Renting/lending your rv?

[labdogs42]

We have some friends who have expressed interest in renting our pop-up camper for a week or weekend. I'm interested in exploring this idea. Would I need special insurance if I wanted to do this? Have any of you ever rented your camper to a friend or a stranger for that matter? What should I be concerned about in this situation? Pros/cons of this idea? Thanks!

 

[des1954]

IMO & from past experience, the quickest way to end a friendship is to let said friend use your camping equipment. If they were a true friend, they wouldn't ask to use it and put you in an uncomfortable situation by maybe having to say "no". I would be emphatically saying NO if they've never used a pop-up or pulled a trailer before. There are too many places they can go to rent camping equipment without having to ask you. But as I said, this is JMHO.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

IMO & from past experience, the quickest way to end a friendship is to let said friend use your camping equipment. If they were a true friend, they wouldn't ask to use it and put you in an uncomfortable situation by maybe having to say "no". I would be emphatically saying NO if they've never used a pop-up or pulled a trailer before. There are too many places they can go to rent camping equipment without having to ask you. But as I said, this is JMHO.

I agree FWIW. Way too many ways for things to go wrong and only one way for it to go right.

 

[AuburnJen92]

It seems like every time I lend a friend something, I end up with one of the following things happening:

1) That person is no longer my friend when the item is returned...
2) The item is never returned and I am no longer their friend
3) The item is never returned and I still speak to them but wonder where the hell my $200 softball bat is along with my other $100 softball bat and can't believe that he would give me some POS bat back to replace it with...

Don't lend stuff you want back in good condition to friends, unless you would like them not to be friends any more. There are very few people in this world who will treat YOUR stuff like THEIR stuff, intentionally or not.

(ok, off my soapbox)

 

[2goofycampers]

I agree with the above posters, bad idea to mix friends/family and business or lending something of value.

 

[labdogs42]

That's why I was kind of thinking of renting it instead of lending. Thinking that might make it more of a business transaction. I'd probably need a contract and everything.

I hear you about the lending thing. You're right. It is probably not a great idea.

 

[ntsammy5]

I agree with the above posters, bad idea to mix friends/family and business or lending something of value.

Couldn't have said it better. Having said that, I would lend my DS (sister that is) anything she asked for. But she's special (she also posts here so I have to say that)

 

[AuburnJen92]

Couldn't have said it better. Having said that, I would lend my DS (sister that is) anything she asked for. But she's special (she also posts here so I have to say that)

Your sister treats your things better than you do...she says so!

 

[AuburnJen92]

That's why I was kind of thinking of renting it instead of lending. Thinking that might make it more of a business transaction. I'd probably need a contract and everything.

I hear you about the lending thing. You're right. It is probably not a great idea.

I still, even with a contract, picture you as a future litigant on "The People's Court"

 

[tinah159]

You would need to purchase commercial liability insurance. You can call MBA insurance for a quote. You also need a contract. I can send you one if you like. The contract will protect you from having to pay the deductable should you have to make an insurance claim. The insurance company will not issue the policy without going over your contract with a fine tooth comb. If all those precautions are met....I say go for it...

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I wouldn't even lend my wife a buck today.

 

[etblank]

I think it depends on one thing. How will you feel if your camper comes home damaged? If you look at it as not a big deal, it can be fixed, then you should go ahead. If you will be upset...then don't even consider it. We rented our truck and trailer to a friend (and co-worker) to experience FW. They had a great time, but they did have an accident on the way home. They hit a pole at a gas station and smashed the side and the water heater. They felt horrible, we felt bad, but all was taken care of. They accepted the responsibility of the accident and the cost of the repairs, we fixed the trailer. Life moves on. I still talk to her, but I don't let stuff like that bother me. When she still says that was the best trip they took to Disney, outside of the accident, I still feel ok about the whole thing.

Towing a trailer, regardless of the size, isn't the easiest thing in the world. It does take getting used to. If you are renting or loaning your unit to someone who isn't used to towing, realize that your unit may not come home in the same condition it left in.

 

[Brer Bear]

Awww, Jim give her a fitty!

I'll take anyone camping WITH me, but there are just to many things than can go wrong, tear up, etc to destroy a friendship.

My old tent....I lent it to my sister and her friends during her college years and it came back smelling like a frat house! Bleh!

 

[auntie]

I think if your charging someone to use the camper that's entirely different than lending it to a friend. If you're renting out your camper you're entering into a business transaction. I guess it would depend on whether or not you can make enough renting to make the risk of damage worth it.
I have let my sister use our travel trailer..but I'd be reluctant to let anyone else. It was already on site, and she didn't have to tow it. To me..that makes a huge difference. I think you're not as likely to have damage with a unit placed on site. If it's really just a matter of lending it to a friend, I'd check with your insurance company first and see what would happen if there was some type of damage or God forbid an accident.

 

[We4mickey]

I don't know if renting it vs. lending it would really make a difference. We lent our camper to family and had things damaged in it. Had it been rented I don't think it would have made a difference to me. I was MAAAAAAAD! Still to this day I think about our perfect camper and the damage that was done. Had we not lent it out, we would not have had to get it fixed.

 

[Just Beachy]

I wouldn't do it. We're sort of "particular" about our camper. Nobody treats your things as well as you do.

 

[auntie]

I'm just saying that if your renting it, in hopes of financial gain..then it's more a busines venture and one would have to go into it with a business mindset.

It would upset me if mine were damaged. Heck, it bothers me when WE damage it, can't imagine lending it to someone and having that happen.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Nobody treats your things as well as you do.

ditto

 

[Tigger1966]

I won't even lend my car to anyone let alone my camper and renting it opens up a whole new set of problems. There are rental places all over. My company rents units and pop up campers are not very expensive.

 

[labdogs42]

You would need to purchase commercial liability insurance. You can call MBA insurance for a quote. You also need a contract. I can send you one if you like. The contract will protect you from having to pay the deductable should you have to make an insurance claim. The insurance company will not issue the policy without going over your contract with a fine tooth comb. If all those precautions are met....I say go for it...

Good info. Maybe I'll have to get that contact from you.

I think it depends on one thing. How will you feel if your camper comes home damaged? If you look at it as not a big deal, it can be fixed, then you should go ahead. If you will be upset...then don't even consider it. We rented our truck and trailer to a friend (and co-worker) to experience FW. They had a great time, but they did have an accident on the way home. They hit a pole at a gas station and smashed the side and the water heater. They felt horrible, we felt bad, but all was taken care of. They accepted the responsibility of the accident and the cost of the repairs, we fixed the trailer. Life moves on. I still talk to her, but I don't let stuff like that bother me. When she still says that was the best trip they took to Disney, outside of the accident, I still feel ok about the whole thing.

Towing a trailer, regardless of the size, isn't the easiest thing in the world. It does take getting used to. If you are renting or loaning your unit to someone who isn't used to towing, realize that your unit may not come home in the same condition it left in.

I'm pretty laid back about stuff. If it got damaged, we'd get it fixed. That's why I'm thinking of renting as opposed to just lending. We'd have something in writing about who is responsible for any damage, etc. I like the idea of getting some more friends hooked on rv'ing. Maybe if they use mine once they will want to get their own and go with us sometime!!