RV camping is easier and more popular than ever.

Thanks to the pandemic in 2020, when many people realized they could work from just about anywhere, RV travel is on the upswing. Fortunately, a lot of campgrounds and other places that provide RV services noticed this upward trend and took time to upgrade as well. Many campgrounds added stronger WiFi, improved amenities, and renovated their facilities.

With these new improvements and increased popularity, it’s never been easier to try out RV camping for the first time.

Why You Should Rent RVs From a Peer-to-Peer Over a Direct Company

If you’re new to RV camping, you’ll want to rent one to try it out. Even if you’re considering switching to a full-time RV lifestyle, you’ll want to rent one a few times first to make sure you know what you’re doing and to be certain you want to make that lifestyle switch. There are currently two main ways to rent an RV – peer-to-peer RV rental or direct company RV rental. If you’re wondering what is the best way to rent an RV, read on for tips!

What is peer-to-peer RV renting

Peer-to-peer RV renting means you are renting an RV that belongs to another person. When you consider that people who are not full-time RVers have their motorhome sitting in storage for some of the year, it’s the perfect solution. Owners get to make some income while their RV isn’t being used by them, and renters get personalized service from someone who has a very deep interest in making sure they enjoy their experience. In a large company, if one person is unhappy they lose a little money. However, the impact on someone who has a very limited number of customers is much bigger. They have a very big incentive to keep you, the renter, happy!

Benefits of peer-to-peer RV rentals

There are a lot of benefits of peer-to-peer rentals. Here are just a few:

A personal experience

You’re not one of a stream of customers that a sales rep is handling in a day. The owner of your RV has way fewer people to talk to and can spend the time to talk to you and answer any questions. If you search for an RV online and have questions or want more details, there is an option on RVshare to contact the owner. You can put to rest any worries and find out what is included with the RV so you know what to pack, all before you meet the owner to rent the RV or trailer.

Extra amenities

Speaking of finding out what’s included in your rental – many peer-to-peer rentals have extras you won’t find in a company rental. From kitchen appliances to nonperishable food to extra outdoor chairs to big items like kayaks or paddleboards, many owners include a lot of options when you rent their vehicle. Because they use these vehicles themselves, they also know where to store these items, making your packing even easier. Many rental companies keep the insides of their RVs completely free of items, and guests need to either provide their own or pay extra for things like linens and kitchen items.

Extra assistance

A lot of owners know renters may be nervous driving or setting up an RV or trailer for the first time, and many of them offer delivery service for a small fee. You can arrange with the RV owner to drive the RV to the campground of your choice (within certain specifications) and they will set it up for you. You just need to show up and enjoy yourself!

Tailored searches

You can narrow your search for an RV at RVshare by date, area, type of RV or trailer, number of guests, pet friendliness, accessibility, and so much more. If you have a special request, there’s likely a filter for it, and there’s a customer service rep who can help you as well.

By contrast, the largest rental company – Cruise America – rents only their own RVs, which are built to their specifications and offer very little variety.

Affordability

Because motorhome rental companies offer a standard set of vehicles with very little variety, the prices are set as well. With RVshare, you can find everything from a basic $30 trailer to luxury vehicles for $500 a night or more.

Help on the road

Of course, just about all RV rental companies offer customer assistance while you’re out on the road. However, you have a personal connection with someone who wants to make sure you – and their RV! – return home safely. That extra personal touch can also be seen in RVshare’s upgraded roadside assistance program, which helps with everything from towing to bringing you supplies like gas or oil if you run out.

A low profile

When you rent peer-to-peer, you’re not advertising you’re a newbie with a company name plastered on the side of your RV. Your RV looks just like everyone else’s on the outside. The inside of your rental will be different, too – you don’t have a sterile, impersonal rental but a warm, inviting interior to welcome you each night in your home away from home. Someone worked very hard to make sure the inside of their RV would be a relaxing place to land each day!

Flexibility

Unlike a company with rigid policies, RVshare owners work with their renters and can be flexible on when to pick up and drop off the vehicle. Owners can be on-hand to show renters the ropes, answer questions, and go over a checklist together to make sure the RV is in top shape.

Peer-to-peer RV rental tips

Ask questions. If you’re considering renting an RV for the first time, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Ask about anything and everything you don’t understand. Ask exactly what’s included with your rental. Ask about anything that might be making you nervous. This may be your first time renting, but the owner has likely helped many people before you and should be willing to work with you to make sure you understand everything.

Be sure to read the descriptions. Each RVshare listing has a detailed description of the vehicle, and lists what’s included in each part of the rental from the kitchen to the bathroom to the other areas so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Read the ratings. RVshare also has a rating system for owners. While browsing listings, you can see at a glance if an owner has 5 out of 5 stars. If you click on a listing, you can scroll down to see more details – like how many stars the listing got for accuracy, amenities, cleanliness, rental value, and communication with the owner. You can also read reviews left by other renters.

RVshare is the first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental company out there, and a great choice for your next rental!