For the previous six years, my husband and I’ve RVed all around the nation. We’ve additionally owned 4 completely different RVs in that point. However, I can truthfully say that we’ve by no means thought-about renting any of these RVs out…till not too long ago.
We had heard about different RVers who have been making extra cash on their campers whereas they weren’t utilizing them by renting them out. Whereas we thought it was an excellent thought, the primary cause we didn’t hire any of our RVs was as a result of we have been utilizing them a lot. In actual fact, we lived and traveled full-time in our first two RVs for over two years. Even after full-timing, we continued to spend extra months out of the yr on the highway than at residence, so our RVs not often sat in storage for for much longer than a pair weeks.
Not too long ago although, after beginning a household, we downsized to a journey trailer and now choose to get pleasure from taking shorter tenting journeys near residence when the Colorado climate permits. So after planning out our tenting adventures for this summer time and fall, we noticed a number of weeks on the calendar the place our camper would simply be sitting on our property.
We’ve made so many particular reminiscences all through our years of RVing and are at all times encouraging others to get on the market and journey as properly. Nevertheless, we all know that not everybody can justify the price of shopping for and proudly owning an RV in the event that they solely use it a few times a summer time. For these individuals, renting is a wonderful choice and we figured it will be a win-win for us to make some extra cash whereas permitting different individuals to expertise the enjoyment of RVing!
After all, we had our fears about renting out our camper. What if the renters destroy it? How will the insurance coverage work? Can you actually belief strangers to take excellent care of your camper?
In the end, we determined to present it a try to see the way it went. If we realized something throughout our time as full-time RVers, it was the worth of experiences and reminiscences over your belongings. We additionally realized that the majority issues that break on an RV could be simply repaired.
When you’re on the fence about renting your RV out, too, I hope sharing our expertise helps you make the precise determination for you.
We had heard of a number of rental platforms that help you checklist your RV and hire it out privately to individuals in your space. For our first expertise, we selected to checklist it solely on Good Sam’s new rental program at RVrentals.com. We’ve been Good Sam members and have used their insurance coverage for a number of years and knew we might belief them as a good firm within the RV business since 1966.
We additionally preferred that Good Sam solely takes a 5% fee charge, whereas different rental platforms I checked out have been unclear about their charges. Moreover, it gave us peace of thoughts to see that our RV could be coated with as much as $1 million in legal responsibility insurance coverage and that in addition they provide 24/7 roadside help.
The entire means of itemizing our camper on the web site solely took about an hour. In actual fact, I did it from my telephone whereas sitting on the sofa watching TV. When you’ve created an account and arrange your profile, the web site will information you thru the entire means of itemizing your RV. Under is a screenshot to point out you the eight steps which can be required.
You’ll see the useful be aware on the precise of the display that tells you what data to have available. That can definitely prevent time.
It was additionally useful for me to take a look at different comparable listings in my space to assist me decide what value I ought to checklist our camper at, the provides we should always present renters, and so forth. Crucial a part of your itemizing, although, is ensuring you are taking the time to create an in depth description and take high-quality photographs. Good Sam will provide ideas for this because it guides you thru these steps of the method.
The identical day our itemizing went dwell (it took about 24 hours for our itemizing to be authorized and printed), we obtained our very first reserving request! I used to be so shocked and excited that it occurred so quick.
I used to be in a position to evaluate our potential renter’s profile and message him straight immediately. We exchanged messages concerning his journey particulars and his expertise with towing. We then had the choice to both approve or decline the rental. After clicking approve, Good Sam started verifying the renter. It made us really feel so a lot better realizing that they examine identification and even require a telephone dialog with the renter earlier than permitting a reservation to be full.
Shortly after, I obtained the official affirmation that the rental was all set. I additionally appreciated that Good Sam emailed me reminders in regards to the rental and linked on to the varieties which can be required to be accomplished earlier than and after the rental. I by no means needed to fear if we have been forgetting one thing. They even ship textual content messages so that you gained’t miss the e-mail reminders in the event you aren’t nice about checking electronic mail.
Our first renter was taking the camper for a fast three-day weekend journey lower than an hour from our home, so it was the right trial rental for us. I selected to alternate cellphone numbers with him for simpler communication. This was particularly essential throughout the rental interval so he might attain us rapidly in case something got here up.
He picked up the camper from our home so we didn’t need to exit of our means in any respect. We simply made certain the camper was able to go earlier than he arrived. We stocked it with the objects we stated we’d present within the itemizing, resembling linens, kitchen objects, and so forth. (you select what you’re prepared to offer, if something). We additionally ensured it was very clear inside and outside, and checked to ensure the tanks have been empty and that the whole lot was working correctly.
We reviewed the required varieties forward of time to ensure we understood the method. As soon as the renter arrived for pickup, we walked him by means of the camper and confirmed him how the whole lot works.
We immediately felt our fears begin to disappear after assembly him. I feel it’s pure to have an irrational worry of who might present as much as hire your RV and also you mechanically create a picture of some scary particular person who’s going to trash it. However, he was only a pleasant man eager to take his spouse out tenting with some associates. It helped that he had owned a camper earlier than and had loads of expertise towing and working one.
I gained’t lie, it was a bit of unsettling watching him drive off with our little “residence on wheels”, as we name it. However, as soon as he was out of sight, it was out of our thoughts and we went about our weekend at residence hardly even excited about the camper and worrying about what might go fallacious. That’s what insurance coverage is for, proper?
It was such a aid when our camper was again in our possession in the identical situation it was left in. In actual fact, after we stepped inside, it seemed like they didn’t even use it! They’d cleaned up after themselves, regardless that we require an extra cleansing charge with every rental.
We walked by means of the camper with the renters and made certain the whole lot was working and in the identical situation that it was previous to the rental. They identified two minor issues they observed that wanted restore contained in the camper. A panel above the slide, which was solely there for ornamental functions, and a seal alongside the wall within the lavatory, have been each coming indifferent and wanted to be glued and nailed down. We have been in a position to simply make the repairs ourselves and appreciated the renters’ consideration to element.
As I discussed, we undoubtedly had our fears in renting our camper out. However total, it was an awesome first rental expertise. The renters had a good time and it actually felt good to see that they obtained to benefit from the camper versus it simply sitting idle. It was additionally superior to see nearly $400 in our checking account simply days later.
The entire rental solely required about two hours of our time. It took about an hour to speak and coordinate with the renter and do the walk-through earlier than and after the rental. Then it took about one other hour to scrub the unit, however you may definitely pay somebody to scrub it for you in the event you choose. So, it was undoubtedly price it from a time-for-money standpoint.
Fortunately, nothing went fallacious with the RV whereas it was of their possession, however even when it did, we might’ve been coated. Issues can go fallacious with the camper even when we use it so there actually isn’t any distinction.
Subsequently, the reply is…sure, it was price it, in our opinion!
We really have already got rented our camper out once more! A pair weeks later we acquired one other rental request and having such a superb expertise the primary time, we determined to strive it once more.
Our second rental expertise didn’t go fairly as easy, however not due to anybody’s fault. We acquired a textual content from the renters saying that not one of the camper’s electrical retailers have been working.
Sadly, their tenting journey was impacted by this electrical downside. And it required a little bit of day trip of our weekend to speak with them concerning the difficulty and making an attempt to troubleshoot it. We couldn’t repair {the electrical} subject for them in order that they needed to go with out energy for his or her journey.
We felt horrible in regards to the scenario, and whereas they’d an awesome perspective and made essentially the most of their tenting journey, we selected to supply them a partial refund for the inconvenience. We felt it was the precise factor to do, but it surely was by no means required by Good Sam. Issues can simply unexpectedly go fallacious and each events have to be prepared to be versatile and work collectively to resolve any points.
Fortunately {the electrical} points have been resolved inside a pair days by taking our camper into Tenting World’s service middle. Once more, it was no one’s fault, the facility was working high quality after which it wasn’t and that may merely simply occur once in a while.
If after studying our expertise, you are feeling able to checklist your RV for hire by means of Good Sam, listed below are a couple of ideas:
- Totally examine your unit earlier than a rental. In actual fact, examine it twice: properly upfront earlier than the rental to present your self loads of time to make any essential repairs and once more proper earlier than the renter picks up since you simply by no means know what points can come up. In our case, we might have by no means anticipated points with {the electrical} system. Whereas we checked the facility, we didn’t examine to make sure that each single outlet was working. We advise checking each single inch of your RV to keep away from having points come up throughout a rental.
- Do a follow walkthrough and take notes of the whole lot that’s essential to find out about your camper or RV earlier than your renter’s scheduled pick-up. That means you may then kind up and print out a paper copy of the whole lot you cowl. This can make sure that you don’t neglect to go over one thing and likewise provides the renter the flexibility to refer again to directions if wanted throughout their journey.
- Have very clear expectations together with your renters on find out how to deal with points that will come up. Ask the renter to not troubleshoot any points with the RV on their very own with out your consent. We didn’t essentially have this subject, however now that we’ve had an issue come up throughout a rental, we are going to now make it very clear with future renters that they should contact us instantly when an issue arises. It might cease small points from turning into huge ones!
- Present pick-up and drop-off home windows that work finest for you and your schedule earlier than approving a rental request. We discovered that it may be exhausting to coordinate, particularly throughout vacation weekends. It’s going to save everybody time and loads of backwards and forwards in the event you set the occasions upfront. Then it’s as much as the renter to make that point work.
- Block off a time period in your availability calendar between leases and if you plan to make use of your camper in case it’s good to do repairs. We had our electrical subject come up simply days earlier than we have been planning to go out on a tenting journey ourselves. We barely had sufficient time to get it repaired, however would have been bummed if we needed to miss our personal tenting adventures because of a difficulty from a rental. Give your self some flexibility to make sure you get to make use of your camper everytime you’d like otherwise you’ll doubtless find yourself resenting the rental course of.
When you’re contemplating itemizing your RV for hire, I’d encourage you to go for it! Simply bear in mind that you’re in full management of if you hire it and who you hire it to. In actual fact, here’s a direct quote from Good Sam’s rental web site:
“On the finish of the day, we would like homeowners to really feel comfy with whoever rents their RV. That’s why homeowners have the ultimate phrase on all rental agreements, together with who rents your RV. We encourage communication between the renter and proprietor throughout the reservation course of to ensure rental expectations are clear earlier than it’s time handy over the keys.”
You probably have extra questions or considerations about renting your RV, take a look at the useful FAQ’s that Good Sam has offered on the web site. Or in case you have feedback or questions concerning our experiences shared on this article, be happy to go away them under.
