We full-time in our fifth wheel now. But if we could do it over, we would rent a camper first. Renting lets you road-test the lifestyle without dropping thousands on a rig you might hate driving. We skipped that step and learned a bunch of things the hard way instead.
These are the things we wish somebody had told us.
Pick the right size when you rent a camper
Everyone wants to go big. More room, more comfort, right? The problem is that a 40-foot Class A motorhome drives nothing like your truck. We have watched people spend 45 minutes trying to back into a campsite because they went too big for their first time out.
Start one class smaller than you think you need. You can always upgrade on the next rental.
Class C is the best starting point for most first-timers. Drives more like a large van. Usually has a bedroom over the cab, full kitchen, bathroom. Sleeps four to six.
Class A is the big one. Bus-style driving, slide-outs, feels like a small apartment. Great if you are comfortable with the size. Check your height clearances.
Travel trailers are what we use. You unhitch at the campsite and have your truck free for grocery runs and exploring. Requires towing experience and the right truck.
Fifth wheels connect in the truck bed for a more stable tow. More living space than a standard trailer but you need a specific hitch setup.
Read the rental agreement, all of it
Every rental company is different on what is included and what you are on the hook for. Whether you rent a camper from a national chain or a private owner on a platform like Outdoorsy, figure these things out before you hand over your credit card.
Security deposits vary a lot. Know exactly what conditions cause you to lose yours. Mileage limits are another one. Some rentals include unlimited miles, others charge per mile after a cap. That matters if you are planning a 2,000-mile road trip.
Insurance is the big one. Your personal auto policy or credit card may not cover rental RVs. A lot of them do not. If the rental company offers coverage, read what it actually covers, especially interior damage. Generator hours can be limited too. If you plan to camp off-grid at all, ask about that upfront.
Use a surge protector at every campground
Campground power pedestals are hit or miss. Some are fine. Others have wiring problems, low voltage, or surges that can fry appliances and electronics fast. With a rental, you are responsible for damage to that rig. A surge protector costs way less than replacing a fried inverter.
We use the Southwire Surge Guard 30A, a plug-in portable, nothing to install. If you are renting a 50-amp rig, grab the 50-amp version instead. Check the rental paperwork to see which service the rig runs on before you buy one.
Bring leveling blocks and wheel chocks
Not every campsite is flat. Not every rental company puts leveling gear in the rig. Bring your own. They weigh almost nothing and take up barely any space.
We use Camco leveling blocks. Stackable, durable, cheap. Pair them with wheel chocks so the rig stays put once you are level. One thing to remember: level with the blocks first, THEN put the stabilizer jacks down. The jacks are for stability only. Using them to lift and level the rig will damage them.
Book your campgrounds before you leave
Do not wing it. Campgrounds fill up fast on weekends and holidays, and showing up without a reservation hoping to find a spot is a gamble that usually does not pay off.
The Good Sam Campground Guide is the best print reference we have found. Over 10,000 campgrounds with hookup details, ratings, and member discounts. If you are open to free camping too, check out our free boondocking guide. There are great spots out there that cost nothing.
Budget for more gas than you expect
Class A motorhomes get 8 to 10 miles per gallon. Travel trailers depend on your tow vehicle and the trailer weight, but neither is winning any fuel economy awards. Run the actual numbers before you leave. This catches a lot of people off guard the first time they rent a camper.
Do the math on a 1,500-mile roundtrip at 9mpg. That number might change your mind about how far you want to go on a first trip. We cut a trip short once because we did not think about fuel costs ahead of time and the gas bill was getting out of hand.
Do a full walkthrough before you drive off
Before you rent a camper and drive it off the lot, have someone walk you through every system. At minimum, make sure you know how to dump the black and gray tanks, connect fresh water at a campsite, find the breaker panel, operate the slides, switch the water heater between electric and propane, and where the fire extinguisher is.
Shoot a short video on your phone while they walk through it. You will forget half of what they showed you by the time you reach your first campsite. A two-minute reference video at 8pm when the water heater is not cooperating is a lifesaver.
After your first rental
Fair warning. Most people who try this once end up shopping for their own rig within a few months. That is what happened to us. If that turns out to be you, these will help:
