For Outdoorsy owner Ken Munoz, the best thing about the RV rental business is making new connections. “Every time we rent one of our units, and the kids return with smiley faces and tons of stories, we feel full of joy and happiness,” Ken tells us.
Oddly enough, Ken’s business was actually started because he saw a need for people to get away while staying away from one another. “When we bought our first unit, we did it for personal use,” he says. “A business opportunity arose within the difficult situation that we all experienced during the COVID pandemic. During that time, many people preferred to be in open places and gathered only as a family. Camping is perfect for maintaining social distancing and protecting your mental health by staying active with activities.”
“Right after we started renting out The Happy Pill, we knew we made the right decision,” Ken shares. “RVs aren’t cheap, but we offered an alternative for families that cannot buy an RV at the moment: renting one of our units.”
In just one camping season, Munoz reached his goal of making more than $65K in gross revenue. Obviously, most of this was made during a time when social distancing was still important. Nevertheless, Ken managed to meet plenty of new people from all walks of life.
“I have met many people who have used our RV for different things,” he recalls. “Some were transporting immuno-compromised people from one state to another during the pandemic. Others were professional drivers who participated in track events and won prizes or auto racing fans who stayed on the track grounds, so they didn’t miss the events. We’ve even had families who have traveled to bring the ashes of loved ones to their hometown.
“We are glad to have met many renters who have used the RV to celebrate a special occasion or simply spend quality time with their family.”
Another place Ken has met some incredible people? The Outdoorsy Owners Group on Facebook! “There, we have found information and tips from other owners on how to solve any mechanical problems of our units,” Ken explains. “By contacting other owners, we have been able to resolve situations for our renters when they are out-of-state.”
Munoz went on to share an example: “This past December, I had a renter on a trip from Florida to Phoenix, AZ. They were having electrical issues on day three of a 12-day trip. I posted on the Outdoorsy Owners Facebook group, and Mark Gorman from otmrentals.com answered. He went above and beyond to figure out the problem and even gave advice during the process.”
Recently, Ken had another fantastic opportunity to make some new friends through his rental business. “I had the pleasure of partnering with Outdoorsy and a journalist with the purpose of writing an article about Outdoorsy and Harvest Hosts. We feel very flattered to have been part of that experience and are excited to see the final article published in USA Today.”
Clearly, renting RVs has been a very rewarding experience, and Ken has no plan of stopping anytime soon. His hope for his growing business? “I hope my RV brings my renters happiness, new experiences, family togetherness, fun, and memories that last a lifetime. For me, it’s a way to share something that I am passionate about with others, and maybe inspire them to have a hobby like camping that helps them release stress and feel as free as I feel when I’m in my own RV.”
All About Ken
Favorite morning beverage: “Café oro (Puerto Rican coffee).”
Favorite campsite meal: “Campfire steak and potatoes foil pack.”
Music you like to play on the radio: “Salsa (Tito Rojas, Hector Lavoe, etc.).”
Best game to play on the road or at your campsite: “Dominoes.”
Favorite season: “Winter.”
Last photo you took: “Seaside Airstream Food Trucks.”
If you could travel anywhere in an RV, where would you go? “I would stay around Nashville, Chattanooga, and Gatlinburg, TN.”
