This was, by far, the most frustrating and unsafe rental experience we’ve ever had. While the RV did technically get us to and from our destination, the positives end there. The host’s negligence, lack of communication, and the RV’s safety issues made this trip stress filled and not the relaxing get away we had hoped.We originally booked this RV out of desperation after another host we had been planning to go with backed out (an issue with the RV had come up). Right away, the experience started poorly. The host was unresponsive to basic questions about the vehicle, such as whether it included snow chains (which we needed for national park entry, not for use) and details on the high excess mileage fee ($2.50/mile compared to $0.50-$1.50 from other hosts). Despite this, we unfortunately decided to proceed as we didn't want to cancel our trip.On the day of pickup, things got worse. The host was late, leaving us stranded at a gas station for 1.5 hours while we tried to get in touch. Outdoorsy had to intervene before anyone showed up. Even then, the pickup location differed from the one stated in the contract—a pattern that complicated the end of our trip as well.Once on the road, we noticed a propane smell inside the RV, which we initially dismissed as residue from a recent refill. Unfortunately, this was only the beginning. Throughout the trip:
• Propane Leak: The smell persisted outside the RV all trip. By the time we refilled the propane, it was clear there was a leak inside and out. We discovered the gas / carbon monoxide detector was damaged, and the smoke alarm had no battery, leaving us with no functional safety alarms. Despite reaching out to the host about this dangerous issue, she never responded. We were forced to sleep in cold weather with a window open a couple nights when the smell was strong. We tested the propane shutoff switch and turning it off did not shut off the propane going to the stove.
• Water Leaks: During a couple rain storms, water leaked into the cabin, leaking on the passenger seat. The leak appeared to come from the front of the pop-top.
• General Disrepair: Multiple drawer stops were broken, causing drawers to slide open while driving. We had to block them with luggage when driving to keep them closed even on gentle highway driving. Something loose inside the RV also rolled around constantly, adding to the annoyance.Unresponsive and Unreliable Host
The host’s communication was abysmal. Despite repeated attempts, we heard nothing when we requested to extend the trip (only to reduce the extra mile surcharge each day was $150 and got us 150 extra miles, we planned to park it for those days). Similarly, we got no response when we reached out about drop-off arrangements. By the time the trip ended, Outdoorsy had to intervene again to guide us on where to leave the RV. Even they couldn’t confirm the address listed in the contract was valid and apparently they do not verify the address on the contracts. When we visited the listed address, it felt like we could be trespassing on private property not a smart thing to do in rural San Diego.Eventually, about an hour after the contract drop-off time, we found Carmin at the property, the host’s representative/technician(?), who claimed he had been “on his way” to meet us. Shortly after, the host resurfaced, blaming her unavailability on being “out of contact while traveling.” Renting out an RV while knowingly unavailable for emergencies is not just irresponsible; it’s dangerous. The host then claimed the pickup was at 3 not 2 which was never discussed and not in the contract.This host’s lack of communication, disregard for safety, and poor maintenance of the RV made our trip unnecessarily stressful and unsafe. The host even offered a small rebate in exchange for a positive review. When we brought up the issues with Outdoorsy she became very unpleasant and made a bunch of accusations, many of which are provably false as we recorded the pickup exchange. Renting an RV should not mean putting your safety and trip at risk. Do yourself a favor: book with a different host.
