Outdoor enthusiasts love RVs because of the comfort they provide. You can go out in the wilderness while still having all the facilities of your home. It allows you to save on travel costs, hotel costs, and kitchen costs as well. Most RVs include basic features such as a bathroom, kitchen, and bed.
However, you first need to decide your requirements and then choose the right RV based on your needs. People who love traveling or camping used to buy RVs, but buying an RV can be quite expensive and not every travel enthusiast can afford it. With the advancement of technology, now you can enjoy the pleasures of an RV without having to buy one, thanks to the best RV rental platforms like Outdoorsy and RVshare. These RV rental companies allow you to rent RVs based on your requirements.
In recent years, peer-to-peer RV rental services have gained popularity because they give people a chance to travel on a budget with all the comforts of a home. If you are planning to rent an RV on Craigslist, DON’T. There are high chances that someone will scam you and you will have to go on your trip without the RV. There are many different kinds of rental companies that offer RV rental services. However, you should only rent an RV from trusted platforms.
If you are planning to rent an RV for your camping trip or you have an RV and want to make some extra cash by renting it, then you should consider the services of Outdoorsy and RVshare. Both companies are among the market leaders and are rapidly growing.
It is important to make an informed decision based on the pros and cons of both rental companies. To help you with your decision, we have reviewed and broken down the pros and cons of both companies: Outdoorsy and RVshare.
How Outdoorsy and RVshare Work
Outdoorsy and RVshare both work in a similar way. They are both rental services just like Airbnb. There is a person who has an RV and wants to make some extra money by renting it, and then there is a person who does not own an RV but wants to rent one to travel. Outdoorsy and RVshare connect these two persons while handling all the risky parts, such as insurance and payment.
The concept behind both companies is pretty simple. The person who owns an RV goes to one of these companies and gets their RV registered. The company will then publish the details of that RV on their website. On the other hand, the person who wants to rent an RV will also go to the company’s website and choose an RV based on their needs. The company will then take payment from that person and allow them to take the RV for the specified time period.
Both companies perform in a similar way, but they are also different in many ways. Here is a detailed review.
Outdoorsy
Outdoorsy is a peer-to-peer rental service platform with a huge range of RVs you can choose from. Depending on your needs, you can go for any type of RV you want. Even if you live in a smaller city, you will still have many options. As it is a peer-to-peer platform, this means RV owners set their own prices and you will have to connect directly with the RV owner. There are no intermediaries involved.
If you are an RV owner and want to list your RV or camper trailer on Outdoorsy, you can create your own listing on the platform. You can also communicate with the potential renters and discuss all the matters with them. Outdoorsy gives you the freedom to get to know the renter and hand over the keys. You also have the freedom to set your own cancellation policy, which can be quite useful if you own a luxury RV.
A huge perk of Outdoorsy is that its free $1 million liability insurance protects the owner as well as the renter. They also provide you with a $250,000 collision policy. Some of the things covered by their policy are vandalism, backup accidents, fires, theft, earthquakes, windstorms, power surge, fallen trees, animal collisions, and hailstorms. However, they do not cover any kind of interior damage, so the owner and the renter should discuss how to handle this effectively. The owner has the option to deduct the damage amount from the renter’s security deposit.
As an owner, you might be concerned about the safety of your RV. This is where another perk of Outdoorsy comes into play. They perform DMV checks on all the potential renters, which can be quite useful because it means only trusted renters can use this platform. You can give your RV to a renter with peace of mind because Outdoorsy has your back. Due to these perks, they get amazing reviews from both the renters as well as the owners.
There is a huge range of trailers and RVs that you can choose from with Outdoorsy. Some of the available classes are trailers, fifth wheels, Class A, Class B, Class C, travel trailers, pop-ups, and more. You get 80 percent of the whole price, and 10 percent of the reservation cost can be kept for roadside assistance. Apart from this, any other cost incurred by the renter will also be included.
If you tend to worry a lot about your RV, you can also get an optional GPS tracking service from Outdoorsy. You will simply log in to their website and the GPS tracker will show you the live location of your RV.
The renter can opt to pay $15 per day for roadside assistance. This deal is optional, but we recommend it because you never know when something will go wrong along the way. The roadside assistance coverage includes flat tires, battery boost, towing to the nearest maintenance station, mobile mechanic, and fluid refilling.
The best thing about their roadside assistance is that it is available 24/7. However, it must be noted that if you are in a remote area, the technician might take some time to reach you. You can also get Outdoorsy’s personal concierge service. This service helps you in finding campgrounds, restaurant reservations, and much more.
Once the booking is finalized and the renter pays Outdoorsy, they will hold the payment for 24 hours, at which time the payment will be released to the owner’s bank account. Please note that the actual deposit of this payment depends on your bank, and it might take three to five working days.
Here is a summary of Outdoorsy’s pros and cons:
Pros:
- Huge range of RVs, motorhomes, and camper trailers, including vintage and luxury RVs
- Completely free to join as an RV owner
- Industry-leading insurance policy of $1 million liability coverage included
- $250,000 collision coverage included
- Outdoorsy conducts DMV background checks on all renters
- Excellent reviews on BBB: A+ Rating
- Roadside assistance available 24/7
- Great customer support for owners as well as renters
- Instant booking available
- 5-star reviews
- RV delivery available at a small extra cost
- Payment done through Outdoorsy, which is guaranteed to be safe
- Detailed reviews available on owners and renters
Cons:
- Peer-to-peer platform, so not every RV is guaranteed to be in perfect condition
- Insurance does not cover interior damage to the RV
- Extra 20 percent fee charged on all fees such as rental cost and other extra charges
- Not all RVs are pet-friendly
- 10 percent of daily service charges are deducted
- Must pay extra for roadside assistance
- Instant booking option is not available for all RVs
RVshare
Just like Outdoorsy, RVshare is also a peer-to-peer rental platform where you can find a huge range of RVs available. However, there are a few differences between both platforms.
You have the option to upgrade your insurance coverage of $1 million with RVshare, but its basic coverage is not as comprehensive as the one provided by the Outdoorsy. RVshare’s coverage includes $500,000 liability. If you live in a remote area, you might not find a lot of options. But if you live in a populous area, you can still find a huge range of RVs, camper vans, pop-ups, fifth wheels, Class A, B, C vehicles, and more.
The best thing about RVshare is that its roadside assistance is completely free. It includes tire replacement and towing service to the nearest maintenance station. This means it doesn’t matter where you are in the United States; if you end up getting a flat tire, you can always call their roadside assistance and they will provide you a free replacement tire or refilling.
On the other hand, if the problem is bigger and your RV needs to be towed to the nearest maintenance station, they will also provide you with this service without any extra charge. However, it must be noted that if you are in a remote area, the service might take some time to reach you and your nearest maintenance station might be miles away from you. They also provide you with $200,000 collision coverage.
Their policy covers backup accidents, vandalism, fire, power surge, earthquakes, hailstorms, fallen trees, windstorms, and animal collisions.
Here is a complete break down of RVshare’s pros and cons:
Pros:
- Huge range of towable and motorhomes are available
- $200,000 collision coverage and $500,000 liability coverage
- Free roadside assistance available 24/7
- Completely free to join and no membership fee
- Instant booking option available
- 5% cash back loyalty program
- Great prices
Cons:
- RV choices are dependent on location; fewer options if you live in a remote area
- Do not always get immediate feedback after the booking
- Mileage increases may cause mechanical damage to the vehicle, which is not covered by the policy
- RVshare does not conduct DMV checks on the renters
- $10-$35 insurance fee is deducted
- BBB rating: B- (lower than Outdoorsy)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I rent my RV?
A: If you have an RV that you don’t use very often, you can make some extra cash by renting it out.
Q: Can I make money renting out my RV?
A: Yes, it is a great way to make some money. You can make around $500-$2,500 per rental.
