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Tmargarido · 12-13-2016, 10:57 PM

I just recently acquired a 33' Fleetwood motor home and I am very new to motor home travel. my wife and I are planning a trip across the country. My question is; if I am not towing a vehicle and plan to rent a car locally, typically, what is the process of obtaining a rental car once your rig is parked at the campground. Is renting a car locally a bad idea?

CalifCruiser · 12-13-2016, 11:14 PM

Shouldn't be any problem, we have done it when we are on a trip, as we don't own a towable vehicle at this time. Many RV parks can refer a rental car company to you. We simply called the rental car company in the city that we were near, they came to the RV park, picked us up and took us to their office and we rented the car. After returning the car a couple of days later, gave us a ride back to RV, very easy process.

THenman · 12-13-2016, 11:14 PM

Also a newbie here but we used Enterprise for the two trips we took prior to getting a tow car. They pick you up at camp and will return you when you return car. First time we called after we get to busy area and we're lucky they had something. I think second time we called just before leaving to reserve a car.

Tom

marjoa · 12-14-2016, 04:00 AM

Watching this post with a lot of interest.

Okiedoke · 12-14-2016, 04:25 AM

Ditto on Enterprise being easy, but be forewarned about a lack of selection at smaller outlets. This can be good or bad. Once in a while no car is available. Then again, often we get a free upgrade. A reservation at least one day in advance is best.

Waiter21 · 12-14-2016, 04:46 AM

We've rented before we started towing.

We would drive by the rental location and pick up the car if it was on our way. Otherwise, either take a taxi or Uber, ALSO - as mentioned, some rentals will pick you up (Enterprise)

Avoid renting at airports, they often have a very high tax (10 - 25%) added by their local governments.

As indicated by others - You really want to make reservations for the vehicle at the correct pickup location.

twinboat · 12-14-2016, 04:59 AM

Then there is alway the insurance issue.

I had a rental in FL, last year and got caught in a hail storm. As a 1 day deal, I didn't take any extra coverage.

Fortunately, none of the many dents, were bigger than the contract stated, golf ball size.

I would have been on the hook for my own cars, $1000 deductible.

Dr. Q · 12-14-2016, 06:30 AM

I did a cross country trip, last summer, without a tow car. Biggest mistake we made!

You will have to plan your stops around cites, where rental cars are available. Depending upon your route, you may have difficulty finding rental cars or any other sort of transportation.

For example: Yellowstone; no rental car available. Grand Canyon; no rental car available. Mt. Rushmore; no rental car available. Black Hills; no rental car available....you get the idea.

If you have the ability to do so, I highly recommend towing. If not, you will need to be very diligent in planning your stops.

Just our experience.....

pcurt23 · 12-14-2016, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tmargarido

I just recently acquired a 33' Fleetwood motor home and I am very new to motor home travel. my wife and I are planning a trip across the country. My question is; if I am not towing a vehicle and plan to rent a car locally, typically, what is the process of obtaining a rental car once your rig is parked at the campground. Is renting a car locally a bad idea?

Neither good or bad idea. We did the same thing for the first year and it was not bad. I would plan my stays somewhat close to the rental place. It does take a lot of extra time to pickup and drop off the car. And you are bound by their schedule. It is the most expensive way to tour.

I then went to a tow dolly (which I hated) for the next several years. That is way cheaper than renting a car. I recovered the cost of the dolly in one camping season.

The best and most convenient way is to tow 4 down. IMHP

Tmargarido · 12-14-2016, 07:48 AM

Thanks to all of you for helping me with this issue. Will a 1988 Southwind with a Chevy 454 tow a vehicle? I'm just getting used to driving the 33' rig. Is towing a vehicle a magnatude more difficult?

twogypsies · 12-14-2016, 10:50 AM

With towing a vehicle you won't even know it's there - power-wise. You'll just have to allow for it in turns. You'd soon get the hang of it.

Personally, we would tow rather than rent cars all the time. We really like to explore the countrysides and getting set up with a rental everyplace we stopped would be a big hassle. Good luck!

dennis45 · 12-14-2016, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Then there is alway the insurance issue.

I had a rental in FL, last year and got caught in a hail storm. As a 1 day deal, I didn't take any extra coverage.

Fortunately, none of the many dents, were bigger than the contract stated, golf ball size.

I would have been on the hook for my own cars, $1000 deductible.

I got caught in a hailstorm in Mississippi with a rental car. Fortunately for me, I used my Visa Gold for the rental. Called Visa and they handled the whole thing. Didn't cost me a dime. $11,000. I did not take extra coverage as I had a rider on my personal vehicle but the deductible was $1000 so I called Visa to see if they covered and sure enough. No questions asked. They did all the investigation and advised me about 3 weeks latter they had settled the claim with the rental company.

Sorry you will have to stand on your head to see the photo. Apple and IRV2 seem to have a conflict at times.

Unplanned Tourist · 12-14-2016, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tmargarido

Thanks to all of you for helping me with this issue. Will a 1988 Southwind with a Chevy 454 tow a vehicle? I'm just getting used to driving the 33' rig. Is towing a vehicle a magnatude more difficult?

I towed our 2010 Ford Ranger to San Fran. area in California and back from Kamloops, BC. I had the 1993 34 foot Airstream with the 454 then and it dropped the fuel mileage by 1 mpg. and I did notice it on the hills, but not a problem. Also had a bike in the back for the great roads down there! Love #1 along the coast! I drove the rig down #1 from Rockport to San Simeon, and only touched down on one hairpin corner! With the MH hitch, that is.

mtofell · 12-14-2016, 12:34 PM

I highly recommend Enterprise for rentals. I've never used it in conjunction with RVing but have had them pick me up numerous times at repair facilities or at my house. This should be no different. As others have said it's a good idea to reserve ahead and/or to be sure there is an office reasonably close to where you are camping.

Also, the insurance thing - most modern credit cards offer "damage liability waiver" coverage for free. This basically means you're better covered than when driving you're own vehicle. The credit card company will cover your comprehensive or collision deductible if something happens to the car. This assumes you have vehicle insurance coverage that will cover you on rental cars. If you want to just completely leave your own insurance company out of the equation you can purchase the insurance through the rental company but the pricing is usually ridiculous.

One last thing that often burns people at Enterprise - DON'T prepay for the gas at the great price they advertise (usually 50 cents or so below the market). It sounds like a great deal but in order to realize the savings you have to bring the car back totally empty since you've already paid for all that is in the tank. Just fill it up yourself at the last station before bringing it back. Or, I've even just let them fill it up for the terrible price (usually 50 cents above the market) if it's not too empty and/or if I'm running late and don't want to mess with it. The last time I rented in Las Vegas we were running late for our flight so I just had them fill it at the time of return. I hadn't even burned half a tank and it cost somewhere around $3 extra. More than worth it to no have to find a station and stop.