RV rental

Mostly good

Some small issues with the RV including a faulty fridge and no cleaning materials included but other than that fine

bad service and ugly RV

Martin Cattaneo Thursday July 11, 2024

It wasn't clean and didn't have all the minimum things they needed to provide you. For a 30ft RV, it wasn't all that good either. Also, the people there weren't nice.

10 day west coast RV trip

Very happy with our rental experience with El Monte! Picked up and dropped off in different locations which helped us see more than we ever imagined. The RV was perfect, no issues and was big enough for our family to enjoy/relax. The process of picking up/returning was extremely smooth and quick! Thank you for giving us the tools to make our vacation all we dreamed it to be. [...]

Authentik organisation of RV tour through Utah

Authentik's Daphné Gagnon organised an outstanding tour for three RVs of old friends touring around Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Daphné could not have been more helpful in keeping us updated with any changes and the sites she chose were outstanding and met our needs very well. I would certainly recommend them and we too shall use them again when thinking of a tour. They knew the sights that would appeal, the road journeys were not too long and the variety of sights and experiences met our every need. [...]

Small RV for a long road trip

I past 3 weeks with a Jucy RV in western USA. That car is convenient thanks to its optimised size ! We was 3 persons, I guess it is possible at 4 but including 2 kids. The limit was place for our personal luggages. Ready for a new experience with its little RV’s !

Wonderful road trip

Everything with good in our road trip. We would do it the same way if we come again.

(Translated by Google) On July 12, 2024, we went to the Cruise America dealership in Tampa, Florida, where we had rented a C25 motorhome (which, by the way, did not look like a Cruise America dealership!). We arrived a bit early (at 11 am instead of 12 pm), no problem there. The lady on site told us that our vehicles (we were two families, each with a motorhome) were not ready, so we waited on site.

At 12:10, the lady came to get us to fill out the paperwork, sign them, etc. She gave us the damage report to fill out regarding the vehicles and told us that minor scratches did not need to be noted. We preferred to note them because we did not want these minor damages to be reported against us when we returned the camper.

Once the exterior inspection was done, she gave us the keys, and we could leave. We quickly checked to make sure we had the necessary sheets, then saw that there were no dish bags, but the dishes were already stored in the cabinets and drawers.

We left and went to a store several miles away to do our shopping. Before shopping, we did a quick check of the fridge to see its size, etc., and noticed mold and dirt in the fridge (disgusting). We also saw that there were a lot of animal hairs everywhere (table, benches, beds, bathroom, stove). (It was certain that the vehicle had not been vacuumed, but we might have guessed when we saw a man cleaning the windshield with paper towels!!). The dishes already stored had actually not been washed again; we found orange glasses with dirt/dust, although originally, and once clean, the glasses were transparent blue!

We decided to buy a universal disinfectant product and cleaned everything (fridge, drawers, cabinets, table, toilet, beds) before storing our groceries and belongings because returning to the dealership would have wasted a lot of time. We brushed off the hairs, etc. Due to our lack of experience in renting motorhomes (unlike the other family we were with), we did not notice that there was no brush and dustpan, so we did what we could with the broom available! During our thorough cleaning, we also noticed small travelers such as cockroaches and little black insects wandering in the cabinet next to the fridge and on the floor in the grooves... Fortunately, they only went into the closet next to the fridge, not into the other cabinets.

We then noticed that the black water indicated it was already full even though we hadn't even used the toilet yet! In short, it turned out to be just a sensor issue; the black water was indeed empty.

On the 2nd day, we decided to cook. Unfortunately, while using the kitchen sink, we noticed a water leak on the floor. My husband dismantled the drawers and saw that some pipe clamps had come off, so he put them back and there was no more leakage (we reported this when we returned the motorhome in Denver and later in Seattle - see the rest of the story).

After 1 week, the propane was empty! (Although we didn’t cook every day and the display showed the propane was 2/3 full when we picked it up on July 12, 2024). There was definitely a problem with the display sensor. In short, in the end, we reported this to the Seattle dealership which reimbursed us for the propane that was filled much too early!

The 2nd week of our vacation went well. In the 3rd week, while driving normally at the authorized speed towards Denver, the left rear outer tire burst. When the tire tread came off after the explosion, it tore off part of the gray water tank and likely punctured the second left rear tire (the RV had dual rear wheels). Luckily, when the tire exploded, my husband was able to pull over right away and we assessed the damage and heard the 2nd tire deflating.

We tried to call Cruise America but due to lack of signal, we got cut off before we could speak to anyone. Fortunately, someone stopped to help us, he had the necessary tools, we put on the spare tire and drove 15-20 miles with just one rear left tire. We arrived in Lusk (Wyoming) and unable to use the gray water as it would have spilled on the road, we went to sleep in a motel.

The next morning at 8 am, we called Cruise America informing them there was a tire shop in the village, they said they would call us back. 1.5 hours later, they called back asking again what happened and the name of the shop, we told them and were told we would get a call for the shop or a tow. After waiting for another hour, we decided to go to the village tire shop to see if they received a call from Cruise America, they confirmed no call but unfortunately didn't have the tires we needed in stock. We waited another hour and then the agency called informing us that a tow truck would arrive at 2 pm. We occupied ourselves and at 2 pm, the tow truck arrived. Unfortunately, due to incorrect vehicle details given, he didn't have the right tires and had driven almost 2 hours from Nebraska to get to us! We told him to take the wheels back to change the tires in their shop and return. He asked his boss who had to call Cruise America! Cruise America called for our agreement (although we had already given it to the mechanic). In the end, after 30 minutes, the mechanic left with the 2 wheels and we had an appointment at 6 pm to change the tires on the vehicle. During one of the calls with Cruise America, we asked if the motel would be reimbursed should the RV not be repaired the same day since we couldn't use the gray water, they confirmed that it would not be covered.

At 6 pm, the mechanic arrived with the wheels, changed them, and we asked him to quickly check the condition of the other tires. He indicated that the right rear tires were dry and could explode like the left ones, and the front ones were worn and should be swapped from left to right.

At 7 pm, we could finally leave as we had an appointment in Denver at 8 am to repair the gray water tank and had a 3.5-hour drive!

The next day, we went to the Denver dealership where they were expecting us, which was much different from the one in Tampa, this was a REAL dealership!! The gentleman asked if we had insurance, we explained we hadn't had an accident and that the gray water tank was damaged in the explosion of the tire which was in bad condition. We were driving normally, it just exploded without hitting anything but the road! Eventually, we found our papers and informed them that we had insurance through your agency (Authentik USA) but we found it scandalous that they asked this given the state of the tires, it was fortunate we didn't lose control of the vehicle as it could have ended badly for our family.

In short, the Denver dealership confirmed they would exchange the motorhome as it would take 2 days to repair the tank.
We told them about the tire issues, the water leak my husband had fixed, and that we had insects! We showed them a video.

After transferring our personal belongings, sheets, and dishes from the Tampa rental to the new motorhome, we left with the "new" one which was much cleaner as there was a real cleaning service at this dealership.

The rest of the trip went well, we reunited with the other family after 5 days apart and finished our month-long journey in Seattle (Everett) where we were expected as scheduled.
When we returned the motorhome, we had a very understanding gentleman (unlike the other family). We showed him a glass we kept as found in Tampa, he was apologetic, we explained everything that happened in Tampa, and he was sorry. We gave him the propane receipt which he reimbursed us for (we didn't ask for reimbursement for the motel night and meal expenses as we couldn't cook since we couldn't wash dishes) and told him we lost 14 hours on our trip due to the tire explosion and the second tire puncture. He refunded $100 to our credit card and gave us a $200 voucher for a future rental which we would receive by email.
Today, a month after returning the motorhome and back home, we've received nothing, no voucher, no email! And anyway, based on my childhood experience with the El Monte RV agency which was much more reliable, if we return to the USA and rent a motorhome again, we will certainly go to a different rental agency.

I took no photos of the dishes or hairs as I had other things on my mind at the start of the vacation but we have photos of the water leak and insects if needed.
Nothing to say against Authentik USA, the booking process went well. But the Tampa dealership should be closely monitored!! [...]

(Translated by Google) 4th RV experience on the American continent, I strongly advise against this company which seemed okay at first. We were honest upon our return in saying that there was a pressure issue with one of the tires (we had it inflated during the trip), pressure that was already lower at the start but we did not report it as it was not significant.

The person at the reception tells me that I must pay 350 dollars for the tire... it will be inspected by an independent garage and they will contact me. Two weeks after our return, still no news, so I sent an email to El Monte's reservation contact because the email she had given me was wrong... And of course after 3 days I finally got a response saying there was a screw in the tire and therefore they would not refund the 350 dollars.

We drove 5600kms so indeed it might be us who drove over a nail (not even sure since it's a slow puncture that might have been earlier) ... however, it's not our fault and it is unacceptable that it is not included in the GOLD package we took. Regarding this, it is completely unacceptable for the planet and CSR approach because they provide a new dishware and linen pack with each new rental including pan, pots... I dare to hope that it goes to associations afterwards and not to the trash... In short, the customer experience is extremely poor. [...]

(Translated by Google) Driving a 9.20 m long and 3 m wide "truck" is an experience in itself! Everything is designed for the RV in the USA, another way to travel where you are close to nature, very original!!! The company is professional, offers options (e.g., camping chairs for 45 euros, we took them and have no regrets). The training is a bit basic at the start, but the guide provided inside is well done and answers questions. A small malfunction with the gauges (gas level) caused us a problem, and we were refunded for half a day's rental upon return (appreciated commercial gesture). [...]

(Translated by Google) Camper van as described, easy handling. Available hotline. Easy return.

(Translated by Google) We rented a motorhome through Authentik.
But the Authentik service goes far beyond that!
The guide with suggested itineraries and places to visit is very well made. It was more helpful for organizing and experiencing our trip than the tourist guidebook we had bought.
The recommendations on campsites from the site were also very useful.
The support, whether beforehand with recommendations of things to do before leaving, or throughout the trip in case of problems, is exceptional and very responsive.
In summary, if we travel to the America region again, we will use their services without hesitation. [...]

(Translated by Google) Everything was great, we just lacked a bit of information about the vehicle at the time of booking (size of the trunks, dimensions of the bench beds (a bit tight for teenagers, ideal for young children)! But the rest was impeccable!

Functional motorhome, but...

(Translated by Google) We enjoyed renting the Cruise America C30 motorhome. Functional, no breakdowns. However, our opinion remains mixed. The price is quite high for an older model (over 175,000 km on the clock), with a somewhat outdated interior, damaged accessories not replaced, and sheets that didn't fit the beds. The cleaning was not done well. Next time, we will try another company. [...]

Vehicle taken in Tampa FL and returned to Seattle traveled 10,600 km

(Translated by Google) We took possession of the vehicle at 12 pm, filled out the paperwork while waiting for them to finish dusting and washing the windows; actually, if they had done nothing, it would have been the same. Since I had already rented from Apollo and El Monte RV, they gave me the keys and a tour of the vehicle, which had a lot of damage (bent bumper, windshield impacts, scratched bodywork, taped mirror, and more). The person told me it didn't matter and there was no need to note it on the sheet. I still reported the major damages. Additionally, the propane was half full, and the fuel tank was below half. We left just before the storm to do the shopping an hour away, and upon returning to store the supplies, we realized the dishes were dirty, and there were dog hairs everywhere. Since it took more than an hour to return to Cruise America, we decided to continue and cleaned the RV at the campsite. When I turned on the boiler, flames came out of the exhaust grill, so I disassembled and cleaned the burner (over 2 hours to clean the RV). Several days later, we were sleeping on a highway next to another RV, and during the night we smelled exhaust fumes (the other RV's generator exhaust was pointed at us). I realized the alarm wasn't working. Under the bench, the cables were cut, and the fuse was blown, which I repaired myself. We also had problems with defective wipers (which I replaced with low-cost ones), the solar panel was unscrewed, and there was a water leak inside when it was hot (loose clamp). When returning the vehicle, I tried to explain what had happened to me, but the person didn't care. They wanted to charge me for the gas and propane because they were not full, though they were fuller than when we started (luckily, I had the duplicate sheet). For the fuse and wipers, I was reimbursed $14 instead of $24—I didn't quite understand why, but considering how the rest went, I didn't dwell on it. If I rent another RV, I’ll spend a bit more and rent from Apollo or El Monte RV, but never from Cruise America again. [...]

(Translated by Google) Very long support (2 hours wait), need to take out additional insurance due to excessive deductible (€2500 per event, responsible or not), basic quality campervan, borderline cleanliness upon key handover, and assistance (following a grey water leak) unable to offer a solution adapted to the needs.

(Translated by Google) - waited more than 3 hours to collect the camper and had highlighted our name, so had to return to reception
- dirty camper
- many defective things: broken socket, drawer that doesn't close, broken curtains, broken lamp, table that broke after some time (we had to take the one from outside), defective CO2 sensor, water leak, wastewater pipes too short, etc... [...]

Good company, trustworthy

(Translated by Google) Recent, well-maintained vehicles

(Translated by Google) The C25 motorhome was perfectly suitable for 2 adults and 2 big teenagers. Everything worked well inside. Lots of storage. Reasonable consumption. Comfortable.
Los Angeles agency: unfriendly and arrogant staff, slow and poorly done work.
San Francisco agency: great.

(Translated by Google) Hello everyone!
First experience in the USA and a reliable partner for a road trip is CRUISE AMERICA.
Robust, reliable, and without any concern on our part, the C25 devoured the 3500 km of the road trip wonderfully.
I highly recommend it!
Attention to future users!!

Aurelie Belfakhet Monday August 5, 2024

(Translated by Google) We rented from the Las Vegas site and returned it in Denver. Everything was smooth and quick. The vehicle was very good. We had a great vacation.

(Translated by Google) We had a good car - while different from the one reserved - clean and in good condition. Unfortunately, the "on-boarding" was too quick and incomplete, so we had to figure out ourselves how things worked. We also had issues with keys that broke - once we were able to replace one for $4.50 - the second key broke the day before leaving, so we couldn't replace it before returning the RV, and they charged us $150 for the replacement (arguing that they needed to completely replace the lock...). Not happy about it.

Otherwise, we had no technical issues, no bad surprises, and things worked out as planned. [...]

(Translated by Google) Very noisy camper van, not enough kitchenware for the number of people, very uncomfortable beds. Air conditioning is inadequate and very noisy. In short, disappointed.

rental c25 1 week

(Translated by Google) Old vehicle.
Harsh suspensions.
No navigation aid.
Forced to tinker with our smartphones and Waze.
The right door mirror was out of order, we had to buy some tools to fix it.
The air conditioning was very temperamental, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't! Fortunately, it was okay in 'Death Valley' 53°C.
We left as two but were charged the laundry package for six.
Overall, could do better. [...]

Comfortable

(Translated by Google)

(Translated by Google) Very satisfied with the company Roadbear

(Translated by Google) We were very satisfied with our motorhome experience in the American West. Authentik USA was very supportive both before our trip and during the trip. We were able to contact them and get quick responses at key moments of our rental (pickup and return). Moreover, the motorhome met our expectations and the provided descriptions.

top stay in beautiful parks with a great motorhome

(Translated by Google) Dream stay in magnificent landscapes. Very well-equipped and nearly new motorhome (10,000 miles). However, the handover with the renter was a bit brief for motorhome novices, and the user guide provided was in German. Fortunately, I found a French guide online from another renter for the same motorhome, which was very useful for mastering some subtleties! Providing guides in other languages would really be a plus and would likely reduce the risk of handling errors. [...]

(Translated by Google) I have no basis for comparison. I found El Monte very good in their customer approach. We had a few small defective parts (hose, plugs) that we replaced (purchased at Walmart) without any problem. El Monte reimbursed without discussion. The RV was well equipped and in good condition.

Loss of half a day and aging motorhome

(Translated by Google) Time wasted due to staff shortage recognized by the people on site (!). Despite an appointment at 2:15 PM, we were not taken care of until two hours later. And on top of that, we had to refuel because the tank was almost empty. As a result, it was impossible for us to enjoy the first stage "Oatman and Kingsman" because it was dark!

The vehicle was too old and very noisy because the main door didn't close well and there were many vibrations. On the first day, we lost the toilet seal, which made them almost unusable and often very smelly (despite emptying and cleaning). Then, a defective showerhead... water was going everywhere. In short, Cruise America can do much better, especially at their Las Vegas branch. [...]

(Translated by Google) Good experience with a 21 ft RV.

Note that we were 2 people, and I absolutely would not recommend being more, as the additional seats in the back of the truck are unacceptable for me during travel, even for children.

Some remarks on the RV:
No mechanical issues encountered.
Some limitations: the fresh/grey water stock is very limited and does not allow for autonomy for more than one day. The limit for two people seems even more important to me.
Sleeping arrangements are okay.
A few minor malfunctions or breakdowns without serious consequences.
The RV air conditioning is not suitable, especially at night: large airflow is not pleasant and, above all, very noisy. It can provide temporary cooling but cannot be left on all night.

Overall, a good experience.
For more than two people, a larger RV is needed because of the seating and water stocks available. [...]