Rent an RV anyone?
 

Need to drive up to see the family with my wife. Going all the way up the east coast. Thought it would be fun to do it in a small RV or campervan. Problem is, they seem awfully pricey. Anyone know any secrets?

Hope someone with experience can help us out on this one as we've wanted to do the same .
Good luck!

Holy %^*!

I just looked up what a small RV costs per day and it's about what I paid a day for a suite in the Venetian!

Yep. RVs are very expensive, to own and to rent. Definitely not cheaper than staying in hotels.

But it's not about saving money...it's about enjoying a different kind of travel experience.

Me too. I looked into it once, didn't go very far after seeing the prices. They are very expensive even if you rent it and don't drive it anywhere. If you add on the fuel costs and the "per mile" charges, it costs a fortune to take them any distance.

It is a "different" experience, for sure. I think that's why there are so many old used RVs on the market with very low miles on them.

This setup new cost about $85k. I bought used and still have $40k into it. That only buys the 5th wheel and the truck. Probably another 6-8k into add-ons. I'd do it all over again! Check Craigslist. There's occasional offers for RV rentals in my area.
http://www.frontiernet.net/~ddturner/PICT3357

+1 on Craigs list. Search the RV section for "rental". That said renting a RV for a big mile trip is going to be very expensive. For anything >500 miles I'd look at flying, rental car, or your own car. You can stay in very nice hotels and eat well for what a RV (rental, mileage, gas, campground fees) will cost.

bed bugs.......

I rented through a company over a year ago and they get you comin and goin. It was worth it for me at the time to stay at the track the weekend of a race with the family. We had a great time. But it was way more expensive than a nice hotel per day. Look into private party rentals maybe.

I have rented several times.

Once from Cruise America.
Once from El Monte RV.

But the best was the $100 per day, no mileage fee MBZ turbo diesel Sprinter I rented off of CL. That, was a great experience! I got 18 mpg avg driving 70 mph around Death Valley and Las Vegas last December with my son.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1259081032.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1259081244.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1259081873.jpg

It was a Winnebago conversion that slept 4 - 2 or three is just perfect!

Good luck. CL is your friend.

+1 for CL. it can be more expensive but is a blast to travel in an RV IMO. We picked up a travle trailer this year for going to national BMX races with the boys. Great time staying at the track and hanging out withothers from all over after the races.

i too thought this sounded neat. would be fun to take an RV full of car nuts to Watkins Glen for a big weekend of historic race cars.