Our experience after renting a Bushlapa Miskruier for a weekend from Corcis Outdoor Rentals
Here’s the scenario: We’d been researching offroad trailer/caravan
options to decide which one to buy, but remained uncertain of the way forward. We liked the Bushlapa Boskriek, but was it really going to work for us? Even
after inspecting as many of the various available offerings on the market as we could, we still had
unanswered questions that were impossible to resolve by meandering around a
showroom or chatting with a salesperson
Here's where the expression “Try before you buy” becomes relevant. It's something I wish hubby and I had done more of before purchasing big-ticket items. Buying any form of vehicle is a large investment and so we decided to rent a Bushlapa to experience it for ourselves.
Have you found yourself in a similar situation? Maybe you don't want to buy, but just need a rig for a once-off adventure? If so, our personal impressions after renting from Corcis Outdoor Rentals can help with your decision-making process. Click here to access the Corcis website for more information or to make a booking.
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Overall Impression |
5/5 |
|
Pricing |
4/5 |
|
Accessibility of premises |
3/5 |
|
Handover process |
4/5 |
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Return process |
4/5 |
|
Condition of caravan * |
5/5 |
|
Contents and gear |
5/5 |
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Customer service |
5/5 |
How we discovered Corcis
Since we (me more than the hubby) were uncertain about the Boskriek, Bushlapa Centurion recommended
we rent a caravan for a weekend to get a feel for it
before making our final decision. They also assisted in providing the contact
details for Kerneels from Corcis Outdoor Rentals.
According to the salesperson at Bushlapa, Corcis had
recently purchased a Bushlapa Miskruier, which, whilst not identical to the
model we were considering, was close enough - the main difference being it
slept four people versus the Boskriek which sleeps three.
With over 10 years camping experience in a variety of places, nine of which with our own offroad trailer, hubby and I know what we do and don’t like in a camper. We also know what gear does and doesn’t work, together with all the necessities one needs to pack to make an offroad trip comfortable. Renting an offroad caravan would be new for us, but camping was par for the course.
Keen to try it out with limited
risk in terms of expenditure, renting the Miskruier seemed a
sensible avenue to make sure we really
liked it before placing an order.
On Friday 4 March 2022, I called Kerneels to see if Corcis could accommodate us - we wanted to rent the Miskruier before the end of March 2022, so we could make a final decision before the Bushlapa annual price increase on 1 April. Kerneels explained the caravans were mostly booked until April, in particular the one we wanted to rent.
The only option was for us to book the caravan the coming weekend - meaning we'd have to throw a last-minute plan together and collect the rental the next morning. The timing of the suggested plan put pressure on Kerneels to get everything organised (he'd only collected the caravan the previous day!). He willingly went above and beyond to accommodate us, and I know he worked late that Friday night to get everything ready.
Once I'd dealt with all the admin and managed to find us a campsite, I was excited. The Scholtz's were going camping in a Bushlapa Miskruier!
How the rental process works
- Paperwork
The paperwork when renting is a necessity for the protection of both parties. Whilst understandable, it does add an extra administrative burden when planning a trip.
I experienced the process as straightforward. Once you’ve completed the
booking form you submit it via email together with copies of documents such
as ID, proof of residence, proof of insurance for the towing vehicle, details
of the towing vehicle, and driver’s license.
Note: you need an EB license to be able to tow anything with a GVM greater than 750kg.
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| Final inspection before we departed - Kerneels checking the latches on the roof whilst hubby checks it all out |
- The legal stuff
The terms and conditions were provided to us as part of the booking process. These were clear and easy to understand.
I read the fine print carefully beforehand, to ensure we understood what our responsibilities were in case of an incident.
- Rental fees and deposits
As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for” - in this instance we received a high quality, fully kitted-out holiday home on wheels.
In our view, the daily rates were reasonable and we received good value
for our money. The rental rate is charged per caravan per day and varies
depending on what you rent. Daily fees also depend on the duration of your
rental, check out the Corcis website to obtain accurate rates.
We also had to pay a refundable deposit of R10,000 - this is typically repaid within 7 days after the return of the caravan. In our case, this happened sooner than the 7 days, but if one is managing cash flow after a holiday, it's probably a good idea to factor the 7-day refund timeframe into your plans. Note that damages can be deducted from the deposit - yet another reason to make sure you've read the terms and conditions.
What you get when you rent
- Fully kitted
According to the Corcis website, “Caravan is fully kitted. You only need to take your linen, camping chairs, food, and clothes with”.
With the limited time available Kerneels somehow (I’m still not sure how) managed to get the Miskruier ‘rental ready’ for us to collect for our camping expedition on Saturday 5 March 2022.
As part of the booking process, we received a comprehensive inventory list setting out what was included in the caravan. I was skeptical about relying on the inventory list for our trip, particularly since I knew Kerneels hadn't had much time to kit the Miskruier out. I packed a few extra items just in case, even squeezing a kettle in - couldn't risk not having coffee whilst camping!
In reality, our only challenge was looking properly to find
the thoughtfully stocked items Kerneels had magically managed to assimilate in
the limited time available. He's clearly done this before and, based on all the gear included, it was obvious to us that he's a seasoned camper.
From the kitchen sink (literally) to a braai casserole, Maxcon tent pegs, and
containers for leftover food, everything we could possibly have needed was catered
for. The rental fee included the
provision of two full gas bottles.
 |
| Pots, pans, cutlery, crockery, cheese grater... You name it, Corcis provided it |
[Kerneels provided two kettles: one electric and one for gas, so, together with the one I'd packed, we had three!]
- Demonstration
Kerneels offered to provide us with a detailed demonstration of how the caravan worked before we left. We declined this offer since we wanted to experience (read: struggle with) the caravan ourselves. I imagine such a demonstration could come in handy should one be unfamiliar with the workings of an off-road camper.
- Cleaning
The R400 cleaning fee is part of the deal, although I still felt a little guilty returning the brand new Bushlapa covered with a fine layer of dust courtesy of the Dinokeng gravel roads. It was a novel experience arriving home after a trip and not having to wash a dirty trailer.
- Thoughtful touches
We received a complimentary bag of rusks and a welcome note which was very thoughtful and made us feel at home in the little holiday home we'd hired.
The rusks were so yummy, we ate them before I could take a photo. I need to remember to ask Kerneels where he bought them, they were good enough to earn a spot in our pantry.
Pros and Cons of renting
Pros
+ Maintenance and
upkeep (such as tyres, insurance, license fees, etc.) are not your problem
+ No garaging or storage requirements
+ Fully kitted saves you having to worry about packing the
necessities for camping
+ Corcis assist with the relevant documentation should you
wish to take your rental across the border. Having struggled with this admin
when we traveled Botswana, this is a huge plus factor
+ Cleaning is part of the service provided. We cleaned our
own trailer upon return from some very dusty trips. Cleaning takes forever if
you do a proper job, and being able to drop off a dirty caravan was quite a
luxury
Cons- Minimum rental duration is three days. In our instance we
like to pop out for a quick weekend away (usually only 2 days), which would unnecessarily
add to our cost
- Whilst the daily rental fees are not astronomical, if one
camps as often as we do, renting a unit on a regular basis could become
expensive
- The unit one wants to rent may not always be available. I
imagine the Miskruier we rented will be popular, so planning well in advance to
book your preferred unit is probably a good idea
- Having to submit a booking form, and relevant
documentation each time one wants to rent a unit adds another administrative
burden to the planning of a holiday
Final Thoughts
The Miskruier camp set up. We loved the new Bushlapa Z-Roof
Pros
+ No garaging or storage requirements
+ Fully kitted saves you having to worry about packing the necessities for camping
+ Corcis assist with the relevant documentation should you wish to take your rental across the border. Having struggled with this admin when we traveled Botswana, this is a huge plus factor
+ Cleaning is part of the service provided. We cleaned our own trailer upon return from some very dusty trips. Cleaning takes forever if you do a proper job, and being able to drop off a dirty caravan was quite a luxury
- Minimum rental duration is three days. In our instance we
like to pop out for a quick weekend away (usually only 2 days), which would unnecessarily
add to our cost
- Whilst the daily rental fees are not astronomical, if one
camps as often as we do, renting a unit on a regular basis could become
expensive
- The unit one wants to rent may not always be available. I
imagine the Miskruier we rented will be popular, so planning well in advance to
book your preferred unit is probably a good idea
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| The Miskruier camp set up. We loved the new Bushlapa Z-Roof |
Renting an offroad rig presents an attractive alternative to owning. The company one selects to rent from plays a critical role in the overall experience, and it's a good idea to make sure that the supplier you choose is reputable.
We experienced Corcis Outdoor Rentals to be a professional, organised, yet customer-focused outfit. Kerneels is passionate about camping, and his fleet is lovingly cared for.
Whatever your reason for wishing to rent an offroad camper, we would not hesitate to recommend Corcis Outdoor Rentals. Oh yes, and we loved the Bushlapa Miskruier. Stay tuned for more details, or click here to see for yourself.
Have you rented an offroad trailer or caravan? We'd love to hear about your experience, let us know in the comments section.
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