Eddie and Michelle Brown might be retired, but that doesn’t mean they’re done living or having adventures. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that the couple decided to buy an RV to go adventuring with their loved ones. “We decided to buy our first RV to join our family members on vacations,” Eddie tells us. “It’s common for the entire family to go camping together. Usually, we will reserve five spots at a campground for the family.”
Unfortunately, that first RV didn’t quite suit their needs. “We started off with a small 16-foot travel trailer, and learned quickly it wasn’t big enough for us,” Eddie explains. “We then traded into our class C motorhome. We love our motorhome but felt trapped, as we didn’t tow a drive-around vehicle with it. In 2020 we decided we wanted to trade the motorhome in, and quickly found out that we were upside-down on it and couldn’t afford the down payment the dealership wanted.”
The couple knew they couldn’t hold onto the motorhome and buy the fifth wheel they wanted, so they found a solution. “We chose to rent our motorhome out of necessity,” says Eddie. “2020 was a rough year, as we had the motorhome we were upside down on and we had also purchased our personal fifth wheel. We needed to sell or rent. We chose to rent, and are extremely happy that we did.”
Once the Browns listed their RV on Outdoorsy, things took off quickly. “We had our first rental within a few hours of our listing going live,” Eddie shares. “At this point, we’ve made roughly $40K.”
Clearly, Eddie and Michelle have had more than enough success to make keeping their class C worthwhile. Not only that, but they’ve also met a lot of awesome people in the process. “We have met so many fabulous families and wonderful people from all walks of life,” Eddie tells us. “We believe this is our favorite part, as so many share their stories and pictures with us. It warms our hearts to see others enjoying the RV culture as much as we do.
“There are so many favorite rental experiences,” he continues. “A mother with two children taking off during the height of COVID-19 and traversing through North Carolina—she worked from each camping spot, home-schooled, and enjoyed the trip. Families getting back together for the first time during the pandemic. A family from Argentina rented, and we still stay in contact.”
We’re guessing their love for meeting new people is probably one reason the Browns have seen so much success. Other contributing factors? “We use professional cleaners to clean our camper after each rental,” says Eddie. “They use an electrostatic cleaning method where they electrically charge the solution so that it wraps around anything it’s sprayed on, not just the front-facing surface. During the height of COVID in 2020, this was a great selling point and an assurance to our guests (and ourselves) for safety reasons. We are also pet-friendly—without a pet fee—and provide many amenities that others in our market do not.”
Eddie’s advice for those looking for success in the RV rental market? “Once you decide to rent, your RV isn’t your baby any longer. It’s an asset. Be proactive and available for your renters by providing thorough training and documentation to prevent usage damage.”
All about Eddie and Michelle
Favorite morning beverage: “Coffee.”
Favorite campsite meal: “Steaks and twice-baked potatoes.”
Music you like to play on the radio: “Anything, we love all genres.”
Best game to play on the road or at your campsite: “Corn hole.”
Favorite season: “Spring and summer.”
If you could travel anywhere in an RV, where would you go? “Cross-country is on our bucket list.
