Which RV to rent for a family trip?

My family and I are going crazy in the house and we need a change of scenery. Renting an RV sounds fun, but we've never done that and we don't know what type of RV we need. We also have small kids and need rear-facing support for car seats. I could use advice on what type of RV best fits my needs, will my SUV be sufficient to tow it, and what gotchas to look out for both during the drive and once we're onsite at the park. I've googled quite a bit, but still totally confused as to what will work for us.

I need a Sage.

  Topic Outdoor Life Subtopic RVs Tags rent rvs camping virginia
3 Years 1 Answer 2.7k views

Peter Yeargin

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Answers ( 1 )

 
  1. J Starr 4425 Accepted Answer Community Answer

    I can certainly agree it's time to get the heck outta Dodge for awhile.  Someplace nice with a lake and no people.  Clean air, trees, trails and at night, with a fire crackling, a million stars all around.  Oh yeah.  But, you do not have a Recreational Vehicle, and it sounds as if tenting is not an option you want to explore.  Okay, well, you have a few roofed choices- with bathrooms- so lets look at them.

    If it were me where you are, I would use https://freedomrv.com/  the rental page (if this link doesn't get you there) where you will see all your options.  Here's the deal: A Class C (drivable motorhome) is too small as it will not fit car seats, and, trust me when I tell you it would be very cramped for a family with little ones.  A 5th wheel is DaBomb, but you need a good-sized truck and 5th wheel hitch, which you do not have.  So now you are looking at a travel trailer.
    The good thing about using a place like Freedom RV is they know how much trailer your SUV can tow.  Trailers can get pretty long, and, even if it is towable weight-wise, it isn't the going uphill that'll cause any issues, it's going downhill-  can your car stop the weight of the trailer?  That's where you need the advice of people like Freedom RV.  They can look up all your vehicle's specs, and get you the best size for your vehicle. 

    Now some generic advice: Slow down on bumpy roads.  When you go over a bump, the trailer on the car's hitch goes over that bump a half second or so behind the vehicle, and that sets up a pull on the tow vehicle.  It isn't dangerous as such- unless you are going waaaaay too fast- but it is uncomfortable, and it can't be good for your car.  Also, no sudden moves while driving- every move you make is slow and deliberate.  Trailers are behind you on a ball hitch, and if you start moving back and forth in your lane, that trailer is going to sway- often a lot.  That is dangerous- especially if you cannot get it to stop soon enough, in traffic, on an interstate.  You will likely need to practice backing the trailer up-  it is much bigger than a car dolly or a welded wire dump trailer and will respond the same, but slower. 
    As to the rest- have a blast!  Don't forget the marshmallows and Hershey Bars, and take more photos than you think you will ever look at-  trust me, eventually, you will look at them all.

    UTC 2020-07-14 10:18 PM 0 Comments

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