This past times summertime my married adult woman in addition to I rented an RV trailer from an RV sharing website in addition to it was an absolute success. In fact, if ever nosotros are going camping ground this is how we’re going.
While nosotros don’t ain an RV, nosotros are veteran renters of diverse recreational vehicles.
Our showtime 3 years of RV’ing, nosotros rented a motorhome from RV rental businesses. It was loads of fun. However, nosotros rented from an established RV rental business, which was smashing but at that topographic point is exactly ane BIG problem. That large occupation is nosotros had to reserve the RV so far inward advance, equally inward no after than Nov the prior year. This is a drag because ofttimes nosotros haven’t cemented our opor-garai plans past times then. However, if you lot neglect to rent past times then, there’s cipher available.
Enter peer-to-peer RV sharing (just similar Airbnb or Homeaway).
This past times April, friends of ours asked if nosotros wanted to bring together them on their camping ground trip scheduled for early on August. “Of course” nosotros replied. We’re ever game for some camping ground fun, peculiarly amongst friends. However, I was concerned because I actually prefer camping ground inward an RV in addition to I didn’t intend we’d live able to secure one. At that betoken though, I hadn’t heard virtually RV sharing websites. I assumed our only choice was the brick in addition to mortar RV rental fellowship nosotros used inward previous years.
As presently equally nosotros had agreed to bring together our friends, I called the RV rental concern nosotros so ofttimes used. Sure enough, they had cipher available. I called v unlike businesses all over the region. All v had nothing.
I was getting nervous. I actually didn’t desire to musical rhythm out out $1,000 on a family-sized tent in addition to sleeping bags. I wanted an RV.
And so I started searching online in addition to discovered RV sharing websites. I was familiar amongst the concept having rented many houses from Homeaway (in fact, nosotros rented a Homeaway solid for our 2020 Wisconsin opor-garai which is exciting).
I plugged inward our camping ground dates in addition to camping ground place amongst fingers crossed.
BOOM! There were over 10 available options – including motorhomes, truck in addition to campers in addition to RV trailers of all sizes.
I clicked into ane promising trailer in addition to lo in addition to behold, at that topographic point was an choice to pay a piddling extra to receive got the trailer delivered in addition to laid upwards at the campsite. I couldn’t believe it. This was a huge do goodness for us because our vehicle tin bathroom only tow upwards to 5,000 lbs. which limits trailer size. By paying an extra $100 to $150 for delivery, nosotros could rent whatever size nosotros wanted.
I blasted out v RV trailer rental requests to owners. Within 24 hours, 3 of them approved my request. I made a selection, paid the deposit in addition to secured our RV trailer.
When camping ground fourth dimension came, the variety owners delivered it correct on time. They were super friendly in addition to patiently explained how everything worked. We had a terrific vacation. On the terminal day, they came, broke it downward in addition to hauled it away.
I’m definitely a huge fan of RV sharing in addition to volition do it again.
If this sounds similar a practiced deal, you’re inward luck. While nosotros used RVezy, you lot receive got several options. Here they are. I suggest browsing multiple sites to uncovering the best choice for you. It actually boils downward to inventory because other than some nuanced differences, they’re pretty much the same.
Table of Contents
Related: 27 things to know earlier renting a motorhome RV
A. My 3 Favorite RV Sharing Websites
The next are my 3 favorite peer-to-peer RV sharing websites. They’re my favorite because they offering the best selection in addition to the website features are second-to-none.
1. RVezy – Best Canadian RV Sharing Website
Read my total RVezy review here.
RVezy Overview
- Countries: Canada
- Availability filtering: Yes (this is substitution because it saves a ton of fourth dimension inward that it volition only generate available RVs based on the dates you lot specify).
- Insurance: $2 1000000 coverage
- Roadside assistance: Yes, but at that topographic point is an additional daily cost.
- Cancellation options: RVezy offers several cancellation policies that owners choose. Be certain to read the cancellation policy offered past times the possessor because they vary.
- Minimum rental period: Stipulated past times the owner. Some receive got no minimum spell some do.
- Delivery/Pick up: Yes, some owners offering the choice to receive got the RV delivered in addition to they volition pick it up. Usually, it’s an add-on service that costs additional fees.
- Types of RVs: Every type imaginable.
- Traveler / Owner reviews: Yes. This was an interesting process. When our trip was completed, RVezy sent me a link to write a review. I did so (and wrote a smashing review). Once my review was published, the owner’s review of us equally renters showed upwards to me (they were variety plenty to give us a smashing review equally well).
Inventory in addition to selection
The amount of selection is real of import for whatever sharing type of website. When trying select the best RV sharing website for your rental, a practiced starting betoken is to reckon which ane offers the best RV for you lot at the best price.
When searching for RVs, an of import distinction is whether to search where you lot volition pick it upwards or where it volition live delivered. If you lot desire it delivered, search unopen to where it’ll live delivered. If you lot volition pick it up, in addition to so select the surface area where picking it upwards is most convenient.
Test search results: July vi to 13, 2020: I tested searches for Nanaimo, BC, Red Deer, AB in addition to Halifax, NS. While the number of available RVs seemed impressive, the large occupation is that many of the results weren’t anywhere close the cities I searched.
Keep inward heed the to a higher identify information is non solely determinative because at that topographic point are many unlike types of motorhomes in addition to types of RV trailers. Also, when comparison RV sharing websites via the inventory method, depository fiscal establishment check the radius or size of surface area that results are pulled from. Obviously, results pulled from a larger zone volition live higher.
We used RVezy in addition to had a smashing experience. It currently only serves Canada but I suspect they’ll branch out to the USA inward due course. The site grew fairly speedily in addition to was featured on the investment seeking present Dragon’s Den. It was started past times a fireman injured inward the draw of duty.
I found the user sense real good. It’s super slow to use. Insurance was provided (which is of import to me). Payment processing went without a hitch. It’s slow to communicate amongst the other parties.
The app also industrial plant flawlessly on mobile devices, which comes inward real handy if you lot desire to instruct dorsum to someone spell out in addition to about. Yes, prompt responses is good, peculiarly if you lot haven’t snagged something yet. It’s a shame when you lot lose out on a rental because you lot neglect to respond or secure your preferred rental.
RVezy website | iOS App | Google Play
2. Outdoorsy
Outdoorsy Overview
- Countries: Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italia in addition to Spain.
- Availability filtering: Yes
- Insurance: Yes, at that topographic point is extensive insurance policies provided. The exact terms in addition to coverage varies past times country. I strongly recommend that you lot sympathize the insurance offered earlier listing an RV for rent in addition to renting an RV equally a traveler.
- Roadside assistance: yes.
- Delivery/Pick up: yes (depending on whether possessor offers this). In fact, there’s a search filter specifically for generating only results where the possessor volition deliver.
- Types of RVs: Every type imaginable.
- Reviews: Yes, similar whatever sharing website worth its salt, at that topographic point are many reviews you lot tin bathroom read.
- Cancellation policy: yes, but dictated past times owner.
Inventory
I did the next RV searches for July vi to 13, 2020 in addition to hither are the results:
- Nanaimo, BC (Canada): Driving RVs: 141 | Towable: 258
- Red Deer, AB (Canada): Driving RVs: ninety | Towable: 308
- Halifax, NS (Canada): Driving RVs: 3 | Towable: 19
- Bend, OR: Driving RVs: 24 | Towable: 26
- Boise, ID: Driving RVs: 53 | Towable: 128
- Traverse City, MI: Driving RVs: 8 | Towable: 26
The Outsoorsy search business office is real practiced because it does a overnice labor of generating results unopen to the locations you lot search. It offers many filtering options so you lot tin bathroom speed upwards your search considerably.
I’ve non rented an RV from Outdoorsy, but I checked it out at length when searching for RVs. It’s a real large RV sharing choice that serves several countries.
- Countries: USA
- Availability filtering: Yes
- Insurance: Yes, at that topographic point is extensive insurance policies provided. The coverage options are real straightforward inward that you lot pay for a policy based on the value of the RV.
- Roadside assistance: yes, at that topographic point is a comprehensive roadside assistance computer programme available.
- Delivery/Pick up: yes (depending on whether possessor offers this). In fact, there’s a search filter specifically for generating only results where the possessor volition deliver.
- Types of RVs: Every type imaginable.
- Reviews: Yes, at that topographic point are many renter reviews.
- Cancellation policy: yes, but dictated past times owner.
Inventory
I did the next RV searches for July vi to 13, 2020 in addition to hither are the results:
- Bend, OR: Driving RVs: 43 | Towable: 155
- Boise, ID: Driving RVs: 32 | Towable: 172
- Traverse City, MI: Driving RVs: 188 | Towable: 106
I found that RVshare’s search results were variety of similar RVezy inward that the size of the part was agency equally good large, thence the larger numbers.
I searched for an app version but didn’t uncovering one. IMO, an app is a practiced offering because it’s so convenient to grip these things on our phones.
B. 3 Excellent European RV Sharing Websites
1. Goboony.com
Goboony.com serves Europe in addition to serves it extensively amongst RV sharing rentals inward Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, England, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Republic of Ireland in addition to Germany. The website is first-class amongst all the search bells in addition to whistles that brand finding an RV easy.
2. Yescapa.com
Yescapa.com serves Europe, specifically the UK, Spain, Italy, France, Deutschland in addition to Portugal. The website itself is first-in-class so if you lot demand to rent an RV inward Europe, this is the go-to European peer-to-peer RV sharing site to depository fiscal establishment check out.
3. SHAREaCAMPER
SHAREaCAMPER currently only serves Germany, Commonwealth of Australia in addition to New Zealand. Actually this is smashing because most sites focus on Canada in addition to the USA, however RVing is huge inward Europe, Commonwealth of Australia in addition to New Zealand. The site industrial plant smashing in addition to offers all the bells in addition to whistles you lot desire inward a peer-to-peer RV sharing website.
C. Other RV Sharing Websites
Given how pop peer-to-peer RV sharing is, it’s no surprise that at that topographic point are many sites fishing to interruption into the industry. While the to a higher identify iii are my favorite, at that topographic point are others. The next didn’t brand my top 3 because of express inventory and/or express website function.
1. Wheelestate
Wheelestate.com offers RV sharing inward Canada only. The website is fantastic but it doesn’t receive got nearly the selection for Canadians that RVezy in addition to Outdoorsy offers. At the fourth dimension I published this article, at that topographic point were no mobile apps either (at to the lowest degree that I could find).
2. Campanda
Campanda serves multiple countries in addition to has the bones for a top-tier RV sharing website but it needs to beef upwards its inventory. The site industrial plant great, offers engagement filtering (saves time) in addition to all the other helpful search functions but exactly lacks inventory.
The inventory number is in all probability ane of the biggest problems faced past times such sites. Once at that topographic point are a few dominant players, it’s hard to entice RV owners to listing amongst novel sites peculiarly if they’re successfully renting out their RV for most of the available dates inward a year.
3. RVRentalConnection
As far equally I could tell, RVRentalConnection has decent inventory but you lot can’t filter results past times engagement availability. You must contact private owners amongst proposed dates. This is a huge time-suck since you lot must contact to a greater extent than owners hoping some receive got availability.
4. PrivateMotorhomeRental
PrivateMotorhomeRental doesn’t offering engagement availability filtering in addition to the inventory is non equally robust equally other sites.
Should you lot bring together all RV sharing website services?
It depends. If you lot deal to uncovering what you lot demand on ane of them, there’s no argue to deal multiple sites. However, if you lot notice inventory varies greatly past times site for your area, you lot may receive got no choice but to bring together to a greater extent than than ane service.
I found RVezy to live to a greater extent than than sufficient for our needs. In fact, I checked out ane other site for our surface area in addition to it turned out RVezy had to a greater extent than available RVs so that made it easy.
If you’re an owner, it’s in all probability best to bring together equally many equally you lot can, or at the real least, a few of the to a greater extent than pop RV sharing websites. After all, you lot mightiness equally good gain exposure to equally many renters equally possible.
RV Sharing Website Tips for Travellers
Fill out your profile
Put yourself inward owners’ shoes. You spent a lot of coin buying an RV so you lot don’t desire to rent it to the incorrect folks. Owners desire to a instruct a sense that you’re a practiced somebody to rent to. If you lot don’t consummate whatever profile info, they receive got cipher to instruct on in addition to may live to a greater extent than probable to deny whatever requests to rent.
I add together a photo, briefly explicate our household unit of measurement province of affairs (wife amongst 2 immature kids) in addition to where nosotros live. I don’t give out my life story, but pepper it upwards amongst salient details so owners know we’re legit.
Be polite
Civility goes a long agency inward concern in addition to interpersonal relationships. The entire rental procedure is much amend when people are variety in addition to civil. I’ve never encountered whatever rudeness renting RVs or houses on opor-garai belongings sites, but I’m certain it’s happened. There’s no demand for it. Remember, you lot equally a traveler are hoping that an possessor volition approve your rental request. Owners promise renters volition select their RV. Both sides are subject on one-another. Give yourself the best run a peril of a win/win past times avoiding beingness rude.
Be specific
When communicating amongst owners, live specific in addition to succinct. They are probable busy. When you lot enquire questions, enquire equally many equally you lot tin bathroom inward ane message. If you lot shipping out multiple messages, the other political party ends upwards getting a slew of notifications which tin bathroom live annoying.
I typically Federal Reserve annotation downward all my questions in addition to sent them all at ane time to relieve fourth dimension in addition to avoid the possessor getting pinged amongst a 1000000 notifications.
Read the reviews
Don’t assume an possessor is practiced to bargain amongst or that the RV is a practiced choice. Photos are exactly photos. Instead, read the reviews. One bad review out of xx doesn’t hateful it’s a bad choice. 8 bad reviews out of xx is a bad sign. Yes, I’ve passed over options due to negative reviews.
Read the RV write-up inward detail
Take the fourth dimension to read the entire RV write-up to avoid asking questions that you lot could receive got answered past times taking a few minutes to read everything provided past times the owner. That said, spell many owners include quite a flake info, some RV write-ups are lacking.
Respond promptly
Not only is it courteous to respond promptly, but it’s practiced practise if you’re keen to secure a rental. RVs are inward demand in addition to it’s a shame to lose out on your showtime choice for failing to live prompt. Of course, things come upwards up in addition to you’re non available 24/7, but do your best. Don’t ignore it. Most sharing sites receive got apps so you lot receive got quick in addition to immediate access on your smartphone pretty much anywhere.
RV Sharing Website Tips for Owners
Good in addition to plentiful photos
Make it slow for prospective renters to instruct a sense of what they get. This is easily done amongst many photos. And yes, photograph lineament matters. Lousy photos brand your RV expect lousy. It actually does. If you’re serious virtually making coin renting your RV, in addition to so instruct serious photos. It’s a one-time expense. It’s worth hiring a professional person photographer. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 video walkthrough isn’t a bad thought either.
Provide a detailed RV write-up
This is almost equally of import equally providing high-quality photos (and plenty of them). The write should include the following:
- Make, model in addition to twelvemonth of the RV. This is helpful because prospective renters tin bathroom do farther research. I liked the powerfulness to depository fiscal establishment check out floorplan layouts.
- Set out everything that’s included. The to a greater extent than particular here, the amend because it helps renters figure out what to pack (the less I receive got to haul, the better).
- Tech information – USB ports, screens, etc.
Provide equally much materials equally possible
You tin bathroom include it inward the toll or offering add-on packages. The RV rental businesses offering add-on kits that you lot pay extra for (I’m happy to pay extra for kits so I don’t receive got to pack it in addition to haul it).
Consider the following:
- Propane grill
- Fully outfitted kitchen (pots, pans, java maker, cutlery, dishes, etc.)
- Cleaning products / broom
- Generator
- Camping chairs
- Outdoor mat
- Kid stuff: balls, tiddler kayak, etc.
- Propane firepit
- Hot dog/marshmallow sticks.
- Bedding (many owners don’t include this because patently it’s non all that sought after past times renters. However, some renters may live flight inward in addition to demand bedding so mayhap offering it equally an add-on option.
- Awning
- Functioning bath facilities
Outfit it assuming travelers are flight inward (or at to the lowest degree offering the kit options).
Respond promptly
The early on aeroplane gets the worm. Renters are worried virtually non getting something, so many volition convey the showtime ane available based on accepted requests. If you lot don’t respond to rental requests promptly and/or neglect to reply questions promptly, you’re non going to rent your RV equally ofttimes equally you lot could.
Yes, it’s a commitment when you lot listing materials on sharing sites. You demand to live prepared to do some work. There’s no gratuitous lunch.
Source: homestratosphere.com
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