The Complete Guide to Renting an RV

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FROM THE INTRODUCTION: So you’re thinking about renting an RV. Congratulations! The allure of RVing is almost intoxicating. The freedom of the open road. The dream of seeing America from ground level, and enjoying all of the majesty and quirkiness you encounter along the way. The excitement of campfires, roadside picnics, and getting close to nature. The opportunity to spend quality time with your family away from work, school, and the siren call of chores you need to do around the house. RVing holds the promise of one of your most relaxing or exciting vacations of all time.
But then you remember those movies you’ve seen, such as RV starring Robin Williams, and a certain level of doubt or fear starts to creep in. Will we all be able to get along together in such a small space? How do I choose the right RV to rent? How do I find it? Where will we go? How do I drive that thing? What about the poop!
For a vacation that’s all about life’s simple pleasures, the challenge of renting and planning an RV vacation can be daunting. I should know. I’ve been there! The first time we rented an RV, I was overwhelmed by the number of choices I had to make before we even left home. What did I need to know about the many different kinds of motorhomes available for rent? How would we find places to stay at night that brought smiles instead of grimaces? And I’d never driven anything larger than a minivan! So I began to research anything and everything I could think of about RVing. Frankly, my family accused me of being obsessed. “Dad, you’re not reading about RVs again!” But I was determined to give my family the very best RV vacation possible.
It must have worked, because after that first RV trip in Arizona, even my most cynical teenage daughter said, “That was the best vacation EVER. When can we do it again?”
What I quickly learned when planning an RV vacation was that there is a lot of information out there. That was an exciting discovery. On the other hand, there’s really no one place you can go to learn all that you need to know about planning the best RV vacation for your family, your vacation, and your needs. My goal here is to bring it all together to give you the benefit of my research, mistakes, and discoveries.
Many different kinds of RVs are available to fit a wide variety of needs. For the purposes of this book, when I use the term “RV” I’ll be referring to a self-contained motorhome—one vehicle that contains both living space and an engine to drive it around.
This book is a step-by-step guide to planning and enjoying the best possible RV rental vacation. Whether you’ve rented before, or you’re true first-timer, you’ll find the information you need to have the kind of vacation that leaves you and your family asking for more.
Happy travels!

CHAPTER 1 – CHOOSING THE RV THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
CHAPTER 2 – MAKING THE DEAL
Chains & Brokers
Local Dealers
Private Individuals
Feature Comparison Chart
Price Comparison Chart
CHAPTER 3 – DEFINING YOUR VACATION STYLE
CHAPTER 4—WHERE TO STAY
Private Campgrounds
State and National Parks
Boondocking
CHAPTER 5 — PLANNING YOUR ITINERARY
CHAPTER 6 – PACKING
CHAPTER 7 – PICKING UP YOUR RV
CHAPTER 8 — DRIVING
CHAPTER 9 – AT THE CAMPGROUND
CHAPTER 10 – THE RETURN
Appendix A —