Renting an RV for the First Time

By Jasmine Cummings on October 10, 2016

I’ve spent the last two weeks sharing my experience traveling to many of the National Parks found in the U.S. But as Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas start the process of recovering from Hurricane Matthew, I’d like to spend this week discussing a different topic.

This wasn’t the situation in which I was hoping to cover RVing; to me, travel is meant to be hugely positive, yet this is also part of my personal experience, so I think it’s important to share. So I’ll cover a few of the basics of renting an RV, whether it’s for a purely pleasurable trip or a way to escape a hurricane.

RVs come in many sizes

There are several different classes of motor homes, each with their own pros and cons. Class As are the big, bus-like RVs you see on freeways and up front and center at RV shows, available from 24-45 feet. They’re by far the most luxurious of motor homes, often coming fitted with large TVs, comfy lounge chairs, and even electric fireplaces.

Unfortunately, they only have one bedroom, and everyone else has to sleep on the pull-out couch. This setup is ideal for parents with younger children, but not for large families. They’re also expensive to insure, eat gas (or diesel, depending on the engine), and can be difficult to drive for those without previous experience with large vehicles. They do have a larger weight limit, allowing them to tow even trucks and vans. Keep in mind that heavier towing vehicles will decrease mileage.

My parents’ own Class A RV.

Class Cs are smaller, with a truck-based vehicle and engine. The front of the roof overhangs the driver’s area, allowing for a surprising large bedded area where someone can sleep concealed behind a curtain for more privacy. The couch can still be pulled out as a bed, making it a good choice for larger families with an older child (namely, us college kids). Class Cs fall between 24-32 feet long, making them easier to maneuver. Keep in mind that around six feet of this is lost to the engine and driver’s area. They have a smaller gas tank, but get better mileage.

Our old Class C. I slept up in the roof cab. Pretty comfy if I do say so myself.

Fifth wheels are large trailers that require a heavy-duty, expensive truck in order to tow. They come between 20-42 feet, and can have as many as two bedrooms and two bathrooms. While they can be as luxurious as a Class A and aren’t susceptible to motorized failure, the longer fifth wheels can be hell to maneuver for a first-timer, as backing up is difficult, especially in tight areas.

Example of a fifth wheel. Photo provided by my parents, who are currently traveling in North Carolina.

Prices for renting RVs can change depending on the season, location, and type of RV, so be sure not only hunt around for the best prices, but be sure to book far in advance, just as you would when booking a plane.

Understand your RV

Before you leave the dealership, make sure you’re shown the ins and outs of how motor homes work, including how to dump the sewer and correctly hook up your vehicle. Also double check your supplies, such as sewer and water houses, electric cables, and wooden boards to place under the wheels for leveling purposes. More expensive motor homes will have a fully automated leveling system, but some you’ll have to calibrate yourself. Ensure you have a level, a small ruler-like object with a bubble inside to measure both front to back and side to side leveling. Even paved RV sites can be un-level at times, so this is a handy skill to master. Unless towing a fifth wheel, be sure to unhook your vehicle before leveling, and slide-outs are for after the process.

Keep aware of your gas levels at all times, both in your RV and the propane back-up generator that comes with. And most importantly, along with a specialized exit book that highlights gas stations and parking lots that are RV accessible – doubly important for gas using motor homes, as truck pumps are diesel only – make sure you have insurance coverage and roadside emergency service that covers RVs. The last thing you want is to be stranded on the side of the road without anyone to call.

Escaping storms

RVs can be a particularly comfortable way to not only evacuate ahead of a hurricane, but to live in afterwards if your home is damaged. RVs come with a gas back-up generator that will power a good deal of your electronics, including satellite TV, refrigerator and freezer, microwave, and air conditioner, no extension cables required. Depending on how many electronics you’re running, generators will generally last for 50+ hours on around 40 gallons.

Do keep in mind that you CANNOT weather more than a category 1 hurricane in an RV, and even that can be dangerous if your site is surrounded by trees, which will be the case most of the time. Make sure your slide-outs are in as well, to lessen the chance of being badly buffeted by wind gusts. Many RV parks also tend to be near water, so be aware of possible flooding. My own parents just weathered Matthew in their RV, currently located in North Carolina. It was a dangerous risk even though they’ve been RVing since before I was born. Don’t be them.

This is just a very basic guide for renting an RV, but I believe that now is an important time to cover a topic like this, as the hurricane season is far from over and you never know how bad the next might be.