This can be a publish I by no means thought I would be writing….2020 actually adjustments an individual! A 12 months or two again, an organization reached out to me and requested me to do a sponsored publish about renting an RV. I politely declined and stated I wasn’t and that it did not actually match my private model of journey…..then COVID occurred. Insert face palm emoji. I have never left the state of Oklahoma since early February and I am going stir loopy! When you possibly can’t journey wherever thrilling on an airplane and you reside in the course of the nation in a landlocked state with no enjoyable cities, seashores or mountain ranges inside an inexpensive driving distance, what are you purported to do?! Hire a RV/camper/journey trailer and head to the lake, that is what! As of late, the smallest change of surroundings can do wonders in your psychological state.
A gaggle of my buddies deliberate a socially distanced weekend journey to Lake Tenkiller in Japanese Oklahoma. The opposite households going had RVs, so C and I made a decision to lease one and be part of them! We used Outdoorsy.com to discover a journey trailer that was sufficiently small to tug behind my 4-Runner. I hadn’t been tenting in YEARS; I actually wasn’t certain how I might really feel about it. Fortunately having the camper made it tremendous snug and satisfying regardless of the summer time warmth and I by no means as soon as felt like we have been “roughing it.” I can completely see the enchantment of getting a camper and I might completely lease one once more!
I will share a couple of suggestions for renting a camper and issues we wished we might have recognized earlier than hitting the street, after which I will go over our private rental expertise. In case you are fascinated about shopping for a RV of any type, this could be an effective way to dip your toes within the water and check it out earlier than buying! I do wish to point out that that is on no account sponsored, we paid for the journey trailer rental ourselves so you possibly can consider me once I say it’s an trustworthy overview. Since this was a visit with buddies, I wasn’t in blogger mode and did not suppose to take many footage, so I apologize for that!
The place to Hire a Camper
We used Outdoorsy.com to lease our journey trailer (we additionally searched on RVshare.com). Each web sites are comparable – consider them because the AirBNBs of RVs! Particular person house owners checklist their campers at no matter worth they like with their very own algorithm – every itemizing is completely different. You possibly can search by location, set your dates/worth, and add facilities like pet pleasant, has a bathe, and many others. The method is very easy however I might advocate studying the outline totally and thoroughly as some house owners embrace limitless miles within the nightly price whereas others stipulate mileage limits or cost further for using a generator, cleansing the tank, and many others. Additionally, you should definitely verify the decide up and drop off occasions as you could have to lease it an evening early relying on once you wish to hit the street. Each web sites provide fundamental insurance coverage alongside together with your rental and you may add on further insurance coverage choices, as effectively.
Selecting a Camper
Clearly it is best to slender your checklist all the way down to what matches together with your dates, location, worth vary, variety of beds, pet scenario, facilities and many others., but in addition bear in mind the driving/towing scenario! There are a number of sizes of drivable RVs (lessons A, B, C) in addition to towable campers. When you plan to tow a trailer, lookup the load of it and ensure your automobile’s towing capability can deal with it. My 4-Runner was capable of deal with the load of our Wolf Pup however I would not wish to take it cross nation….it was a little bit dicey going uphill or when the wind hit us, so be aware of that!
The place to Park?
You in all probability have an concept of the place you are headed (i.e. what metropolis, lake or state park) however when you get there….how precisely have you learnt the place to park? This kind A planner HATES the concept of driving someplace with out realizing you may have a delegated place to park….however for some, that is likely to be a part of the journey! Some RV Parks and campgrounds provide on-line reservations forward of time whereas others are on a primary come first serve foundation. Some occasions you’re allowed to park wherever you need with out a hookup (on this case you would use the generator to energy the camper and use the tanks for water/sewage) and others you’re assigned to a selected numbered parking pad to hook as much as. It actually is determined by the vacation spot so I might advocate doing lots of analysis forward of time on websites like RVparking.com or JustPark.com.
THIS website has suggestions and descriptions of RV parks and campgrounds throughout Oklahoma! I feel most state parks have an abundance of campgrounds and RV websites, so simply do some googling to seek out the best choice.
Plan Forward, Analysis & Pack Accordingly
As talked about above, you should definitely learn what facilities the camper comes with. Some are totally furnished and stocked whereas others come empty, all of it is determined by the person itemizing’s proprietor. Do you propose to prepare dinner exterior or inside? Will you want pots and pans, knives or serving spoons? Will your campground have grills/fires for every spot or is there designated group campfire and grill website? Additionally you should definitely verify if the trailer rental will include sheets, towels, and many others. Here’s a fast checklist of important issues to verify/pack:
- TP, paper towels & napkins
- Trash baggage
- Hand cleaning soap and sanitizer
- Sheets, pillows & towels
- Bug spray & sunscreen
- Silverware, serving ware, plates, cups
- Cookware like reducing knives, mixing bowls, reducing boards, pans
- Plastic wrap, foil and baggies for leftovers
- Meals, drinks, and bottled or jugged water
- Espresso maker and every other home equipment (I feel most include a fridge and microwave)
- Folding chairs, perhaps a rug and a few bistro lights if you wish to create a complete patio vibe!
- Coolers & ice to sit back meals/drinks throughout transportation
My Camper Rental Expertise & Overview
We rented THIS “Wolf Pup” journey trailer through Outdoorsy to tug behind my 4-Runner SUV; it was round $100/night time and was positioned in Mustang, Okla., The decide up / drop off was tremendous easy and easy, it solely took a couple of minutes. The proprietor walked us via the trailer, confirmed us learn how to use every thing and learn how to arrange the electrical energy, water and sewage system and learn how to run the generator, if needed. I used to be a little bit involved about all of that as a result of I would by no means performed it earlier than however it was straightforward.
Our journey was thrown collectively final minute so we have been NOT ready! I barely learn the Outdoorsy itemizing, I solely seemed on the footage (do what I say, not what I do), so I had no concept our camper got here utterly EMPTY. No sheets, no towels, no hand cleaning soap, no TP or paper towels, no cups, silverware or plates, no espresso maker, no trash baggage, nothin. We additionally had deliberate to go away round lunchtime however could not decide up the trailer that early because of the proprietor’s decide up / drop off coverage in order that type of set us again. We then needed to cease to purchase all these little requirements (TP, silverware, and many others) at a gasoline station. Fortunately we had thought to deliver seaside towels, our pillows and blankets and I, being the espresso snob that I’m, packed my Keurig lol. The plus facet was that the trailer had a a lot greater fridge/freezer than we anticipated so we have been capable of retailer all of our meals there versus maintaining it on ice in a cooler.
Hooking up every thing up at our campsite took manner much less time than we anticipated. It was actually straight ahead and easy. The one downside was our rest room…..once you flushed it, it sprayed in all places (even with the lid shut it squirted out the seat) and it was SO SMELLY once you flushed. Gross. We examined it a couple of occasions that night and finally it stopped spraying and appeared to be working high-quality…. Till it wasn’t. It bought clogged and overflowed (observe: fairly certain it was not from us as a result of we have been very cautious). Ultimately C was capable of repair it (bless him)…we consider it was clogged from the earlier renters. So nasty. In fact, on the similar time this was occurring, the bogs within the campground lavatory have been additionally clogged and overflowing……..that is the draw back of tenting life hahaha. I suppose there may be at all times the woods….
Regardless of the bathroom scenario, we have been very proud of our little Wolf Pup camper! It was a 2019 mannequin and nonetheless seemed and smelled new. The mattress was very snug and the AC saved us completely cool. I am a light-weight sleeper and the AC was loud sufficient to drown out any noise from neighbors. The kitchen desk transformed to sleeping space for a 3rd particular person, if wanted! The camper additionally had a TV that may very well be moved inside or exterior + it had USB/bluetooth hookup for audio system in and out. It even had a selected hook for canine leashes which I cherished!
We initially deliberate to deliver our canine with us because it was a pet pleasant camper, however we ended up boarding them. I feel they’d have had a blast however it’s an excellent factor they did not come as a result of our Wolf Pup would have been a little bit tight for 2 gigantic, lengthy haired, giant breed canine + two people. I feel if the climate was cooler and the canine may have dealt with being exterior the entire time (besides when sleeping at night time after all) we may have managed, so perhaps they will tag alongside if we go someplace within the fall/winter. I might undoubtedly lease this particular trailer once more, however I would additionally like to check out different ones!
Touring with a camper was undoubtedly an expertise…..however it was a enjoyable one! I completely see why folks like to discover the nation this fashion. If we lived in a state like Colorado or Oregon with a lot pure magnificence and nice summer time climate I might be available in the market to purchase a trailer! I’m already making a listing of locations in Oklahoma that C and I can journey to this fashion. We love mountaineering and the outside (particularly when the climate is good) so I feel we may undoubtedly do some mountaineering particular journeys using a camper. I am taking a look at Black Mesa State Park, The Nice Salt Plains, Little Sahara, Robbers Cave, Quartz Mountain and Damaged Bow/Beavers Bend. In case you have every other strategies which might be an inexpensive driving distance from OKC, please depart them within the feedback! Although it was a extremely enjoyable journey, I do not suppose we might personally make the most of a camper sufficient to purchase one…a minimum of whereas dwelling in Oklahoma (we’ll at all times like to journey to far-off locations most) however with the ability to lease one a couple of occasions a 12 months looks like an excellent in-between possibility, particularly throughout these covid occasions.
What sort of traveler are you? Fly or street journey? Chain or boutique lodge or AirBNB? Tenting in tents? Glamping? RVing? I would love to listen to your ideas, experiences and/or suggestions under!
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