I don't want to bury the lead here: Trekker Vans is not only a rip-off, but downright disrespectful. I tried to work with the owner to rectify some incorrect charges and I was accused of having a learning disability. SMGDH The story goes like this: I recently booked a trip with Trekker Vans and it was, by far and away, the worst vehicle rental experience I have ever had. I returned the van in a perfectly fine condition (see attached photos), and with a full tank of gas, but was charged $100 in cleaning fees and fuel. The rental agreement stipulates that the van not be returned "excessively dirty" which I later realized was code for "Trekker Vans wants you to return it spotless, and will nickel and time you at their discretion." The gas tank was also full when I dropped it off, so I really have no idea where the fuel charge came from. I tried working with Nate to find an amicable solution but that simply did not work. He was myopically focused on proving his point versus hearing me out. I ultimately had to end the conversation when he accused me of having a learning disability. At that point, I realized there was no hope of being treated with any form of respect. If you want to be ripped off, talked down to, and insulted then go with Trekker Vans. Otherwise, go literally anywhere else. read more

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Nate/owner is amazing and so personable/flexible. The van itself was in mint condition and felt very safe the entire trip to Napa/Yosemite. So much space!! And drove like a car (not like a big bulky RV). Thanks Nate for being so kind and helpful months leading up to our trip (especially since we were coming from the east coast)! read more

Trekker Vans - Yosemite - RV Rental Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Great choice for those who have graduated from tent camping, but still want to enjoy the outdoors with more comfort and ease. Trekker Vans are awesome, comfortable, fully self-contained, easy to drive, and made our Memorial Day holiday very relaxing. Nate is awesome when walking you through the Van and all it's amenities, inclusive of the video prior to pickup. Wonderful experience, highly recommend to anyone, and we will definitely do this again. Great job Nate and family! oj read more

Great concept, but service is poor and not friendly. Fees are extensive, not worth it

This was my first camper van rental and Nate set the bar very high! Every single part of the process was easy and organized. After you book, you are provided with great information about the van included a very helpful YouTube video on its key features. Nate personally checked us in (and gave us a great banh mi lunch recommendation). The van itself was pristine, fresh, and well outfitted. We really enjoyed the comfortable bed and bedding. The stove/fuel worked great (I use the same kind when camping). Van was easy to drive and does have Bluetooth/AUX cord capabilities, and a backup camera! We brought some lighting for the van interior which was very helpful. We wished we had brought a doormat or something to place in front of the side door when entering/exiting to keep sand & dirt out. We brought some pop up mesh storage containers to store food in. We wished we had more places to hang stuff in the van and would probably bring some straps or hooks next time. read more

We've been renting from Trekker (Nate) for five years in a row for our three week summer van camping excursion's. The fact that we've been back five times should speak volumes. We've rented the same van five years in a row and it's as clean and well kept as the first time we rented. Nate has always worked with our constant schedule changes without complaint or upcharges. I love Nates vans because they give you what you need, all you need without worrying about the stuff that you don't need breaking down or not working. When all I have is three weeks to hit the road I want to make sure I can take advantage of every minute and Trekker Vans allow you to do just that, worry free. The value can not be beat! Hands down the best option in the SFO area for care free van life on the open road. read more

I have to give big props to Nate at Trekker Vans! I believe he went above and beyond the norm to make sure my friends, who were visiting from Georgia, had a great stay in California. Within the first three hours of checking out the van, my friends had a major challenge and needed Nate's help. Nate was there to save the day, even if it was after his business hours. I was there when Nate received them and he was helpful in getting the paperwork completed and he personally showed them how to get the most out of their Trekker Van experience. All my friends wanted to sleep in the tent on top of the van. When my friends came back to town, they told me the bed above and below were warm and comfy. I want to also note that the van was clean, inside and out. The van ran smoothly with no mechanical issues. No funny smells or looks of wear and tear. I thought the van was in pristine shape. My friends stayed in the Peninsula the first night and headed down south to Monterey, Santa Barbara, LA and back. The pictures they showed me of camping in the van made me think that I needed to do this too! The best picture they shared with me was the van parked overlooking a beach. I would highly recommend Nate and Trekker Vans. There might be bigger van operations out there but you can't beat an owner who is passionate about his business, who cares for his clients, and who gives personal help/recommendations. He is a traveler too! read more

Love them. Adorable vans (the equipment), nice owner (the person), super great outfitter (the business). It was my first van trip with two small kids and we made it to Sequoia NP from SF flawlessly -- I didn't realize the (what looks to me to be) giant Ford would be so easy to drive. Tons of water in the sink. Comfy bed & bedding. Less than wonderful gas mileage at high sierra altitudes but that's physics. Rooftop tent is relatively irritating to fold up, tbh, but the girls loved their little elevated paradise while we were at the campground and they made it their own with blankets and bears and whatever. read more

I do regular road trips up the Oregon coast to the Olympic Peninsula - each time I change things up from tent camping/hotels or renting homes along the way. But now that I have tried Trekker Vans - I may have found the best of all worlds. The vans drive very well and are quite economical. They also offer you the flexibility of pulling into a campground or finding a side road near the beach. Nate outfits the vans to allow for full inside access to the kitchen area, a huge plus when it's raining and you just need to make your morning tea. The small refrigerator worked like a charm, keeping my daily fish fresh and my wine cold. The bed is incredibly comfortable - some of the best nights sleep I have ever had a trip - the one time I did check into a hotel, I was tempted to sleep in the van as I had a herd of elephants in the room above me. Nate has developed a company that not only provides a top notched product, but couples it with excellent customer service - from the minute I started to chat with him on-line, until the time I returned the van, I felt a valued part of the company. STOP looking at other van rentals - THIS IS THE ONE. Be Well and Travel Smart read more

We were looking for a nice inexpensive camper van for a family reunion. Our criterion was mostly cost, but we had to also sleep 2 adults and 2 kids. We weren't really concerned with a lot of cooking or bathrooms, os the Trekker Van fit our requirements perfectly. The proprietor, Nate, bent over backwards to make sure the van was ready and that we had all the equipment we needed for a fun weekend. The van itself was new and drove perfectly. The camping furniture in the van served its purpose, and the bed pads were very comfortable. We also rented the pop top camper that goes on top and my kids loved sleeping up there. The only caveats I have are that the side windows down't open, which can be a bit of a hassle on a hot evening. You can leave the back doors and front windows open for ventilation, if necessary. Also, the power sources don't stay on all the time, so if you're expecting to have power all night, you won't. But the positives outweigh the negatives, and this is a very nice vehicle to take on a trip. read more

Nate was incredibly gracious with his time and preparedness for us taking our 2 kids (both under 5 with car seats) on a 16 day road trip to Montana, including finding places to stop along the way and things to do. Already looking forward to next time!! read more

Friendly, down to earth, interesting world traveler that started this business this year. Vans are clean and well engineered. I took a group of 4 up to the Feather River in the Plumas National forest. I was the one that slept up top and enjoyed it quite a bit. It can be breezy to keep cool and the views are nice. He hooks you up with much of your camping essential needs. RVs are difficult to drive and huge. Not to mention gas mileage. This is an easy to drive, more energy efficient option. Highly recommended! read more

We were a New Yorker and Bostonian doing a 4-5 day road trip in California in April 2019. Based on our trip I can say that Trekker Vans is likely your best choice for quality, service, and value in the San Francisco area. A few points we considered before renting which I can now verify: #1 - Proximity to airport - if you are arriving / departing from SFO, keep in mind that other camper van rental options may add $100+ to your trip costs in Uber/Lyft and 3+ hours depending on location and traffic conditions. Like mainstream rental car business', Trekker Vans is located close to the airport. #2 - Van quality - the vans are new and well designed. The owner Nate has personally designed and built out these Ford Transits and I can tell he doesn't let them off the lot with any mechanical issues. Everything was in working order and we didn't experience any issues. #3 - Insurance - Trekker Vans uses Outdoorsy.com for RV insurance and I recommend you stick with their provided policy. It offers extensive coverage and is reasonably priced. By nature, I explored options for providing my own insurance binder through my home and car insurance provider and my credit cards. Of all my cards (Chase Visa, Amex, Citi Mastercard) only Citi cards cover RV rental and it isn't a comprehensive policy. The Outdoorsy policy provided by TrekkerVans proved to be the best option - I recommended that Nate add the pertinent policy details such as coverage limits and deductible to his website. #4- Price/value - Trekker Vans is competitively priced and they include everything you need. When considering your budget, keep in mind your travel costs to and from Trekker Vans, and your check bagged fees saved from not having to bring all the equipment with you. We were also able to make one grocery stop and cook all of our meals with the included equipment and the surprisingly spacious drawer fridge. We used three butane canisters (cooking every meal and making coffee) - two were included. They cost $7 and I can tell you for certain they don't sell this type in Yosemite Valley so maybe pick up an extra depending on the length of your trip and where you are staying. 3 tips once you have chose Trekker vans: 1. As this is a recreational vehicle, we thought the standard for returned condition in terms of cleanliness would be different than a rental car. The exterior was fine but the interior floor surfaces had loose dirt and sand from our boots and we were charged an additional cleaning fee. Nate will recommend a couple locations where you can wash / vacuum out the car but our timing didn't allow for this. Just keep that in mind when you return the Van - if it looks like it needs a good vacuum you're likely going to be charged. 2. Nate has a supply room of miscellaneous extra equipment - read what is included in the van ahead of time so you can anticipate what additional items you might want from the supply room - thinking on our feet, we borrowed a chef's knife and a wok which we were very grateful for during our trip. 3. Use Nate as a resource! Nate was a warm and intelligent guy with a passion for the outdoors and adventure travel. He's very knowledgeable and can answer any of your questions, make recommendations for your trip, and may even toss you a travel guide book if needed. Aside from how much we enjoyed our trip (to Yosemite and Big Sur) we also were happy to have connected with Nate and we look forward to our next opportunity to rent a Trekker van from him. read more

WOW! On every level, Trekker Vans surpassed our expectations. This was our first family van trip with our small kids and Nate and his Trekker Van team delivered on every level. The vans are in top condition, the pick up and drop off process was smooth, the price is very reasonable, and the customer service was excellent. I can't recommend this group enough! read more

Excellent experience with Trekker Vans. Service was key. Every detail was patiently explained. The van was the talk of the campsite. I will come back without hesitation. read more

Great Company run by a Great Guy! I would highly recommend Nate's vans for a film shoot or other entertainment rental. The Trekker worked great as a holding vehicle and everyone on our crew was super happy to have it available . The build out is versatile & perfect while the van itself ran like a dream even after the 4K + miles we did. If you're thinking about renting a camper/RV or anything like that- go with Trekker instead. read more

We took Nate's original creation to Yosemite for a family vacation and it was great! Our 9mos old baby came along on the adventure so it was critical that the van had the manufacturer's second-row seats with the latch. Nate was absolutely lovely and made us feel like family. I'd highly recommend Trekker Vans. read more

Rented van for a week to drive down Hwy 1, Sequoia Natl Park then Yosemite. Great trip for this family of 4. Highly recommend. Van was new and easy to drive. Van well equipped w bedding, camping chairs, portable light, cookware, portable stove, sink and refrigerator. Nate was extremely helpful, informative and easy to work with. Great communication about set up and needs. Thanks, Nate! read more

Our experience with Trekker Vans was outstanding and was the perfect option for getting our youngest off to college in Denver, CO and a fun camping trip (Denver, Utah and Nevada) upon our return home. The Van was pristine and Nate could not have been more helpful and flexible. We highly recommend Trekker vans. read more

Trekker Vans is the best gem I have ever found. My girlfriend and I rented a van for a few days on our first trip to the west coast, it was the best part of our trip. We went down to Santa Cruz, Big Sur, and headed back up to Sonoma before returning the van. I was one of those people looking at Lost vans, Juicy vans, and Escape vans, until I stumbled upon Trekker accidentally. I was on the booking page of Escape vans but when I found Trekker I immediately called and started booking, best decision ever. Before the we got the van, we had the warmest greeting by the owner. He is the kind of dude you meet and you feel like you want to be his friend. He gave us suggestions for our trip, gave us his personal cell incase we had issues, and even helped us with suggestions for the rest of our trip after we returned the van. The layout of the van was simple, efficient, and had everything we needed. It was also really clean and you could tell it was a really nice van. It was my first time driving a vehicle of this size, but it was so much easier to drive than I would've thought, and it still fit in regular sized parking spots. The bed is really comfortable and the comforter is so warm that you dont really want to get up. Making meals was easy with the kitchen set provided, and having some storage and fridge space for food was a great amenity in the van. I have been dreaming of taking a camper van along the coast for years and Trekker vans empowered my trip to be better than I had imagined it would be. Returning the van was sad, I definitely want to return and use a Trekker Van again. read more

I was looking for a modern and affordable camper van for rent for a while, and I think I found one. We took one of these for a four day camping trip up in Northern Sierras, and it was great. Everything inside a van is simple, but with a purpose. Everything is easy to operate in the field. Bed is spacious and comfortable. Shades can completely black out the interior for good night sleep. Roof top tent is a lot of fun for kids. Kitchen sink and fridge let you take care of food easily. Van comes with boatload of camping equipment (chairs, table, gas stove, etc). I can totally see myself taking a month long road trip in one of these across the country. read more

Really clean and new camper vans. Even provided extra items for no additional charge. We took another couple with us and they were also impressed with the ease of the psuedo-camping experience. Drop off was easy, just did a quick walk thru and that was it. read more

Van was clean and well equipped for camping. Nate was very responsive and easy to work with. Thanks for a great trip.

I want to start by saying that despite my penchant for weekend road trips, the only reason I have not rented a weekend van before is because I don't want to drive a purple and green minivan or a 20 year old Ford van that looks like it was left on the wrong side of the tracks for 2 weeks and is covered with graffiti. (call me crazy) According to my research these were my options with the other van rental companies. I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb when I am driving (either recreationally or day-to-day). Happy to say Trekker Vans "gets it". Their vans are clean, well equipped, and neutral in color! The owner, Nate, is awesome. He was helpful, and extremely knowledgeable. You can see that this is not just a professional endeavour for him but rather an outlet for his passion for exploration - something we shared which was nice. Hopefully someday I will be able to have my own weekend warrior van but until that time, I will most certainly be coming back to Trekker Vans to blaze new trails and satisfy my wayward aspirations... read more

This is a really great camper van and comes packed with the essentials for sleeping, cookware, and folding chairs. Nate, the owner, also went out of his way to set us up with a last minute rental on his day off -- not to mention he provided us with an innovative sleeping option for our 8 month old son, which worked out pretty well. That was a serious concern of ours not knowing how/where he'd sleep with us in the van, but we're glad we decided to proceed with the trip (with Nate's recommended option) despite our uncertainty with the precious cargo. Nate also gave us some valuable pointers with campsite booking websites that were easy to use and much better than what we were previously using (painfully). On a side note, we had been considering a VW camper van for rent instead, but the reliability and modernness of the Trekker Van was the major selling point for us. read more

We rented a campervan for one week to drive along the California coast. The vans are well-designed and clean, and the rental comes with all the infrastructure you would need (chairs, stove, etc). The bed is super comfy and warm! I was a little scared because we've never done anything this adventurous, but the owner Nate helped answer all our questions to help us prepare. There's nothing more relaxing than sitting on the back bench with the doors open, reading a book and watching the waves! Definitely recommend Trekker Vans for a unique vacation adventure. read more

Awesome people! Helped me out with a lot of information. I would not have been able to get the project done without them.