Any experience renting out your motorhome?

[chasloew]

I’m a newbie with a question about rentals. Years ago, my wife and I spent over a month traveling in a friend’s motorhome. Now that we’re retired, we’d like to have our own for several trips a year. To help with expenses, we’d like to use a peer-to-peer rental service like Outdoorsy or RVshare. I’ve read glowing reports on their sites about the money that can be made, but I’m sure they’re biased. I’m also aware that many advise against this without having done it.

We’d like to get unbiased advice and experiences -- both pro and con -- from those who have actually used these services. We’re in a mid-sized city in the Midwest. We think a small used motorhome that sleeps at least 4 might be good, but want to know what makes the most sense financially and what potential there is. If you've done this, we'd really like to hear from you.

Thanks, Charlie

[magicbus]

He's going to "show them" how to use the lights, toilet, the stereo and maybe the grill. They aren't going anywhere and they aren't dumping the tanks, it is a home base for tailgating.

Dave

[toedtoes]

apr67 wrote:
I'm hoping to rent ours, but not for folks to take trips in. College football is big here, and I would take it out to the parking lot, set it up and show them how to use it. Hell for enough money I will even stock and provision it with beer.

I'm trying to envision this. In a parking lot, what exactly can you show them that they would pay money to learn? From my experience, the things people want help with are: backing up a trailer and emptying black/grey tanks. The rest is usually handled by the seller/dealer when they buy an RV.

[apr67]

I'm hoping to rent ours, but not for folks to take trips in. College football is big here, and I would take it out to the parking lot, set it up and show them how to use it. Hell for enough money I will even stock and provision it with beer.

[DSteiner51]

A friend rented their class C out last year, early summer. Got it back with everything above the roof and roof membrane replaced just in time for storage last fall.

[valhalla360]

I know a few places that have rentals...but what they do is keep an eye on the used market, buy cheap and just do enough to keep them functional. They also dump them (often on the renters who want to get their own).

This works because they keep costs way down. To buy a new or even nice used and it becomes a losing proposition.

[bikendan]

chasloew wrote:

I have rented out apartments for years, so I know there's both good and bad renters. I'd start with a used one for sure. The rental brokers indicate that they provide insurance but I'll check for sure. Thanks! -- Charlie

nearly all people know how an apartment works. the same can't be said for operating a RV.

[Big_Katuna]

punomatic wrote:
Here's another thing to consider. I had a friend who rented out his sailboat. He was audited by the IRS every year he did. If you want to rent it out, I don't think you can do it safely without making it a business venture so you can get proper insurance, etc. If you do that the IRS will hound you. YMMV

That must have been a long time ago. The current administration has gutted the IRS.

They are a shadow of their former selves.

[toedtoes]

I know someone who has a small RV rental business. He makes enough money to keep doing it. However, he has about eight different rigs of various sizes. He only keeps them up to 5 years because they are trashed by then. I saw one that was on it's last six months in the rental fleet. It looked older and more worn at 5 years than my clipper does at 43 years.

I wouldn't do it. My logic is that I don't want to have a trip planned for July, rent it out in May and then have to spend the next several weeks repairing damage done by the renter just so I can go on my trip.

[chasloew]

Thanks punomatic! It seems that the agencies provide some insurance, but I'd check on that and possibly set up an LLC, depending on my attorney's advice. I've filed both business income and rental property taxes for years. It's no fun but it boils down to: keep records and don't cheat.

[punomatic]

Here's another thing to consider. I had a friend who rented out his sailboat. He was audited by the IRS every year he did. If you want to rent it out, I don't think you can do it safely without making it a business venture so you can get proper insurance, etc. If you do that the IRS will hound you. YMMV

[gbopp]

micpib1 wrote:
While we were traveling off-road in Death Valley, in our Jeep Wrangler 4X4, I was feeling quite accomplished with my little Jeep after finishing a fairly rough and steep road. As we got to the end of this dirt/rock road, I caught up with a guy in a Rental Class C that had just accomplished the same road. I decided then, no one else would be using my hard earned Motorhome. JH

Reminds me of a question someone posted on the forum several years ago.
Q: What is the difference between an All Terrain Vehicle and a rental RV?
A: The rental RV can go anywhere.

And there is the possibility of Bed Bugs. 😉

[micpib1]

While we were traveling off-road in Death Valley, in our Jeep Wrangler 4X4, I was feeling quite accomplished with my little Jeep after finishing a fairly rough and steep road. As we got to the end of this dirt/rock road, I caught up with a guy in a Rental Class C that had just accomplished the same road. I decided then, no one else would be using my hard earned Motorhome. JH

[Tyler0215]

Rented my TT once, to a friend . Never again.

[Big_Katuna]

I would never rent out my personal RV to strangers. A big advantage of RVing is having a bed, bathroom and living area that hasn’t been “soiled” by a bunch of strangers like a motel room.

Renting out can be profitable I’m sure. If I were younger, to have a some RVs to place strategically around central Florida could be lucrative. Easily get $1000 a week.

[midnightsadie]

buy a older rv that you can afford ,then you don,t have to worry about it.