Hello Fellow RV Owners…
I’d love to introduce myself to all of you as “RVshare’s new Owner Expert.” My name is Dede Fulk out of Arizona’s “hot but it’s a dry heat” state.
My specialty is writing about tourism, health, wellness, and real estate. So in reality, RVing is all that. Escape in an RV to rejuvenate and refresh yourself, it’s real estate on wheels, and it’s a way to enjoy a vacation at breathtaking destinations in your “home away from home.” Every time you pack up and drive, you experience a new adventure.
But you all know that since you own an RV.
I hope my experience renting on the RVshare platform will enlighten you, guide you, and help those that already rent their RVs. And, for those of you who might be on the fence, well maybe this will ease your mind and get you more excited to make money with your RV. Perhaps you can relate to some of the stories that I’ll be featuring as the Owner Expert.
Introduction to RV Life
I can honestly say I’ve had almost every kind of RV…bumper pulls, toy haulers, 5th wheels, A-class, and C-class. We even designed one from scratch. Ok, so I left out B-class, we never had one of those. Now I can’t say owning all of these in eleven years is an investment strategy that I would recommend, but they all served a different purpose based on the things going on in my life at that time. One thing is for sure though, they can provide immense fun for the whole family.
I started RVing when I played at the California dunes riding in sand cars, quads, and driving my Can-Am. We’d navigate around the witch’s eyes, teeter on the edges of razer backs, and climb Competition hill. In the evenings we’d participate in the drag races, then come back to the RV campsite covered with sand in every crack and crevice. It was always nice to have that shower rather than driving to a hotel room. We loved roasting those fluffy white marshmallows over the campfire, watching it get all gooey in our fingers. There’s something about creating a bond with other RV owners and duners that I will always cherish.
Then Keith, my husband, and my stepson entertained motorcycle racing throughout Arizona. I wasn’t going to be left behind. But 48-degree weather in a tent didn’t cut it. I wanted, no, I needed luxury. That’s when we went from a bumper pull to a 5th wheel to an A-Class. It was the true meaning of glamping.
Should I Rent Out My RV?
Everyone has their reasons for renting their RV. It boils down typically to money and time. Many people love their RVs but don’t use them nearly as much as they thought they would. People rent it as a hobby or turn it into a business. For us, we got busy doing other things and didn’t use it enough. We liked the idea of other people making our monthly payments but still using the RV when we wanted it.
We heard from a fellow RVer about his positive experience renting his RV. It was extra money in his pocket. It was a no-brainer. We wanted to rent it and make that kind of money.
Within two weeks of advertising on RVshare, we had our first booking. The idea of seeing “my baby” go off into the wild blue yonder definitely brought a tear to my eyes. You hope people will enjoy it and create stories they can share with others. And…you hope it comes back in one piece.
Dede Fulk
Our experience with renting our A-class and all the different types of people that we’ve met has been nothing short of a story in itself.
Our Experience on the RVshare Platform
For the last few years, we’ve had a 31-foot A-class. We traded in hauling the 43-foot 5th wheel that felt like we were dragging the house behind us. The A-class is the perfect size to drive and relax boondocking or squeeze into national park campsites.
RVshare makes it easy so that I don’t have to take payments, deal with getting my own insurance for renters, market myself, or pay for an expensive website. We meet people from all over the country. Getting to know our renters as much as possible before they get behind the wheel is important to us. I ask and answer a lot of questions that put both of us at ease.
Because we live near the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Sedona, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Lake Powell, renters fly from everywhere to experience the natural wonders of the west.
We’ve met travel writers, physicians, dentists, nurses, IT specialists, stay-at-home moms, and many digital nomads that can work from anywhere.
When you read reviews like…
“Keith and Dede were awesome to work with. Would rent this rig every time.” “Wow what a trip.” “Great RV for our family.”
…and you hear the details about their adventures, it makes you smile.
We even met a recently divorced man embarking on his first vacation as a single father with four very young kids. He sent photos and videos of their experience swimming at Slide Rock in Sedona, riding in an RZR in the desert, and snacking on the side of the road as the kids watched TV on the outside entertainment system. I heard about the kids seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time and even learned about their mini meltdowns.
Another renter, a Canadian couple from El Paso, still stays in touch with us. They plan on renting our condo in Playa del Carmen, Mexico once they have access to travel in and out of the country with ease.
Ultimately, we’ve met some amazing people along the way, made some great money, and been able to pay down our RV.
Now as the “Owner Expert” for RVshare, I look forward to entertaining owners and providing valuable information that you can apply to the adventures of renting your own RV.
We’d love to hear from you if there’s a certain topic you want us to talk about. After all, this is all about you, the owners of RVshare!
