RV Rentals and the Temple of Doom

RV Rentals and the Temple of Doom

Hatfield, PA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 629 votes

I am now a few months into motorhome rental as I mentioned on earlier threads. It is quite different then vacation rentals, is nobody drives your vacation rental a thousand miles away!

I had actually bought the 30 ft motorhome to be a tour vehicle for my new tour company.  Then of course coronavirus wiped out tourism this year,  so RV rentals was my backup plan .

I'm giving a brief update  on where I am.  They're really two OTAs for RV rental and they take a high  percentage of your take. 

I have a 2015 motorhome,  it currently is in  California,  from my Pennsylvania home.  That booking was June 4th through July one.  It is going out again July 5th until 26.  I had to  Dicker on the per mileage charge,  but since I paid such a low price, and they were good people in bookings I did so. 

A lot of issues I'm still working out,  I'm starting next year I'll try to move to mostly to  direct booking. They essentially take 25% of everything.

I cannot speak for the whole country, and this year is very unique because of the pent-up demand, but your biggest months will be July and August

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Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
6y

Sounds like a movie with Chevy Chase and Harrison Ford.

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  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    6y

    I saw where a guy had 13 campers that he rented out and he made 285k last year. Hummmmnnnn.

    Who is making 285k on their vacations rentals per year?

    I'm sure not.

  • Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    6y

    Sounds like a movie with Chevy Chase and Harrison Ford.

  • Kerry BairdPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    @Ken Latchers, interesting idea! Is there more demand in certain parts of the country? What if a renter takes the RV to the boondocks...how does it get to the next renter? What costs/expenses can you deduct?

  • Hatfield, PA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 629 votes
    6y

    I cannot speak to regional demand. I am in eastern PA so I seem to get interest from New York Metro, Jersey and eastern PA.

    I can also not speak for the rest of the year, but during the summer I allow several days between booking so I can take to mechanic for lookover and adjustments.

    things can happen. Things can break or others. This is my first year, so I'm in a learning phase.

    it's not for everyone though. I got a large discount on this and I would never do it with a newer motorhome. This is much more stressful than vacation rentals if you have too much into it

  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    6y

    That is really cool @Ken Latchers! Kinda like a mini Cruise America!

  • Rental Property Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 543 posts · 716 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @John Underwood:

    I saw where a guy had 13 campers that he rented out and he made 285k last year. Hummmmnnnn.

    Who is making 285k on their vacations rentals per year?

    I'm sure not.

     $285k is pretty much a good summer for me, but I have a handful of nice big houses in prime locations down south. Those puppies rake in money

  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Mark Miles:
    Originally posted by @John Underwood:

    I saw where a guy had 13 campers that he rented out and he made 285k last year. Hummmmnnnn.

    Who is making 285k on their vacations rentals per year?

    I'm sure not.

     $285k is pretty much a good summer for me, but I have a handful of nice big houses in prime locations down south. Those puppies rake in money

     What areas are your houses in.

  • Hatfield, PA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 629 votes
    6y
    It's not what you make,  but your true risk adjusted net. And also your true ROI. And your time included.  And equity built up. 

    My favorite personal measure is revenue / cost of property. So far, I made about $8000 revenue in 2 months on a $25,000 motor home.

    Originally posted by @Mark Miles:
    Originally posted by @John Underwood:

    I saw where a guy had 13 campers that he rented out and he made 285k last year. Hummmmnnnn.

    Who is making 285k on their vacations rentals per year?

    I'm sure not.

     $285k is pretty much a good summer for me, but I have a handful of nice big houses in prime locations down south. Those puppies rake in money

  • Rental Property Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 543 posts · 716 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Ken Latchers:
    It's not what you make,  but your true risk adjusted net. And also your true ROI. And your time included.  And equity built up. 

    My favorite personal measure is revenue / cost of property. So far, I made about $8000 revenue in 2 months on a $25,000 motor home.

    Originally posted by @Mark Miles:
    Originally posted by @John Underwood:

    I saw where a guy had 13 campers that he rented out and he made 285k last year. Hummmmnnnn.

    Who is making 285k on their vacations rentals per year?

    I'm sure not.

     $285k is pretty much a good summer for me, but I have a handful of nice big houses in prime locations down south. Those puppies rake in money

    Nice work!! And I agree completely Ken - I have some hefty mortgages & other expenses so my profits are nowhere near my revenues. It's all about ROI & it's quite possible that someone with a 2-BR condo has a higher ROI than me. But you know where no one has a higher ROI? Duluth, MN. Just sayin

    John - I don't say where my properties are, but in general they're in the very popular high earning places down south. It's not a big secret to figure out where the big money locations are in STR. And again, it's not Duluth. Just sayin

  • Lawton, OK · Member since 2017 · 48 posts · 25 votes
    6y

    @Ken Latchers - which platforms are you using? Outdoorsy? I’ve thought of buying a cargo van from Hertz (some good deals with the bankruptcy) and converting into a camper van. Other option would be a used class C motor home. 

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