For years, Jordan considered himself a weekend adventurer. His Class C RV was a ticket to the mountains, the beach, and the occasional road trip. But in 2022, a casual conversation at a campground planted a new idea: what if the RV could earn money when it wasn’t in use?
Fast forward one year, and Jordan’s love of RVing has turned into a side business—one that now funds his travels, offsets his loan payments, and has him thinking bigger.
This is the story of how a passionate RV owner transformed a personal passion into a profitable rental business with the help of RVM.
Table of Contents
- The Road to Rental: From Hobby to Opportunity
- Taking the First Leap into Rentals
- Early Lessons and Unexpected Surprises
- How RVM Changed the Game
- Income Results and Business Growth
- Building a Brand (and a Waitlist)
- Jordan’s Advice for Other RV Owners
- What’s Next: Scaling the Fleet, One Unit at a Time
1. The Road to Rental: From Hobby to Opportunity
Jordan had always been the go-to person in his friend group for road trip planning. He knew every scenic pull-off, packed like a pro, and took pride in maintaining his 2019 Thor Chateau.
But it wasn’t until a fellow camper mentioned making $1,200 in a single weekend through an RV rental platform that Jordan’s curiosity piqued.
“That night, I stayed up until 2 a.m. researching Outdoorsy, RVezy, and consignment programs. I realized I’d been sitting on an income opportunity all along.”
2. Taking the First Leap into Rentals
Jordan listed his RV on a peer-to-peer platform that spring. Bookings trickled in at first, mostly weekend warriors like himself. But each trip took time—cleaning, prepping, walkthroughs, coordinating pickup and drop-off.
After his third booking, he realized he was spending nearly five hours of labor per rental. It was rewarding, but exhausting.
“I loved that people were enjoying my RV, but I was burning out. It wasn’t sustainable if I wanted to keep traveling myself.”
3. Early Lessons and Unexpected Surprises
Jordan’s first summer taught him a few hard lessons:
- A renter flooded the gray tank and left it full
- Another used regular toilet paper (despite the signage)
- He forgot to restock propane before a long weekend booking
Despite these hiccups, reviews were solid. Renters appreciated his clear instructions, checklists, and quick responses.
Still, he knew he needed help if he was going to scale. That’s when he found RVM.
4. How RVM Changed the Game
RVM offered a fully managed rental experience. A local Territory Manager would:
- Handle bookings and pricing optimization
- Manage cleanings, inspections, and renter communication
- Provide commercial insurance coverage and roadside assistance
“The moment I handed over management, everything changed. I could go camping on my terms—and earn when I wasn’t using the RV.”
Jordan now had a system. RVM maximized occupancy and handled the logistics. He focused on occasional personal use and reinvesting in the RV experience.
5. Income Results and Business Growth
Here’s how the numbers stacked up:
Before RVM (DIY rentals)
- Total rentals: 5 bookings
- Nights rented: 17
- Gross income: $3,200
- Net after cleaning, platform fees: ~$2,400
With RVM (first full year)
- Total rentals: 21 bookings
- Nights rented: 61
- Gross income: $12,200
- Jordan’s share (45%): $5,490
That’s a 2.3x increase in income—plus over 60 hours saved on cleaning, prep, and logistics.
6. Building a Brand (and a Waitlist)
Jordan went the extra mile. With RVM managing operations, he focused on guest experience:
- Custom welcome kit with local snacks and a printed map
- Branded welcome mat and towels (“Chateau Jordan”)
- Spotify playlist and mounted GoPro (available for renters)
As 5-star reviews piled up, bookings became easier. Repeat renters asked about future dates. One even referred a neighbor who booked a three-week summer road trip.
“I went from asking ‘how do I fill my calendar?’ to ‘how do I add a second RV?’”
7. Jordan’s Advice for Other RV Owners
- Don’t go it alone. RVM made it scalable.
- Systemize everything. QR code checklists and walkthrough videos save hours.
- Focus on comfort. Small upgrades = big reviews.
- Use your RV. It’s still yours—block off dates and make memories.
- Think long-term. One RV can become a fleet if you treat it like a business.
8. What’s Next: Scaling the Fleet, One Unit at a Time
Jordan’s now in talks with a friend to co-manage their RV under the same model. He’s considering purchasing a second unit—possibly a travel trailer—to attract a different renter segment.
With RVM’s support, his only job is approving calendar availability and collecting payouts.
“I never thought RVing would turn into a business. Now I’m dreaming about a fleet, not just a few trips a year.”
– RVM Team
