Outdoorsy Review - Cost, Insurance, & More [In-Depth Guide]

Outdoorsy is a safe space for RV renters everywhere. Hassle-free transactions, solid insurance, and free roadside assistance, all at your fingertips.

Outdoorsy is a safe space for RV renters everywhere. Hassle-free transactions, solid insurance, and free roadside assistance, all at your fingertips.

Navigation: Intro | Reviews | Locations | Fee Structure | The Process | Insurance | Roadside Assistance | Cancellations | Discount Code | Best RV Apps | Pros and Cons | Is it worth it? | FAQs

Outdoorsy

Outdoorsy is the largest, most trusted RV rental marketplace in the world. It’s a place where you can experience the RV life without having to buy your own rig, and one where you can rent it out if you’ve already got your own. It’s like Airbnb but for RVs.

With more than 15,000 RV owners renting their rigs out on Outdoorsy, the company has reached amazing success. Renters can now experience RVing without the hassle of owning one, and owners can now make money on their then-idle rigs.

Special offer: Get $50 off. Just click here to browse the selection of RVs and when you’re ready to check out just enter the promo code EXSPLORE to get $50 off your first RV rental at Outdoorsy.

 

Lots of folks own RVs. Lots of folks want to rent RVs. Outdoorsy is how they meet. Outdoorsy is world's #1 most trusted marketplace for recreational vehicles...

 

Outdoorsy Review

In our Outdoorsy review, we’ll tell you all about renting and owning an RV on Outdoorsy, show you the advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately — find out whether the people behind it deserve your hard-earned money.

The RV industry is growing every year. More than a million Americans live as nomads in the comfort of their RVs. For a lot of these people, the charm is in going wherever life takes you. It’s a chance to be free and (quite literally) stray off the beaten path.

And a landmass as expansive as the US encourages the lifestyle extremely well. If you just stay in one place, you’d be hard-pressed to see America in its entirety.

But with an RV, you can appreciate the beauty of America without having to spend your life savings on plane tickets and hotels. Sadly, though, not everyone can buy an RV.

But now you don’t have to.

With Outdoorsy, you can just rent. All the info you need to book a listing is right there. In just a few clicks, you’ll be on your way with a vehicle that suits your needs and your budget.

And if you’ve got an RV, it makes renting it out that much simpler. Using Outdoorsy’s community, you don’t have to hunt viciously for leads anymore. The people come to you, not the other way around. Your vehicle’s insured, and you’re in control.

But is Outdoorsy really as good as they say?

Let’s find out.

 

Outdoorsy Reviews/Testimonials

Christopher Eckrich of Sausalito, California is an Airstream owner who rents his RV on Outdoorsy. Learn more about how you can make money renting out your RV...

One of the biggest qualms that people have before trying out Outdoorsy is whether renting out their RV is worth the hassle.

We know this firsthand since one of our friends is an owner who regularly rents her vehicle on Outdoorsy — she had a lot of doubts before finally trying it out. There are so many horror stories out there about bad renters, even outside the world of RVs.

In her mind, renting her RV would only mean trouble — slobby renters, scammers, damages, insurance — who has the time, right?

If you’re a renter, I’m sure you’re thinking the same things. And you’re not wrong to. RVs are a big investment and take a lot of time and money to maintain.

Luckily, though, with a bit of research, our friend’s mind was put at ease.

Outdoorsy has served over 2.6 million customers and has had 55,000+ reviews, averaging at an impressive 4.88/5 stars.

 
You can see all of these reviews and more on their website. Or maybe just click this link.
 

Trust Pilot Reviews

Users on Trustpilot report having great experiences with the platform as well. With more than 15,000 reviews and averaging 4.3/5 stars, Outdoorsy has achieved the Excellent rating on the review platform.

 
Considering how many people leave Trustpilot reviews per week, these numbers are nothing to scoff at.

Considering how many people leave Trustpilot reviews per week, these numbers are nothing to scoff at.

 

Reddit Reviews

Here’s what users are saying on Reddit.

An RV owner’s thoughts on Outdoorsy…

An RV owner’s thoughts on Outdoorsy…

…and a renter’s.

…and a renter’s.

App Store Reviews

Here’s what users are saying on the Apple App Store.

 
We’ll tell you straight up. The reviews on the Android app do not look this good.
 

Pretty impressive numbers. But if we had to knock Outdoorsy for something, it’d probably be their mobile app.

Now, personally, we’ve had no issues with it, but some frustrated users have left some negative reviews about the app experience.

Some users report random crashes and glitches while using the app, while some complain about the inefficient functionality, especially when it comes to digging up info. Some, on the other hand, counting us, encounter no issues, so it probably depends on the user’s device.

The Android app, on the other hand, is a different story. It’s suffered from some very bad reviews and currently sits at 3.0 out of 5 stars. Recently, it looks like things have been improving, but according to some users, the Android app’s just not quite there yet.

Thankfully, we haven’t seen anything deal-breaking, so their apps, however flawed, should be safe to use.

The website, on the other hand, works fantastic. So if you ever run into any issues on the app, the website’s always up and running.

 

Use promo code EXSPLORE to get $50 off your first RV rental at Outdoorsy

 

Outdoorsy Locations

Outdoorsy has a community of 15,000+ RV owners all over the world. If anyone anywhere has an RV they’d like to rent out, they can do it using Outdoorsy.

Note: Many listings aren’t being shown in this image. The map view hides some of the listings until you zoom in. If you want to see all the listings, use the list view on the left pane (not shown in this screenshot).

Note: Many listings aren’t being shown in this image. The map view hides some of the listings until you zoom in. If you want to see all the listings, use the list view on the left pane (not shown in this screenshot).

Most of the RV owners on Outdoorsy come from the US. If you’re American, you can expect at least a couple of listings right nearby.

Outdoorsy RV listings in Western Europe

Outdoorsy RV listings in Western Europe

There are a few listings over in Western Europe as well. There certainly aren’t as many listings there as there are in the US, but if you’re ever there, you can try and see if you can find one near you.

Outdoorsy RV listings in Australia

Outdoorsy RV listings in Australia

In Australia, there are a few listings along Gold Coast, Byron Bay, and around Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian coastline is a very rewarding place to go RVing, so if you’re ever there, book an RV on Outdoorsy!

 
A lone RV listing in the Philippines

A lone RV listing in the Philippines

 

To our surprise, there was a single listing on the Philippines, in a small island called Coron. We just found it a bit funny that there was actually a listing out there in Southeast Asia where RVing isn’t the go-to thing to do.

But this goes to show how flexible Outdoorsy is. It doesn’t matter where you are — all that matters is that there’s someone with an RV nearby and they’re willing to rent it out.

And that person could be you!

 

Outdoorsy Cost, Price, and Fee Structure

Outdoorsy charges service fees for both owners and renters.

Here are the main ones you should be aware of:

Owner Service Fee

Owners are charged between 20% and 25% of their booking subtotal. This means owners receive 75% to 80% of what a renter pays. These fees can be seen on the reservation page of each booking.

Renter Service Fee

Renters are charged a service fee based on the total of their reservation. This service fee costs anywhere from 5% to 20% of the booking subtotal. Towable RVs, camper vans, and truck campers are charged $10 per day, while class A, B, and C RVs are charged $15 per day.

Additional renter fees such as late fees, dirty RV fee, no-show fees, etc., may also be charged.

Outdoorsy promo code

Use promo code EXSPLORE to get $50 off your first RV rental at Outdoorsy.

 

The RV Rental Process

Let’s get to the most important part of this Outdoorsy review. In this section, we’ll take an in-depth look at the RV rental process — we’ll tell you what the platform is, how to use it, and how we thought about it.

Available Vehicles

These are the vehicles you can expect to see if you’re planning to rent:

  • Class A, B, and C RVs

  • Travel trailers

  • Pop-ups

  • Fifth wheels

  • Van and truck campers

  • Stationary and vintage trailers

  • Non-mobile “destination campers”

  • Park models

  • Towing vehicles

The good thing is they welcome every type of rig. If you’re looking for something specific, someone’s probably renting it out. The browsing system (which we’ll talk about next) makes it super easy to find a vehicle you need.

The only drawback we’ve found, though, is that if you need an uncommon vehicle and the nearest one is miles away, you can expect to pay a premium to have it delivered. Though there’s always a good range of alternative vehicles.

Browsing

Outdoorsy’s browsing system makes it easy to look for an RV that suits your needs. You can access the search bar right from the homepage. Just type in your location and you’ll see the listings near you.

You can search for listings by typing in a location or by moving the map widget around and zooming into your desired location.

You can search for listings by typing in a location or by moving the map widget around and zooming into your desired location.

In the picture above, you’ll see various listing across the United States at different price ranges. Since we’re zoomed out too far, we only get to see a few of the several thousands of listings.

Let’s try zooming in by pressing the (+) button on the top right.

Zooming in helps you see more listings in an area. Zoom in by clicking on the (+) icon, scrolling your mouse wheel if you’re on desktop, or pinch-and-spreading with your fingers if you’re on mobile.

Zooming in helps you see more listings in an area. Zoom in by clicking on the (+) icon, scrolling your mouse wheel if you’re on desktop, or pinch-and-spreading with your fingers if you’re on mobile.

As we zoom in, our search results get a bit more refined. We suddenly see listings that weren’t there when we were zoomed out.

You can refine your search results even more by using the filters. This helps you find a listing that suits your budget as well as your travel needs.

The filters are super helpful for narrowing down relevant results. Click the tabs to see a comprehensive list of options.

The filters are super helpful for narrowing down relevant results. Click the tabs to see a comprehensive list of options.

We’re travelling cheap and we’re travelling light, so we set our filters to a Class B RV between $50 - $100 per night. We also want a listing with good reviews, so we set the Minimum rating to 4 stars in the More filters tab.

4-star reviews are usually the honest, critical ones, so we try to poke around that range of ratings. It’s worked nicely for us so far and we’ve avoided a lot of biased, rushed reviews.

Overall, Outdoorsy’s browsing system makes it easy to look for relevant listings. The filters are well-designed and very useful. Plus, if you’re us and loathe typing, you can just move the map around and look for a listing there.

It gets an A+ from us.

Booking

After you’ve found a listing you like, it’s time to start the booking process.

This widget also lets you see the minimum number of nights you can stay and how much each night costs.

This widget also lets you see the minimum number of nights you can stay and how much each night costs.

Click on “Select dates” to select a date range for your trip. Once you've selected the date range, it shows you the total for your reservation, adding service fees and insurance fees and subtracting any discounts and travel credits you may have.

Click on “Reserve” to start the booking process.

Note: Clicking on “Reserve” doesn’t bind you to the reservation. At this point, it’s really just an inquiry. You won’t be charged for anything until the owner approves your reservation request at the end of this process.

In the next page, you can choose add-ons, such as a pet fee if you’re bringing pets, extra linens, a grill, etc. Once you’re done, all you need to do is wait for the owner to approve your booking.

Approval may take a few hours depending on how busy the owner is. When it’s finally approved, you pay for the security deposit. When you receive confirmation of the booking, Outdoorsy charges you the rest of the money, holds it for 24 hours (for security), then transfers it to the owner.

We thought the process was straightforward and efficient. What we love about the booking system is that it eliminates the constant back and forth between owner and renter. All the information each party needs is disclosed at the beginning so there are no misunderstandings. Quick and simple.

Our Experience

Our experience with Outdoorsy was pretty pleasant, to say the least. Picking it up was fast and easy since the owner was punctual as well as helpful. They got there on time, reminded us of their rules, gave us a crash course on some of the systems, and told us to enjoy our stay.

Nothing special, really, but we liked how smooth it all went down.

Now, it’s important to note that this is just our experience. Your mileage may vary. Outdoorsy, after all, is a peer-to-peer service, which means you’re doing actual business; you’re just using Outdoorsy to do it.

Our point is, not everyone is as lucky as we are, and you’re bound to run into someone unpleasant — that is, if you aren’t careful.

What we love about Outdoorsy is that all the information is laid out in front of you. You get to see if a person has bad, good, or no reviews, what they do, and how they talk.

If you’re a good judge of character, you can make sure you always have a good experience. So be strict with that as well! Make a good effort to see whether someone deserves your business. It’s your money on the table — take good care of it!

Renting Out Your RV

Now that we’ve talked about how you can use Outdoorsy to rent a stranger’s RV for your own recreational use, let’s talk about the other side of the equation — renting out your RV to strangers.

Listing your RV is surprisingly easy.

You’ll be asked for:

  1. Some basic info about your rig (e.g. Vehicle type, Manufacturer, etc.)

  2. Included amenities (e.g. Refrigerator, Microwave, etc.)

  3. Things you’re okay with (or aren’t) (e.g. Pets, Smoking)

After that, you can customize your listing with some snazzy photos, a catchy name and description, and finish up by naming your price and setting your schedule.

Since this is what a renter sees when they check out your listing, this’ll be your sales page — the page where clicks turn into cash — so make sure you try your best! Make it look clean and interesting!

Meet Katie, an RV owner who helps support her family by renting out her RV on Outdoorsy. Learn more about how you can rent out your RV on Outdoorsy at https:...

Now, you’re probably wondering — is it worth it to rent out your RV?

Honestly, it’s up to the owner. How worth it this is depends on how hard you try and how careful you are. Outdoorsy isn’t a money dispenser. You don’t put up your listing and expect a big fat check at the end of the month.

It takes time and it takes work.

Now, how much time and work it takes depends on how well you do things. Most of the work you’ll be doing are administrative tasks and communicating — at least once per day.

The part at the very beginning, though, that’s the most important — understanding everything in your protection plan, making all the calls, and drawing up all the rules.

If you go into this with the mindset that this is your business and you’re running things, you’ll have an easy time later on.

As you sow, so shall you reap.

Use promo code EXSPLORE to get $50 off your first RV rental at Outdoorsy

 

Outdoorsy Insurance Coverage

When it comes to insurance, Outdoorsy has a tremendous advantage in the marketplace. They’re known for their industry-leading insurance protection, covering up to $1 million.

Now, unfortunately we have no RV to rent out, so we didn’t have the privilege of claiming insurance for our theoretically damaged vehicle. But we did find someone with firsthand experience.

A user named Alan occasionally rents out their Winnebago Travato, a beautiful, jazzy red campervan which they’ve charmingly named Roxanne. During one of the rentals, the renter hit a large rock at a campground and left some nasty scratches on Roxanne. It wasn’t pretty.

Lucky for Alan, the renter was professional about the whole thing and promised to work with him to get it fixed. Outdoorsy was compliant as well. There were a few bumps along the way, but he managed to get it fixed. Even got a free car wash, too.

So, yes, Outdoorys’s insurance program is legit.

Depending on how well you’ve gone through their terms and conditions, though, you might have to jump through some hoops. So if you’re planning on renting your RV, don’t skip over the legal stuff. You just might save yourself a headache.

Protection Packages

Outdoorsy offers three separate protection packages for renters: Risk Taker, Essential, and Peace of Mind. The price varies based on the vehicle and the coverage of each package. The renter selects a package during the booking process.

Here’s what’s included in each package:

See if you actually need everything a package offers before choosing. It could save you a lot of money.

See if you actually need everything a package offers before choosing. It could save you a lot of money.

Covered Incidents

All the incidents covered by Outdoorsy’s insurance protection

All the incidents covered by Outdoorsy’s insurance protection

Here’s the complete list of incidents covered by their protection policy:

 
  • Earthquakes

  • Fallen Trees

  • Windstorms

  • Hailstorms

  • Animal Impact

  • Backup Accidents

  • Vandalism

  • Fires

  • Stolen RV

  • Power Surge

 

Covered Vehicles

According to the website, they’ve got coverage for everything from Class A motorhomes to pop-up campers.

Here’s the complete list of vehicle types covered by their protection policy:

 
  • Class A, B, and C motorhomes

  • Fifth wheel and conventional travel trailers

  • Airstream trailers

  • Truck campers

  • Campervans

  • Toy haulers

  • Pop-up trailers

  • Sportsmobiles

  • Certified Westfalias

  • VW campers

  • Vintage units

  • Other specialty and custom RVs

 

If you don’t see your vehicle in the list above, it might not be covered by liability insurance. In that case, your renters need an insurance binder from a third-party insurance company like Zego for securing liability insurance.

Outdoorys’s insurance partner is Liberty Mutual, the fifth-largest property and casualty insurer in the world. They have a great reputation because of their fantastic pricing and claims service.

We were lucky enough not to have anything bad happen during our rentals, but for your sake as readers, we looked up the reviews ourselves.

 

24/7 Roadside Assistance

roadside-assistance-01.png

In addition to their insurance policy, which protects both renter and owner, they offer roadside assistance as well, whenever you need it.

It should be noted that Outdoorsy doesn’t have their own roadside assistance service. They use a third-party company called Coach-Net.

To get roadside assistance, just call the number and Outdoorsy will connect you to their network of 40,000+ roadside assistance providers. This comes with no additional charge since it’s included in the Outdoorsy Protection Package.

Here’s what Outdoorsy’s 24-hour roadside assistance covers:

  • Towing

  • Jump starts

  • Mobile tire assistance

  • Locksmith and lockout service

  • Delivery of fuel and emergency fluids

  • Mobile mechanic service

Luckily, our RV issues were more along the lines of “what the heck was that” or “what does this thing do” rather than things like these, where a professional is necessary, so we didn’t use this service. But a quick Google search has revealed Coach-Net to be pretty reliable.

roadside-assistance-02-tech-support.png

You can also call their 24-hour technical support hotline if you ever need help. They have ASE-certified technicians who will assist you with issues like:

  • Using retracting slide outs

  • Using leveling jacks

  • Connecting a power supply

  • Operating your RV appliances

  • Locating the nearest service facility

We’ve found the hotline to be indispensable during our rentals. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, we would often get really stuck when it came to using the RV, and we really didn’t want to bother the owner.

Calling Outdoorsy’s tech support hotline proved to be very handy.

roadside-assistance-03-personal-concierge.png

They also offer personal concierge services, which includes recommendations and travel assistance.

We’ve never tried this out since owners were often kind enough to tell us their own recommendations and personal tips, but the service is there if you need it.

 

Cancellations

Cancellations Policy for Renters

Owners get to choose what happens when a cancellation occurs. This is done to protect both owners and renters.

There are 3 standardized cancellation policies:

  • Flexible

  • Moderate

  • Strict

Let’s go through each one.

Flexible

Renters can cancel 5 days before the pickup date and get refunded 100% of the total costs minus service fees. If you choose to cancel within 5 days of your RV trip, you can fully refund 75% of the reservation costs.

Moderate

Renters can cancel 7 days before the pickup date and get refunded 75% of the total costs minus service fees. If you choose to cancel within 7 days of your RV trip, you can fully refund 50% of the reservation costs.

Strict

Renters can cancel 14 days before the pickup date and get refunded 50% of the total costs minus service fees. Renters can cancel within 14 days on your RV trip, but the reservation will be non-refundable.

At first glance, these policies seem very anti-renter, but it’s supposed to be that way to make sure no one’s time is being wasted.

If, however, the renter disagrees with an owner’s chosen cancellation policy, they must look for another listing, since renters are required to agree before booking.

 

Cancellations Policy for Owners

Outdoorsy has rules to protect its renters as well.

Here’s the gist of it:

  • Owners can only cancel INSTAbook reservations 3 times every 6 months. If they exceed the limit, INSTAbook is disabled for 45 days.

  • After 2 cancellations in 6 months by an owner, all future cancellations are subject to a cancellation fee. Depending on whether the cancellations occur within or more than 7 days of the pickup date, $100 or $50 is deducted from the owner’s next payout.

  • If an owner cancels within a week of the pickup date, they get an automated review on their profile about the cancellation.

  • If an owner cancels within 2 days of the pickup date, guests can leave a review on their profile about the cancellation.

 

Outdoorsy Discount Code

Click this link to browse their RV selection and use promo code EXSPLORE during check out to get $50 off.

 

Best Apps to Use with Outdoorsy

GetUpside: Save money on gas

getupside.png

Depending on the size of your RV’s fuel tank, it can cost anywhere from $60-$600 to fill up the tank of an RV with gas.

To save money on gas during your trip, we recommend downloading the GetUpside app. By using the app, you can save as much as 25¢ per gallon of gas at major gas stations all around the U.S.

Click here to download the GetUpside app and get $10 worth of gas for free. Or download the GetUpside app manually in your phone’s app store (Google | iPhone) and then enter our promo code, CN3B5 to get the $10 bonus.


Harvest Hosts: Stay overnight at wonderful locations

 
harvest-hosts-logo.jpg
 

If you’re renting an RV with Outdoorsy, we definitely recommend Harvest Hosts. It’s a fantastic app that lets you access thousands of free overnight stays at beautiful public locations across the US.

The first thing you’ll be doing after getting your RV is looking for places to visit. With Harvest Hosts, you not only find some awesome places to park your RV, but you also discover hidden gems you never knew were right next to you.

Harvest Hosts helped us make the most of our rental RV, and we highly recommend you try it out.


Boondockers Welcome: Settle down with the locals in the comfort of your RV

apps-03-boondockers-welcome.png

Another app we’re super fond of is Boondockers Welcome. It’s sort of like Harvest Hosts in that it lets you look for locations to park your RV for free.

The difference here is that Boondockers Welcome lets you park on private properties instead. It gives you access to over 2,000 host locations all over the US, where you can park free of charge.

At the onset, Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome look identical, but we’re members of both, and we’ve personally found it best to subscribe to both.

With Harvest Hosts, you get access to public properties. Boondockers Welcome, on the other hand, gives you access to a community of RVers who will personally welcome you and your rig into the comfort of their homes, where you can settle down and recharge for the next trip.


RVshare: Earn Up To $40,000 With Your RV

 
 

RVshare is another great place to find RV rentals as well as rent out your own.

With over 60,000 active listings, RVshare is one of the best ways to mobilize your idle RV and use it to make you money.

We recommend RVshare alongside Outdoorsy for RV owners interested in starting their rental business.

By listing on both platforms instead of just one, you expand your reach and increase your income potential greatly.


The Dyrt: The Largest Database Of Campgrounds

logo-the dyrt.png

The Dyrt is a free app available on both Android and iOS that you can use to access the largest database of campgrounds. No matter what type of camper you are, you can use The Dyrt to find available campgrounds near you.

Upgrading to the PRO version gives you access to features like Trip Planning, Offline Search, and much more, improving your camping experience immensely for a tiny annual fee.


Roadtrippers: Road trip planning app

Roadtrippers is our favorite route planning app because it makes it easy to plan trips and itineraries with family friends.

Plus the app comes packed with a ton of other features that make taking a road trip a breeze.


 

Pros and Cons of Outdoorsy

Now that we’ve talked about the service in detail, let’s do a recap. Here are the various pros and cons of using Outdoorsy:

Pros

Friendly community

Since owners are often experienced RVers (we’ve even met some who had gone full-time), they’ll probably have a ton of advice for you, should you ever need it. During one of our rentals, we got really stuck (RV systems are more complicated than you think) and had to ask the owner a bunch of questions. They were more than willing to help us out each time. They also knew the best places to stay!

Incredible customer service despite COVID-19

Many businesses have been struggling with customer service due to the pandemic, subjecting customers to increased wait times and slow resolution of tickets. For a while, Outdoorsy struggled with this as well. But since they’ve added 100 support staff to their team to adjust with the needs of its users, wait times have gone down and service has improved drastically.

Generate steady passive income

What we love most about Outdoorsy is that it’s a win for everyone involved. The community has 15,000+ owners who average around $2,000/mo in rental income. Renters get to enjoy a lovely RV trip to any location of their choice, while owners get a steady passive income on their vehicle.

Avoid idle months

Outdoorsy helps RV owners by allowing them to be “never idle.” Vacation time is RV time, but during the rest of the year, when you’ve got too much on your plate, your RV transforms into a garage decoration, collecting dust until the next trip. With Outdoorsy, your RV can do exactly what it was meant to do and make you money doing it.

Rent your RV out with zero hassle

One thing people often say about these types of rental services is, why not just do it yourself? Well, you totally can. But the thing about middlemen services like Outdoorsy is that they simplify more than just the transactions — with Outdoorsy, you get a steady supply of leads, solid insurance, customer service, and none of the hassle that comes with running your own rental business.

Save time and money

For renters, Outdoorsy provides a simple way to go on vacation with the whole crew. You get a vehicle that fits your budget without having to buy one yourself or go through the drama that comes with owning an RV.

Industry-leading insurance protection

Most of the people on the platform are kind and responsible. In fact, we’ve never had a bad experience with it. But sometimes people just get unlucky. Fortunately, Outdoorsy provides users with outstanding insurance. Users are insured up to $1 million for everything from vandalism to stolen RVs, the highest of any RV rental company.

 

Cons

App needs work

The Outdoorsy mobile app isn’t the best. It certainly isn’t Airbnb-level. When looking up info, such as a user’s reviews, the app sort of expects you to do the work. It also tends to glitch from time to time, but your mileage may vary. Fortunately, these issues are minor and will likely be solved in a future update. For people who have issues with the app, we find that the website works well enough.

Strict owners

Now, this isn’t really a con, but more of a reminder for future renters. Some owners have long lists of rules for you to follow while using their vehicle and they can be very strict with where you can go and what you can do, which is understandable. People invest a lot of time and money into building their rigs, so it’s okay if they want to protect them. So if you’re renting, just spend a bit more time looking for listings that fit your needs.

You have to read everything

On most websites, you can get away with scrolling through the bottom and checking a tiny box that says, “I’ve read the terms and conditions”, but with Outdoorsy, doing that does you more harm than good. We’re not saying that Outdoorsy’s T&Cs are sketchy; what we’re saying is, there are some very specific conditions that you need to know to get the best out of the service.

We’ve seen a few reviews on Outdoorsy that we felt were… a bit unjustified. Some people skip over the fine print and expect to be exempted from the rules when trouble comes up. It really doesn’t work that way, and you won’t get away with doing it for very long. Reading through the fine print will save a ton of time and money in the long run.

 

Tips for New Users

If you’re planning on using Outdoorsy, here are some tips:

Read everything

You do not want to be the guy that gets denied an insurance claim because of ignorance. Understand completely what happens when you rent and what your insurance claim entails if ever damage does occur. Read the terms and conditions and do your future self a big favor.

Always clear things up

Whether you’re an owner or a renter, it helps to be clear when settling your arrangement. Don’t be afraid to dig deep into the specifics. Ask about check-in and checkout times, extra fees, how long it will take to get your security deposit back, what's included in the rental, what isn’t, payment schedule, etc. If these aren’t addressed up-front, ask for a written addendum to the contract.

If you’re an owner, be strict

It’s important to keep things light between you and your renter so you can establish rapport and have a pleasant experience. But remember that you are putting your vehicle at stake. Make strict rules and implement high fines for breaking them.

Is Outdoorsy worth it?

Yep. Tried and tested. Worth every penny. As renters, we loved how easy it was to look for vehicles nearby, and with 15,000+ owners worldwide, there were plenty of options to choose from.

The amount of relevant info presented in each listing helped tremendously with finding vehicles that suited our needs. Without the service, we’d easily have spent hours upon hours exchanging messages with owners who give incomplete details.

We’ve also looked at Outdoorsy from an owner’s perspective, and we honestly can’t recommend it enough. The biggest issue with RVs is how seasonal their usage is. You can only get on the road for a few months a year until the office wants you back and your rig just becomes a massive garage decoration.

Renting out your RV ensures that it’s never idle. It keeps you happy when you use it and makes you money when you don’t. It’s a great way to make your money work for you instead of the other way around.

The web app makes things super simple, too. Within 5 minutes, you can have your RV listed and renters will come flowing in within the day. You don’t even need to learn any marketing. All you need is to upload some pretty photos of your rig and the relevant information, and you’re good to go.

For a small cut, Outdoorsy takes care of everything from customer service to roadside assistance. Everything’s insured as well. If something bad happens to your rig, you’ll get everything you need to get your rig back in tip-top shape.

It's everything you need in an RV rental service.

How’d you like our Outdoorsy review? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section down below.

Use promo code EXSPLORE to get $50 off your first RV rental at Outdoorsy



Outdoorsy FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Outdoorsy.

Outdoorsy vs. RVShare: Which one is best?

We’ve tried both services, and we like both. However, we do recommend RVShare more for people who rent a lot. RVShare has a Cashback Loyalty Program which saves you a lot of cash if you’re always renting anyway.

Outdoorsy’s edge is its massive userbase and industry-leading insurance. They cover up to $1 million, which is 5 times as much as RVShare’s coverage of up to $200,000 only. Most losses never really exceed this amount, but if you have to pick one and want to be extra safe, Outdoorsy is the way to go.

If you’re an RV owner, we definitely recommend using both. Listing your RV on both platforms gives you a larger number of potential customers. Some people will only use one platform, so if you’re only listing on Outdoorsy, you’ll miss the renters on RVShare! Don’t limit yourself — list your RV on both.

Is Outdoorsy reputable? Is their website legit?

After successfully using their service, talking with renters and owners alike, and calling their support staff multiple times, we believe that Outdoorsy is a trustworthy, legitimate website. Everything from their rental system, insurance protection, and customer service gets an A+ from us.

The majority of the userbase seems to think so as well, seeing as they have a 93% approval rating on Trustpilot, averaging 4.3 stars out of 5, and 4.88 on their website.

Their whole system works super smoothly, and all their terms and conditions are on the website for users to see. Their insurance provider, Liberty Mutual, the fifth-largest property and casualty insurer in the world, has a good reputation as well.

Which RV is easiest to drive?

Class B motorhomes are the easiest to drive. These are the lightest and most maneuverable motorhomes you can find. Unlike Class As and Class Cs which average at 21,000 lbs and 11,000 lbs respectively, Class Bs only weigh 4,000 to 9,000 lbs. They’re also the shortest of the bunch, spanning only 17-23 ft, not much longer than a pickup truck, which are typically 20 ft long.

What is the most popular RV to rent?

By far the highest supply of any RV you can see on Outdoorsy is the travel trailer. It’s the easiest vehicle to purchase, insure, and use, so a lot of people are willing to rent theirs out. This makes the travel trailer the most listed vehicle out there.

In terms of demand, though, class C RVs are definitely the most popular RV type. It’s more convenient for people who don’t own a towing vehicle and is much easier to drive.

Is renting out your RV a good idea?

If you’re wise about it, yes. Renting out your RV gives you the ability to generate income from your RV, which would otherwise be a liability. Financially, it makes sense. But you have to do it right.

We highly recommend that you foolproof your rental business. Have a set of rules, contingency plans, and contacts at the ready so you can safeguard yourself from unforeseen circumstances.

How much can you make on Outdoorsy?

The average income of Outdoorsy vehicle owners is about $2,000 per month. This number increases significantly depending on how many vehicles you rent out and how much business there is in your area. If you know your way around marketing your RV and managing clients, you can expect to make above average.

Once you’ve gotten a couple of good reviews, you’ll be on your way towards a steady passive income. Just remember to play it smart and play it safe. Do your best to gauge whether a renter will treat your vehicle nicely and you should have no problems.

What kind of insurance do I need to rent out my RV?

Outdoorsy offers its owners three levels of insurance to choose from: Risk Taker, Essential, and Peace of Mind. To know which one is right for you, it’s a good idea to ask different insurance companies and get several RV rental insurance quotes. Once you’ve gotten some professional advice, you can compare quotes and find out which one has the best balance of price, coverage, and convenience. It’s best if you have an idea of which insurance features you’ll actually need and whether you’ll use any add-ons if you choose an option with a higher premium.

Does Outdoorsy have an app?

Yes, they do. The iOS apps have exceptional ratings, averaging 4.8/5 stars on the App Store.

There is also an Android version, but it doesn’t seem to be as good. As of this writing, the Android app has a rating of 2.4/5 stars.

The devs are constantly churning out updates to enhance performance and stability, which does seem to be helping, but until then, Android users should probably use the web app on desktop.

Can you sleep in your RV while driving?

No. It is illegal to stay in the back of an RV while it’s moving unless it’s a Class A, B, or C motorhome with seating meant to be used while in motion. Not only will it make towing more difficult; it is also deadly.

The main reason it’s illegal is because staying in the back of the RV implies not wearing a seatbelt. In every state but New Hampshire, it is illegal to not wear a seatbelt.

The aforementioned motorhome classes are the only types of RVs with seatbelts installed. These are the only campers built to withstand motor vehicle accidents.

Is outdoorsy a real word?

Yep! The word “outdoorsy” describes someone who enjoys spending time outside. Outdoorsy people love to hike, hunt, climb mountains, canoe, and do other outdoor activities. It’s the perfect word to describe Outdoorsy’s userbase.

The founders chose the name Outdoorsy because they thought Outdoorsy was the perfect emblem for the spirit of adventure that they wanted their brand to embody.

What is the best small RV?

To get the best bang for your buck on a small RV, we recommend the Thor Chateau. It can sleep up to 7 people comfortably, which makes it awesome for larger groups and families on the road. You get to pick from 15 floor plans ranging from 24 – 32 ft in length, which means you get to pick an ideal layout that matches your travel priorities.

But if you’re flying solo, need much less from an RV, or have a tight budget, we recommend looking for Class B motorhomes in your price range. You can also try flipping a van or buy used to save even more cash.

Is there an Airbnb for RV parking?

Yes! In fact, there are quite a few. Our favorite RV parking services are Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome.

Harvest Hosts lets you park 1-5 nights at beautiful locations across the US, while Boondockers Welcome lets you stay from days to weeks in wonderful private properties, courtesy of their community of welcoming hosts.

What makes them great is that you only pay once — just the membership fee, then you can stay at any host location unlimited times, for absolutely free.

Is it legal to live in an RV?

Not really. You can definitely live in your RV. But you can’t just park it anywhere you want. Many places have local ordinances against living in an RV inside city limits. Even if you decide to buy your own plot of land and live there on your RV, you might still be breaking some laws.

The issue here is the permanence. If you plan on moving your RV regularly, you won’t have too many issues. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in services like Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome. Many people have supported their full-time RV living with the help of those services.

Is Outdoorsy owned by Airbnb?

Nope. Despite it often being called the “Airbnb of RVs”, Outdoorsy is a different company altogether. Airbnb was founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk. Outdoorsy was founded only recently in 2015, by Jeff Cavins and Jennifer Young.

Use promo code EXSPLORE to get $50 off your first RV rental at Outdoorsy


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