Buying stuff for lifestyle activities can be a dicey decision.
In your mind you see yourself going to the gym, using a paddle board or zipping down the slopes. You buy a membership or pass and some equipment, you might go once or twice and then never again. Or you end up loving the new activity and it becomes a life long passion.
But until you try it you really are not sure. That’s why renting an RV motorhome or trailer in Ottawa is a great idea!
Buying an RV is a Big Lifestyle Decisions: Some Decisions Turn Out Better than Others
For a lot of people, the gym or the paddle board usually work out fine. The skiing, sometimes yes, sometimes not so much.
Now what about camping in a travel trailer or a motorhome?
Well that’s definitely a lifestyle choice. And a substantial investment if you were to buy one.
It could end up being the best investment you ever made!
(It certainly was for us!!)
But before you take the dive, as it were, you do have a nice option to dip your toes in the water first.
RV Rental or Trailer Rental in Ottawa
Perhaps you want to try camping for the first time. Or maybe you have camped for many years in a tent and now you are tired of sleeping on the ground and trucking to the restroom in the middle of the night.
You just may be ready for an “upgrade!”
Perhaps after spending a miserable night in a leaking tent while someone in the lot across from you has a motorhome which is dry, has comfortable seating and beds and you see the flicker of the television through the downpour running down their windows.
Try Before You Buy – An RV or Trailer
Is an RV worth it?
Will you really like it? Can you afford it?
Is it worth the investment to purchase, maintain and operate? Where will you store it when not in travelling use? Are you comfortable towing a travel trailer or driving a motor home?
These are all legitimate questions which could and perhaps should lead you to consider renting a travel trailer or a motor home instead, to try camping in a RV and see if it really appeals to you.
You might come to the conclusion that, for the occasional time you decide to camp for a weekend or even take an extended road trip across the country, you’re better off renting an RV or trailer rather than buying one.
Is Renting an RV or Trailer the Real Deal?
You may ask if renting a travel trailer or motorhome is a real thing.
The first time we became aware of recreational vehicle rentals was in the campgrounds or on the road when we would see travel trailers and motorhomes which had signage advertising that they were rentals. Maybe you’ve seen these. If not, imagine what you might see on a U-Haul moving truck.
Knowing that many of these campers would be first timers, we would wonder how they found their experience – was it everything they hoped it would be?
And at least by renting a trailer or RV, they were answering that question for themselves, perhaps to the point that they would consider buying a travel trailer or motorhome in the near future. Or maybe they’d want to keep renting for the foreseeable future.
What to Consider for RV Rentals or Renting a Trailer in Ottawa
If you are looking at renting a motorhome or travel trailer what are some things you should consider?
Obviously cost of renting is a big factor.
Fuel is another cost.
Consider insurance, although the renting agency should be able to provide this option.
Now, how confident are you in either towing a travel trailer or driving a motorhome?
And what about your driver’s license? Good news, in Ontario you only need a valid G driver license to tow a travel trailer or operate a motorhome you would typically rent.
From the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario website:
Allowed to drive any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kilograms provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kilograms. A pickup truck towing a house trailer exceeds 4,600 kilograms but the total combined weight of the truck and trailer does not exceed 11,000 kilograms is deemed a Class G.
Note that it is against the law to tow more than one trailer behind non-commercial vehicles.
Next Steps in Renting an RV or Trailer in Ottawa
So now you have decided to rent a travel trailer or motorhome and you have a G level license. What next?
Considerations for the Vehicle & More
Well, if you are going to rent a travel trailer you will need a tow vehicle. We’re talking about your truck or SUV, here, folks.
Towing a travel trailer has become easier and safer over the years.
One major factor is the weight of the travel trailer. The weight has to be within the tow limits of the tow vehicle.
However, the RV industry has steadily decreased the weight of travel trailers over the years by introducing innovative materials and designs such as a hybrid travel trailer which is a combination of a pop-up soft-sided camper and a full hard-sided travel trailer.
You can expect to be able to tow a rented smaller travel trailer even with a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) such as some models of a Jeep.
Also, you will need the proper hitch setup for the rented travel trailer you wish to pull to that scenic campsite on the shores of the St. Lawrence or into the lush, green depths of Algonquin Park.
Make Sure You Know How to Operate Your Rental RV or Trailer
The next thing to ensure before you even take the rental travel trailer or motor home off the lot is how to operate all of its features.
Make sure you know how to set up at the site, including getting off the hitch and putting down all of the stabilizers.
Then how to “open it up” especially if it has soft sides that need to be “cranked up” and/or any slide outs.
We recommend you take pictures and/or videos on your phone.
Then once it is setup how to hook up the water and power, including for the proper amperage.
Then how to operate the various amenities:
- Awning
- Lights
- Fans
- Stove
- Fridge
- Washroom
- Air conditioner
- Furnace
- Entertainment (radio, TV)
And now the last item – a comfortable camp chair.
It’s Time to Enjoy Nature & The Open Road in Your RV Rental or Rented Trailer
You’re ready to hit the open road in an RV or trailer rental. Pick a destination, settle into a nice camp site in a beautiful setting.
Then open a cold beverage, kick pack and enjoy the moments you have been anticipating since you picked up that phone, called Travel-Mor Trailer Sales in Ottawa and asked about renting a recreational vehicle.
And if your experiences are the same as ours, your next call when you return home from the RV rental could be about purchasing your very own travel trailer or motorhome.
