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As a full-time traveler, I’m thinking of renting my RV when I don’t use it. Sounds, insane, right? I’ve had people throwing questions at me that include –
- Isn’t it going to breach your privacy?
- What if they damage your vehicle?
- Is it safe to let strangers in your home?
But hear me out first. Do you prefer paying a hefty amount for keeping your RV parked or convert this financial liability to a source of income? The latter sounds more tempting, doesn’t it?
I’ve been looking for trustworthy rental platforms since this idea struck my mind. And that’s when I came across Outdoorsy. There are several reasons why I chose Outdoorsy among their rivals. I’ve already completed a successful deal with them. The quality of service that they offer is top-notch. You’ll know a lot more about them in this Outdoorsy review article. So, I’m going to enlighten you on how the process works.
Available Vehicles
You can rent a wide range of vehicles from Outdoorsy. You will find a list of their available vehicles on their website. This list includes –
- Class A, B, and C RVs
- Van Campers
- Tow Trucks
- Stationary Trailers
- Pop-Up Trucks
- Vintage Trailers
- Park Models
- Fifth Wheels
- Travel Trailers
The Rental Process
Now, just like any other process, renting a vehicle also includes a sequence of events. I’ve tried to make it simpler by dividing this event into smaller, categorical steps.
Looking For A Vehicle
The first step is to search for the vehicle you want to rent. All you have to do is enter the location at which you want to rent the automobile along with the date range of the trip.
On top of that, you can filter the searches according to the features you require. You can select the type of RV suitable for yourself. For instance, you can filter search results for Class A, B, C RV rentals, travel trailers, fifth wheel rentals, and so on.
Apart from that, Outdoorsy rv rentals enable you to choose a vehicle according to the price range, kitchen equipment, entertainment facilities, and utilities that you prefer.
Your computer or mobile screen will display a variety of options as soon as you click the search button. Depending on the availability of rental vehicles in your area, you may also receive search results from neighboring towns or cities.
I’d advise you to apply for services with 5-star ratings so that you can get your hands on the best ones.
Booking Your Ride
You will find two types of booking options. The Instant Booking option will allow you to book the vehicle right away.
However, some bookings require approvals from the owners. Outdoorsy grants the owners 24 hours to review the bookings. During that time, they can decide on whether they want to rent it to you depending on the compatibility of both of your schedules.
You can also put in additional requests such as extra cushions, utensils, and anything that you may need.
Outdoorsy will give you 10 minutes to provide information about yourself while they reserve the vehicle for you from any preying renters. After that, you’ll enter your payment details.
There’s a mandatory security deposit that will be refunded to you at the end of the deal. Apart from that, you may have to pay an amount in advance depending on the type of vehicle you’re renting.
Following this, you will need to select an insurance policy for yourself.
Protecting Your Trip
What happens to your payment if you cancel the booking? Outdoorsy will have you covered with their trip protection formula where you will avail full refund of the amount you paid.
Additionally, you can also choose a damage protection package that covers you in case anything inside the RV is damaged or broken. But what if you need time to think about the pros and cons of the agreement?
Consider that problem solved because you can add those packages after you’ve made the booking. And that’s it. Just click on the “Save and Continue” button to complete the step.
Talking To The Owner
Outdoorsy makes it quite easy for you to communicate with the renter. You can do so by using the Outdoorsy app. It provides you with the option to message the owner directly, which, to be honest, is pretty convenient.
If you don’t have the mobile app, you can complete this step from their website too.
Taking Over The RV
You’ll provide your location details to the owners and both of you will set a time according to your convenience. Most Outdoorsy customers are satisfied with the time management shown by the renters.
The renters will set everything up for you and give you a tour of the RV. They’ll let you know how everything inside the vehicle works, so you’ll be off to be a good start.
Some customers have also commented about how friendly the renters are. You might even get a few tips on how to enjoy your time in the local neighborhood!
Returning The Vehicle To The Owner
If all of the above went well, what makes you think this won’t? Most of the time, renters are super flexible about the time you want to hand in the keys. But if they are unable to show up in time due to any valid reasons, you must be considerate too.
Of course, that is a once in a blue moon scenario, so you don’t have much to worry about. Most Outdoorsy.com reviews have reflected excellent peer to peer relationships.
Receiving A Refund Of The Security Deposit
As long as you don’t damage the RV in any way, you won’t face any problems in getting the security money back. But yes, you don’t get a refund until a week after your rental period has ended. So you need to be a bit patient. Other than that, you’re good to go!
What Does Your First Outdoorsy Rental Feel Like?
How exactly does it feel to rent out your motorhome? Just like you, I was skeptical at first. I had listed my RV up for rent after creating my account. And quite surprisingly, I received a booking request just 14 hours later.
After that, I checked the renter’s information and schedule. It turned out to be quite good, so I accepted the booking.
Let’s call the person Ryan for the sake of confidentiality. Ryan messaged me through the RV rental app and let me know the date, time, and exact location at which he required the RV. After confirming the booking, I tidied my vehicle and removed my personal belongings.
Of course, I left basic cooking supplies, toilet paper, blankets, pillows, and other necessities. Ryan had rented the RV for a total of 3 nights. So I made sure that the supplies last him that duration.
He showed up right on time at the location with his lovely wife and kids. We had small talk for a while during which I gave them a tour of the RV and informed them about where the supplies are kept.
The three nights went by faster than I had thought it would. I didn’t even have time to think about my RV and only remembered it when Ryan called me to hand it over. I went to his home to pick it up and found them cleaning it.
Nothing was damaged or missing, and I returned home happy with the extra cash I had earned over such a short period.
The Owner’s Perspective
Most motorhome owners don’t use their vehicles all year long. If a platform like Outdoorsy rentals is allowing you to get your pockets filled with a little side-income, then what’s the harm? I’m sure you won’t rent your RV if you need it.
And if you don’t rent it despite not needing it, it will just accumulate dust while occupying space in a storage unit. And don’t even get me started on the parking fees of an RV. Don’t you think it’s wise to enjoy the benefits from a situation like this instead of letting your vehicle draw out cash from you?
I know, renting out your RV will make your mind wander at times. The safety issues, privacy concerns, and fear of damages. The only solution to all of these problems is to opt for a trustable platform.
One of the things that I love about Outdoorsy is how you can approve or decline a request based on your preferences.
From The Renter’s Point Of View
Hotel accommodations are pretty old school. Nowadays, people always look forward to trying something new and exciting. They want that adrenaline rush to take over them. Because what’s a vacation without some adventurous activities?
The Outdoorsy camper rental platform mostly consists of customers who want to get a taste of mobile living. It could be just for the weekend, a festival, or for a full-fledged vacation. Some people may also want to try their service before fully committing to the nomadic lifestyle.
It does not matter which category you belong to. You may be a full-time international traveler, a weekender, a sports enthusiast, or even an elderly couple. Availing their services will be quite easy for you since the booking process does not include any complications.
All you have to do is provide sufficient evidence to Outdoorsy to prove that you haven’t violated any traffic rules and DUIs. This background check will also enable the owners to trust you with their automobiles.
You don’t need an additional license as long as you don’t intend to rent a vehicle that surpasses 45 feet in length. However, if you want an exquisite RV longer than 45 feet, you must assure the owners about your driving expertise and provide relevant documents for them to trust you enough.
Your Outdoorsy fees will include a 10% service charge from your total bill. Apart from that, towable motorhomes and drive-able trailers require a daily cost of $10 and $15 respectively exclusive of tax. You can also request extra services but have to bear additional costs for those.
Insurance Coverage
If renters damage the RV in any way during the trip, they’ll have to bear the penalties. Damage of more than $1500 means renters have to pay the full cost. In other cases, they can deduct the amount from the security money for damages worth less than the $1500.
The Outdoorsy insurance covers $1 million along with up to $250,000 for comprehensive collision for the duration of the rental. However, damages to the interiors and accessories that are a result of non-collision events are not part of this package.
Cancellations Policy
There are 3 operating cancellation policies at Outdoorsy for renters who have a second thought.
Moderate – This policy enables you to cancel the booking 7 days before the scheduled trip while getting a 75% refund of the payment exclusive of the service charge. If you wish to cancel your trip within 7 days, you’ll avail a refund of 50%.
Flexible – Cancelling your booking 5 days before the pickup date will result in a 100% refund with an exception of the service charges. If you cancel within 5 days, you get a refund of 75% of the booking fees.
Strict – If you cancel within 14 days of your scheduled date, you won’t get any refund. However, cancellation of the trip 14 days before the planned date will get you a 50% refund without the service charges.
Free Roadside Assistance
If you choose the Premium and Ultimate insurance packages, Outdoorsy will offer you free road assistance with Coach-Net on their rentals. But make sure you sign up for it during the booking because not all RV owners provide Coach-Net with their rentals.
The Coach-Net includes a 24 hours technical support, mobile mechanic in case your RV breaks down, service appointment assistance, emergency road service, and premier RV service network. All of these services are pretty reliable, so you don’t have anything to worry about.
Customer Service
Customer service officials at Outdoorsy turned out to be quite friendly. They have commendable cooperation and don’t make the customers go through unnecessary procedures. I’ve had to call them several times and they’ve always responded with care.
I’d say they’re better than most customer service cares I’ve come across to date.
Phone: 1-877-723-7232 | Email: [email protected]
Outdoorsy Advantages & Disadvantages
Like all services, Outdoorsy has some merits and demerits. Let’s go through an overall review of this rental.
Pros
- Cheaper than most RV rentals I’ve researched about.
- Peer to peer communication results in a lot of new friends and experiences.
- One of the best customer service cares I’ve ever encountered.
- Renting out your RV comes with the best insurance policy offered by any rental.
- Rental options from Australia, the USA, Canada, and the UK cover a huge selection of vehicles.
Cons
- Leaving the booking process undone will result in a lot of promotional messages from renters, which is irritating.
- You may sometimes have to endure rude behavior from customers, to which the company is not liable.
Outdoorsy Customer Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Outdoorsy legit?
The word legit would be an understatement. Outdoorsy is one of the best peers to peer rental that I’ve experienced, and I will happily recommend it to other people.
2. What percentage does Outdoorsy take?
In most cases, RV owners on Outdoorsy receive 75-80% of the reservation costs. So it’s fair to say that the company takes the remaining 30-20%.
3. What is the best RV rental company?
If you research a little, you will always see Outdoorsy rentals at the top when it comes to being the best RV rental company.
4. Is it worth it to rent out your RV?
If you don’t mind strangers using your motorhome, then I would say it’s worth it. The additional cash is bound to help you a lot.
5. Is Outdoorsy safe?
Apart from assuring you with their insurance coverage, Outdoorsy uses bank-level encryption software to protect your personal information. So I’d say you’ve nothing to worry about.
Final Verdict
This write-up covered a lot of topics on how to rent out your RV on Outdoorsy. So, should you rent it out all the time? Honestly, it depends on you. As long as you’re not using it, renting seems to be a very economic option.
You may end up getting up to $700 for a few nights when you would otherwise have to pay for its parking. I’m sure you’re wise enough to go for the better option. Hopefully, this Outdoorsy review article has managed to clear your doubts regarding this topic.
image © outdoorsy.com
