5 good reasons why your family should buy an RV

It has often been said that the happiest days of a boat owners life is the day they buy and the day they sell. We’ve all hear this saying, and many of us have heard this same expression applied to RV ownership… and for good reason I might add. So, how can I make the argument that you should buy an RV, and at the same time agree that RV ownership is a kin to a boat anchor?

I’ll give you 5 good reasons why more and more smart buyers are employing this vacation rental strategy for their families.

Reason #1 – Camping is fun!

It’s always at the top of the ‘fond memories’ list when you ask anyone, young or old, about their most favorite vacation. The bond that families develop while camping is very powerful, especially when you limit the electronic distractions and focus on each other.

Reason #2 – State and National Parks

There is no better way to see and experience our national treasures than to camp and hike them. And if you’ve ever been hiking or tent camping, you know how restful sleeping on the ground can be. Try a high tech memory foam mattress inside a warm camper. It won’t disappoint. You’ll be rested and ready for that hike to half dome if you’re camping in comfort.

Reason # 3 – Vacation savings

Not only will you and your family experience the best vacations of your lives, but it can also be the least expensive. Most RV vacations include steep savings over hotel stays, eating out at restaurants, and those high cost tours and amusement parks. Compare the cost of fishing, hiking, boating, or a campfire to your average resort or theme park activity.

Reason #4 – Extra Income

The smart money is on turning your new purchase into a revenue producing cash cow. For most of us, vacation time is limited given jobs and normal demands on time. So instead of letting the RV sit idle while you’re at work and the kids are at school, put that asset to work and share it! Peer to peer sharing sites such as RVPlusYou are amazingly simple, effective, and make RV rental easy, safe, and profitable for any RV owner. From the do-it-yourself RV owner who wants to handle each rental transaction to the hands off owner who wants someone else to manage the process, there is a solution for all.

Reason #5 – Tax Benefits

Most RV’s are vacation rentals on wheels in the eyes of the IRS, they certainly cost as much, and by renting your RV you are essentially engaging in a business activity that allows significant deductions. Some great information can be found in this article on vacation rental deductions. Do your own research and consult with your tax professional, but even a casual glance at the possible deductions will reveal major tax benefits that deserve serious consideration.

Be a smart RV buyer and owner. Do your research and planning, then execute on starting your RV Rental business!

The responsible and professional RV rental

Okay, you’ve secured your first booking and your guest is just days away from arriving. What should you be thinking about to insure a smooth rental and a happy guest?

The biggest difference between renting an RV from a private party, and renting from one of the big 3 RV rental companies (besides price) has to be the amenities that come with the RV. You know, those little things like salt and pepper, a trash can, a decent knife that will actually cut through a tomato!

Nothing is more important that getting the details right when renting your RV to someone, especially a novice camper who may not think about bringing the beach chairs. By including those little things such as coffee, sugar, paper plates, or trash bags, you have just set yourself apart from all the other rental companies out there. If you really want to set yourself apart, why not include your BBQ? You’ve made your guest’s vacation that much easier when you share some of your stuff, which translates to, “Wow, we had a blast and we’ll be back soon!”. You’ve just stacked the deck against your competition.

RVPlusYou has great information and a checklist that will help you think about what to include with your RV. Remember, it’s the experience that you are providing and the amenities that you include may make all the difference between just an okay experience for your guest and a truly fantastic one.

As your check in date approaches and you’re preparing your RV to accommodate your guests think about the following:

Is your RV clean and in complete working condition? A/C, furnace, lights, batteries, smoke alarm, appliances, shower, toilet, etc.
Are your tanks ready? Emptied the grey and black tanks? Are the water and propane tanks full?
Are the locks working properly?
Any repairs or maintenance needed?
Smoke, propane, and Carbon Monoxide alarms working? Batteries fresh?

Remember that in many cases you’ll be renting to a novice camper. Think about all of the things that they might forget and anticipate their needs. You’ll be glad you did!

Military RV Campgrounds

Did you know that there are hundreds of military bases around the country that have RV parks? You must be a veteran, active or honorably discharged, to use the facilities and each installation has their own rules. This can be an amazing opportunity for those who have served our great country, one that you should take advantage of if at all possible. Below is a California Central Coast gem, Camp San Luis Obispo. Located just 40 miles south of Hearst Castle on the scenic Highway 1, this RV Park is a must visit for qualified campers. There are 12 spaces with full hook-ups, and almost unlimited overflow for dry RV and tent camping. The facilities are open year round and open to active, National Guard, reservists, retired, 100% DAV, and their guests. Besides the great facilities, the location can’t be better. You’re just a few miles north of downtown San Luis Obispo, and it’s famous Thursday Farmer’s Market. Cal Poly University is even closer! You can find more information here on specific campgrounds available, including Camp San Luis Obispo. As you consider your camping possibilities for your next vacation, consider campground app developed by All Stays. This cool tool allows yo to search various campgrounds on the go, including those available at military bases and installations all across the country. So no more excuses; go out and explore!

Share your stuff

So, my wife and I decided to share our stuff. More precisely, our camping stuff and our RV. We rented it to a stranger who is now a friend. It was a strange road we traveled to this point where we began sharing our stuff, but as I look back on the journey I’m really glad we did it. So many positives and tangible benefits for us as well as our community.

What am I talking about? Well, in a picture, this is our stuff that we share and this is but one of the places we share it; a beach campground in California.

Those tangible benefits? Well, the first tangible is some extra income. Not just a few bucks but the worthwhile kind that can really make a difference. Example: We rented this set up 3 times, 3 days each just before our trip across the country all in the month of July. We netted over $1,250 tangible dollars! That’s the kind that helps pay the mortgage, or tuition, or helps you say yes to the lobster instead of the chicken. It can make a real difference.

The second is less tangible but more powerful because it will stay with you forever. When a dad says, “Hey, thank you. No, really, thanks. Never will I ever own an RV or all this camping gear and “stuff”. I just won’t, but you renting us your ‘stuff’ made it possible for me and my family to have an unforgettable experience; my daughter saw dolphin every morning, we cooked fresh fish on the BBQ, campfire under the stars. Thank you”. Okay, enough said on that. You get the point.

By sharing what would otherwise be sitting in storage, you not only make a few bucks and keep your RV’s water pump from corroding, you can make a difference in the lives of others by providing a cost effective vacation. That guy and his family from San Francisco didn’t have to go out and buy and bunch of stuff to get that experience. They drove 5 hours in their fuel efficient car and used our stuff, then went home and shared pics of the dolphins. Very cool.

So, instead of letting your RV sit and rot in your driveway, think about sharing it and make the world a better place. Oh, and make a deposit in your kids college fund too while your at it.