Few things in life can bring a person as much joy as a road trip. However, the responsibility of buying and maintaining an expensive RV just for the sake of taking a road trip once in a while is a bit overwhelming for most people. Luckily, you don’t have to be an RV owner if you want to spend a few days or weeks on the road.
Vacation trailers and RVs are available around the country. RV sharing just may be the ticket to experiencing the fun of combining transportation, lodging and living while you’re on vacation.
RV sharing is opening up new worlds full of possibilities for families and groups of friends looking for a way to plan a memorable trip that won’t break the bank. Most people don’t use RVs for more than two or three weeks out of the year. This means that there are a lot of great RVs just sitting in driveways waiting to be used by eager travelers.
It’s easy to find just about any type of RV you can dream of when you decide to go with the peer-to-peer sharing option. Sometimes renters are able to get exquisite deals when RV owners list older vehicles. What are some of the RV types you can look forward to seeing during your online search? Travel trailers, fifth-wheel RVs, pop-up trailers, toy haulers, truck campers, Class B motorhomes and Class C motorhomes are all fairly common.
The RV Sharing Economy
People don’t do vacations like they used to. The Internet has opened up possibilities for peer-to-peer sharing for everything from homes to RVs. Many travelers are using RV fractional ownership as a way to enjoy the freedom to drive to great destinations and stay at campsites along the way without making the full commitment of purchasing an RV.
There are a few reasons why you might want to consider RV sharing. This is a great option if you’d like to dip your toe in the world of RV living without making a full commitment. Many RV owners are willing to offer long-term rentals that can last for several weeks or months. In fact, renters can often enjoy steep discounts when they agree to weekly or monthly rental contracts instead of paying per day.
- Diving in and purchasing an RV that might cost as much as a small house in some parts of the country definitely isn’t something that most people can or should do. What are some situations that are ideal for using an RV sharing service instead of purchasing your own RV? Here’s a look at the best scenarios for renting RVs:
- You’re taking your first road trip
- You’re driving across the country for a vacation
- You’re going to a popular festival or concert for a long weekend
- You don’t want to sleep in a tent during an upcoming weekend camping trip
- You’d like to try out several RV styles on the road before purchasing your own
The best part about booking a shared RV is that you’ll have a chance to get a feel for what’s out there. The experience of visiting an RV showroom and choosing from a limited selection of RVs isn’t always satisfying. You may find that you’d prefer to browse a selection that includes a variety of RV styles, sizes and classes. A peer-to-peer platform puts a diverse world of available RVs at your fingertips.
Where Are Shared RVs Located?
You might be wondering where rentable RVs are located. The answer is that a great RV could be right in your neck of the woods. A peer-to-peer sharing platform actually gives you the ability to look for your RV based on location. This means that RVs that are available in the region you’re searching in will pop up on your screen in seconds. You could easily have hundreds of RVs to choose from in a single city.
The RV that catches your interest could be located at someone’s home or in the parking lot of an RV dealership. You’ll have an opportunity to arrange a time to pick up your RV once you finalize the rates and terms of your sharing agreement. In addition, some RV owners are actually willing to deliver an RV to your home, campsite, festival spot or other location for a fee.
How far you can take your RV is something that is worked out on an individual basis. RV owners all have their own rules, preferences and fees when it comes to mileage and distance. However, you’re likely to find that most RV owners are quite flexible when it comes to how you can plan your road trip. The great thing about having a long list of available RVs to choose from is that you can always simply reach out to another owner if one RV doesn’t work out because you’re unable to get the dates, rates or terms you need. This can offer a big benefit when compared to dealing with a rental showroom with strict policies and fees regarding rental contracts.
RV Sharing Sites
Are you curious about which RV sharing app people are using to book rentals? RVshare is a popular peer-to-peer RV website that’s enabling people to book amazing rentals right where they live. Here’s a look at some of the benefits offered to renters from RVshare:
- A huge selection
- A secure payment platform
- 24-hour roadside assistance and customer support during trips
- A $10,000 guarantee
- Listings from both private owners and RV dealerships
Using a respected peer-to-peer platform to find, book and pay for your rental is a great strategy for trying out the experience of sharing an RV without taking a big risk. Many travelers love the mix of a hands-off approach and the promise of quality that a service like this provides. The experience of sharing memories on the road with your favorite people starts with sharing an RV.