Motorhome Rentals Tips

Here is some advice on motorhome rentals from all over the world.

SECTION 1: GENERAL MOTORHOME RENTAL TIPS

Tip #1

Take time to understand the speed limits and rules of the road. There will be a Hirer's Manual in your motorhome with driving tips but it is better to learn the important points you can before you come.

Tip #2 - Driving at Night

We recommend that you do not drive your motorhome or campervan at night outside of town centres or major cities. Wildlife, can be very dangerous on our roads particularly at sunrise and sunset. Sunrise and sunset is when animals are most active because they are looking for food.

Tip #3

Planning the details of your RV trip in advance is always wise. That way you know the location of quality restaurants, top notch RV parks and campgrounds, and interesting attractions in a given area. You'll know if there is a special festival or event that you might want to attend. Since northern area parks sometimes close during winter, and attractions' hours of operation may vary throughout the year, planning ahead ensures that you won't turn up at a place that's closed, wasting precious time and money.

Tip #4

Drive carefully! Don't forget that if you are not used to driving a motorhome, you need to take extra care to avoid damage as this can be expensive and inconvenient. Practice if you can on a not so busy road just to get the hang of things.

Tip #5

Avoid bringing rigid suitcases on a motorhome holiday (unless you can unpack them at the depot and leave them in your car). Whilst our motorhomes have good storage space, they do not accommodate large rigid cases so they can really get in your way. Bring soft luggage so it can easily be folded and stowed away.

Tip #6

If you're headed to the national parks and monuments, write to their superintendents several weeks in advance. Advise them what type of activities you prefer such as hiking, camping, or listening to ranger talks. Tell them when you'll visit and request a special events schedule. Ask for brochures on any attractions they have.

Tip #7

Make a plan but be flexible. Whilst a detailed plan for your trip is a great idea, it's best to keep an open mind and try to have an "A" list and a "B" list of things you want to fit in. One of the main advantages of traveling in a motorhome is spontaneity and if you come across somewhere you love, you may want to linger and enjoy it rather than sticking to an earlier plan.

Tip #8: Budgeting For Rental Fees - What we do for you

The biggest investment in your RV/camping rental vacation is the price of renting an RV. Depending on the season and dealership, most motorhomes rent from $70 to $170 per day. Truck campers and travel trailers average $50 to $120 a day. Costs vary from dealer to dealer including cleaning and sanitation fees, generator rental fees, propane usage fee, insurance, and mileage charges after your free mileage allotment. Depending on what type of RV you choose, your trip can be a very affordable vacation.

The best way to save money on these charges is to do a cost comparison between dealers. Ask each dealer what the basic charges and any miscellaneous charges are. Compare apples with apples instead of apples with oranges. How many free miles does each dealer supply? What is his basic charge? If a dealer gives 100 free miles in a week but charges substantially more than a second dealer who doesn't provide free miles for a similar unit, figure out which is the better deal.

Tip #9: Planning Your Food Budget

The easiest way to save on food on an RV trip is to use your well-equipped galley for at least 75% of your meals. You'll find ovens, refrigerators, three or four burner ranges, and often microwaves in today's rentals making cooking easy and convenient. Many dealers offer livability kits including everything from pots and pans to cooking and eating utensils. While eating out in restaurants is a necessity when vacationing in a hotel or motel, it can be viewed as a fun "once in a while" treat when taking a RV/camping vacation. Further cost savings options are to purchase cooking supplies from the local discount store, take them from home, or if you vacation near friends or relatives borrowing from them.

If you want to shop smart for your groceries, shop at discount grocery stores or large supermarkets. Convenience stores are just what their name implies -convenient when you run out of something. Their sometimes higher prices are the cost of that convenience. Make a list of what you need to purchase so you don't waste miles running back to the store for forgotten items.

Everyday common sense prevails when grocery shopping away from home. Most grocery stores run specials and print coupons in newspapers on Thursdays and Sundays. Many markets also have racks of discount coupons. Since stores vary widely in pricing on the same foods in a single area, ask campground management the best stores at which to buy food. Check unit pricing on grocery shelves to see what brand and size is the best deal.

Part of the fun of any RV/camping vacation is picnicking after purchasing fresh foods in season. Local roadside stands sell everything from farm raised fruits and vegetables to honey, syrup, plants, and juices-all at great prices. Many towns have farmers' markets at least once a week selling delicious home baked goods and fresh produce and meats. In some areas, you can visit farms and pick everything from strawberries to apples. Local chambers of commerce can tell you where these farms are located. Remember to try regional specialties. Maine is known for its lobster; Wisconsin for its cheese. Who can forget Virginia's hams, crab in Maryland, or pasties from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan? You can provide a cultural experience for your children if you expose them to some regional foods that they might not otherwise get to try back home.

Even though your family enjoys cooking in your RV galley, or around the campfire, it may be fun to eat out periodically during your vacation. Restaurant prices vary quite a bit throughout North America. Restaurants in small towns often provide the best buys, while providing some real down-home cooking. Resort area prices usually run higher, but can provide more variety in the fine dining class. Midwest restaurants tend to be less expensive than those on the coasts.

You can save some valuable vacation dollars by eating your large meal at noon at a restaurant, then eating light at night at your RV campsite. You'll find many luncheon menus offer similar food to that on their dinner menus, but somewhat smaller portions, and lower prices. If you're in the right age group, ask for senior citizens' specials. If you're traveling with children, many restaurants have children's menus. Go before five or six to many restaurants, and you'll discover early bird specials. If your waitress doesn't volunteer that these exist, just ask.

Smorgasbords and restaurants with large salad bars are becoming increasingly popular. These can also save money. Participating at your park's pot luck supper is a great way to make new friends, while enjoying a meal. Watch the bulletin board at the park you are staying at, or ask for their activities calendar. Community fund-raising meals from pancake breakfasts to fish fries are ideal for mingling with local citizens. An added plus is they just might tell you about a little known attraction or local fishing spot. Local festivals honor just about everything from peanuts to pumpkins, and are a wonderful way to sample local and regional food specialties.

Tip #10: RV Driving: Different, Not Difficult

Driving or towing an RV opens up a world of on-the-road travel adventure. It requires no special license and it's easier than many newcomers think.

A survey of RV owners by Louis Harris and Associates found that three out of four RV owners do not feel that driving or towing an RV poses any difficulty. In fact, experienced automobile drivers already have the needed skills to drive a motorized RV. Automatic transmissions, power brakes and steering are usually standard equipment.

With proper attention to the differences in vehicle size, height and weight, you'll find it easy to take the wheel of a conversion vehicle or motorhome. Towing skills are also readily acquired.

However, although RV driving is not difficult, it is different. Some tips to keep in mind, whether you will be driving a motorized RV or towing an RV, are as follows:

• Adjust and use all rear view mirrors. Before leaving on a trip, sit in the driver's seat and adjust all mirrors for optimal road views.


• Account for your vehicle size when turning. The front and rear wheels will track paths much farther apart than those of a car.


• Allow more time to brake, change lanes and enter a busy highway; bigger vehicles take more time to accelerate and slow down.


• Drivers towing a folding camping trailer or travel trailers also should match the proper tow vehicle to your RV. Most full and mid-size family cars can pull a trailer; so can today's popular vans, 4-by-4s and light-duty trucks. Check the owner's manual to find the trailer types that your vehicle can haul and the maximum load weight it can pull.


• Use the right trailer hitch and make sure it is hitched correctly.


• Connect brakes and signal lights. Always check that the trailer's brakes, turn signals and tail lights are synchronized with the towing vehicle's.


• Back up with care. By placing your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, the trailer will move in the direction you turn your hand. To move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right. Once the trailer is moving in the proper direction, avoid any sharp movements of the steering wheel. Slowly steer the vehicle into its desired direction. It is also a good idea to have someone outside the vehicle assist the driver in backing up to avoid any obstacles not seen in the mirrors. If another person is not available, the driver should inspect the area behind the vehicle. By evaluating the situation before backing, drivers can avoid surprises and accidents.


• Make every trip a safer one by buckling up your safety belt and making sure passengers are secured too. Wearing a safety belt is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent serious injury and death in a traffic accident, according to the National Safety Belt Coalition.

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