A new survey by the RV Rental Association (RVRA) found that 81% of RV rental dealers also rent RV trailers. Of the rental dealers surveyed, 59% said more than one-fifth of their business last year was from customers who already owned an adequate tow vehicle.
“Because pickup trucks and SUVs capable of towing many RV trailers are some of the most popular vehicles in North America, it’s no surprise that towable RVs are popular with renters,” said RVRA Chairman Scott Krenek of Krenek RV in Coloma, Michigan. “The RV rental market is healthy and has the potential for more growth. That is why so many RVRA members are looking forward to a great summer.”
The RV rental fleet will be about two percent larger this summer than it was a year ago due to supply chain disruptions, RVRA said.
The supply chain disruptions impacting the towable RV manufacturing sector abated during March, April, and May, so rental dealers will most likely have enough RV trailers in their rental fleets, Krenek said.
However, supply chain disruptions continue to impact the car/truck manufacturers which supply motorhome chassis to RV builders, so rental fleet motorhome inventories continue to be lean, Krenek said. This helps explain why 55% of rental dealers planned to keep some older units in their fleets this summer, replacing them only when new units arrive.
Despite the temporary dislocations, Krenek believes, “RV rental vacations are a wonderful way to make memories with family and friends. Some advance planning before you set out on your trip will make the experience even better.”
Another 37% of rental dealers responding to the survey said over one-fifth of their business was from customers wanting to have a trailer delivered to a campground or other chosen location, where dealership personnel connect utilities.
Renting an RV from private owners through peer-to-peer digital platforms has undergone incredible growth in recent years, RVRA said.
The survey found slightly more than one quarter of rental dealers post some rental fleet units on peer-to-peer platforms.
Prospective renters should keep this in mind because dealers know more than the typical owner about how RVs work, how to maintain them and how to fix them if they break down while in use, Krenek said.
RVRA is a unit of RVDA, and the survey was conducted through the RV Retailer Intelligence program, a RV Assistance Corp (RVAC) service, a wholly owned subsidiary
