist is not explicitly designed for RV rentals, which can make finding the perfect RV more difficult. The main downside to a Craigslist rental is that there is no one to mediate or help you resolve any issues if they arise during your trip. You will be dealing directly with the owner.
So, creating a lease, handling the down payment and damage deposit, obtaining proper insurance, and access to roadside assistance are all big questions that are difficult at best to tackle if you have no experience with any of these things.
Airbnb
Airbnb has recently entered the RV rental business. As the leading peer-to-peer vacation rental service in the world, you can trust that they have a system for helping you resolve any issues that come up with your rental.
However, most RV rentals on Airbnb are location-based, meaning that you cannot drive the travel trailer to another location. A location-based rental is fine if you are looking for a place to stay in a specific area, like Joshua Tree, for example, but does not work for anyone planning to travel during their RV adventure.
In addition, Airbnb just doesn’t have a huge selection of RVs available for rent. Renting RVs not really part of their core business. It’s just another revenue stream for them to help bolster profits as it plans to go public in 2020 and sell stock.
RVshare
RVshare is currently the nation’s largest peer-to-peer RV rental service. You can choose from a variety of RV rentals, so you are sure to find an RV that meets your needs. RVshare also provides insurance and customer support for your RV rental. The added benefits of insurance protection and road side assistance make RVshare a better option than Craigslist.
Outdoorsy
Similar to RVshare, Outdoorsy is a peer-to-peer rental service that focuses specifically on RV rentals. Outdoorsy connects RV owners with people who want to rent RVs. This service is useful because you can pick the specific RV that works for you. You can search for rentals by the number of people you need to sleep in the rig, amenities, and more.
Another plus to using Outdoorsy is that you rent the RV directly from the owner. Outdoorsy makes it easy to get a great deal on an RV that has been well cared for and maintained. The best part of an Outdoorsy rental is that you are protected by their world-class insurance and provided with 24/7 customer support.
RVnGo
RVnGo is another great peer to peer RV rental service that was created by RVers in 2016.
What’s unique about this platform is that they don’t charge any fees at all. There are no hidden transaction fees for the RV owner, and there are no hidden fees for you – the renter!
RVnGo aims to make the RV rental process easier and more straight forward.
As an added bonus service, you can also purchase RVs through RVnGo. This is a great option to have if you decide you want to buy an RV after renting one!
RVEzy
RVEzy is a peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace where you can browse and rent RVs by owner.
This company was formed by a couple of outdoor and RV enthusiast friends in 2016 who wanted to help revolutionize the world of RV renting.
The browsing and searching process to find RVs for rent is straightforward. Like other platforms, you can choose to pick up an RV or have it delivered to the location of your choosing.
RVEzy makes it easy to rent an RV from a private owner!
What are Average RV by Owner Rental Prices?
If you are new to RVing, you may be overwhelmed at the number of RV rental options out there. There are two main types of RV rentals. Towable and drivable RVs.
Towable RVs are travel trailers, 5th wheels and popup campers meaning you need a truck or SUV to tow them. Drivable RVs are RVs that you can jump in and drive.
Drivable RVs are usually a little more expensive to rent but they are very convenient because you can easily drive them wherever you want to go. And, in most cases, you don’t need a special driver’s license to drive them.
Towable RVs require that you have a truck or SUV large enough to tow the towable RV. However, some private owners are willing to tow the RV to your campsite and set it up for you, then pick it up when you are done! How convenient is that!
The prices below are estimates for each RV type. Keep in mind that depending on the make and model of the rig, the actual cost may be more or less than the rates listed below.
Class A RV Rentals
Class A RVs are the large motorhomes that look similar to tour buses. These large rigs tend to have luxury features and amenities. Because of their large size and unique features, these rentals are usually the most expensive. A Class A rental is an excellent option for couples looking for a first-class rental or larger groups.
Class A RV Rentals by Owner range from $200 to $400 or more per night. Weekly rates average around $1,750.
Class B RV Rentals
Class B RVs are converted vans also called camper vans. The great thing about Class B RVs is that they can usually fit in a regular parking spot and are easy to drive. While these RVs are smaller, many pack a big punch in terms of amenities. Updated finishes, small kitchens, and even bathrooms can be found in these rentals. We recommend this size for one or two people.
Class B RV Rental rates average around $175 to $200 per night, with weeklong rates around $1,200.
Class C RV Rentals
A Class C RV is what most people think of when they imagine an RV. There are usually one to two beds, with one bed over the front seat of the vehicle. With a kitchen, small dining, or sitting area, and bathroom, these rigs are perfect for two to four people.
Class C RV Rental by Owner rates average around $200 to $250 per night, with weekly rates of approximately $1,400.
Travel Trailer Rentals
Travel trailers are RVs that you tow with another vehicle. You will need a good size truck to haul most travel trailers. Travel trailers vary widely in size, with some as small as eight to ten feet and others up to thirty feet or more. Travel trailers are great for families and larger groups. It is best if you have some towing experience if you plan to rent a travel trailer.
Travel Trailer Rental rates vary based on size and range from $125 to $175 per night. Weekly rates average around $875.
5th Wheel Rentals
Similar to travel trailers, 5th wheels are larger rigs that often have more features and amenities than travel trailers. With lengths up to thirty-five feet, fifth wheels offer more space and frequently feature full-size kitchens, couches, and even fireplaces! Again, towing experience is highly recommended if you choose to rent this style of RV. 5th wheels are a great option for larger families and groups.
5th Wheel Rental by Owner rates range from $135 to $200 per night, with weekly rates averaging $1,050.
Toy Hauler Rentals
If you have a UTV, ATV, or golf cart that you would like to bring on your adventure, consider a toy hauler. Similar to a travel trailer, these rigs have space for your small “toy” vehicle as well. It is recommended that you have some towing experience if you choose to rent this type of rig. Toy haulers can comfortably sleep anywhere from two to six people.
Toy Hauler Rental rates range from $150 to $250 per night with weekly rates around $1,100.
Pop Up Camper Rentals
A great budget friendly option for your vacation rental is a popup camper. These lightweight campers can be towed with an SUV or sometimes even some cars. Popup Campers have all the necessary features you will need for your camping trip. While some popup campers are made of canvas, exposing you to the elements, many are hard-sided and offer more protection from the elements. Popup campers can typically sleep up to five or six people depending on the layout.
Popup Camper Rentals by Owner are as low as $75 per night with a weekly rental rate of around $525.
Truck Camper Rentals
The smallest and often most affordable campers to rent are truck campers. These are trucks with a hard-sided camper installed in the bed of the truck. Truck campers usually have a bed and a small kitchen, along with a bathroom. Easy to drive, truck campers are an excellent option for one of two people.
You can find Truck Camper Rentals for as low as $125 per night or around $1,000 for a week-long rental.
Where is the Best Place to Rent Directly from RV Owners?
After checking out all of the available RV rental platforms and reading thousands of reviews from both RV owners and renters, we believe that Outdoorsy is the best place to rent an RV directly from an owner. While RVshare and Outdoorsy both offer similar benefits, Outdoorsy has an advantage over RVshare due to its outstanding insurance and customer support. We also like the quality of the rental RVs and travel trailers that are listed on Outdoorsy.
Outdoorsy even offers a delivery option if you want the convenience of having your RV delivered to your campsite! The best part is that you are protected by Outdoorsy’s world-class insurance and 24/7 customer support.
Are you ready to book your next RV vacation? To get started and find your perfect RV rental, go to Outdoorsy.com and enter your rental location and preferred dates for your trip. You can filter your search by entering any amenities or special needs that you have. For example, you can search for travel trailers that come with a tow vehicle rental. Or you can search for rentals that include amenities such as dishes and linens.
Next, you can filter by price, the number of people the trailer can accommodate and reviews. Because Outdoorsy is a peer-to-peer rental service, it is a good idea to only look at rentals from owners with four or five-star reviews. You will be surprised at the number of five-star reviews you will find on the website.
Keep in mind that you can often save money by renting the RV for a more extended time. Don’t be afraid to ask the RV owner to work with you on the price if you are renting the RV for longer than a week or two.
Mike Scarpignato – Bio
Mike Scarpignato created RVBlogger.com over five years ago in 2018 to share all we have learned about RV camping.
Mike is an avid outdoorsman with decades of experience tent camping and traveling in his 2008 Gulf Stream Conquest Class C RV and 2021 Thor Challenger Class A motorhome.
We attend RV Shows and visit RV dealerships all across the country to tour and review drivable motorhomes and towable trailers to provide the best evaluations of these RVs in our blog articles and YouTube videos.
We are 3/4-time RVers who created RVBlogger.com to provide helpful information about all kinds of RVs and related products, gear, camping memberships, tips, hacks and advice.
