Running an RV rental is no “get rich quick” scheme. It takes hard work, and building a solid business takes time. That said, there’s no reason a person can’t experience some level of success immediately. In fact, many people even get rental requests immediately after listing on Outdoorsy! That is exactly what happened to owner John Rutledge.
“I got the van to camp, travel, and take vacations without having to pay for a hotel, and to have the luxury to stop anywhere I feel like to sleep,” John tells us. “I always loved the look and functionality of smaller motorhomes, especially campervans. They have everything a house does but shrunk down into a tiny package, making driving and choosing a campground a breeze. There’s basically nowhere you can’t take it!”
There’s another advantage of campervans, which is that these tiny motorhomes tend to rent really well — something Rutledge considered going in. “I planned to rent it before I purchased it,” he shares. “I’m always dreaming of different ways to make money, and with RVing and the ‘van life’ scene getting more and more popular — especially with younger people — I knew there would be a demand for it.”
“After listing it on Outdoorsy, I quickly saw that I was right,” continues Rutledge. “I had a booking request within 5 minutes of me listing it. So far, it is booked until the end of August, and I’ve made $2,560 from two bookings in one month.”
Over $2,500 made in a single month of renting is amazing, and John is pretty confident his business will continue to grow. In fact, he’s even invested a bit of money in that growth. “I recently purchased a 5th wheel trailer that I will be renting out as well in the future,” he says.
His hopes for this new fifth wheel and his campervan? “I hope my RVs can bring people closer together while experiencing new places and the great outdoors.”
All About John
Favorite morning beverage: “Iced latte”
Favorite campsite meal: “Homemade street tacos”
Music you like to play on the radio: “Country”
Best game to play on the road or at your campsite: “Any card game”
Favorite season: “Fall”
Last photo you took: “Of my vehicle”
What’s your Outdoorsy spirit animal? “Dog! I’m a dog lover.”
If you could travel anywhere in an RV, where would you go? “Up the coast of California into Oregon, or down to Key West, Florida”
