Renter prep — the week before pickup

Lessons

1. 1

   Documents and license

   9 min

   What you bring to pickup: your driver's license, the credit card you booked with, your campsite reservations printed or on your phone, and the rental agreement PickRV emails you 48 hours before pickup. The credit card holding the security deposit pre-authorization is checked at pickup; bring the same card you booked with, not a different one.

   Driver's license matters. A standard non-commercial Class D US license is sufficient for any RV under 26,000 GVWR — which is every Class B, Class C up to about 28 feet, and most tow-behinds. Class A motorhomes over 26,000 GVWR sometimes require a non-commercial Class B license in certain states (California is the strictest); the rental listing will disclose this.

   International renters: most US states honor a foreign driver's license for rentals up to 90 days. A few hosts require an International Driving Permit (IDP) on top; the listing discloses this requirement. PickRV does not currently rent to drivers without a valid US-recognized license. PickRV does not currently operate outside the United States.

2. 2

   The packing list

   11 min

   What's in the rig: cookware (skillet, two pots, basic utensils), dishes for the rig's capacity (4 plates if 4-sleep, 6 if 6-sleep), basic tools, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, surge protector for shore power, two leveling blocks, sewer hose with elbow. What's not in the rig: bed linens (in most cases), towels, personal toiletries, charcoal, firewood, food.

   What to bring: linens (one set per bunk plus a backup top sheet), towels (two per person), a first-night meal prepped at home (cooking on day one with a fresh hookup is one stress too many), a small toolkit (you will tighten one screw on the trip), a multi-USB charger for the dinette outlet, hand-soap and dish-soap, paper towels.

   What renters most often forget: a thermometer for the fridge (you check the propane vs. electric mode by reading the temp), wheel chocks (some rigs only have leveling blocks), and a real flashlight for the propane locker. Pack a 6-inch piece of dryer-vent tape for the gray-water connection; it is a $4 item that prevents a $40 leak.

   Lesson checklist

   • Linens (per bunk) + 1 backup top sheet.
   • Towels (2 per person).
   • First-night meal prepped at home.
   • Multi-USB charger, hand soap, dish soap, paper towels.
   • Thermometer for fridge, real flashlight.
   • 6-inch piece of dryer-vent tape.
3. 3

   The route review

   10 min

   Before pickup, plot the route on Google Maps with the truck routing enabled (Maps has a vehicle-type setting that excludes low-clearance roads). Note: Google Maps still misses some low-clearance bridges in older neighborhoods. The supplementary tool is the National Bridge Inventory map, or the truck-routing app Trucker Path, which crowdsources low-clearance reports.

   Plot fuel stops every 200 miles for diesel rigs and every 250 miles for gasoline rigs. Pilot Flying J and Love's truck stops have the easiest in-and-out for RVs. Mainstream gas stations sometimes have low-clearance canopies — 9'6" is common, and a 10'10" Class C will not clear. Use the truck stops.

   Plot dump stations along the route. Each US National Park visitor center has a dump-station locator brochure; the campground network you booked will have on-site dump in most cases. Plan to dump every 4 to 5 days for a family of four; sooner for larger groups. The dump station near a state park is often free; the dump station at a gas station typically costs $10 to $20.

4. 4

   The four questions to ask the host

   10 min

   Question 1: "What is the overall height of the rig with everything mounted, including any roof boxes or kayak racks?" The listing publishes a height, but the published height is sometimes for the base rig without the accessories. Confirm in writing.

   Question 2: "What is the cleanest fuel-grade requirement — is it 87 octane, 89, or premium for gasoline, or ULSD only for diesel?" Most modern diesels are ULSD (ultra-low sulfur), but a couple of older Class A diesel pushers run dual-fuel or have additive requirements. Confirm.

   Question 3: "What is the operating altitude limit, if any?" Some lower-end RVs have generator-altitude limits (typically 8,000 feet) above which the generator is unreliable. If your trip crosses Independence Pass, Loveland, or any Sierra crest, ask. Modern Onan generators (most common) run to 11,500 feet without modification.

   Question 4: "What is one thing about this specific rig that you wish more renters knew?" This is the open-ended question. The honest answer is usually a specific quirk — the fridge runs warmer than the gauge, the water heater takes 12 minutes not 8, the bathroom door catches in transit and needs a bungee. Hosts who answer this question well are hosts who have rented the rig before. Hosts who say "nothing — it's perfect" have less experience than the answer implies.

End-of-course quiz

5 questions. Answer honestly. The questions exist to be useful at handoff or pickup — not to be a vanity score.