5th Wheel, Travel Trailer, Truck Camper and Tent Trailer Rental info

What you need to know before renting an RV

You have decided that a Tent Trailer rental, Truck Camper rental, Travel Trailer rental or Fifth Wheel  rental is for you. 

Here are some rental facts you will need to know before you actually go to an agency and rent one. 

This section will give you an overview of what is required to rent a trailer or camper, as well as letting you know what extra costs you might incur above and beyond the "normal" Travel Trailer or Tent Trailer rental fee. 

These are generic guidelines and will vary by the agencies you choose to rent from.

To Rent A Trailer Or Camper You Must

> Have a valid Drivers License (you probably knew that already, but we just wanted to make sure).

>   Be at least 21 years old.  In some states, you must be at least 25 years old.

>   Have a major credit card.

>   Provide proof of insurance for all drivers that are going to be pulling the trailer or transporting the camper. 

>   Prior to the rental you need to check with your auto insurance carrier to see if the insurance on the personal vehicle you are using to pull the trailer or transport the camper will cover the trailer/camper.  You may have to add this to your coverage.  Depending on your insurance you may need to purchase additional coverage from the RV rental agency.

>   Provide a DMV printout of your driving record.  Again, this varies by state and rental agency used.

> Leave a refundable deposit above and beyond the rental fee (the fee will not be very high for a tent trailer rental).

>   Have a vehicle setup to tow a 5th Wheel, Travel Trailer, Tent Trailer or carry a Truck Camper. 

It must have the proper hitches, electrical hookups and be rated to tow or carry the weight of the trailer or camper.

Pets:  Some, not all rental agencies allow pets, but you will have to pay an additional non-refundable fee (So, you may want to leave your pet chimpanzee at home).

Smoking:  Most RV rental agencies do not allow smoking in their rentals.  If you do choose to smoke in the RV you could be charged a large sum for deodorizing the RV.

Truck Camper Rentals:  The agencies that rent Truck Campers are few and far between.  The agencies that do rent them appear to be  in the back country of Alaska and Canada.

Pots, pans, dishes, silverware and bedding:  Bring your own!  You can purchase 'housekeeping packages' where the agency provides these items for an additional fee.

Generator usage:  If the trailer or camper you rent has a generator, you can use it, but you will be charged a fee for each hour you use it

Grey water and black water holding tanks:  Make sure that these are empty when you return it.  If you don't they will charge you a "Dumping Fee".

You damage it, you pay for it:  If you have damaged the RV in any way, the rental agency will deduct the cost of the damages from your deposit.

Bring it back clean:  When you return the trailer or camper, it should be as clean or cleaner than when you picked it up (if not more fees will be levied).

I know that after reading the above information, some of you are thinking "why would I want to rent an RV after seeing all of these regulations and fees?". 

This 5th Wheel , Truck Camper, Travel Trailer or Tent Trailer Rental information was not provided to scare you.  Quite a bit of the information above is also required when you rent a car. 

Once you have rented the RV and had a chance to experience RVing, it will all be worth it.  A Travel Trailer or Tent Trailer Rental will definitely help you decide what type of RV is right for you and if the RV lifestyle is for you.

Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by using the comments section located below.

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