Ever dream of hitting the open road in your own RV but stop short when you think about the price tag? That’s exactly where my husband and I found ourselves a few years ago. We wanted the freedom and adventure of RV travel, but couldn’t ignore the costs of purchasing and ownership when looking at the options above and beyond the more affordable RV options.
The solution? We decided to rent out our RV when we weren’t using it — and it’s completely changed the math on RV life for us. Not only has this strategy made RVing attainable, but it’s also allowed us to take more trips and enjoy a rig that truly fits our lifestyle. Of course, there are lots of affordable RV options, but our must-haves did not align with some of these more affordable options, which is why renting out our RV allowed us to dive into the RV life while not going over our budget.
Here’s our story, plus some tips if you’re curious about making RV life more attainable and affordable for you, too.
From Dream to Driveway
Like so many others, our RV dreams started small: scrolling through RV life social media posts and imagining a cozy little camper of our own. While we initially considered a small towable, we quickly became enamored with the idea of a larger Class C motorhome because it's compact, easy to drive, and often more affordable than other drivable RV types. And while financing made the purchase possible, what really sealed the deal was knowing we could offset the costs by renting it to other adventurers.
Turning RV Ownership Into a Side Hustle
Renting out our RV wasn’t something we had ever considered at first, but once we started doing the math, we realized it was the key to upgrading our RV dreams.
Here’s how to rent out your RV successfully:
- List on Multiple Platforms (or Privately)
There are three main RV rental platforms:
- Outdoorsy
- RVshare
- RVezy
The beauty of renting through one of these platforms is that guests are required to purchase insurance policies to cover their trip and your rig. Plus, they do all the marketing for you, provide a safe way to communicate with guests, and handle payments.
My advice when you're just getting started is to list on all three platforms above. More visibility = more bookings.
-
Create a Standout Listing
High-quality, welcoming photos and a detailed description are everything. I spent hours making sure potential renters could see themselves adventuring in our RV. Want to really stand out? Make sure your listing answers questions before people even ask them. This will save you time responding to inquiries and increase bookings. Another great tip is to give your RV a unique listing title to spark curiosity when renters are browsing units.
-
Set Competitive Pricing
In the beginning, it's a good idea to set pricing on the lower side to ensure bookings and start getting reviews. Do some market research to see what similar rigs are going for in your area, and price slightly below that. Pricing too low, and your RV might seem undesirable. Pricing too high and you'll filter out those with a modest or mid-range budget. Once you've had happy renters and five-star feedback, you can easily adjust your rates to better match the value of what you have to offer.
-
Build Systems for Guests
To reduce late-night phone calls, take the effort up front to put together a step-by-step how-to binder and even film short videos showing how to hook up and break down the RV. Guests feel more confident, and you stress less.
Sending these instructions to guests ahead of time also makes the hand-off process a whole lot smoother, and guests can come prepared with questions.
-
Protect Your Time
Block out at least 48 hours between rentals to allow time for cleaning, maintenance, and prep. This helps keep everything in top shape for renters and for your own personal trips.
What We’ve Learned Along the Way
Renting out your RV isn’t “passive income” — it takes work. But for us, it’s totally worth it. A few lessons we’ve learned that might help you, too:
- Maintenance and repairs. RVs have many of the features and appliances of a home, but on wheels, and wear-and-tear is part of the deal. Preventative maintenance is key, but you can't predict when something might break, regardless.
- Don’t take it personally. Guests mean well, but mistakes happen. Having insurance coverage through the rental platforms provides peace of mind.
- Location, location, location. We live in southern Maine (Vacationland), where demand is high thanks to Acadia National Park, Portland, and the beaches and coast. But even if you’re not in a tourist hotspot, people are always looking for RVs near airports, state parks, or just to visit family.
- Communication is everything. Clear instructions and quick responses go a long way toward keeping guests happy. More communication is always better.
The Financial Impact: Real Numbers
Let’s talk money, because that’s what makes this strategy so powerful.
- Purchase Price of Our First RV: $35,000 (with $8,000 down, financed the rest)
- Monthly Payment: $561 (5-year loan)
- First-Year Rental Revenue: $9,887
- Maintenance & Misc. Costs: $4,138 (this might seem high, but keep in mind we purchased an older RV that needed some love before we could rent it out)
- Profit After Costs: $5,748
That’s nearly $6,000 in one year that went straight toward paying down our loan. We were several months ahead on payments after only one season, all thanks to rentals.
With this extra income, we can afford to take more road trips and not feel guilty about our RV sitting unused in the driveway while we're home.
How Renting Makes RV Life Affordable
For us, renting out our RV has:
- Covered our loan payments and then some
- Allowed us to take more trips without money stress
- Made it possible to own a newer, more comfortable motorized RV than we originally thought we could afford
Your Turn: Could Renting Work for You?
If you’ve been dreaming of RV ownership but worried about the cost, renting out your RV might be the solution that makes it possible. With the right strategy and planning, you can enjoy your adventures and let your RV pay for itself when you’re not using it.
At the end of the day, RVing is about freedom — the freedom to explore new places, spend time with loved ones, and slow down in a way that traditional travel doesn’t allow. For us, renting out our RV has been the key to unlocking that freedom affordably.
So, if you’re on the fence, here’s my advice: start researching, run the numbers, and see if this strategy could turn your RV dreams into reality.
Happy camping (and maybe even happy earning)!
Be sure to check out Go RVing’s additional FAQs on renting your RV.
