I rented a camper van through Outdoorsy, the Airbnb for RVs, and it's the perfect platform for first-time RVers

Frank OlitoFeb 22, 2021, 20:53 IST

I rented this camper using Outdoorsy.Frank Olito/ Insider

I booked a camper van for a weekend road trip through Outdoorsy, the Airbnb for RVs.
I had trouble with my van and with customer service, but it was a largely positive experience.
Although the van was expensive, Outdoorsy provided me with the necessary tools for a first-timer.

When I decided to rent a camper van for a short road trip in January, I admittedly didn't know where to start.

Quickly, I learned there are three main sites for RV rentals: Outdoorsy, RV Share, and Cruise America. After doing some research and reading multiple RV blogs, I found most people agreed that Outdoorsy was the best of the three.

Outdoorsy is a peer-to-peer rental service (much like Airbnb) that started in 2015. Over the years, the platform has expanded and today there are over 200,000 vehicles listed for rent in over 4,800 cities and 14 countries. Jen Young, CMO and co-founder of Outdoorsy, told Insider in December 2020 that the number of RV rentals made on the site skyrocketed during the pandemic.

I, too, decided to rent a camper van during the pandemic after years of wondering if life on the road was for me. Ultimately, I booked a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van through Outdoorsy for a weekend trip from New York City to Philadelphia.

From booking to talking with customer service, here's what planning a road trip through Outdoorsy is like.

First, Outdoorsy's landing page prompted me to search for an area in the US and plug in my travel dates.

Outdoorsy's landing page. Outdoorsy

After I entered this basic information, the available vehicles were listed in a grid on the left and laid out on a map on the right.

The available vehicles. Outdoorsy

At the top, there were filters, which helped narrow down my search significantly.

The filters. Outdoorsy

After narrowing my search, there were only two camper vans that suited my needs, so I began chatting with the owners directly.

The messages. Outdoorsy

Before booking the more luxurious van, I double-checked the list of amenities to ensure it had everything I needed.

All the features listed. Outdoorsy

Once the owner confirmed the price and dates, the booking process was simple and fast.

The Mercedes Benz page. Outdoorsy

Leading up to the arrival of my van, I turned to Outdoorsy for some much-needed guidance.

RV travel tips. Outdoorsy

When the camper van finally arrived outside my apartment in Brooklyn, we instantly ran into some issues.

The camper van in Brooklyn. Frank Olito/ Insider

The following weekend, I was finally able to take the camper van out on the road - with Outdoorsy by my side the whole way.

The interior of the camper van. Frank Olito/ Insider

I also downloaded the Outdoorsy app just in case I needed it during the trip.

The live chat function on the app. Frank Olito/ Insider

When I returned to Brooklyn, the owner came to pick up the vehicle in another easy process.

The camper van back in Brooklyn. Frank Olito/ Insider

I received an email to write a review of my journey a couple of days later.

The review screen. Outdoorsy

Although there were a few mishaps along the way, in my experience, Outdoorsy is the perfect platform for first-time RVers.

The camper van and me. Frank Olito/Insider

This company created a $25,000 RV travel trailer designed to be towed by an EV like a Tesla

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