Renting out RVs/Campers as STR...

[Reid Sealby]

Hello friends! 

While this isn't exactly "real estate," I wanted to see if anyone else is listing motorhomes/RVs/campers for rent on sites like Outdoorsy, and what your experiences have been. My boss rents out his Class A motorhome on Outdoorsy and nets ~$4000/mo near Salt Lake City. 

My follow-on question is how to conduct market research on demand for motorhome/RV/camper rentals. For Airbnb, there are sites like AirDNA to analyze market demand, occupancy, etc. Is there anything like this to help analyze potential demand for this kind of investment? 

We live in Denver, so we're very curious how this kind of strategy would work in a place where EVERYBODY camps, gets outdoors, travels, etc. Thank you!

[Mark Wurtemberg]

@Reid Sealby I have been renting out our RV since 2018 on Outdoorsy, RVshare and RVezy. It has been rented over 100 times. Overall, it is great. There have been a few claims and damages over the years, just like any rental would incur. (Hmmm. maybe more so because the RV is traveling down the road. :) ) Yet it has more than paid for itself and my family gets to use it. I even lend out at no charge to friends/family and offer at fundraiser, such as, school auctions, etc. It is, however, a huge depreciating asset, unlike real estate. 

The sites mentioned above have calculators to estimate the potential income. I have seen that over the years more and more owners are renting out their RVs. So the renters have more options. Thus slowing down my business a bit. 

@Mike Smith is correct. The orientation does take time. And overall, this is work. Though I have enlisted my kids to assist with the process.

I have a 20 year loan on the RV. Longer terms are available as this is considered a second home. My down payment was just $6000. Supplies cost around $1000. So my ROI is nice.

Please see my site below. And view my numbers for 2021.

www.outdoorsy.com/markwurtemberg