The RV Vacation Rental Roadmap for Hosts

Not using your RV rental as much as you thought you would? Yet, you’re not ready to part ways?

Selling isn’t the only way to recoup the money you spent on an RV that you hardly use yourself. Vacation rental platforms like Airbnb are making it much easier for RV owners to maximize this asset through RV rentals.

Renting out your RV becomes even more attractive, if you’re already located in a popular scenic location. North America, in particular, boasts many great destinations for RV rentals with Texas and California leading the way. However, RV rentals are also gaining traction in many other cities across the globe, with RV parks becoming increasingly popular spots for setting up.

What’s an RV Vacation Rental?

RV vacation rentals, also known as camper van rentals, motorhome rentals, or sometimes by its proper name recreational vehicle, offer temporary lodging to travelers. They are a perfect option for those looking for the perfect RV rental for their next road trip.

While Airbnb allows hosts to list a recreational vehicle, it may only be used for lodging purposes. This means that it may not be used by guests to hit the open road.

As such, you’ll need to ensure that the RV is “semi-permanently attached to a set location”. This location should be on a space that’s privately owned, ensuring that your travel trailer is ready for guests, without the option of parking in an RV park or national park.

On Airbnb, it falls into the Campers category. From caravans dating back the laid-back 70s to iconic American Airstreams to vintage campers given a second life as a second home to travelers, there are many styles and sizes on offer for those seeking the ideal travel trailer or RV rental.

Understanding the Earning Potential

RVs are mostly rented out by hosts to create an extra stream of income through RV rentals. There are several factors that will impact the nightly rate that you can charge for your travel trailer or RV rental. Location, amenities, and season being three of the major ones.

In the USA, RV rentals are more popular from May till October when it’s summer and guests can enjoy the scenic surroundings on their road trips. Then, you’ll also need to distinguish between weekday and weekend bookings, as well as plan around events which can bump up the price during these six months even further.

To give you an idea of what you can potentially earn, the nightly rate for rentals in the Camping category for the first week of May is anything from about $80 to over $300 per night.

For example, you can get an RV in Tulsa, Oklahoma that has only one bedroom and one bathroom with a 4.86 rating for less than $100 per night. 

However, an RV in Williams, Arizona with more or less the same rating that can accommodate up to six guests can charge over $300 per night. 

Why RV Owners Are Renting Out Their Vehicles

Aside from the ability to make more money on the side, RV rentals offer a number of other benefits such as covering ownership costs. Like traditional types of property investments, owning an RV also comes with a set of regular expenses. Insurance, including comprehensive and collision coverage, and maintenance are two of the big running costs to keep your RV running properly and safely for every RV trip.

While guests won’t be allowed to take your RV for an actual road trip, you’ll still need to keep it insured for those times that you want to use it for a personal road trip. In addition to the appropriate motor vehicle insurance, you’ll also need to take out third-party vacation rental insurance as you’ll essentially be operating it as one. Cruise America offers roadside assistance, which is an essential service to consider for ensuring the safety and convenience of both the RV owner and the renters during their stay.

Ownership costs are covered

Like traditional types of property investments, owning an RV also comes with a set of regular expenses. Insurance and maintenance are two of the big running costs to keep your RV running properly and safely. 

While guests won’t be allowed to take your RV for an actual trip, you’ll still need to keep it insured for those times that you want to use it for a personal road trip. In addition to the appropriate motor vehicle insurance, you’ll also need to take out third-party vacation rental insurance as you’ll essentially be operating it as one. 

Then, there are also other potential hidden fees like storage. 

Depending on how often you rent out your RV and the nightly fee you can afford to charge, your profit can be used to cover the gas for your next vacation in your own RV. 

Alternatively, you can reinvest the money into your RV by upgrading its current features and/or adding new amenities. In return, you’ll be able to increase your nightly rate, making this a smart strategy.   

Freedom to use your RV as you please

One of the major benefits of listing your RV rental on a platform like Airbnb is that you still have the option of using it for personal use. You simply block off the dates on the calendar during which your RV won’t be available. 

That said, while you have the freedom to use your RV during peak season, from a financial point of view, it’s best to restrict your trips to the slower season. 

Preparing Your RV for Renters

Your idea of the RV life might be a bit more rough and tumble than what guests typically expect. Not only should everything be in working condition, but you should also ensure that you have all the amenities for a comfortable stay.

Start with a good deep clean. You can start with the interior and move your way to the exterior. All the carpets, upholstery, and cabinets must be cleaned. 

While you’re at it, double-check that there are no personal items in your RV. Things like family photos or a travel journal detailing your own adventure will make guests feel as if they’re intruding on your space. Instead, you can add a painting of one of the landmarks in your destination or an official travel guide, for example. 

In addition to cleaning these high-touch surfaces, check that all the appliances work. Needless to say, these must also be clean. However, first check that they work otherwise you might clean unnecessarily. 

After the interior is guest-ready, turn your attention to the exterior. While Airbnb guests won’t be allowed to drive it, the RV should still be roadworthy. Plus, worn tires and broken tail lights create a bad first impression. 

Considering that your guests will spend a great amount of time outside, pay special attention to the exterior of your RV as well as the surrounding area. There should be areas that are easy to explore by foot. For those who want to soak in the views from the comfort of a chair, ensure that there’s enough shade. It could be as easy as adding an awning or an outdoor umbrella. 

As for amenities, seriously consider investing in air conditioning. The only hotspot your RV should have is the one that connects them to Wi-Fi. Sure, your typical RV guest will most likely look for a place to unplug and disconnect, but Wi-Fi is essential for communication. Rather ensure that you have reliable Wi-Fi. Your guests can always choose not to use it.