Are you a recreational vehicle enthusiast with a deep enjoyment of big road trip adventures? Do you happen to have an RV in your driveway or in storage? There are plenty of ways to keep the costs of RV ownership down.

The folks at Camper Report offers a look at how you could make extra money by renting your RV out when you’re not using it. If you’re wondering about other ways to save money, read on.

The advantages of renting your RV

Everyone that enjoys traveling by RV has an off-season. For many people, it’s in the wintertime when the temperatures drop. When it’s really cold outside, camping is a lot less fun. 

According to the team at Camper Report, the off-season in winter could be a great time to rent out your RV. They don’t, however, recommend renting to locals. They explain that if you don’t want to get your RV out in the snow, chances are those local would-be renters wouldn’t either.

Those who live in warmer southern climates for most of the year may be ideal renters for your recreational vehicle. They may be able to enjoy your RV when it’s cold where you are for a good price. If you take a few elementary precautions, you can make money from your vehicle instead of putting it up for the winter.

If you’re considering renting your RV as opposed to selling it, the warmer months are always a good time. Spring and summer are when many start thinking about those big road adventures and great vacations. With the ongoing pandemic, you might have even greater luck because travel by RV offers a way to social distance that most will feel safe with.

Many who are thinking about buying an RV will rent one first to try it out. Renting costs far less than the investment of buying one. 

The drawbacks of renting your RV out

You’ll have competition from rental companies who also rent RVs. Or you can work with them. 

According to Camper Report, they take an average of 20 percent of the total rental amount. If you wanted to rent your RV for $1,000 a week and a rental agency handled it, you’d get around $800 of that amount. Considering that they handle advertising, leads, paperwork, and more, that’s not a bad deal.

There’s also the issue of insurance processing which they also handle for you. If something happens while the renter is out in your rented RV, you’re not alone. The rental agency is your partner and will have experience dealing with such a circumstance. Many agencies vet potential renters for you too.

At the end of the day, your recreational video isn’t valuable to you when you’re not using it for your own purposes. You may even be paying for its storage. By renting out your RV when you’re not using it, not only can the RV pay for its own upkeep but it can also make you a nice profit.

Other ways to save money on RV ownership

Renting out isn’t the only way to save money on your RV. When you actually use your RV, there are plenty of smart ways to save cash.

RV Share lists a few common techniques. One of the most simple tips is to shop around for gas. If you’re filling up a regular car, a few cents difference at the pump won’t mean much. However, with the amount of gas it takes to drive an RV those pennies saved add up very quickly.

Another simple tip is to utilize the kitchen that your RV probably has. When out of the road it can be tempting to always order out. However, the amount of money you’ll save cooking your own food is astronomical. RV Share points out that having leftovers is a nice little perk as well.

Even if you aren’t using your RV, chances are repairs will pop up eventually. Taking care of these minor repairs yourself is another way to save some serious cash. Keep in mind, only do repairs you feel qualified for. Trying to tackle a problem you aren’t qualified to handle could wind up costing you even more.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to save money on the cost of RV ownership beyond renting it out.