Looking for a New Side Gig? RV Rentals Can Make You Serious Cash

Meagan ButlerJuly 1, 2020

Looking for a New Side Gig? RV Rentals Can Make You Serious Cash

Now, more than ever, RVing is taking over as a preferred method of travel for people looking to explore areas within their own backyards. Over the last few years, RVing has become more than a way to drive from one point to another. RVing became a way of life for entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and other people who wanted to explore a life without boundaries.

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, some people started to see RVing as a safe alternative to other forms of travel. Instead of decreasing in popularity, the RV industry continues to boom. It’s no surprise that many RV owners have used this increased interest in RVing to their advantage, and turned their own rigs into an opportunity to start a small side business.

If you’ve ever considered using your RV for a rental, now might be the ideal time to research the ins and outs of starting your own RV rental business.

How much can you make renting your RV? Let’s find out.

Is the RV Rental Business a Good Business Opportunity for Me?

You might find yourself questioning whether the RV rental industry is something you’d like to try. Certainly, as with any side hustle, you should create a list of pros and cons for starting a new business venture and do your research to determine if owning an RV rental business is right for you.

Thankfully, the good people at Outdoorsy make it easy for potential owners to find the answers to their potential RV rental business questions. From researching how an RV rental business works to digging deeper into some of the frequently-asked questions, Outdoorsy aims to be the one-stop-shop for RV owners and RV renters who want to know a bit more about RV rentals. 

Why Do People Rent RVs Before They Buy an RV?

Renting an RV is a good way for people to try before they buy. Before you purchased your RV, did you join a Facebook group or another online community to help you decide whether or not the rig you intended to buy was the rig for you?

Did you ask these communities a thousand questions about how the rig functions and how the RV rates in relation to the other RVs on your want-to-buy list? Asking owners about their experiences is a great way to learn about RVing, but until you sit inside of the rig and take it out for an overnight trip, you might never know if that is the right rig for you. 

It’s common for people in the RV community to be owners of more than one RV, and it’s equally as common for people to trade their RVs in for a different model after using their rig for a short time. Why? What we thought might work perfectly on paper doesn’t always work out to be the best fit in reality. The bed configuration might be too tight, or the need for a regular bath instead of a wet bath might be too great. Finding something less than desirable with a bed or a bathroom setup are common reasons why people trade their RVs sooner than expected.

Renting the RVs, mainly those you hope to one day buy, is the perfect way to determine which rig is the best rig for you. RV rentals take the guesswork out of a potential purchase, and rentals make it easy to try more than one kind of RV.

Since companies like Outdoorsy cater to almost every RV style, it’s easier than you think to find the type of RV you hope to try out, almost anywhere in the country. Plus, when you travel in an Outdoorsy rental, you don’t need to worry about looking like a renter inside of your campground since no large banners drape the sides of the RVs, creating a calling card for renters. Renters can settle into their campsites for the night and blend in with the other campers in the campground. 

In reality, an RV rental business benefits the renter just as much as the owner, so it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

How Much Money Can I Make Renting My RV?

Putting yourself in the renter’s shoes makes it easy to determine why someone would want to rent your RV if you started an RV rental business. The interest to rent your RV is definitely out there, and maybe you own one of the RVs that people want to try out the most. If people stop you at gas stations, stores, or come to ask you about your rig at the campground, you know your RV might top the list of people’s most-wanted trailers, motorhomes, campervans, or pop-ups. 

So, what are you waiting for? Why not see what other owners say about Outdoorsy, and then check a few boxes to see how much you can make with an RV rental business? The results may surprise you!

Meagan Butler is a freelance creative content writer and editor and an advocate for solo female RVing. Meg is based out of the Denver area and travels in her Airstream Basecamp with her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Teddy and Pippa. When she's not adventuring, she's spending time with her husband and writing for her RV blog, Her Fine Mess.


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