Renting vs Buying an RV

You know you want an RV in your life. You want the ability to hit the open road and explore new places - without paying high hotel fees or flight costs. You want to get out into nature but be more comfortable than you would be sleeping in a tent on the firm ground. You want a camper in your life, but before you can get one you need to answer the first question of the shopping process: do I want to rent or buy a trailer?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. Here at Allan Dale Trailers & RVs, we strive to make your life easier. That's why we've created the following guide to help you figure out which approach is best for you. When you are ready to get your RV, visit our dealership. We proudly serve those in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.

Why Rent?

The most common reason people choose to rent a camper is because they want to enjoy the RV lifestyle, but don't have the means to do so often enough to merit the high cost of buying a trailer. Maybe you want to head out a few weekends each year. You can still enjoy all the fun of the RV lifestyle, but with only paying the rental fee a few times. For those who only travel occasionally, renting a camper will be the most cost-effective choice.

When thinking about the financial components of camper ownership, there is more than the sticker price. There is also the cost of maintenance. Owning a trailer requires regular maintenance fees (such as oil changes) as well as fees that crop up when the model experiences any issues. Renting an RV allows you to be free of these out of pocket costs.

Another key benefit to temporary use of a camper is you get the option to "test drive" the RV lifestyle. It's easy to envision you and your family taking every weekend you can to go explore, but it's another to experience the reality of travel. Before you dive headfirst into making a purchase, it can help to try out this lifestyle first. It'll help give you insight as to whether you would benefit from continued renting or you are ready to buy.

Why Buy?

If you are going to be hitting the open road often, then it will make more sense for you to buy a trailer. Think of it as a long-term investment. The more often you will be traveling, the more you'll save by choosing to purchase a camper instead of rent one. The main reason people make the purchase is because their lifestyle lends itself well to frequent travel.

Another key advantage is flexibility to travel whenever you want. If you rent a camper, you can only travel when the RV dealership has a model available. This can make it extra difficult to plan trips that may fit best with your family's schedule, such as holiday weeks or summer break, because plenty of other families will be looking to get a trailer then too. If you own your camper, you can take a vacation whenever you want.

When you are ready to look at models for purchase or renting, head on over to Allan Dale Trailers & RVs. Our friendly staff is happy to answer any questions and provide more in-depth information on the different ways of getting a trailer. We can help provide advice as to which strategy and models best fit your family's unique budget and lifestyle. We proudly serve those in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta so stop by today!