According to a survey conducted this spring by the RV Rental Association (RVRA), a sizable portion of RV dealers who also rent believe they will do more business this year when compared with 2023. For 2024, 41% of rental operators believe their rental revenue will be higher while 31% think it will be the same as 2023.
“There still will be plenty of choices for those looking to rent an RV because 84% of the rental dealers surveyed believe manufacturers have supplied them with enough rental units for this coming peak season,” said Scott Krenek of Krenek RV in Coloma, Michgan, chairman of the RVRA. “That’s why so many RVRA members are looking forward to a great summer.”
Demand for RV rentals throughout the U.S. and Canada received a boost from the solar eclipse on April 8, Krenek said. That robust early spring demand is likely to carry over into the summer because RV rental companies thrive on repeat business. This year’s survey results showed 48% of the rental companies had customers who rented from them at least once in the past. Another 23% said they had customers who rented from them at least twice in the past.
A sizable portion of people renting RVs to watch the eclipse also asked to keep their RVs longer than they had originally planned, which reflects the trend toward longer duration RV rentals, Krenek said. Thirty-eight percent of rental companies responding to this year’s survey said five to six nights was the average length of their contracts in 2023, while another 22% said it was seven or more nights. Sixteen percent of those responding to this year’s survey think their rental contracts will be even longer this year.
For families renting RVs, bigger is better. “Eighty-eight percent of the rental dealers completing the survey said RVs with enough room to sleep at least three adults are the most popular,” Krenek said. “Another 25% said at least five adult sleeping areas was most popular, and 19% said at least six sleeping areas was most popular.”
Eighty-four percent of the dealers responding to the RVRA survey rent towable RVs, making them a viable option for families already owning a Ford F-series, Chevy Silverado, RAM pickup or other SUVs capable of safely pulling an RV trailer. In fact, 22% of towable lessors said three-quarters of their lessees last year were “tow and go,” meaning they had their own tow vehicle.
But what if you don’t own a tow vehicle and don’t know how to hook up an RV at a campground? Many RV rental dealers can take care of that issue. Thirty percent of rental dealers completing the survey said more than 20% of their lessees last year were “delivery and set up” customers at campgrounds or private homes.
“Some advance planning before you set out on your trip will make your experience even better,” Krenek said. “RV rental vacations are a wonderful way to make memories with family and friends.”
“A rented RV is a wonderful lodging choice for families attending family reunions, music or food festivals,” Krenek said. “Dog, horse, antique car and air shows, along with car, motorcycle, and dirt bike races are other events for which attendees should consider a rented RV for housing.”
Rental Dealers Better at Fixing Problems
Renting an RV from private owners through peer-to-peer digital platforms has undergone incredible growth in recent years, and the survey found about half of rental dealers post at least some of their rental fleet units on peer-to-peer platforms. Prospective renters should keep this in mind because dealers know more than the typical owner about how RVs work, how to maintain them and how to fix them if they break down while in use, Krenek said.
RV Rental Advice
Here are some other issues Krenek believes consumers need to consider before renting an RV this summer. RVRA recommends customers ask these basic questions:
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- Does the renter keep regular hours for drop off and pick up?
- For first-time RV renters, does the rental company provide an orientation on the RV systems and components?
- If customers have questions about the RV during the trip, is there a phone number they can call or text for help?
- What are the terms for the security/damage deposit?
- Is the RV that was described online the actual model that will be available at time of pickup?
- Who owns the RV that you’re renting and how does the insurance coverage work?
- If the RV you want to rent is damaged, does the renter have an adequate replacement unit available, or will the renter cancel your reservation.
- For RV owners considering renting their unit on their own, RVRA urges them to read and understand the terms of their RV manufacturer’s warranty as well as any component part warranties. They should also read and understand the terms of any financing agreement associated with the unit.
RVRA, a unit of RVDA, is a national association of companies that rent recreation vehicles to consumers. The survey was concluded in April 2024 through the RV Retailer Intelligence program, a service of the RV Assistance Corp. (RVAC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of RVDA. For a list of RVRA members, visit www.rvra.org.