RV delivery is a very convenient service that RV owners can offer their clients. If you have a renter who is planning to go to a festival or someone who enjoys camping but might be nervous about setting up, this is a great way for them to enjoy your rig.
However, there are some RV delivery rules and some common mistakes RV owners tend to make when setting up their rigs for guests. Here are the best practices that you as an RV owner should follow when you’re setting up your rig for renters.
Common Mistakes with RV Delivery
RVshare has been a rental platform for owners and renters for many years now. Here are some of the common mistakes we see that can trip people up.
Not confirming dropoff/pickup RV delivery time with renter
After your guests make their reservation, be sure to confirm the dropoff and pickup times with them. You may want to confirm these times at the time of booking, and again a day or two before the agreed-upon dates. Double-checking can prevent a mix-up when it’s too late to fix the problem.
Not giving the renter a walk-through
After you have set up the RV, you’ll want to stick around for the arrival of your renters. Give them a thorough walk-through and show them how to operate everything inside your RV. You can skip the driving lesson and how to set up and tear down your rental since you’ll be doing that yourself. But you’ll want to show them how to operate all of the appliances, how to reconfigure furniture for sleeping, how to operate all the lights and slideouts, and everything else required to use your RV.
If you have any extras like grills, chairs, kayaks, or other items stowed away, make sure your renters know where they are and how to access and use them.
Also, make sure you and the renter have copies of the reservation information, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration, and that the renter knows where the owner’s manual is.
Not confirming that RV delivery drop-offs are allowed at the campground
Not every campground allows owners to drop RVs off at the campground instead of being driven in by the person who is using it. Other campgrounds want the name of the person who will be arriving to drop off the RV ahead of time. Check with the campground that your renter has selected to make sure they will allow you to deliver the RV. Make sure you know all the information they will want regarding the person delivering the rig and the person who will be camping there.
Delivering to the wrong campsite
Check and double-check your campsite to make sure you’re headed to the right one. Many campgrounds have maps of their layout online so you can check ahead of time to see where you’re going. You can also check with the campground host to make sure you’re headed to the right spot.
Popular Destinations that Do Not Allow RV Delivery
Although RV delivery is a popular option, especially for events like festivals, some destinations do not allow RV delivery and setup by another person.
These policies can even vary within one system, like the National Parks system. Yellowstone National Park does not allow RV deliveries to campsites, while Yosemite National Park allows some RV deliveries. You’ll want to check with the park you want to visit to make sure they allow deliveries before allowing this service. State parks, national forests, and other government campgrounds are similar – policies may vary depending on the place you’ve chosen.
Some private campgrounds, especially upscale resorts, may also have restrictions on RV delivery. The campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort only allow Disney Featured Providers to deliver rented RVs to the campground. And while many popular events welcome RV delivery and setup for their guests, not all do. You’ll want to check with the organizer or read the campground rules to make sure you and your client don’t get turned away.
Here are some popular destinations that do allow RV delivery:
Burning Man
The Burning Man festival in Black Rock City does allow RV owners to deliver rigs for customers. However, there is a strict set of rules and guidelines, and you’ll need to be registered ahead of time. You’ll want to read up on Burning Man’s Outside Services Program before offering setup at camps there.
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney’s campground is one of the top delivery destinations in the country. You’ll need to be a Disney Featured Provider in order to delivery and set up an RV at the campground.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite allows some vendors with a Commercial Use Authorization to deliver their rigs to the park. Campsites need to be reserved by the client, and you as the owner must abide by all park rules and regulations including check-in and check-out times.
Private Homes or Properties
Some renters may want a vehicle set up on their property or in their driveway to accommodate guests. This is an easy destination for you because the only person you’ll need to coordinate with will be the renters! But you’ll want to be aware of HOA rules for parking your vehicle, and see whether there are hookups that are compatible with your rig. In fact, you may want to read over our advice for moochdockers to make sure you’re ready to set up your vehicle at someone’s home.
Tailgating Events
Tailgating at college football games or other sporting events is an excellent time to offer RV delivery! Renters can simply show up with their great recipes, dips, and drinks and enjoy the pre-game atmosphere without the stress of setting up ahead of time. Make sure to check with the event coordinators ahead of time so you know that they allow third-party setup. These events are also small enough that you’ll likely become familiar with the tailgating staff. The more you set up at their events, the smoother it will go each time.
RV Delivery Best Practices for Owners
As the RV owner, you’ll want to do your best to ensure a pleasant experience for your customers, the campground staff, and for you as well. Here are some of the best practices to make sure your delivery goes smoothly.
Determine how you want to charge for RV delivery
Some owners charge a flat base rate for delivery within a certain radius, while others charge per mile. You can read over the different options on our delivery page to determine which suits you best. RVshare will also display a map showing the delivery fees to different areas.
Communicate well
As Fiorella explains in the following video, communicating well with your customers can go a long way toward giving everyone involved a great experience.
If you give your customers a way to reach you, make sure you monitor that frequently so you can get back to them quickly. Customers, especially new renters, will feel much more at ease if they know they can reach you with questions about how something works or about the logistics of setting up or tearing down the site.
Show them around
After you set up the RV for your renters, make sure to walk them through everything before leaving. Explain how to work any TVs and appliances. Show them where you have games, linens, kitchen utensils, and other items stored that they might want to use. Explain how the toilet and shower work. You’ll want to do the same type of walkthrough you would if they were renting a vehicle to drive.
Debrief afterward
Talk to your renters after their stay is over for a few minutes. You don’t need to grill them intensely. But ask them how their time was. See if there’s anything they especially appreciated, and if there’s anything you can do to improve. Every rental is a chance to do some market research with customers who are standing right in front of you!
Also, chatting for a bit can help establish a relationship. If your renters enjoyed their stay and feel like they know you, they’ll be more likely to use you again in the future.
Setting up Your Account to Offer RV Delivery
Now that you know all about this extra service for your clients, you can set up your account to offer delivery. It’s fairly simple to add this service to your existing listing or to include it in a new listing.
RV delivery can be a great source of extra income or a good nudge for someone who wants to camp but is nervous about driving a large vehicle. Hopefully, this article has shown you how to put your renters at ease and to arrange RV rental delivery in a way that is easy and non-stressful for everyone involved.
