Is Renting Your RV a Good Idea?

RVing is a growing industry, with people of all ages eagerly buying new RVs with cross-country road trips in mind. Nothing is better than traveling long distances and experiencing new adventures in your home away from home. Despite all the advantages, many RVs are left uninhabited most of the year. This is why renting your RV has become a popular topic in the RV community.

RVs spend months at a time without use. In fact, studies show most RV owners camp only twenty days a year. Additionally, RV industry statistics estimate that only 1.5% of all RVs are occupied by full-time RVers. As an RV owner, renting your RV could be a great way to turn your idle home into a revenue generator. However, it’s good to review the pros and cons before taking the plunge.

Renting Your RV – Pros, Cons and Tips

The RV rental industry has been trending upward for the past decade, generating $356.2 million in 2022 alone. With that said, you can definitely make money through renting your RV. At the time of writing this, RVezy.com estimates owners can make up to $1,500 on motorhomes and $800 on travel trailers a week renting. However, depending on your goals and expectations, renting could be more trouble for you than it’s worth. Check out the Pros and Cons of renting out your RV.

Pros of Renting Your RV

• Make Extra Money – Making money is usually the top reason why people choose to rent out their RVs. Who doesn’t want a little extra cash in their pocket? Also, rental fees could assist you with paying for things like RV insurance, maintenance, and even the RV itself!
• Save on Storage Costs – With your RV out on the road, you not only make money on the rental but also save money as you don’t have to pay storage fees when your RV is unused. If you keep your RV on your property, then you clear out some space in your yard or driveway when you rent.
• Share the RV Life – Each time your RV is rented, it gives people the chance to experience the RV lifestyle. Some of those who rent from you may not be able to afford an RV outright or just want to test the waters of RVing for themselves. Renting your RV helps people accomplish both goals and vacation in a new exciting way!
• Peace of Mind – When renting through large RV sharing services like Outdoorsy, you have the power to choose when you rent your RV and who you rent it to. These rental websites yield RV owners detailed renter profiles to ensure you are handing the keys to the right people.

• Worrying – For some owners, the thought of letting strangers rent their RV may cause too much anxiety. In which case, it may not be worth the money due to the stress of thinking about all the “what ifs.”
• Upkeep – Renting your camper can be work. Even if you list your unit on an RV rental website with success, you still need to have a system to do inspections, pass over keys, and clean in between renters.

How to Rent Your RV with Less Risk

When renting your RV out, try to avoid renting directly to friends and neighbors. Also avoid generalized online classifieds sites like Craigslist. What happens if one of these people damages your RV in an accident and harms themselves or other people? To lower risk and grant you more peace of mind, it’s best to use a recognized RV rental program.

Advantages to Using RV Rental Programs

RV rental programs or RV sharing websites are a great way to quickly list your RV and get access to thousands of people looking to rent RVs. Additionally, these websites can provide insurance, assist in disputes, qualify customers with detailed profiles, and handle payments. These services save time and money on tasks like managing disputes and advertising to attract renters. Outdoorsy, RVshare, Airbnb, Turo, and RVUSA are just a few websites that help owners rent their RVs.

How to List Your RV for Rent

Listing your RV for rent doesn’t stop with just posting a price with the make, year, and model. The more information you provide in your listing, the more it will attract potential renters. A great RV rental listing includes:

• Quality photos – Upload photos that show the complete exterior and showcase your RV’s best features like the kitchen, bathrooms, and sleeping areas.
• A catchy title – For the title of your listings, use keywords that will get your audience’s attention or what makes your RV unique. For example, using phrases like “pet friendly,” “two bathrooms,” or “sleeps 6 to 8” may grab the attention of a larger family with pets.
• An impactful description – The description of your listing is where you can expand on all your RV’s features and assets that make it unique. Additionally, you may want to mention extras that you included like cookware, towels, toiletries, coffee, outdoor furniture, or items like card games.

Should You Rent Your RV?

Renting your RV can be a rewarding and lucrative business for an RV owner. You can limit your risks by using RV rental programs online which can screen applicants, advertise your unit, and deal with most transactional items between you and potential renters.

Additionally, you may want to fix up your RV to look better on listings or reupholster your RV furniture if damaged.  At Bradd and Hall, we offer quality RV furniture for sale and RV interior remodeling services. We have a host of RV sofas, recliners, tables, dinettes and motorhome captain’s chairs at our family-owned business in Elkhart, Indiana. Contact us for more information about our RV products and services.