First off, I interested in hearing from some one who has actually participated in a dealer's "buy from us and let us rent it for you" program. I know many people have strong feelings against renting out their million dollar Diesel Pusher. A local dealer here rent's Class A, Class C and Travel trailers. We're considering a 19' bunkhouse model, we're empty nesters, but still working full time, and it's hard for us to get more than about a week to week and 1/2 off at a time anyways, so it might be a viable deal for us, they have an insurance policy that covers it during rentals (we pay for it). So I'm interested in hearing from someone who has actually done this and how it worked out for them.

I have never even heard of a dealer offering such a program. That said, we work full-time but would still never consider renting ours out. Too many variables involved and too much chance for damage to your trailer.

Have never done it and wouldn't. Even though there is insurance, you don't know anything about the renters, if they have the first clue what they're doing, and when it comes down to a time when you may have a claim, you can't be sure that the insurance is going to be what they're saying now. Actually, a form of this question has come through from time to time, such as "would you loan/rent your trailer to a friend or family member" and the overwhelming answer was NO! I've never heard of a dealer offering to handle renting it out for you - if it's such a good idea, you'd think they would have an assortment of their own available for rental. Even if you can only use it once a month or so, you know how it's being cared for. It's an investment and you don't want it trashed. There are companies that rent exclusively and they're pretty pricey. If someone is interested in renting, I'd steer them to one of those companies. Definitely NOT your own.

If it's a matter of affordability - I would say if you can't afford it without renting it out, then you can't afford it. Look for an alternative - used, etc.If its a matter of the time it sits - I'd rather have my RV sit in my driveway than go off with strangers. My time is precious and the last thing I'd want is my RV to come home needing major repair and having to cancel my trip.I don't think an owner has to use his/her RV every waking moment to make it worthwhile. Set yourself a "minimum nights out" that works with your schedule - as long as you use the RV that minimum each year, then you're doing fine. Be realistic with your minimum and don't worry about the math.

This is pretty common in the boat industry, but primarily in charter boat fleets in places like the British Virgin Islands, etc. It's a great way to save money on a nice boat but they have a hard life.We'll happily set ours up locally for folks who visit to use, but there's no way I'd let someone else tow it and take it somewhere. Same thing with my boat, btw. Nobody else takes it out.

seaeagle2 wrote:First off, I interested in hearing from some one who has actually participated in a dealer's "buy from us and let us rent it for you" program. I know many people have strong feelings against renting out their million dollar Diesel Pusher. A local dealer here rent's Class A, Class C and Travel trailers. We're considering a 19' bunkhouse model, we're empty nesters, but still working full time, and it's hard for us to get more than about a week to week and 1/2 off at a time anyways, so it might be a viable deal for us, they have an insurance policy that covers it during rentals (we pay for it). So I'm interested in hearing from someone who has actually done this and how it worked out for them.(Was not going to comment at all until I saw where you are from)I could tell you a horror story of what a friend went thru with a local rental outfit close to you. But we did not "actually participated" we only watched him lose a lot of money.

Any one ever rent their Trailer out | Good Sam Community

31 Replies

kknowlton
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2014
Friends of ours lent their popup to the guy who was letting them keep it on his property. He hitched it up wrong, took it on the freeway, it wrecked, and though not destroyed, had to have a lot of repairs to make it usable.

This topic has come up periodically, and it sure seems the general consensus is that the answer is no. I would concur as well.
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2014
Absatively, posilutely no.
anaro
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
opnspaces wrote:
beemerphile1 wrote:

If trashed the dealer will probably say, "Gee, that's too bad, when can you have it ready to rent again?"

Oh come on beemer you know that's not totally accurate.

What's actually going to happen is the dealer is going to say:

Gee, that's too bad.
We can fix that for you it will only cost $$$$$$$$$$$.
Hurry up and pay for the repairs, we need to rent it out again and you're costing us money with it just sitting waiting on you. :B

Well maybe that will get them to the front of the repair line.
opnspaces
Navigator III
Jun 30, 2014
beemerphile1 wrote:

If trashed the dealer will probably say, "Gee, that's too bad, when can you have it ready to rent again?"

Oh come on beemer you know that's not totally accurate.

What's actually going to happen is the dealer is going to say:

Gee, that's too bad.
We can fix that for you it will only cost $$$$$$$$$$$.
Hurry up and pay for the repairs, we need to rent it out again and you're costing us money with it just sitting waiting on you. :B
wthibeaux
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
Not a chance. I would not let even my grown children use ours.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
seaeagle2 wrote:
First off, I interested in hearing from some one who has actually participated in a dealer's "buy from us and let us rent it for you" program.

Haven't done it with a trailer, but we did this years ago with a car. Slightly different scenario- we needed a place to make some unexpected (and not yet taxed) money "work" for us so let ourselves get talked into buying a brand new Mercedes that we then let the dealer "rent out" for us.

The only person that wound up making any money on the deal was the dealer. We on the other hand lost our shirts. Big surprise, eh?
dspencer
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
Personally I would never let anyone rent or use our trailer.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
I have read some posts on another forum from a person that rents a couple of pop ups. I have never known any other private owner that rents their RV(s).

Seems like the owner takes all the risks but the dealer would make the money. Is the dealer going to repair or replace the RV when it gets trashed? Is the dealer going to sue the renter for the damages? I highly doubt it on both questions.

If trashed the dealer will probably say, "Gee, that's too bad, when can you have it ready to rent again?"
dadmomh
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
What the OP said was that he was interested in hearing from folks who had done this....no mention of the rest of us not responding. Apparently, if you remove all the posts from those of us who said "no way", there would be no responses. MHO, he got some good insight into the possible trials and tribulations that he may run into.
valhalla360
Navigator
Jun 30, 2014
Sinnettc wrote:
This is pretty common in the boat industry, but primarily in charter boat fleets in places like the British Virgin Islands, etc. It's a great way to save money on a nice boat but they have a hard life.

We'll happily set ours up locally for folks who visit to use, but there's no way I'd let someone else tow it and take it somewhere. Same thing with my boat, btw. Nobody else takes it out.

It's commonbut... We've looked into it and it's not a great way to make money. At best it helps defray a bit of the cost.

I see lots of class C rentals around and in Germany we rented a class B. That seems a much more comfortable option as it's not much different than driving a car, so with a little care just about anyone can be off and running in 15-20 minutes of showing them how things work.

A travel trailer on the other hand is a much different animal.

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Any one ever rent their Trailer out

31 Replies

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