It’s sad, but it’s true: most of us can’t use our RVs all the time. Sure, your road maps and travel journal are calling your name… but commitments to work and family life can keep us from constantly indulging our wanderlust, to say nothing of the prospect of affording all that travel.
(That said, if you want to be able to afford to travel more, even if not constantly, we highly recommend you check out Passport America. We talk about it a lot here on the blog, but for good reason — it’s the only discount camping club that gets you 50% off your campsite accommodation fees at almost 1900 campgrounds across the country, including locations in Mexico and Canada! And we’re talking premium sites with full hookups in campgrounds with tons of plush amenities, like swimming pools, game rooms, and more. And since the whole thing costs less than $50 for a whole year’s membership, it pays for itself lickety-split. Click here to find out more and get your own membership today!)
Fortunately, we do have some bright ideas for what to do with your RV during those times when you’re just not able to use it. And, yes, one of them is renting your rig on RVshare (hey, we wouldn’t be writing this blog if we didn’t believe in our business model!) — but we’ve got a few other options for you to consider, too.
So, ready to learn how to rent your RV the easy way… or figure out something else to do with it in the off-season? Read on.
Camper Rental
It’s understandable that some owners are a little hesitant about putting their RVs out there on the rental market. It can be scary to hand over the keys to your large, expensive vacation vehicle to a perfect stranger — and besides, can you even make any money by renting out your RV?
As it turns out, starting an RV rental business is actually crazy easy… not to mention lucrative. With this flexible travel style in such high demand, RV rental and motorhome hire prices are higher than they’ve ever been before, which means your rig will have awesome earning potential when you undercut the traditional rental dealerships.
How much earning potential, you ask? Well, most RVshare owners report earning anywhere between $125 and $365 per day — which can add up to $30,000 or more over the course of a year. Depending on your job, that’s like another full-time salary!
List Your RV for Rent
So, how to go about renting your own RV in a safe and effective way?
Since you’re reading this blog, you probably already know our answer. 😉
That said, RVshare really is the easiest and most secure way to list your travel trailer or motorhome rental. All communication and payment is done through the platform, which protects your sensitive information, and your rental will also be covered by a comprehensive insurance package and 24/7 roadside assistance.
Plus, since it’s one of the largest RV rental markets in the country, listing your rig on RVshare is the quickest way to get it in front of the most eyeballs, which will get your RV rented in a jiffy. We even offer a free one-on-one consultation to help you get started!
Home Office
Whether you’re looking to make the most of your RV while not traveling or live and work from your RV full time, here are some great tips for converting your RV to a home office.
Dedicate a workspace.
Part of RV life is making the most out of every space, which often means each surface serving multiple uses. Be sure a workspace is on your list! Choose a spot in your rig where you can get to work, such as your kitchen table. Store essentials in this area – laptop charger and accessories, computer stand, headphones – so that everything you need is close at hand.
Clear out clutter.
There is not a lot of surface area for clutter to collect in an RV, but you’d be surprised how quickly your rig can get filled! Organizing your space is especially important when you’re working from your RV. “A place for everything and everything in its place” is a motto many RVers live by. To minimize distraction, make sure your workspace is cleared off before you sit down at your computer. This will help you focus throughout the day.
Set ground rules with any “co-workers”.
If you are sharing your RV workspace, set some ground rules with each other! Both of you working at the kitchen table can get tight. Can one of you work from the cabin or living area? If you both need to be in meetings, can one go in the bedroom or outside? A quick level-set on these upfront can save scrambling and stress later on.
Want to work totally from the road? Read on!
Remote Work
Want to totally hack the system and find a way to travel all the time? Thanks to the internet, there’s a growing community of full-time nomads, many of whom live in their RVs and trailers. They truly embody the wanderlust spirit, living a life in which home is wherever you park it.
Sounds too good to be true, right? But since there are more and more remote jobs available that require little more than a computer and an internet connection, it’s totally possible. You could start your own freelance business or find a remote position with an existing company. For example, if you’re good on the phone, you might be able to get a job with a firm like Amazon and Google, who’ve taken to outsourcing their customer service positions from call centers to home offices. Click here to learn more about different ways to work from the road — and check out this post for some full-timing inspiration!
Lodging Space
Just as you’d use your RV while traveling, you can use your home on wheels while parked in your driveway! If you are hosting family and friends for holidays or gatherings, they can crash in your RV instead of on your living room couch. Everyone can rest comfortably in their own space. This is also a great service to add to your listing! Learn more about stationary and delivery options here.
RV Storage
Even though it’s a pretty amazing opportunity, we get it: renting your RV isn’t for everyone. Maybe you have several trips in a row planned, or maybe you’re just uncomfortable with the idea of strangers enjoying your precious baby.
That’s okay! There are still plenty of other options to consider when you’re deciding what to do with your rig in the off season.
For many owners, simply storing the vehicle is the best option, and if you’re lucky enough to be able to do so on your own property, even better. Just be sure to store your rig indoors if possible, or at the very least to use a quality RV cover, which will help protect your vehicle from UV radiation and the elements. The dirt and debris that an exposed RV encounters can quickly ruin its paint job or worse; if your roof gets crudded up, it can even threaten your RV’s structural integrity. And trust us — you do not want to deal with a leak. (But here’s how to check for them, just in case.)
RV covers are expensive, but it’s a worthy cost if it protects your investment. You want to look for one that offers both water- and UV-resistance. Here are a few highly-rated covers on Amazon for motorhomes and travel trailers of different sizes:
- Classic Accessories SkyShield Heavy-Duty RV Travel Trailer Cover — for trailers 38-40′ long
- Classic Accessories OverDrive PermaPRO Deluxe Travel Trailer Cover — for trailers 24-27′ long
- ADCO Designer Series Aqua Shed Class A RV Cover — for motorhomes 37-40′ long
If you can’t keep your RV on your own property, you’ll probably be wondering, “Where’s the best RV storage near me?”
Luckily, we’ve got you covered on that front, too. Click here to check out RVshare’s archive of motorhome and trailer storage facilities, covering both indoor and outdoor RV storage options.
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