RV Rental Association Dealers Foresee a ‘Great Summer’

FAIRFAX, Va. – A significant portion of RV dealers who also rent believe they will do more business this year when compared with 2022, which was a high-demand year for RV rentals, according to a survey conducted this spring by the RV Rental Association (RVRA).

For 2023, 26% of rental operators responding to the survey believe their rental revenue will be higher while 42% think it will be the same as 2022. Nine percent of RV rental companies predict their revenue will be up 21% or more, and 6% forecast it will be up 11% to 20%.

“There still will be plenty of choices for those looking to rent an RV because a little over 70% of the rental dealers surveyed believe manufacturers will be able to supply them with enough rental units this year,” said Scott Krenek of Krenek RV Center in Coloma, Mich., chairman of the RV Rental Association (RVRA). “That’s why so many RVRA members are looking forward to a great summer.”

The RVRA survey also found 97% of rental dealers’ customers rented an RV for at least three nights last year, so families that want to spend more than one weekend in a rented RV need to know the demand for longer stays will be strong again this year, Krenek said.

“Seventy-six percent of rental dealers believe the average length of rental contracts this year will be the same as last year, and 11% think they will be longer,” he said.

For families renting RVs, the bigger the better, “89% of the rental dealers responding to the RVRA survey said RVs with enough room to sleep at least three adults are the most popular among renters,” Krenek said.

A little more than 80% of the dealers responding to the RVRA survey rent towable RVs, making them a viable option for families already owning a Ford F-series, Chevy Silverado, RAM pickup, or SUV capable of safely pulling an RV trailer. In fact, more than half of the dealers renting towables said one out of five of their customers last year were “tow and go,” meaning they had their own tow vehicle.

But what if you don’t own a tow vehicle and don’t know how to hook up an RV at a campground?  Many RV rental dealers can take care of that issue.  About half of rental dealers completing the survey said about half of their renters last year were “delivery and set-up” customers at campgrounds or private homes.

“Some advance planning before you set out on your trip will make your experience even better,” Krenek believes. “RV rental vacations are a wonderful way to make memories with family and friends.”

“A rented RV is a wonderful lodging choice for families attending family reunions, music or food festivals,” Krenek said. “Dog, horse, antique car and air shows, along with car, motorcycle, and dirt bike races are other events for which attendees should consider a rented RV for housing.”

Consumers can access the complete list of RVRA member companies at www.rvra.org.

Rental Dealers Better at Fixing Problems

Renting an RV from private owners through peer-to-peer digital platforms has undergone incredible growth in recent years, and the survey found about half of rental dealers post at least some of their rental fleet units on peer-to-peer platforms. Prospective renters should keep this in-mind because dealers know more than the typical owner about how RVs work, how to maintain them and how to fix them if they break down while in use, Krenek said.

RV Rental Advice

Here are some other issues Krenek believes consumers need to consider before renting an RV this summer. RVRA recommends customers ask these basic questions:

• Does the renter keep regular hours for drop off and pick up?
• For first-time RV renters, does the rental company provide an orientation on the RV systems and components?
• If customers have questions about the RV during the trip, is there a phone number they can call or text for help?
• What are the terms for the security/damage deposit?
• Is the RV that was described online the actual model that will be available at time of pickup?
• Who owns the RV that you’re renting and how does the insurance coverage work?
• If the RV you want to rent is damaged, does the renter have an adequate replacement unit available, or will the renter cancel your reservation.
• For RV owners considering renting their unit on their own, RVRA urges them to read and understand the terms of their RV manufacturer’s warranty as well as any component part warranties. They should also read and understand the terms of any financing agreement associated with the unit.

RVRA is a unit of RVDA and its goal is to enhance the rental industry’s professionalism and service to rental customers. The survey was conducted through the RV Retailer Intelligence program, a service of the RV Assistance Corp. (RVAC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of RVDA. To find an RVRA member company, visit www.rvra.org.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/rv-rental-association-dealers-foresee-a-great-summer/