Rent An RV Before You Buy One (...Or, Instead Of Buying One)

Written by Lynnette on May 18, 2007 | Comments (0)

Whether you intend to eventually buy an RV at some point or not, renting an RV is always good idea (...and a FUN one, too).

It might also be the best course of action before you purchase a motorhome of your own.

If you plan to use your RV the typical number of days per year (27), and you purchase your 3-year-old RV on credit, you will pay a premium of $200 more per day for the privilege of ownership versus renting! To make ownership financially worthwhile you need to use your RV about 40 days per year if you buy the RV outright or about 50 days per year if you buy the RV on credit. On the other hand for those who live full-time in their RV the costs per day can be well under $100."
-- "Rent vs Buy" by Dave Neale (May, 2006)

In our case, Jim has driven RVs and motorhomes of all shapes and sizes in his work with IHRA drag racing teams. So, other than "for the fun factor alone", we don't have the same pressing need to rent an RV before we buy one that most potential RVers have.

Now... test-drive a few before we buy?... That's another story! We'll definitely be test-driving several RVs before we ultimately purchase our home on wheels.

Little-Known Facts About Renting RVs

In addition to the rental fee (which could range from several hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the length of your trip) the mileage cost for renting an RV from Cruise America is typically .32 cents per mile. Source

Campground costs are about $25/night, on average. Fuel costs are about $3.00/gallon, on average. The RV rental fee is about $215/night for a 32' Class A motorhome. Source

To help combat the high cost of gasoline, which might keep some travelers at home these days, rather than in the driver's seat of a motorhome, many RV rental places (like Cruise America) have been known to offer as much as 50% off mileage charges on motorhome rentals. It's worth asking the RV rental agency of your choice if they offer something similar. Source

Most RV rental companies provide "housekeeping" packages (dishes, pots, pans, etc.) for a nominal fee. Source

See why you need RV rental insurance (...what you don't know could cost you thousands of dollars!).

Where To Rent An RV

Whether you're looking for a fun getaway for a day or two... or a multi-day vacation roadtrip... renting an RV makes a lot of sense. And, RVing as a mode of travel turns a "fun" trip into an adventure!

Here are some places where you can rent an RV:

Rent A Winnebago