By David and Brenda Bott, outsideourbubble.com
With all the places we’ve traveled, we’ve found that, by far, RVing is our favorite mode of transportation and an awesome way to travel the country. We like the idea of sleeping in our own bed every night, cooking our own food for meals and bringing our pets along. We didn’t just want to sightsee and be tourists, we wanted adventures —whether it was NASCAR with friends, white water rafting in the Adirondacks, kayaking in Tennessee, or zip-lining in Newfoundland. We’ve been to small town America as well as large cities. We have dipped our toes in the Pacific Ocean and enjoyed the late afternoon sun in the deserts of Arizona.
Looking back, we’ve done a lot since we started traveling in 2008. This country of ours is so vast and different that it would take a lifetime to see it all. And let’s face it, flying over the country at 35,000 feet you really can’t see a lot — other than clouds. Air travel is not what it used to be. Life is too short to only explore the small corner of the country that you call home. Here, let me say it this way … GET OUT AND SEE SOME OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS AT LEAST ONCE VIA RV! (Did you hear me?)
So, if you are looking for a nice vacation idea and don’t want to invest in an RV for the couple of times a year you may use it, then renting is a great alternative. Then, even exploring the opposite side of the country from where you live is not out of the question. Just fly in and rent an RV from that locale. That way you can maximize your time exploring. And there’s a lot of that you can do.
Here’s another advantage of RV renting: When we started RVing in 2008, we jumped full-in. We were lucky. You see, we’ve come across many couples that thought they knew what they wanted in an RV, only to find out after being in it for a while that their rig really just wasn’t the right fit for them and their needs. They would have liked something bigger or smaller, a fifth wheel versus a Class A. Some end up losing money, trading in their RV for something that they truly wanted. Renting an RV could have saved them much frustration as well as saved their pocketbook.
We came across a novel website for those looking to rent. Called RVShare, it can help you rent another RVer’s rig. No big “RENT ME” sign on the side. (It’s worth it just for that!) You can find all shapes, sizes and types of RVs to fit your travel needs as you look to explore.
Here is an idea: If you’re considering buying an RV, renting a personally-owned one first is a great advantage to determine the type of rig that’s right for you before you spend your hard-earned money. When renting through RVShare, you talk directly with the owner of the RV that you are considering. That could prove to be a big advantage before you buy.
If you find yourself in a rental unit that is shrink wrapped with an advertisement that just screams “RENTAL,” don’t mind us staring at you. You are our entertainment for the evening when you try to park and hook up. (Come on, we all have been there.) Hopefully, you won’t be as bad as Robin Williams’ character in the movie “RV.” And if you don’t get that reference, make sure you get the movie before your trip so your family can be prepared for your own adventure.
