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Class B RV Rental: An Easy Option for Beginning RVers

Class B RV Rental: An Easy Option for Beginning RVers

Dreaming about getting into RVing, but wondering if it would be the best way to travel for you? A Class B RV rental might be just the perfect way to dip a toe in the water and give it a try!

There’s a whole lot of interest in RVing out there, but not everyone is ready to take the plunge and buy a rig. That’s certainly understandable! There’s a lot to RVing and it can be intimidating at first glance.

One great way to test the waters is to rent a rig and get out there and give it a try! For many, a Class B RV rental makes the most sense because these little rigs are easy to drive, easy to park, and offer a complete RV living experience.

In this post, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of a Class B RV rental and we’ll look at some companies to consider if you decide to give it a try.

So, grab your calendar, and let’s plan a trip!

What’s a Class B RV?

A Class B RV is essentially a motorhome built into a tall, wide van.

In our post on the benefits of smaller RVs, we also talked about vans as well as Class B+ RVs.  A Class B RV sits squarely in the middle of the two and has some pros and cons worth considering.

On the pro side, Class B RVs have all of the RV amenities in a small, compact package. They’re fuel-efficient and are easy to drive, back into a campsite, and park in general. In fact, most can fit easily into a regular parking space.

This makes a Class B RV rental a great trial rig! You don’t have to deal with the intimidating prospect of driving a vehicle that’s much larger than you’re used to while you’re also learning the ins and outs of things like RV plumbing, temperature control, resource management, tank dumping, etc.

On the con side of the equation, many Class B rigs have an RV wet bath which means that there isn’t a separate shower and toilet/sink area. These setups are fine for many people (and, honestly, the only option for such a small space), but for long-term use, they can be a bit limiting and even annoying.

The difference between a wet bath and a dry bath is that in a wet bath, everything gets wet when you use the shower. This isn’t as bad as it sounds, (yes it is), but it certainly isn’t ideal either. ????

An RV wet bath

In a wet bath, the toilet, sink, and shower are all in a single space, meaning that when you shower, the entire “room” gets wet. (And we use the term “room” lightly. Wet baths are generally pretty small. Think closet-sized. Small closet.)

You’ll also have smaller holding tanks in a Class B RV, but if you’re just renting a small rig to test the waters to see if RVing is for you before you spend a lot of money purchasing a rig, the limitations may be acceptable. You may even find them acceptable for long-term travel, depending on your needs.

For more information on a wet bath vs a dry bath, see our post on wet baths linked above as well as this one entitled “What is a Dry Bath in a Camper?

Also, we rented a compact RV marketed as a “Class B+ RV” for five weeks during a trip to New Zealand. While these RVs are technically registered as Class C RVs (and have the same type of cutaway chassis cabs that Class C rigs use), they’re very compact.

Our video on the experience of living in a “Class B+ RV” may give you a general sense of the experience of living in a compact RV:

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Class B RV?

Generally speaking, it costs in the range of $100 to $200 per night to rent a Class B motorhome in North America.

Rental rates vary, however, based on your location and the local demand for Class B RV rentals.

Rental terms can also vary widely, so as you shop for a Class B camper van rental you’ll want to hone in on whether the fee includes things like good insurance, unlimited mileage, and the amenities you want from the rig itself.

As with any rental, look for hidden costs and be sure to sort fees and expectations out before signing ANY contract.

How Many People Can Travel in a Class B RV?

Depending on the floor plan, Class B RVs can typically ride and sleep between two and four people.

Here again, you’ll want to find the Class B rig that suits your needs. If you’ve got a couple of children or other loved ones who’ll be traveling with you, you’ll need to make sure that you have safe, seatbelted riding spaces for them in addition to sleeping quarters.

Extra sleeping quarters to accommodate more than two people in a small RV usually means the rig will have a pop-top or a couple of seats that are convertible to small makeshift beds.

The "pop top" feature of a small Class B "campervan".

Most Class B RVs are capable of sleeping 2 people comfortably, but some can accommodate 1-2 additional (small) people either with seats that convert to beds or with a pop top like this one.

How Do I Find a Class B RV Rental?

You can find Class B RV rentals in most areas these days. In some locations, you may even be overwhelmed by the number of rental options available to you.

We’ll give you a list of some of the most popular Class B RV rental sites where you can start your comparison shopping.

Before we do so, however, we want to just quickly reinforce the importance of looking closely at the rental details to make sure the rental company offers adequate insurance, roadside assistance, unlimited mileage, and an in-person tutorial of all the RV systems before you hit the road.

Also, be clear on the expectations regarding what you’re responsible for when returning the RV so you won’t be surprised by extraneous charges. (For example, are you expected to return the RV with full fuel tank and propane tanks?)

Here are those important points in list form for your convenience when you’re shopping for an RV rental:

  • Adequate insurance?
  • Roadside assistance?
  • Unlimited mileage?
  • In-person tutorial of all systems?
  • What is expected of the renter?

We should note that the first three RV rental companies on the list are probably the three most popular, and all offer Class B RV rentals as well as rentals of most other types of RVs.  (Note that not all RV rental companies rent Class B RVs or “campervans”.)

A Class B RV and a "camper van"

Note that the difference between a Class B RV and a “camper van” is usually about size (a camper van is smaller) and amenities. A Class B RV has more amenities including holding tanks (fresh, black, and gray), an electrical system, and the ability to cook inside the RV.

Also, there are many other companies that rent RVs. If there’s an RV rental company or even an RV dealership near your home, check them out as they may well rent out small rigs to give your RV life a kick-start.

Navigate to any of these RV rental companies by clicking on the link. Pop your city & state or zip code into the search box, and see what’s available near you!

Where possible, the link we’ve provided takes you directly to Class B RV rentals from each company noted below. In several cases, however, you’ll need to navigate to “Class B” or “Campervan” rentals from the homepage provided.

We hope you’ll enjoy RVing as much as we do!

Hey, I Have a Class B RV! How Do I Rent It Out?

We’re glad you asked! We’ve got an entire post on how to rent out your RV.

In that post, you’ll see the top three RV rental companies noted in the list above. There may be others in your area, but those are the three that most people looking to rent an RV will check out first.

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