The Biggie
High-roof Ram ProMaster campervan
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- —
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- —
Rent your RV in the United States from US$45/day
Native Campervans review
Native Campervans combines van camping in the western United States with a digitally managed rental experience.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
A trip through New Zealand in 2013 inspired Native Campervans’ founders to start a rental business in Denver two years later. Its offer centres on converted vans with sleeping and cooking equipment, with pickup locations serving both the Rocky Mountain region and the southwestern United States.
The business also has a platform programme for independent companies that own camper pods and own or lease the vehicle chassis. Native handles bookings, payments and customer support for reservations made through its platform, while partners operate locally. That programme is separate from a conventional franchise model; it does not mean every Native pickup location has the same ownership structure.
Our verdict
Editorial review
The appeal here is a manageable camping setup: a place to sleep, equipment to cook with and a handover built around digital instructions. The range gives couples a meaningful choice between a fixed bed and a convertible living area, while the Squad accommodates a larger party without moving into a conventional motorhome. Native is most convincing when that straightforward camping format matches the trip; a bathroom and a fully serviced indoor living space are outside its standard offer.
Service is less consistent than the vehicle concept. Among the sampled accounts on the Denver, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City review listings, renters describe both helpful responses and difficulties with preparation or handover. Some enjoy the van despite those problems. These accounts support a mixed assessment of the rental experience, rather than a promise that the contactless process will always run smoothly.
Good points
- Camping essentials come with the rental.Bedding, cooking equipment, chairs and a table reduce the amount of gear needed for a fly-in trip. The preparation charge covers kitchenware, bedding and cleaning, so these are part of a defined rental setup rather than a collection of separate equipment purchases.
- No additional damage hold at collection.Native does not place a separate pickup damage deposit or card authorisation above the booked total. That reduces the extra card capacity needed to collect the van, although damage responsibility remains a separate contractual matter.
Things to consider
- Handover can require follow-up.Several sampled reviews from the Denver and Las Vegas listings describe delayed collection, limited instructions or equipment-preparation problems. Other renters praise the video guidance and responsive help. The practical limitation is uneven preparation, not evidence that every contactless collection is difficult.
- Roadside access can still lead to a bill.The rental includes access to roadside assistance, but the cost of the dispatched professional can be passed on to the renter. Having a route to emergency help therefore does not make every recovery or callout free.
Vehicle categories
Native Campervans fleet
The OG
High-roof Ram ProMaster campervan
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- —
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- —
The Squad
Low-roof Ram ProMaster campervan with roof tent
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- —
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- —
The Smalls
Compact Ram ProMaster City campervan
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- —
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- —
Native’s four-category range spans a compact two-person camper, two high-roof layouts for couples and a roof-tent configuration for four.
The current Biggie gives priority to daytime living space. Its 80 × 60-inch bed converts into a bench lounge, supported by a refrigerator, electric faucet and portable power station. The lounge can seat up to six while parked, but the van carries only two people on the road. At 20 feet long, it is the more lounge-oriented of the two high-roof choices.
The OG retains a fixed 72 × 56-inch bed and 6 feet 2 inches of standing height. Its layouts span 18–20 feet, with differences in windows, storage, seating and cooking equipment. It is therefore worth choosing for the fixed-bed format rather than assuming it will always be shorter than the Biggie. The precise van is confirmed on pickup day. Older references to a Biggie may describe what is now called the OG, rather than the current convertible-bed design.
The Squad puts a 72 × 56-inch bed inside and a larger sleeping area in the roof tent. Its lower interior roof provides 5 feet 2 inches of standing height. Cooking equipment includes a dual-burner stove, cooler, water jug and collapsible sink. Its four-seat, four-berth layout is the defining difference; the roof tent is part of the sleeping arrangement, not extra legal passenger capacity.
At 15 feet long, the Smalls uses a ProMaster City with a drawer kitchen, single-burner stove, soft cooler and a 72 × 48-inch bed. Its camping setup is more oriented towards cooking outdoors, while the high-roof vans provide more room to spend time inside. None of these categories includes a standard shower.
Locations
Native Campervans pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
United States
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Denver 2919 E 42nd Ave., Denver, CO 80216
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Salt Lake City 766 W 1700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
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Las Vegas 4350 Arville Street, Suite 420, Las Vegas, NV 89103
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Phoenix 4728 E Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008
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Los Angeles 9700 Bellanca Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045
Before booking
Practical facts
The amounts and policies below concern Native Campervans’ direct US rentals.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Minimum rental | The minimum is three rental days. The vehicle rate depends on category, demand, season and trip length. |
| Mileage options | Prepaid mileage costs USD 28 per day for 100 miles per day, with excess mileage charged at USD 0.28 per mile. The unlimited-mileage option costs USD 55 per day. These amounts are separate from the vehicle rate. |
| Mandatory charges | A USD 125 preparation charge applies per rental, plus an environmental charge of USD 2 per day. Colorado departures also carry a published motor-vehicle rental fee of USD 5.23 per day. |
| Booking advance | A USD 500 reservation payment is credited towards the rental balance. It is a booking advance, not a damage deposit collected on pickup. |
| Damage responsibility | No additional pickup damage hold is taken above the booked total. Without a vehicle-damage waiver, the renter remains responsible for vehicle damage under the agreement; the USD 500 reservation advance does not cap that responsibility. |
| Vehicle-damage waiver | Published daily prices for the selected exterior-damage waiver are USD 25 for the Smalls, USD 35 for the Squad or OG, and USD 40 for the Biggie. Interior damage, negligence, unlawful conduct and breaches of the rental agreement are excluded. |
| Drivers | Drivers must be at least 21, hold a valid full licence and have held it for at least one year. Additional approved drivers are free. An international driving permit is required for a non-English licence or when purchasing supplemental insurance. |
| Contactless collection | Complete the identification, agreement and driver details online before collection. A unique lockbox code gives access to the keys, with van-specific guidance in the browser-based Adventure Hub and Concierge. Phone and video help are available. |
| Winter equipment and charges | For rentals from 1 November to 31 March, the mandatory winter package costs USD 150 per trip for the Biggie or Squad and USD 125 per trip for the Smalls. The Biggie and Squad package includes a heater option, chains, sleeping bags and a scraper. The Smalls uses hot-water bottles instead of a heater. A built-in heater is not guaranteed. |
| Dogs | One dog may travel with prior permission, for a USD 100 approved-dog charge. An unauthorised pet attracts a separate USD 200 charge. |
| Standard cancellation | For standard direct reservations, cancellation at least 30 days before pickup returns the advance. Inside 30 days, Native retains it for use towards a future booking within one year. Same-day cancellation or a no-show incurs the full rental charge, and ordinary early return receives no refund. These terms exclude one-way bookings and reservations with Trip Protection. |
| Assistance | Emergency roadside help is available around the clock. Human non-emergency support runs from 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday; the digital Concierge remains accessible at any time. A professional’s dispatch cost may be passed through without a surcharge. |
| Return condition | Poor-condition cleaning can cost up to USD 300; smoking incurs a USD 300 cleaning charge. Returning the optional Biggie toilet with waste left inside carries a minimum USD 250 charge. These are conditional charges, separate from the preparation fee. |
| Burning Man | Attendance requires prior consent and a USD 2,000 event charge. Attendance without permission carries a charge of USD 2,000 or more; paying an ordinary rental rate does not grant access. |
More about the company
Explore Native Campervans
Relocation rentals
Native offers relocation trips to move vans where they are needed. An accepted relocation has a zero daily vehicle rate and includes the mileage needed for that transfer, but it remains a journey with costs: the traveller pays for fuel, flights, the environmental charge and any applicable Colorado fee. Insurance, extras and additional miles can also add to the bill.
This arrangement suits dates and a route that can fit the relocation itself. It is separate from choosing an ordinary one-way holiday rental, and a zero vehicle rate should not be read as a free trip.
Quick answers
Native Campervans FAQ
What is the difference between the Biggie and the OG?
The current Biggie has a bed that converts into a lounge; the OG has a fixed bed. OG vans come in more than one length and layout, so it is not always the shorter option. The older Biggie was renamed the OG, which matters when reading descriptions of past rentals.
Which Native van can carry and sleep four people?
The Squad has four travel seats and four sleeping places, divided between an interior bed and a roof tent. The Biggie, OG and Smalls each carry and sleep two. The Squad’s seating is described as child-seat-capable, but the fit of a particular child restraint needs confirmation.
Do Native Campervans have a toilet or shower?
None has a standard toilet or shower. A removable Boxio toilet is an optional Biggie add-on; it does not create an enclosed bathroom or provide a shower. Add-on availability also needs confirmation for a one-way booking.
Can I book a one-way Native Campervans rental?
Native offers one-way rentals, but the combination of pickup city, return city, vehicle and dates needs confirmation for the individual booking. Do not assume every pairing of the locations above is available. One-way add-ons are generally restricted, with sleeping bags an advertised exception.
Is mileage included in Native’s vehicle price?
Mileage options are priced separately: USD 28 per day buys 100 miles per day, with excess at USD 0.28 per mile, or unlimited mileage costs USD 55 per day. A relocation deal is different: it includes the mileage needed for its agreed transfer.
Will Native put a separate damage deposit on my card?
Its direct-rental policy states that there is no additional damage hold above the booked total at pickup. The USD 500 paid to secure the reservation goes towards the rental balance. Neither arrangement removes responsibility for damage under the rental agreement.
Can I collect a Native campervan without a staffed handover?
The contactless process uses online preparation, a lockbox key code and van-specific digital instructions. Remote phone and video help support that process. Contactless collection does not mean unrestricted arrival hours: use the collection time agreed for the booking.
Does Native allow campervans at Burning Man?
Only with prior consent and the separate USD 2,000 event charge. Taking a van there without permission carries a charge of at least USD 2,000; it is not an alternative way to obtain approval.
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