Renting Out Other People’s RVs: How to Build a Six-Figure Business

Have you ever thought about renting out other people’s stuff for profit?

That’s exactly what Garr Russell from firesidervrental.com did with RVs (recreational vehicles), and he’s turned it into a thriving business.

Could you do the same thing? Could you apply this idea to a different niche?

I think there are some valuable lessons here for aspiring side hustlers in any niche.

Tune in to Episode 625 of the Side Hustle Show to learn:

• how to profit from renting out other people’s RVs
• the numbers behind a successful RV rental business
• creative ways to boost income with add-on services
• strategies for scaling to a nationwide operation

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The 4 Types of Passive Income

You know I love rental business models. But that’s just one way to generate passive income:

1. Renting out an asset you own or control (like Garr’s RV rental business)
2. Buying cash-flowing assets (real estate, dividend stocks, etc.) – This is the “make money with money” option.
3. Building assets (websites, digital products, etc.) – This is the “sweat equity” option.
4. Reverse passive income (cutting expenses) – This is what you earn when you cut your regular ongoing monthly expenses.

RV Anniversary Gift Gone Wrong

Let’s start with a story that’ll make you think twice about surprise gifts. Garr bought an RV, imagining years of outdoor fun and adventure ahead. But things didn’t quite go as planned.

They got to the campground and got set up. Garr thought all was going well until that first morning. His wife was chasing their toddler around, seven months pregnant with number four, when she said, “I’m going home, baby.”

Panic set in. He’d just bought this RV for a lot of money, and his wife didn’t want to be there. They were supposed to stay six more days.

In a moment of desperation (or brilliance, depending on how you look at it), he throws an ad up on Craigslist to rent it out.

To his surprise, inquiries started rolling in within hours.

There was demand, and when he also discovered platforms like Outdoorsy and RVShare, that confirmed his idea and provided ready-made marketplaces for RV rentals.

Scaling Up: The OPRV (Other People’s RVs) Model

Garr realized that to really scale this RV rental business, he needed more inventory. But instead of buying more RVs himself, he came up with what he calls the OPRV model.

He started approaching other RV owners with a simple proposition: “I’ll do all the work. And we’ll split the revenue 50/50.” It’s almost like a property management business, but for RVs.

Garr targeted RV owners who were already open to renting, like those listing on peer-to-peer platforms. He emphasized the “hands-off” nature of the deal—the owners didn’t have to do any work.

Think about it—most RVs sit unused for 50 weeks of the year!

Garr’s approach wasn’t always met with enthusiasm. His first pitch was to his sister-in-law, who thought it was “gross” to have strangers sleeping in her RV. But his best friend Jeremy was all in, becoming his second OPRV partner.

What Can RV Owners Expect to Earn?

Garr calls his RV rental business the “Six-Figure Summer” model. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Average booking: 6 days
• Net for travel trailer owners: $300-500 per booking
• Net for drivable RV owners: $500-700 per booking
• Typical bookings: 7-10 per summer in seasonal locations, up to 20 in year-round locations

Plus, there’s the added benefit of depreciation for the RV owners. They can write off insurance, repairs, and maintenance when the RV is used as a rental.

The Logistics: How Does It All Work?

One of the challenges Garr faced was managing the logistics of moving RVs around. Initially, it was just him and his truck, delivering RVs to campgrounds.

As the business grew, he rented a parking lot to centralize operations, and eventually got his own facility with storage, propane sales, and a dump station.

Garr also had to figure out how to handle cleaning and maintenance. His solution is tapping into the Airbnb cleaning community.

He’d post ads looking for people who clean short-term rentals, and then reveal it was for RVs. For deliveries, he’d advertise for “old retired guys with trucks who are bored” — a strategy that worked surprisingly well.

Expanding the Empire: The Franchise Model

Fast forward a bit, and Garr has scaled this model to about 45 locations around the country through franchising. His first franchisee was in Northern Michigan, and it’s grown from there.

The franchise model wasn’t an easy decision. It took over a year and cost six figures to set up, with a 200-page franchise disclosure document. But it’s allowed Garr to expand his reach and create a community of RV rental entrepreneurs across the country.

Multiple Revenue Streams

But it’s not just about renting RVs. Garr’s team has developed multiple revenue streams through add-on services. These include:

• Linens packages
• Kitchen packages
• S’mores kits
• Chair rentals
• Kayak rentals
• Grocery delivery

Some bookings end up with more in add-ons than the base rental fee.

For example, Garr mentioned bookings for events like Talladega races or music festivals where people spend $3,000 to $5,000 for a weekend rental with all the bells and whistles.

What Types of RVs Rent Best?

If you’re thinking about getting into the RV rental business, Garr recommends focusing on:

• Bunkhouse travel trailers
• Fifth wheels
• Large Class A RVs (for high-end events)

These types of RVs are popular with families and event-goers, which make up a significant portion of the rental market.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Garr’s had his share of horror stories, like the time a couple of ladies rented an RV for a cross-country trip and woke up covered in bed bug bites on day two.

But as Garr puts it, “If you’re an RVer, you get it. Things go wrong, things break. That’s part of the RV experience.”

To protect against damages and issues, Garr relies on insurance, security deposits, driver verifications, and contracts — similar to what you’d find with Airbnb or Turo.

A Day in the Life

I asked Garr what a typical day looks like in this business. He laughed and said there’s no such thing as typical.

One day he might be coordinating deliveries to a music festival, the next he could be setting up RVs as temporary housing after a natural disaster.

The variety keeps things exciting.

What’s Next?

As Garr puts it, “As you grow as an entrepreneur, your goals keep changing.” Initially, he was focused on rapid growth, aiming for 250 locations by the end of 2024.

But these days, Garr is focused on serving the people in his community and living a balanced life.

He’s even written a book about his journey called My Wheel Estate Story.

Garr’s #1 Tip for Side Hustle Nation

“All work works.”

Episode Links

• firesidervrental.com
• Outdoorsy
• RVShare
• firesidervrentalfranchise.com
• Talladega races
• Bunkhouse travel trailers
• Fifth wheels
• Large Class A RVs (for high-end events)
• 10X is Easier Than 2X
• My Wheel Estate Story

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