Is Renting out Your RV Really Profitable? (My Personal Experience)

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You may be skeptical that renting out your RV is profitable. In the right situation renting out your RV can be worth it. However, you need to make sure to avoid common pitfalls of the RV rental business… which don’t worry I will get to here. To get an idea of how much you can actually make I talk about our personal experience and dip into the expertise of over 40,000 other RV owners.

Let’s get started.  So, Is renting out your RV profitable?

You make between $1000 and $3500 a month renting out your RV in the camping season.   Many owners pay off their rigs in an average of three years. The rest is profit after that.

My family loves taking trips in our RV travel trailer. The freedom and flexibility it offers are second-to-none, especially with a large family like ours. The memories we have of past trips and our dreams for future trips truly keep us inspired.

So, I decided to try renting out our travel trailer on Outdoorsy and RVezy.  Since then, I have learned so much about the RV rental business. 

I am an active member of a huge RV owners’ group online. With over 11,000 members, it is a robust source of support and education. It was there that I learned how to run the most profitable RV rental business and avoid the downfalls. 

What are the most profitable RVs to rent out?

Camper vans, Class C motorhomes, and small to medium-sized travel trailers that are 2 to 10 years old make the most money.

My 35-foot bunkhouse travel trailer sleeps nine. I purchased it for $14,000 and it rents for $125 a night from early spring to late fall. On average, I have bookings for 10-20 days per month. I can tell you – that an extra $1,250 to $2,500 every month is always welcome. 

I have heard from many other RV owners that they enjoyed the easy income potential of renting their RV so much that they added two or three new rigs to their fleet!

In fact, we gathered information from RV owners renting on the peer-to-peer network Outdoorsy and RVezy to find out how much you could make with each type of RV.  In addition, I interviewed RVezy to get the best tips for making the most money renting out your RV. 

Are you ready to get started? Stick with us for information about the most profitable RVs to rent out, the average income you can expect, and some pitfalls of renting out your personal RV. And of course, we’ll answer the biggest question you may have about renting out your RV – how and where to list it.

What is the Most Profitable RV To Rent Out?

A 20 – 30 foot Class C motorhome or travel trailer that sleeps 4 to 8 people, is in excellent condition and 5 to 10 years old is the most lucrative RV rental for you as an owner. A camper that is a couple of years old has already lost value due to depreciation but still has low maintenance costs. 

Having a type and style of RV that is in demand will make your new business profitable very quickly. Just by chance, my travel trailer happened to be very popular. The nice amenities, the bunkhouse in the back, and the separate room are features that many renters seek. 

Here are the best RVs that will rent out all summer long.

Class C Motorhome

Class C motorhomes are the basic RV that you think about when renting an RV. Average length, 25 – 30 foot Class C motorhomes rent extremely well. The size is short enough to maneuver and fit in many campsites but large enough for a family to be very comfortable.

Campervans

Camper vans are in high demand because they are built on a van chassis and are by far the easiest RV to drive. These are perfect for couples and small families that want flexibility during their road trips.

Camper vans are also quite popular due to their coolness factor. People are just excited to experience #VanLife!

Small or Mini Travel Trailers

Small R-Pods, pop-ups, and other lightweight towable travel trailers are all the rage. Since the small RVs can be towed with an SUV or light truck, they are highly desirable. People also like that they can have and use their own vehicle for side trips once they arrive at the campsite.

The benefit to you, the owner, of renting out a travel trailer is that there is no vehicle maintenance and no depreciation due to mileage. They are also much cheaper to purchase. You can buy a travel trailer at a fraction of the cost of a motorhome but still rent it out for over $100 a night.

Of course, the downside is the risk of an inexperienced driver towing your vehicle. You can avoid this issue by offering delivery and set up (and make extra money in the process!)

Bunkhouse Travel Trailers

Larger travel trailers are rented frequently by families and groups that want to camp together. The lighter travel trailers that can be towed by a half-ton truck will rent the best. However, I can say that my 35-foot travel trailer requires more than a half-ton truck, it is still quite popular.

For people who rent out a large camper, an additional service you might consider offering is delivery to the campsite. I have received requests to deliver all over the state of Colorado.

These RVs Should Never Be Used as Rentals

There are some types of RVs that make poor rentals. This can be due to a high purchase price vs low-income potential or to a greater potential for damage. After connecting with thousands of RV business owners and getting input on the best and worst RV rentals, here is what I’ve learned about RVs to avoid if you plan to do rentals.

Expandable RVs and Travel Trailers with Canvas Sides

Travel trailers that expand with canvas sides are popular rentals. However, the canvas is very expensive to repair when damaged. The units are relatively cheap to buy but the maintenance could be very high.

I regularly see folks ask on the RV forum if they should add a pop-up to their RV fleet – and the answer is always a resounding no.

New Luxurious Motorhomes

A brand new motorhome depreciates quickly due to mileage. Although some people will be willing to pay a premium to take a vacation in a luxurious motorhome, this will not be a popular model. People who don’t regularly drive an RV don’t usually want to practice on one that’s quite so pricey.

Old Motorhomes

People generally want to rent the nicest thing they can afford and an older motorhome with a broken and worn-out interior will get negative reviews. In fact, some RV rental platforms only insure RVs up to 10 years old.  On Outdoorsy, If your RV is older than 10 years, you must secure your own commercial insurance. RVezy adds an additional layer of screening for RVs older than 20 years.  

Where to List Your RV for Rent

The easiest way to get started in the RV rental business is to list your RV on a sharing economy website.   I have experience using Outdoorsy, RVShare, and RVEzy.   All are free to list your RV and you do not have to commit to renting to anyone you do not approve.  So I keep an active listing on all 3 platforms.

Related Content:  How to Make Money Renting Out your RV (The Smart Way)

I suggest listing on either RVEzy or Outdoorsy first to get set up.  Download our swipe file here for instructions on getting your listing up quickly so you can start bringing in customers.

I have found that Outdoorsy is the best and easiest site to use for my RV rental business.   You will get a welcome package and can schedule a coaching session with them.

Outdoorsy

I like Outdoorsy because it is super intuitive to use and you don’t have to commit to a big business venture. You could try renting out your RV once and see how it goes. This is how I got started, and how I became convinced that the effort of renting out my RV is totally worth the reward.

• Listings are free; you pay a 15% commission to the site when your vehicle is rented.
• Liability insurance with Liberty Mutual for up to $1 million is automatically provided on rentals (but vehicles must be less than 10 years old).
• Every renter must pass a driving history check.
• You always get the final say on who rents your RV.
• Payments are deposited directly into your bank account within 24-48 hours after your rig leaves your driveway.
• New owner training and personal business coach available

RVEzy

RVEzy is by far the best if you are in Canada and is quickly gaining popularity in the US.  They make the process as easy as possible and have in-house customer service and insurance.  So, when you call for help, you get a real live person, sitting in an office in Canada, complete with a Canadian accent.

• Listings are free; you pay a 20% commission fee to the site when your RV is rented.
• In-house insurance up to $1 million is required to be paid for by the renter
• Every renter must pass a driving history check.
• You can interview and choose which renters to accept
• Payments are deposited directly into your bank account. 50% after departure and 50% after the RV is returned to you. 
• New owner training and welcome package.  They will even notice and call to help you if your rig is underperforming.

See how much you will make with their income calculator on RVezy here.

Let us help you get up and running the easy way.  Bookmark our Ultimate Guide to Getting Started Renting out Your RV (the smart way).

More Tips for Making the Most Money Renting Out Your RV

Use Eye-catching Pictures

The profile picture of your RV listing should be shot somewhere scenic that the renter can imagine themselves camping and having a great time. Many people use a picture of their own family at a campground to add that personal touch. A great picture can be inspiring. 

But because potential renters are also looking to inspect the merchandise, it’s helpful to include the entire outside of your camper in the image. Then, add additional pictures of your RV from the inside to highlight all of the listed features.

Use an Enticing Description

A picture is worth a thousand words, but the words in your listing are what close the deal after the pictures hook a potential customer. Aim for a description that is interesting and unique yet also includes all of the amenities and features of your RV. This will help to catch people’s attention. Your description should allow them to see themselves having a great time on their vacation. 

To help you get started with your description, you can download our free swipe file here. Simply make a copy of this file and fill in the blanks, then upload it to your rental profile.

Offer Delivery and Set Up

Delivery and setup is a great service to offer because many people want the exciting experience of camping without all of the work. When I first listed my trailer for rent, I had 10 requests for delivery within the first month.

If you’re willing to put in the time and effort to deliver and set up your RV, you will get more renters, earn more money, and reduce the risk of an inexperienced driver damaging your camper.

Many people charge a flat delivery fee of $50-$100 within 25 to 100 miles. You could also charge by the mile at a rate of $1 to $3 a mile.  

One tip that Matt at RVEzy gave me about delivery is to make sure that the commercial insurance covers your delivering the trailer.  Your personal insurance may not cover your RV if you are delivering it for a rental purpose.   RVezy insurance will cover you the owner, during delivery in case you were to get in an accident. 

These are only a few of my top tips for renting out your RV. I have also written a comprehensive list of tips and tricks for making the most money renting out your RV, which you can read here.

Final Thoughts on Whether an RV Rental Business Is Profitable

An RV rental business is lucrative, and starting one is quick and easy. I have found this to be a much better side hustle than flipping campers. 

If you are looking for an RV for sale or already own one, renting it out can help you make your payments and even bring in some extra income. Most people earn between $1000 and $3000 a month in peak season. I have been able to make at least $1500 a month on an older travel trailer.

RV Rental Is a Business That Can Grow

Signing up on Outdoorsy and listing your RV there is the quickest and easiest way to get started – and to keep growing. When you use a reputable listing service for your RV rental business profit comes securely and predictably.

RVEzy is the next place you should list your RV. They are so beginner-friendly they will help you through the entire process. They will even notice if your RV is not getting enough bookings and a coach will reach out to your personally. Sign up with RVezy here.

Some people find that renting out their personal RV is so profitable that they decide to add one or two more RVs to their fleet. The business is easily scalable and doesn’t require an expensive storefront to run. You just have to have the space to park your RV when it’s home!

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