Frequently Asked Questions

“No Smoking”, hookah, or recreational smoking is allowed!

Dave’s RVs operate smoke free and we take this responsibility to our clients very seriously. 

A smoke removal fee up to the amount of the Security Deposit may be assessed if an RV is returned with the presence of a smoke smell.

Cancellations will result in a partial or total forfeiture of the Reservation Deposit.

Renter will receive a refund of paid rental fees & services based on the following schedule: 

• 31 days or more before start date
  • Option 1 – Credit on your account with us for the full reservation deposit which expires 1 year from the date of cancellation and allows you to reschedule without penalty.
  • Option 2 – Get ½ of your reservation deposit refunded back to your card
• 30 days or less before start date
  • Forfeit your full reservation deposit

Any SECURITY deposits that have been paid or authorized are fully refunded or released.

NO REFUNDS  will be given for reservation no-shows, early returns or interruptions that occur due to inclement weather or acts of God

Available in the U.S. only

CSA Trip Insurance is a service available to renters through a partnership with CSA, powered by Outdoorsy Inc.  (Available in the US only, not available for renters whose home state is NY or HI, or non-US renters)

Even the best-planned trips can be impacted by an unexpected event or unplanned interruption, illness, road closures, traffic accidents, medical emergency, adverse weather, natural disasters, or more. Trip insurance allows your renter to recoup the investment they made in their trip if they meet the terms and conditions outlined in the plan.

Say it’s the day before the big RV trip and their daughter comes down with a nasty case of stomach flu. They had booked a non-refundable trip, and now they’re out hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars. Or are they?

By selecting our trip insurance, the renters could be reimbursed 100% of the prepaid RV rental booking cost in the event they had to cancel due to a covered event, rather than $0 as they would if they’d selected a vehicle with a strict cancellation policy. 

Some trip insurance coverages include: Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption and Emergency Assistance and Transportation

Trip Cancellation / Interruption

Some covered events that apply to Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (please note that terms and conditions apply): 

• Traffic accident en route to pick up the RV
• Onset of pre-existing medical conditions while on the trip (if certain requirements are met at the time of purchase)
• Sickness, accidental injury, or loss of life of renter or a travel companion while on the trip
• Mandatory evacuations, road closures, or inability to access destination due to adverse weather

24/7 Emergency Assistance and Transportation

Much like stumbling upon a bear in the wild, you never know when a medical emergency will present itself. Covered expenses include:

• Emergency transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility
• Help to return home, if medically necessary
• Expenses for one person of the renter’s choice to visit them if they are traveling alone and hospitalized for more than 7 days 
• Injury that first occurs during their trip

Filing a claim

File a claim by visiting www.csaclaims.com or calling 866-409-7435. Once you’ve completed your claim form and gathered supporting documentation, send your claim to Generali via email at claims@generalitravelinsurance.com 

There are three options when it comes to insurance:

• OPTION 1: Outdoorsy Insurance – “Basic” is the default for all quotes
• OPTION 2: Renter’s Personal Auto Insurance Policy – only available if your agent can provide proof of coverage
• OPTION 3: MBA Motorhome Insurance – less expensive 3rd party coverage

While most of our units do have a receiver hitch, we DO NOT allow towing behind our vehicles. Commercial rental insurance will not cover damage to RVs or towed units if we allow towing. Even if a personal insurance policy is used to cover the rental, we still can not allow towing. Our receiver hitches are strictly used for mounting bike or kayak racks to the RVs.

Yes!  In addition to summer, RV’s are a popular vehicle for fall color tours and football games.  They are also great for traveling to family reunions around Thanksgiving and Christmas and can turn Spring Break road trips to a southern destination into a vacation of a lifetime.

And YES, people do camp in the wintertime in Michigan too!   RV’s perform pretty well on the road in snow, as they are essentially a small truck with a lot of weight on the dual wheels in the back.

Visit the RV RENTALS page on this site.

Search by date to see which RV is available on your travel dates.  If your dates are flexible, simply click on the RV you want to rent and check the availability. Then click the button to reserve and follow the remainder of the checkout process.

Please see the Find an RV Rental button at t the top of the website. 
During the “Off season” (Nov through Mar), we do allow shorter rental lengths.  Call, email or fill out the Contact Us Form for more information.

• All RVs are registered with Michigan State Parks passes and allow FREE entry to the state parks.  Click HERE to search for MI State Parks.
• Bedding:
  • For RVs with a queen size bed in the back, we include a Comforter / Blanket, sheets, and 2 pillows for this one bed only.    
  • We recommend sleeping bags or sheets / blankets for the over-the cab bed and fold down beds.  Let me know if you need us to provide this.
  • The provided bed sheets and pillow cases are available for use as part of our LINENS FEE of $25.  To save this fee, you can bring your own, OR use ours and wash them, fold them up, and store above the bed.  PLEASE place any used linens or towels in the shower / tub so we know what to wash. 
  • We can provide a fold-up sleeping cot or air mattress if you need one more bed, let us know in advance. 
• Appropriate number of settings of plates, cups, glasses, bowls, silverware based on RV.
• Pots, pans, cooking utensils
• Coffee maker, Toaster
• TV / DVD player
• USB charging outlets (bring your cables)
• Camping Chairs (most RVs have 4)
• Swiffer mop & pads, Broom, and dustpan.
• Large patio/porch mat for the larger RV’s
• Toilet paper and RV Holding Tank additive / deodorant
• Water hoses and electrical cord​
• FAN or Electric heater (in cooler weather)
• ASK about Weiner roasters or hobo pie makers (based on availability at pickup)
• Portable gas grill and cylinder ($25 fee)
• Optional bike and kayak racks ($25 one-time fee)

The Reservation Deposit is ½ of the total amount due and is due immediately in order to hold your RV.  This amount includes the fees for rent, estimated mileage, insurance costs and any other prepaid services (ie-Linen Service).

The remainder, along with the Security Deposit are typically due 7 days prior to the pickup and are charged to the payment method on file.  If you are paying by check or cash at pickup, it must be pre-approved by management.

The Security Deposit on all of our vehicles is $1,500 (excluding the Mobile Man Cave and Jeep).  The Security Deposit is used towards any uncovered damage to the RV, RV equipment or add-on equipment and is 100% refundable.

We accept cash or all major credit cards: VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover.  Cash & Check payments must be approved by management.  RVs will not be reserved until payment is received and has cleared.

Personal Information

We take information security seriously.  Dave’s RVs uses personal information like email and mobile phone numbers, to communicate directly with current and past renters about reservation information or to inform them of any upcoming specials.

Dave’s RVs will not sell your information to any third-party agencies for the sake of profitable gain.

Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Payment Information

All dealer direct payments made through DavesRVs.com are processed through Stripe…a PCI Service Provider Level 1 (HIGHEST).  You can read more about their security by reading this article.

Any reservation payments made through a third-party affiliate (like RV Share) are protected by the security provided through their website.

And of course we are a SiteLock Secure company.  Click the badge below for more information.

Driver must: 

• Be at least 25 years of age
• Have a valid driver’s license 
• Have a good driving record with no DWI’s. 
• Provide proof of collision insurance on their personal vehicle for personal Injury protection.

Check out Mark Polk’s RV Driving Tips for more helpful information. 

It surprises a lot of people but NO!  We will spend time with you going over everything you need to know about driving an RV and we provide documents like, “RV Rental Guidelines – Driving Tips” during the orientation.

For the big Winnebago Class A, it would help to have some experience driving or towing larger vehicles. 
Please watch this video about driving an RV: RV Driving Tips

We do our best to get you the “Out-the-door” pricing during the reservation process.  Many people are able to rent without incurring any extra fees.  Here are a few things you can do to save on those fees:

• Clean the exterior
• Clean the interior
• Fill the gas tank
• If the propane tank is below 20%, please refill the tank.  We will use the Departure and Return levels to determine your actual use and will credit / debit accordingly.  Propane is charged BASED ON USE on every reservation.  If you fill the tank, we credit you money back for filling.  If WE fill the tank, then we charge you based on your actual usage readings.
• Dump your own waste tanks – our staff is amazing but we do not have a waste facility on hand.  It’s best to empty these prior to returning the RV.
• Bring your own linens OR use ours, wash, fold and store them

You can always prepay for the services like the cleaning or linens ahead of time if you want to take advantage of them.  We also have optional Rental Upgrades, like renting bike and kayak racks.

Our RV rentals typically include 100 miles per night rented, or 700 miles per week.  Additional miles are charged at $0.35 per mile.  Estimated cost for excess miles are due prior to pickup.  Any mileage overages will be charged to the payment method we have on file at the time of the reservation.
You can estimate your mileage with GOOGLE MAPS (good for multiple destinations), or DistanceBetweenCities.net which includes a gasoline cost estimate.

YES!!  We do have limited parking available and you may be asked to move your vehicle into the space occupied by the RV you take.

$25 Fee will apply.

*Subject to availability*

Small to medium dogs (60lbs or less) are allowed.  Must be house-trained, well mannered (so they do not destroy property), non-shedding and a hypo-allergenic breed.  We have to be respectful of ALL our guests.

A $50 pet fee will apply in addition to any other cleaning upgrades.

Breeds known to be aggressive are not allowed.  Sorry, NO CATS due to the increased risk of allergies.

We reserve the right to deny the pet request at anytime prior to the RV leaving our lot.  All efforts will be made to communicate and accommodate prior to the reservation date but are not guaranteed.

Pickup Regulations

No Sunday Pickups.  Sunday returns are okay but may be unsupervised!

We schedule multiple pickups throughout the day and your pickup time will be determined at the time the reservation is made.  Times may vary or change based on staff availability but will be communicated to you in advance and we will make every effort to accommodate.

Pickups

3pm – 7pm Monday thru Saturday (scheduled in 2 hour increments)

Drop-offs

11am

If you are not on time for your pickup or cannot return the rental by 11am, you may be assessed a minimum fee of $50 up to the cost of one nights’ rental fee according to the time you arrive.  Please plan your rental dates according to the pickup times when you call to book.

Add an “Early Pickup” to your reservation by calling us 1 week prior and checking availability.  A $50 fee will apply.

Please allow 60-90 minutes for orientation and to complete the necessary paperwork.

We deliver a comprehensive orientation that discusses RV safety and driving instructions.  We will also give you printed instruction checklists to take with you.

The remainder of the Reservation Fee and the Security Deposit are due at this time if they have not been paid yet.

Go Faster Than 65 MPH In An RV And Risk This Scary Result

Sudden Tire Blowout Sends Large Diesel Pusher Careening Through The Median

If you break something please notify us of newly broken items at the time you return the RV or sooner so we can fix it in time for the next rental.  Sometimes we can fix it in house at minimal cost to you.  The renter is liable for damages that occur because of misuse or accidental destruction of property.

If something was already broken when you left the lot, it will be communicated and recorded at the Pre-Rental walk-thru orientation.  You will not be charged.

We keep Dave’s RVs in top mechanical condition, especially safety features like tires and brakes.  In the rare event the RV breaks down, we’ll do our best to get you on the road again ASAP.

Steps to do if you break down: 

1. Call or text Dave at (616) 799-RENT and inform him of the issue.  We can possibly put you in touch with our “on-call” mechanic to advise you.
2. IF AFTER HOURS – try to assess the situation…can you “limp” to the next service station / auto parts store?  If you are “handy”, you can use the on-board tool kit for minor repairs.  
3. Google “Auto parts stores near me”.  National chains such as Autozone, Tuffy, Sears, Advanced Auto Parts, NAPA, O’Reilly, PepBoys are often open till 9pm, 7 days a week with technicians willing to help.
4. Low tire pressure:  Please visually inspect the tires often!  This will prevent you getting stranded hours later in the middle of “nowhere”.  If a tire looks low,  a tire pressure gauge is in the driver’s door.  Required pressures are listed in the drivers door jamb.
5. For a FLAT tire:  A spare tire is located on the back or rear of the RV.  In this case, you may also need to use the roadside assistance for help.
6. Roadside Assistance:
   • First, make sure you call Dave and inform him of the issue.
   • Next call the number provided in your Roadside Assistance coverage selected at checkout.
   • IF YOU DID NOT SELECT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AT CHECKOUT – please use the website www.truckdown.com for assistance.
   • As an alternative, try the Smart Phone App:  BLINK Roadside Assistance, they can send you help FAST.  (When filling out the form on the App, make sure to click that you are “within 15 feet of a road”)
7. In some cases, if you are less than 1 hour away, I can bring you another vehicle.  This may be another RV or possibly your car.

Ultimately it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to fix and return the RV to me before the end of your rental period.  I will reimburse you for all repair costs or give my credit card info to the mechanic over the phone.

All RVs are registered with Michigan State Parks passes and allow FREE entry to the state parks.
Click HERE to search for MI State Parks.

Gas mileage can vary based on the terrain you are traveling, traffic you encounter and the amount of cargo you are hauling.

Use the figures below to estimate and approximate MPG:

• Class A’s = 6-8 MPG
• Class C’s = 10-13 MPG
• Class B’s = 13-15 MPG

It’s nice  to have electric or “Shore Power”, which is 30A or 50A service for all Daves RVs. This will charge your camper battery and run all your 120v appliances (outlets, A/C, microwave).

If you don’t have “shore power”, pretty much everything except your A/C and microwave run off the camper battery or propane.   If you want to run the A/C or microwave, you could start the on-board generator.

In-season, sometimes generators breakdown and we do NOT have time to fix them.  Ask in advance if this is important to you.

Your campsite might have running water.  Nice!  We fill the fresh water tank before you leave.  So it’s not a necessity.  However, if the RV has been winterized, we prefer you do NOT refill the fresh water tank (it’s harder to re-winterize).

If your campground has water, you can plug in the white hose from the faucet  to the “City Water” input on the RV.  This goes straight to your faucets & toilet and by-passes the RV’s stored water tank.

***NOTE:  Always include the PRESSURE REGULATOR in line with the white hose to prevent campground water pressure surges from causing leaks to Dave’s RVs.***

Your campsite might have a waste-water “dump station”.  Again, nice, but not necessary.  In this case, you can dump your RV waste tanks right on your site before leaving instead of waiting in line at the campground “Dump Station”.  

***NOTE: Do NOT keep the RV dump valves open all the time when connected to your site’s dump drain.***

The tanks and dump hoses drain more effectively if you let the waste build up in the tanks for a few days and dump it all at one time.  It also avoids the “Pyramid Effect” from happening in your black water waste tank.

Please use a minimal amount of toilet paper and fill and flush the toilet bowl several times when dumping the black water tank.

More info on “RV Toiletetiquette” here: http://www.doityourselfrv.com/rv-toilet-etiquette-tips/

Front seat passengers and all those under the age of 16 must be seat-belted, just like a car.  Infants & toddlers must have car-seats, just like a car.  Seat belts are provided at all seating locations in RV.  We recommend everyone wear seat belts when seated (just like a plane).

Depending on the dates & weather, the RV may be “winterized”.  This means that all the water tanks and lines will be empty so they don’t freeze.   You can flush the toilet with RV antifreeze, which we could provide.  We ask that you use bottled water for drinking, and we can provide a jug of water by the sinks (when available).  About the only thing you can’t do is take a shower (use deodorant)!

If you are heading south to warmer climates in the winter, please ask for a full hookup site (water).  Please do NOT fill the fresh water tank, as that makes re-winterizing much harder.

WARNING: be sure to run the hot water faucet until the hot water tank fills with water BEFORE you turn on the hot water heater, or it could rupture from the hot air pressure.

You can gas up, refill propane, and DUMP THE WASTE TANKS at all Loves, Pilot, or Flying J travel centers. If coming home from SW MI, there is a Love’s Travel Center on I-96 at 9790 Adams St, Holland, MI 49424

1. Go over the “Renter Return Checklist” which was sent with your reservation as an important document.
2. Dump the waste tanks when you leave the last campground.  Here are some locations to Dump near Grand Rapids:
   
   • City of Wyoming Wastewater Treatment Plant:   2350 Ivanrest Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418
   • ​Woodchip Campground (open year round):   7501 Burlingame Ave SW, Byron Center, MI 49315
   • Hungry Horse Campground (30 minutes south of our location):  2016 142nd Ave, Dorr, MI 49323 – hungry horse campground dumping station
3. Fill the gas tank within 3 miles of Dave’s RVs. You can use the Marathon close to us to fill gas and wash the exterior:  3434 Remembrance Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534.
4. Fill Propane – If the tank is below 20%, please refill the tank.  We will use the Departure and Return levels to determine your actual use and will credit / debit accordingly.  Propane can be filled at Riley’s Ace Hardware:  4300 Remembrance Rd NW, Walker, MI 49534
5. Clean the interior and exterior or use one of our “We Clean It” options – FEES WILL APPLY. 
   • To clean the exterior yourself, you can use the Marathon Gas station on Remembrance. Wash Token dispenser works with credit cards.
6. Check every drawer and compartment for your personal belongings.
7. Park the RV in a location near the pickup location.
8. Check-in with Dave’s RVs personnel to notify them of your return either in person or via text if unsupervised return.
9. Notify us of any damage, issues, or concerns.

Basic rule of thumb, “Return it how you found it”.

All of the RVs are professionally cleaned between rentals per our new COVID cleaning process regardless of return condition and we inspect them with renters before they leave our lot.  If you do not want to deal with cleaning it before your return, you may opt to take advantage of our “We Clean It” options and pay those fees PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

To save money (and have more for vacation), then look at the following below.

• Interior: We provide a Swiffer mop, broom, and cleaning supplies for the INSIDE of the RV, which someone can do on your drive back or when you arrive at the drop-off location.
• Exterior: You can wash the RV’s Exterior…
  • In YOUR driveway (using a long RV brush), or
  • Marathon Self Car Wash:  3434 Remembrance Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534.
    • This car wash is very tall and fits most of Dave’s RVs. If you rented “HUGO” from us, sorry, that one doesn’t fit!
    • Use the WEST two stalls, they are taller than the two on the east (important if you have the taller RVs like a Class A – reminder “HUGO” won’t fit).

If you are driving straight back to our lot:

The RV must be re-winterized either on your way back or as soon as you return to our lot.  You can stop on your way back at an RV dealer, like Camping World, General RV etc, and have them perform the winterization.  OR, inform us as soon as you return and we will re-winterize that same day before freezing temps (fees will apply).

If you are planning on stopping at different destinations on the way back:

The RV must be re-winterized before you head enter states with freezing overnight temps.  Keep in mind that even northern Florida and southern Georgia can reach freezing temps overnight.

***In either case, you are responsible for the cost of re-winterizing, PLUS any repair costs that may apply if damage occurs from neglect to re-winterize.***

Propane must be filled to the same level as before departure.

Where? 

• Any U-Haul location
• Search Google for “PROPANE GAS NEAR ME”
• Hardware stores that refill propane tanks for grills. (TSC, Ace, True Value, etc)
• Truck Stops on major Highways (Pilot, Flying J, Petro, etc).

Here are some locations near the Dave’s RVs Home location:

• Ace Hardware Store:  4300 Remembrance Rd NW, Walker, MI 49534
• Van Mannen Oil:  0-305 Lake Michigan Dr, NW., Grand Rapids, MI 49534
• ProGas Propane:  13751 Ironwood Dr (Remembrance Rd), Grand Rapids, MI 49534
• U-Haul:  2345 Alpine Ave NW, Walker, MI 49504
• Richfield RV & Marine Supply:  7245 S Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
• ProGas:  5900 Balsam Drive, Hudsonville, MI 49426
• ​Gemmens Hardware:  3488 Kelly St, Hudsonville, MI

Tell us how we did!

We are about a 25 minute drive or less from Gerald R. Ford International Airport.  Click on the address below to get our location.

Dave’s RVs (Walker / Grand Rapids) – approx 25 Minutes | Best Route is I-96 W towards Muskegon to Fruit Ridge Ave, NORTH exit.

3744 Dykstra Dr NW, Walker, MI 49544

We usually do not have enough staff on hand because of all the RVs going in and out each day to deliver our RVs to a location.  IT DOESN’T HURT TO ASK THOUGH!

There will be a minimum $300 charge for delivery, setup and retrieval.  Final cost depends on location.

Typically, no.  We do not carry enough staff on hand to chauffeur a party.  However, if it is booked in advance, we may be able to make accommodations.

Call to discuss!

Many of our customers rent so they can “Try before you buy”.  Many of them decide that it’s not worth the high costs of owning an RV (purchase, annual registration, maintenance, repairs and insurance) and choose to continue renting with us instead.

If you are interested in owning, we can help give advice on purchasing an RV.