Why Renting Matters To Your Business

A local campground BBQ. A sunset over the lake. A calm morning out on the paddleboard. A little farm where the kids can see the animals and play in the fields. 

Renting an RV is about making memories. It’s about opening up the windows, letting the sunshine in, and doing it in a safe and manageable way. It’s about getting out of the house, or out of town, without the effort and financial expense of renting, towing, parking, and storing an RV.

That’s why consumers are renting RVs. 

This past year has turned many American lives upside-down. With forced stay-at-home orders, air travel grounded, fear about safety, virtual learning for children and remote working for adults, the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly impacted how families “vacation.” 

But, it opened up new opportunities for the recreational vehicle space, and if you lived it with us, you know.

Families are camping. They are renting RVs. They are searching rental-related keywords and using RV Trader as a rental resource. Since 2014, 6 million+ households started camping, and the number of campers who camp three+ times annually has risen by 64%.1 By 2025, Americans between 55 and 74 will reach 79 million, 15% higher than in 2015, and 72 million millennials will be 30-45 years old.2 

Rentals provide dealers with an additional stream of revenue that they cannot obtain through sales alone. And that’s why it matters to your business.

An RV Trader survey asked consumers what motivates them the most to rent. Their answers?3

43% - spending time with family and friends

43% - looking for adventure

41% - experiencing nature and outdoor activities

39% - experiencing new things

36% - it’s an affordable way to travel

35% - freedom to travel anywhere

34% - renting is a home away from home

29% - enjoying spending time and traveling with pets

Renting provides you with an opportunity to diversify your product offerings and start building relationships with potential buyers early on in the buying cycle. Renters tend to rent multiple times, and a large portion of them go on to ultimately purchase an RV after their rental experience. 

Interested in learning more about the average RV renter? They may not be exactly who you think! Click here to learn more about RV renters.

And, if you’re interested in learning more about how to start a rental business, click here to download our free “How-To Guide for Renting RVs.”

1*KOA North American Camping Report, 2018

2*RVIA 2018

3*RV Trader survey 2018