want to put my rv into rental agency, which one is best?

I've seen Cousin Eddie's all over the big national parks in Cruise America motorhomes. I'd guess smaller rental outfits get better quality renters, but I don't really know. I do know I had a TON of people tell me what a horrible idea it was to keep our old house as a rental when we moved. That was a long time ago, now we have several rental properties and it remains one of the best financial decisions we ever made. YMMV, and obviously a depreciating RV is no house.

Beentherefixedthat wrote:


And you most certainly can compare the two: They both entail renting a piece of equipment that costs between 70 and more than a hundred thousand dollars for a short term.

Wait, what? Your previous post says "people with multi million dollar yachts do this all of the time."

Move the goalposts if you want, I stand by my assertion that Cousin Eddie isn't renting a multimillion dollar boat. But do you really think that because YOU never met Cousin Eddie that he doesn't exist, and he never rents anything? People who rent things out as a business would beg to differ.

You totally missed DRSTEVE's point: His reference to "Cousin Eddie" is an example from the movie "Vacation" of the class of people who cannot afford to own but will consider renting someone ele's RV. You cannot compare renting an RV to renting a very expensive yacht! The type of person, income level and even education and responsibility of that individual who can spend 10's of thousands of $ a week is not the level of person who may rent an rv for a few hundred a day! The risk factor to the RV of abuse is FAR, FAR greater!

Well actually I didnt miss his point at all. And you are incorrect about the cost of chartering a sailboat (yacht if you prefer) Most people who do it are simple middle class folks.

And you most certainly can compare the two: They both entail renting a peice of equipment that costs between 70 and more than a hundred thousand dollars for a short term.

Both are covered by insurance and a hefty deposit.

And in fact it is much easier to determine if someone is qualified to drive an RV than it is to determine if someone can competently sail a 40 foot sailboat.

As for the risk factor being greater for an RV over a sailboat? It is clearly more risky to give someone a sailboat to sail on the open ocean than an RV which can be pulled in to any parking lot and wait for a mechanic or tow truck. In the RV there is no Radar, SSB Radio, Life raft to know how to deploy (and when)Weather Fax, Bilge pump. self furling sails to master, Anchor or Anchoring safely for that matter.

On a sailboat one wrong valve turned can sink the boat and leave the entire crew in the water (if lucky).

An RV is basically a truck or trailer made into a house. Both familiar to all of us in many ways. A sailboat is a much different animal altogether. And while it is true that chartering a boat is a bit more expensive you can still do it for about $900 to $1600 for a week for a boat that holds TWO couples.

While I didnt see the movie referenced I did of course recognize what was being said...But I just don't buy it.

Finally; I have met many many many people out here who are renters of RV,s from American Families to a Group of Japanese college students and all kinds of other folks from here and abroad...in every case I found them to be extremely careful, open to advice and help and fully aware they were responsible for the care of the vehicle they had rented. I found NO Cousin Eddies.

One of the reasons we travel by RV (note that the word "camp" is not in there) is that it is "my" bed, "my" bathroom, "my frying pan, "my coffee cup, etc. No one else uses any of it and I am responsible for condition and availability at all times.

That would seem to be lost if it were in rental service, no matter how responsible the renters or the company.

Beentherefixedthat wrote:

drsteve wrote:

Beentherefixedthat wrote:
The knee jerk reaction of so many here adverse to your idea should be taken with a grain of salt.

First of all lets look at the Facts:

Any reputable company who takes this camper into it's fleet will have a detailed contract outlining each parties responsibility.

There will be a sizable deposit at rental and undoubtedly the unit will be covered by an extended insurance policy of commercial use.

Get a copy of the contract to read before agreeing to any deal.

Now people with multi million dollar yachts do this all of the time. You buy a boat and put it with a charter company. You get to decide when you use it and how long in most cases. In many cases the rental income will pay for the yacht. This is a long standing practice and the people I have talked to that did this with their boats had a very positive experience. I am a sailor myself with a 42ft Ocean Going Sailboat so I have seen this in action. And the folks I have met in those rental yachts took really exceptional care of themn while in their care.

And keep in mind that sailboat is much more complicated and difficult to move and land than your class C.

Don't be put off by the nattering nabobs of negativity that inhabit this forum like fleas. (apologies to Spiro Agnew)Do your homework and make your own decision.

You're right about deposits, contracts, and insurance. A decent company is going to cover most of these bases. And yes, make sure to read everything, even the finest of the fine print, especially what is insured and any deductibles. But you forgot one fact that could throw a wrench into even the best laid plans:

Cousin Eddie is never going to rent a multimillion dollar yacht. But he might rent your RV.

You might be right...but I am not sure who "Cousin Eddie" is in the popular imagination. Perhaps one of the BoD's?

But having spent ten days this August on the Greek Island of Alonnisos I talked to quite a few charter groups as they came and went and many who are renting very expensive yachts are families, sometimes two families to a boat, groups of young friends (lots from Scandinavia)and two young men who had rented a Hanse 575 (a 57 foot Sailboat purchase price about €500,000) My feeling is that most were gainfully employed and respectful folks some certainly just middle class Europeans.

There is a risk in almost anything but this one seems low to me for what is at stake. Especially considering that some of the catamarans being rented out to families with young kids cost upwards of $1.2 Mil.

You totally missed DRSTEVE's point: His reference to "Cousin Eddie" is an example from the movie "Vacation" of the class of people who cannot afford to own but will consider renting someone ele's RV. You cannot compare renting an RV to renting a very expensive yacht! The type of person, income level and even education and responsibility of that individual who can spend 10's of thousands of $ a week is not the level of person who may rent an rv for a few hundred a day! The risk factor to the RV of abuse is FAR, FAR greater!

drsteve wrote:

Beentherefixedthat wrote:
The knee jerk reaction of so many here adverse to your idea should be taken with a grain of salt.

First of all lets look at the Facts:

Any reputable company who takes this camper into it's fleet will have a detailed contract outlining each parties responsibility.

There will be a sizable deposit at rental and undoubtedly the unit will be covered by an extended insurance policy of commercial use.

Get a copy of the contract to read before agreeing to any deal.

Now people with multi million dollar yachts do this all of the time. You buy a boat and put it with a charter company. You get to decide when you use it and how long in most cases. In many cases the rental income will pay for the yacht. This is a long standing practice and the people I have talked to that did this with their boats had a very positive experience. I am a sailor myself with a 42ft Ocean Going Sailboat so I have seen this in action. And the folks I have met in those rental yachts took really exceptional care of themn while in their care.

And keep in mind that sailboat is much more complicated and difficult to move and land than your class C.

Don't be put off by the nattering nabobs of negativity that inhabit this forum like fleas. (apologies to Spiro Agnew)Do your homework and make your own decision.

You're right about deposits, contracts, and insurance. A decent company is going to cover most of these bases. And yes, make sure to read everything, even the finest of the fine print, especially what is insured and any deductibles. But you forgot one fact that could throw a wrench into even the best laid plans:

Cousin Eddie is never going to rent a multimillion dollar yacht. But he might rent your RV.

You might be right...but I am not sure who "Cousin Eddie" is in the popular imagination. Perhaps one of the BoD's?

But having spent ten days this August on the Greek Island of Alonnisos I talked to quite a few charter groups as they came and went and many who are renting very expensive yachts are families, sometimes two families to a boat, groups of young friends (lots from Scandinavia)and two young men who had rented a Hanse 575 (a 57 foot Sailboat purchase price about €500,000) My feeling is that most were gainfully employed and respectful folks some certainly just middle class Europeans.

There is a risk in almost anything but this one seems low to me for what is at stake. Especially considering that some of the catamarans being rented out to families with young kids cost upwards of $1.2 Mil.

Beentherefixedthat wrote:
The knee jerk reaction of so many here adverse to your idea should be taken with a grain of salt.

First of all lets look at the Facts:

Any reputable company who takes this camper into it's fleet will have a detailed contract outlining each parties responsibility.

There will be a sizable deposit at rental and undoubtedly the unit will be covered by an extended insurance policy of commercial use.

Get a copy of the contract to read before agreeing to any deal.

Now people with multi million dollar yachts do this all of the time. You buy a boat and put it with a charter company. You get to decide when you use it and how long in most cases. In many cases the rental income will pay for the yacht. This is a long standing practice and the people I have talked to that did this with their boats had a very positive experience. I am a sailor myself with a 42ft Ocean Going Sailboat so I have seen this in action. And the folks I have met in those rental yachts took really exceptional care of themn while in their care.

And keep in mind that sailboat is much more complicated and difficult to move and land than your class C.

Don't be put off by the nattering nabobs of negativity that inhabit this forum like fleas. (apologies to Spiro Agnew)Do your homework and make your own decision.

You're right about deposits, contracts, and insurance. A decent company is going to cover most of these bases. And yes, make sure to read everything, even the finest of the fine print, especially what is insured and any deductibles. But you forgot one fact that could throw a wrench into even the best laid plans:

Cousin Eddie is never going to rent a multimillion dollar yacht. But he might rent your RV.

The knee jerk reaction of so many here adverse to your idea should be taken with a grain of salt.

First of all lets look at the Facts:

Any reputable company who takes this camper into it's fleet will have a detailed contract outlining each parties responsibility.

There will be a sizable deposit at rental and undoubtedly the unit will be covered by an extended insurance policy of commercial use.

Get a copy of the contract to read before agreeing to any deal.

Now people with multi million dollar yachts do this all of the time. You buy a boat and put it with a charter company. You get to decide when you use it and how long in most cases. In many cases the rental income will pay for the yacht. This is a long standing practice and the people I have talked to that did this with their boats had a very positive experience. I am a sailor myself with a 42ft Ocean Going Sailboat so I have seen this in action. And the folks I have met in those rental yachts took really exceptional care of themn while in their care.

And keep in mind that sailboat is much more complicated and difficult to move and land than your class C.

Don't be put off by the nattering nabobs of negativity that inhabit this forum like fleas. (apologies to Spiro Agnew)Do your homework and make your own decision.

aftermath wrote:
This is pretty funny. The OP signs on and asks a simple question and people that most of whom have never rented an RV out in their life be it privately or through a rental agency / dealer start jumping on him. He never asked if we thought it was a good idea. He disappears and someone wants to know how things went. Really? If it went south for him, do you think he would come back and say so? And if it was working for him I doubt he would post that because of the expected flak he would get.

I wish him well, wherever he is.

I took the Liberty of correcting your post.

This is pretty funny. The OP signs on and asks a simple question and people start jumping on him. He never asked if we thought it was a good idea. He disappears and someone wants to know how things went. Really? If it went south for him, do you think he would come back and say so? And if it was working for him I doubt he would post that because of the expected flak he would get.

I wish him well, wherever he is.