Mike Thompson
Co-Founder & Senior RV Technical Expert
12+ years full-time RVing | RVIA Certified RV Technician
About Mike
Mike is the lead technical reviewer at BestRV. He's lived full-time in an RV for 12+ years, holds a mechanical engineering degree, and is an RVIA-certified RV technician. Mike personally inspects every rental in the BestRV review program and has driven RVs across 48 states. He specializes in RV systems, maintenance protocols, fleet-side rental operations, and safety assessments.
Areas of expertise
- RV Systems & Mechanical Troubleshooting
- Fleet Operations & Rental Inspections
- Safety Assessments
- Maintenance Protocols
- Industry Standards
Articles by Mike
- RV Rental Insurance: What's Actually Worth Buying (And What's a Waste of Money) We've filed 3 claims, tested every coverage tier, and read the fine print so you don't have to. Here's exactly which RV rental insurance to buy and which to skip.
- RV Maintenance For Renters: What You're Actually Responsible For (2026) No, you don't need to change the oil. But here's what maintenance tasks rental RV companies expect you to handle—and what happens if you don't.
- How to Choose the Perfect RV Campground: Expert Selection Guide Learn how to find and evaluate RV campgrounds like a pro. Discover what amenities matter most, how to spot red flags, and insider tips for booking the best sites.
- Essential RV Maintenance Checklist: Keep Your RV Road-Ready in 2026 Complete RV maintenance checklist for before, during, and after trips. Learn critical maintenance tasks to prevent breakdowns and extend your RV's lifespan.
RV type guides by Mike
- Class A Motorhome Rentals — Where to Rent, What They Cost, Who They Suit Class A motorhome rentals start around $225/night and run to $400+. Here's where to rent them, what the real total cost is, and which trips a Class A actually makes sense for.
- Class C Motorhome Rentals — The Default Choice for Families Class C motorhome rentals run $149–$225/night and remain the most-rented format for families and groups. Here's where to rent one, what to expect, and how to pick the right length.
- Truck Camper Rentals — Goes Where Other RVs Can't Truck campers (also called slide-in campers or pickup campers) drop into a pickup truck bed. Rental rates run $115–$200/night. The only RV format that handles 4x4 off-road and tight national park sites.
State guides by Mike
- RV Rentals in Colorado — Mountain Trips, Altitude, and Seasonal Closures Colorado has the most challenging RV rental terrain in the US. Rates run $145-$245/night. Here's what to know about altitude, mountain passes, and the season that actually matters.
- RV Rentals in Utah — The Mighty 5 National Park State Utah is the most national-park-dense state in the country. The Mighty 5 (Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands) all live here. Rates run $145-$245/night.
- RV Rentals in Wyoming — Yellowstone, Tetons, and Big Sky Driving Wyoming has Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Devils Tower + Bighorn Canyon. Rates run $165-$275/night. Jackson and Cody are the rental launch points.
National park guides by Mike
- RV Rentals for Arches National Park — Devils Garden Campground and the Heat Arches has 2,000+ natural sandstone arches. Devils Garden Campground caps at 40 ft. Summer heat is real. Here's the rental plan from Moab.
- RV Rentals for Glacier National Park — Going-to-the-Sun Road Restrictions Glacier has the most famous and most RV-restrictive scenic drive in the NPS system. Going-to-the-Sun Road limits vehicles to 21 ft long and 8 ft wide. Here's the rental plan.
- RV Rentals for Grand Teton National Park — Jackson Base and the Tetons Grand Teton sits adjacent to Yellowstone and shares the Jackson rental hub. Colter Bay accommodates 45 ft with hookups. Here's the rental plan.
- RV Rentals for Rocky Mountain National Park — Trail Ridge Road and the Length Math Rocky Mountain NP is Colorado's flagship park, 90 minutes from Denver. Moraine Park caps at 40 ft, Glacier Basin at 30 ft, Aspenglen at 30 ft. Here's the rental plan.
- RV Rentals for Yellowstone National Park — Where to Rent, Length Limits, Campground Specs Yellowstone has 12 campgrounds with varying length restrictions and only one with full hookups. Here's what RV rental fits where, plus the launch-city decision.