In this time where even a simple bungalow can cost thousands to million dollars, people are getting obsessed with the idea of living in a tiny house like what they see on the internet. And one of them was to live in a tiny house van. Who wouldn’t want to live in a van and travel from one place to another whenever you want to. Everybody wants that for sure!
Is renting a tiny house van worth it? Yes. Renting a tiny house van is worth it for main reasons, like if you’re only going to travel once or thrice a year, and you’ll never worry about van insurance because there’s a company behind that you can contact when you’re having a problem with the van.
Are you torn between the decision of buying a tiny house van or just renting one? Whether you plan to live in a small house van full time, or you want to experience how it feels to live on wheels for days, you still need to consider many things before jumping into your dream. This article will tackle the pros and cons of renting a tiny house van and the money you will need to start your van life journey. So to prepare you more, keep reading this article until the last topic!
Reasons To Rent A Tiny House Van
Nowadays, people are considering the idea of living in a tiny house van for a while or even full-time. It is because they said it would somehow lessen their expenses than living in an actual house, and if you also thought of having a tiny house van as your home, this one’s perfect for you! But before that, did the idea of renting a tiny house van first-ever cross your mind?
It is smart to rent a tiny house van because it is a more budget-friendly option than purchasing your RV. Generally, RV costs or ranges between $35,000 to $300,000. Since change is the only constant in the world, meaning there might still be a chance where after purchasing your RV, the idea of getting bored with your RV might come along the way. So renting one first is more practical and prepares you if you want to buy an RV.
Also, when going on a trip, one of the things that we always look forward to is staying. However, staying in a hotel is a bit of a hassle, mainly because you’re going to book it first and look for a car to rent. It will also cost you more money, unlike renting a tiny house van where you got a place to stay and a vehicle to go on to your tour in one.
Things To Consider Before Renting A Tiny House Van
Check The Passengers
Before renting one, you should check how many people are going with you to ensure that the van you are ought to get has enough space for everyone.
Camper’s Van Transmission You’re Good At
Not everyone can drive both manual and automatic vehicles. If you are used to a manual, you can undoubtedly drive an automatic car, but that doesn’t work the other way around. So you must be good at the two transmissions. In that case, it can prevent accidents and other unnecessary things that might happen in your van journey.
Check Your License
Oops! The important key to successful travel is a valid license. So, first, check if your driver’s license is up to date because traveling from one state also has endless checkpoints.
Keep An Eye For The Restrictions
Thankfully after a year since the pandemic started, we are now allowed to go to other places, but we need to follow some restrictions. Always check the travel requirements implied area you are going to visit.
Choose The Right Size Of The Van For You
Before getting the vehicle, it is also essential to check the van size that is also right for you. Check if it can fit into the parking spaces, are you comfortable driving it, does it have enough storage for all your things and stuff like that.
Check The Power Supply You Will Need (For Long Travels)
Since most of the time you will be on the road, make sure that you have enough power supply on your trip. Most vans or RVs have a fridge, TVs, and other appliances; of course, you will need to charge your gadgets on the trip, so it would be better to have enough power supply on your journey.
Check Your Budget
The most important of all is having enough money to rent a van or RV. Since the price depends on the type and age of the RV, you should save more if the RV that you like to rent is the latest and the biggest.
Check The Fine Print In The Terms And Conditions
Lastly, if you finally decide what van to rent, read the terms and conditions of the rental company carefully before signing it. It will help you understand their policies when it comes to their vehicles.
Buy Or Rent A Tiny House Van: The Average Budget You’ll Need
Renting A Tiny House Van (c.Outdoorsy and CamperReport)
Keep in mind that when renting, the price depends on the type of RV, your travel period, the time or season you’re renting it, and of course, the rental company.
There are lots of RVs you can choose from the oldest model up to the latest. Usually, when renting newer vans, they range from $1,200- $2,000 per week or $150 per night, while smaller vans range from $400- $600 per week.
As a bonus, if you are going for more enormous beasts on the road, Class A, which is the biggest, ranges from $160-$300 per night, Class B vehicles that are fully motorized and usually front-wheel drive are $150 to $250 per night. Finally, class C the medium-sized motorhome ranging from $175 to $225 per night.
Just in case you wanted a house-like van for your trip, a travel trailer that has all your needs is $100 to $150 per night, while a pop-up trailer’s average price is $81 per night.
Other fees that you should consider when renting a tiny house van are how much you need to pay for per mile travel. Usually, the price per mile is $0.50. Next to it is the parking fee that varies to the place you will store your RV, then fuel and toll road fees follow.
Buying A Camper Van
In buying a camper van or tiny house van, the ones that come in regular size costs between $10,000 to $300,000, the van itself. In association, a camper trailer van or the one being pulled behind a truck costs about $20,000 without the things you need in a house. And the last one is the fifth wheeler that can cost $40,000 to a whopping $429,660!
For those prices, be reminded that the insurance, which is around $100 per month depending on the plan you get, fuels that can cost roughly from $60 to $600 per trip, and some maintenance fees for your tires are not included. Not at all!
Pros and Cons Of Renting and Buying A Tiny House Van
Renting A Tiny House Van
Pros
Do you still wonder why renting a tiny house van is worth it? Renting a little house van is also having a friend behind you that will come when you need help. In addition, the rental company will be the one that’s going to work the issue of the van for you, and you won’t be worrying about the van’s insurance because it is on the company’s end. Also, you won’t be bothered about where to park the van, especially during off-seasons, and it can also help you decide whether you want to buy a tiny house van or continue to rent one.
Cons
If you are the kind of traveler that loves long trips, renting one can be a bit off. Since the tiny house van is not yours, you will need to follow the pick-up and return time of the van; this also means you will have to keep your schedule tight.
And just like what I have said, renting more often won’t help you save because the price depends on the season you will rent it. In addition, some rental companies might also impose rules such as limited miles you can travel and pay extra fees if you wish to run an extra mile.
Buying A Tiny House Van
Pros
When it comes to convenience, having your van can save your time from worrying about reservation fees, booking, and waiting for your chosen vehicle at the rental company.
Owning a tiny house van is rocking it with your rules! Travel how long and whenever you want to without worrying about changing your plans.
Cons
Just like renting, buying, or owning a tiny house van also has disadvantages, for it has monthly fees that you will have to settle if you didn’t get the van in cash. You will also have to pay its monthly insurance and will have to upkeep or keep track of the tires, oil changes, maintenance, etc., and of course, it will come out from your pocket!
Lastly, if you are going to buy a tiny house van, make sure that you have a parking space at your house to store it when it is not in use.
Conclusion
It is clear that many people are getting hooked on off-grid living but are confused at the same time about whether to buy or rent a tiny house van. When choosing between the two, consider its price and compare it when purchasing an RVs or tiny house van to help you weigh things out. Then also think about its convenience and other fees. By reading this article, I hope you can finally see why people are renting a tiny house van first before purchasing one. Indeed, it is good to have your own, but it is wiser to check if owning a tiny house van is for you.
