First Timers
While renting our RVs has a fairly obvious and undeniable financial motive, one of the best things about it is sharing the enjoyment with our guests. One of my favorite parts is watching the kids clambor onboard, usually squealing with excitement. I know exactly how they feel.
Yes, You Can.
We believe that just about anyone can do this. We also know that its definitely not everyone's cup of tea. That said, the only way to really be sure is to give it a try. One renter in particular stands out in my mind: He was very reluctant and unsure, asked a million questions and expressed his misgivings on many, many occasions before his departure date. The second he got back the first thing he said to me was: "That was AWESOME!" They hadn't even started unpacking and they were talking about their next trip and to this day, I still hear from him, trade shows he's gone to, other RVs he's toured, their next trip. You just never know.
This May Sound Crazy, But ...
Let's hear it! We love hearing people's creative and innovative ideas to use the RVs. While most people rent for a camping trip or tailgating an event like you'd expect, we've had plenty of other interesting renters. One couple used it for their wedding. Another wanted to use it as a mobile office for a street demonstration outside a trade show. Someone local used it as temporary housing while their home was being renovated. One renter attending a local event rented the RV instead of a hotel room.
Advice
Below you will find some remarks on things to keep in mind when you are just starting out. These are based on our personal experiences when we first started and of course, won't apply to everyone. Seems like every trip we take, we forget at least one thing - or more. Just when we think we're getting the hang of it, I make some rookie mistake: So, we're still learning!
Braking
Three things to remember while driving something this heavy: Brake early. Brake early and most importantly, brake early.
Height
Most new guests worry more about low bridges; which, you do need to watch out for. However, it's the filling stations or low hanging branches that present the most likely problem.
Turning
Probably the trickiest thing is retraining your regular driving habits to make safe turns. A passenger vehicle will be far more nimble and you typically don't have to worry about what is on either side of the back of your vehicle. We urge you watch this video that explains it pretty clearly.
Travel Time
Be conservative with your planned travel times. We've had guests that were excited and enthusiastic at pickup, but were exhausted and roadworn at dropoff. Try to be honest without yourself about stretches of travel between stops. That first day, you're likely to be anxious about driving the rig - a few hours of that can be tiring; more so than in your regular vehicle. Remember that almost everything takes longer - road time, rest stops and don't forget once you get to where you're going, you've got levelling, slides, set up, hookups and probably some kind of meal to make.
Things Break
You are driving approximately 200,000 individual parts travelling in tight formation. Most of our guests have proven to be quite resourceful and resilient. While we very much want your trip to go without a hitch and we try to maintain our RVs so that you won't suffer from any unpleasant surprises, somtimes things simply break. Try not to be discouraged if something goes amiss. Most of the time, these things are minor.
Don't be Shy
Have a question? Shoot me a text or call. I expect it and you should not be apologetic, I am happy to help out however I can. Orientation can be a bit overwhelming and you've already got your hands full with planning, food, packing, maybe kids, or pets, or both!