Renter beware. 2016 Winnebago Itasca Sunstar
Pros:
* Accommodating when we requested to pick up the RV a day early
* Dakota was amiable and thorough during check-out of the vehicle
* Masks were worn by staff
* Offered a full refund due to defective vehicle and unable to reach the destination
Cons:
* During the COVID-19 pandemic, we determined that renting an RV was the safest way to get from AZ to visit family in SC. Instead, our family was put in harm's way, AND we were unable to reach our destination because the Sunstar was not adequately maintained. We were upfront with Elite RV about the kind of trip we planned to make.
* The generator was our main issue, as it shut off after 30 minutes or less of the vehicle being in motion. That means there was no air conditioning in the back, during a heatwave, with two small children. At times my wife and kids were all sitting in the front seat because the chassis was the only place with A/C, not a safe option.
* The Elite RV rental staff was tough to get ahold of, even in our dire need for maintenance. Both voicemails were always full, and it would sometimes take hours to get a text response. Nothing is more frustrating when you're in the middle of New Mexico, desperate for some help. They should have a dedicated service line.
* After two unsuccessful attempts for generator service and being told that nobody had or could obtain the necessary parts, Elite RV kept saying they would keep trying to find someone to service it. It was never offered up for them to find a replacement vehicle to make it to our destination. The only safe option was to drive 10 hours back to Phoenix overnight so we could open the windows and keep the family cool enough to travel with no A/C.
* Upon return, we were offered a refund for the vehicle's full rental cost, but no additional concessions were made for the $1500+ expenses we incurred out of pocket. We spent money on fuel (this vehicle got about five mpg, just FYI) and non-refundable RV park reservations, and Elite RV rentals were not willing to reimburse us for any of it or offer any credit for a future booking. We were told that they couldn't have fixed all of the broken items because there was only one day between rentals. A respectable company would have built-in time to properly maintain the vehicle between rentals, rather than making as much money as possible from vulnerable customers who were trying to reach family during a pandemic safely. There is no way they could make up for the fact that we could not visit my parents, who are in the high-risk age category for COVID-19. My kids could not see their grandparents this summer because Elite RV didn't provide us with a safe vehicle to do so.
* There were many other damaged or poorly maintained areas of the RV, as seen in the pictures. Included are: Huge vertical crack down the entire span of the windshield, many windshield cracks, missing A/C vent in chassis, stained carpet, wire over air return in front of the passenger seat, missing Range Cover, missing Freezer shelves, dent in tabletop, broken lighting over the table, a missing shade over the couch (so no privacy at night without makeshift window cover), broken drawer under bunks, missing toilet lid, dirty vent fan, missing/broken vent fan screen, broken bathroom door slide, broken/missing shade on the side of the bed, hole in one underbay cabinet rendering that storage space useless, bumper damage, broken seat belt holders, bunk over the driver seat are broken (sways because not bolted down on one side), the auto-leveling system is broken, rearview and side-view camera do not work, the screen door is broken, marker lights on driver's side do not work.
To all potential renters, please beware of how Elite RV maintains its equipment and treats its customers. Their priorities lie in maximizing the number of rentals and not supporting the quality of the rental experience. I understand many businesses are suffering due to the pandemic, but the RV rental industry is thriving (hence the full voicemail boxes). There is no reason why they shouldn't be able to take the time to properly maintain their vehicles and ensure the safety of their customers. read more