Quantcast

Renting an RV in the USA (Boston) - options?

- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
So for our awesome USA roadtrip, we think an RV is the way to go, rather than a truck and accommodation. Means we can be more flexible about the places we go to, rather than being tied to a pre-booked schedule.

The catch is the cost. Eeeesch, not cheap when you want one big enough for 3 people for 5 weeks! Looking at about $5,000 for something like this. And that doesn't even let us do enough miles (we're going to average closer to 80+ per day, that has a 60mile/day allowance).

Lots of money :-(

I was wondering if any monkeys on here would have some top tips of where to get one cheaper...? Better yet, maybe one of you works at a rental place and can somehow swing us some amazing deal? Or maybe you own an RV that you don't need in that time period and you'd like to earn an easy couple of thousand bucks..! :-)

Fingers crossed...

Seb
 
- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
Just tried that, but craigslist wants me to verify who I am via phone, and it has to be a USA number/mobile.

If anyone here wouldn't mind helping me out for a moment (it shouldn't cost you anything, and only take a few seconds) let me know and I'll PM you the URL you need to go to. Many thanks! :)
 
- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
Is definitely a thought that we've considered. But while turning up and buying an RV on day 1 of the holiday is fairly straightforward, trying to sell one at the end isn't so easy...?
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,067
5,976
borcester rhymes
I don't know...I would imagine a call to a insurance agent might tell you. Titling/registering it would be the hardest part, I guess.

Still, even if you sold it for 50% of the purchase price, you've spent 2gs for 5 weeks.
 
jonKranked

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,883
24,464
media blackout
Sandwich said:
I don't know...I would imagine a call to a insurance agent might tell you. Titling/registering it would be the hardest part, I guess.

Still, even if you sold it for 50% of the purchase price, you've spent 2gs for 5 weeks.
Click to expand...
i think both would require a US mailing address.
 
jonKranked

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,883
24,464
media blackout
seb, one thing to consider, $5k might seem like a lot to rent an RV for 5 weeks, but when you break it down, its about $143 a day. Which is more than likely cheaper than than the cost of a car rental & lodging (hotel) per day.
 
time-bomb

time-bomb

Monkey
May 2, 2008
957
21
right here -> .
jonKranked said:
seb, one thing to consider, $5k might seem like a lot to rent an RV for 5 weeks, but when you break it down, its about $143 a day. Which is more than likely cheaper than than the cost of a car rental & lodging (hotel) per day.
Click to expand...
The one thing that might offset this however is the price of gas and the mpg these things get. Some of them only get 3 to 5 mpg!!!

Still, not saying this is a bad idea, I'd much rather travel in an RV than stay in a motel. Not having to pull over to take a piss is a huge plus too:thumb:
 
Last edited:
- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
jonKranked said:
seb, one thing to consider, $5k might seem like a lot to rent an RV for 5 weeks, but when you break it down, its about $143 a day. Which is more than likely cheaper than than the cost of a car rental & lodging (hotel) per day.
Click to expand...
Agreed, completely. We're definitely getting an RV, one way or another!

It's annoying that for the first month it's only ~$90/day, but then one into July it goes up to over $200/day, which bumps the overall daily average price up massively. The holiday period, I guess.

The link in my original post claims 11mpg. Do you think that's unrealistic for a 23ft RV with a 6.8 V10 in it...? If it's 8-9mpg instead that's not the end of the world, but if it's 3 (!!) then that's a bit ridiculous :)
 
Last edited:
time-bomb

time-bomb

Monkey
May 2, 2008
957
21
right here -> .
I honestly don't know much about them. My neighbor has an older one and he told me he got that. Maybe the newer ones are better and maybe he needs to do a bit more maintenance on his. I believe his is a bit bigger too which would surely effect mpg. Regardless, I have never seen any vehicle; car, truck, van, etc., get the mpg that is stated on the sticker. I'll see if I can bend his ear a bit more next time I see him out and get some more info for you.

BTW, your trip looks awesome. I'm very envious of you guys. You guys are going to do more riding in a few weeks than I can do a couple of years :-)
 
Beef Supreme

Beef Supreme

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2010
1,434
73
Hiding from the stupid
- seb said:
Agreed, completely. We're definitely getting an RV, one way or another!

It's annoying that for the first month it's only ~$90/day, but then one into July it goes up to over $200/day, which bumps the overall daily average price up massively. The holiday period, I guess.

The link in my original post claims 11mpg. Do you think that's unrealistic for a 23ft RV with a 6.8 V10 in it...? If it's 8-9mpg instead that's not the end of the world, but if it's 3 (!!) then that's a bit ridiculous :)
Click to expand...
8-9mpg is realistic for a newer C-class. You might be able to get closer to 11 if you keep it under 50mph at all times.
 
- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
chillindrdude said:
Not sure why anyone would rent their $70k + personal RV to a total stranger from another country. That thing is gonna get thrashed.
Click to expand...
A random on Craigslist... I'd pretty much agree. But if there was a fellow monkey with one going spare... I like to think they'd know that I would value my reputation enough not to trash it!

But, realistically, we're going to have to fork out the $6000 for a hire one I think. Eepers.
 
blindboxx2334

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
how many are going?? i have a tiny little toyota truck that i plan to do some riding trips this summer and i plan to just camp out next to it with a tent. :D

although this isnt for everyone, as some people like space.. i am used to super small cars and not having a lot of space to work with, so it just kinda works out for me! and although jonkranked makes a valid point on page one ($143/day), im sure you could save even more if you got a truck and camped out of the back of it..

its also worth noting that it will make things more interesting/challenging.. finding a place to camp where you wont get eaten by bears, beat up by cops, etc. :thumb:
 
Last edited:
big-ted

big-ted

Danced with A, attacked by C, fired by D.
Sep 27, 2005
1,400
47
Vancouver, BC
This trip has awesome written all over it. I think you owe it to us to buy the cheapest RV you can find, paint offensive language all over it, and film and post the ensuing hilarity here for all to see.
 
- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
blindboxx2334 said:
how many are going?? i have a tiny little toyota truck that i plan to do some riding trips this summer and i plan to just camp out next to it with a tent. :D

although this isnt for everyone, as some people like space.. i am used to super small cars and not having a lot of space to work with, so it just kinda works out for me! and although jonkranked makes a valid point on page one ($143/day), im sure you could save even more if you got a truck and camped out of the back of it..

its also worth noting that it will make things more interesting/challenging.. finding a place to camp where you wont get eaten by bears, beat up by cops, etc. :thumb:
Click to expand...
To an extent I agree, but those sort of holidays are better when you're only going for a week or two, and you can guarantee the weather.

5 weeks camping, when there's every chance that it might rain for a large part of the holiday, could be pretty miserable.

big-ted: buying a vehicle is a lot of hassle I think. But then again we've jsut found out the more affordable RVs are booked up, and the cheapest option at the moment seems to be $6450... it's ****ing bling, admittedly, and claims to do 15mpg, which offsets the cost a little bit, maybe... but it's a lot of money!
 
blindboxx2334

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
- seb said:
5 weeks camping, when there's every chance that it might rain for a large part of the holiday, could be pretty miserable.
Click to expand...
its summer, does it rain on the east coast during summer? we're high and dry all summer long here on the west coast. ive never been, so please forgive me if thats a 'dumb' question.
jonKranked said:
scumbag it in an econoline/sprinter
Click to expand...
i feel like this is a happy medium between what i suggested and the RV.. you would save losta mulah doing this as well.. you could still sleep in the van while the bikes are still in there (depending on how many people are going)
 
IH8Rice

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
- seb said:
But then again we've jsut found out the more affordable RVs are booked up, and the cheapest option at the moment seems to be $6450... it's ****ing bling, admittedly, and claims to do 15mpg, which offsets the cost a little bit, maybe... but it's a lot of money!
Click to expand...
all the class b or c's are booked up??
 
- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
Well, maybe not all of them, just the ones I've found so far.

campertravelusa.com only have the massive & expensive class A's left for our date range. The problem is we extend into the school summer holidays, which is when they all get booked up.

There's a number of other sites who as far as I can tell are just similar affiliates for exactly the same underlying companies (same range of campers, same prices/options etc).

Hopefully there's some unrelated camper companies out there, I'll get back on the google after the weekend when I have more time.
 
dan-o

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
- seb said:
Is definitely a thought that we've considered. But while turning up and buying an RV on day 1 of the holiday is fairly straightforward, trying to sell one at the end isn't so easy...?
Click to expand...
Buy it, I'll register and insure it in my name before you arrive and will pick you up at Logan airport.
You can store your bike cases at my house while you travel, I live 15 N of boston on the coast.
At the end of your trip you give me a high-five and toss me the keys.
When you come back for a CO roadtrip, you can borrow my RV, which will be stored at my brothers ranch 1hr west of Denver.
 
Beef Supreme

Beef Supreme

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2010
1,434
73
Hiding from the stupid
dan-o said:
Buy it, I'll register and insure it in my name before you arrive and will pick you up at Logan airport.
You can store your bike cases at my house while you travel, I live 15 N of boston on the coast.
At the end of your trip you give me a high-five and toss me the keys.
When you come back for a CO roadtrip, you can borrow my RV, which will be stored at my brothers ranch 1hr west of Denver.
Click to expand...
Actually not a bad plan. You can buy a pretty nice RV for $6400.
 
intensified

intensified

Monkey
Mar 31, 2004
519
6
Canton,Ma
Check out the kamp rite tent cot. Use that and rent a cheap motel every 4 nights.
Rent something like a ford exploder and throw a bike rack on the back.

Use cardboard bike boxes so you don't have to lug plastic cases.

The Rv on craigsIist saw was 100 a day but you would spend a fortune on gas and the dude wanted insurance under the renters name.
 
DirtMcGirk

DirtMcGirk

<b>WAY</b> Dumber than N8 (to the power of ten alm
Feb 21, 2008
6,379
1
Oz
Rent a U-Haul 24' truck.
Drive til the wheels come off.
Just make sure you're not brown when you rent it, or you might be talking to the FBI/Homeland Security for a day or so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom