RV share for fun and profit

People rarely dine in a restaurant to satisfy their hunger alone and likewise, people booking overnight accommodation from such websites as AirBNB, FlipKey and other ‘hotel alternatives’ are usually seeking something more than just a pillow for their head.

If you have been following my ramblings on Caravanampingsales over the past year you’ll have read about the circumstances that lead me to the idea of renting out my motorhome; although up until recently, that ‘idea’ was just words on a page.

When the July school holidays arrived however, it occurred to me that if I was ever going to list my motorhome as ‘available to rent’, now would be the perfect time so I activated my listing for '7 Berth Classic Motorhome Experience’ and sat back to see what would happen.

OK, there was still a minor issue with water leaking in above the bed over the cab (since being caught in the Sydney hail storms) and sure, the van needed a good clean but small details were easy to overlook, especially in the absence of an actual booking.

Yet despite only having one image on my listing (admittedly, it was a rather fetching interior shot of the kitchen), barely an hour passed before I had my first enquiry and not long after this, my first booking, in two days’ time.

I had only just gotten over the shock when I received a further booking enquiry for 11am the very next day!

Precisely what prompted me to hit ‘accept’ on that second booking with just one day’s notice and several unresolved issues in the motorhome I could not say for certain, but there’s nothing like a deadline to make things happen.

I should explain that all this was happening during my normal working week. Except that it wasn’t normal because the children were on school holidays and my wife was interstate.

Here was I, attempting to work from home, look after two rambunctious kids and create a tranquil space in our RV for guests to stay… hmmm.

Something had to give so ‘paid work’ went out the window and I enlisted the help of the children to ‘de-McCann the van’.

This involved removing all of our possessions and it was astonishing just how much had made its way into the motorhome over a few short months. Long lost laptop cables, mixed up camera gear and a mountain of sporting equipment… crikey!

My son -- funny little fellow that he is -- is apparently part magpie. I found many of his little knickknacks from our various travels stashed here and there.

Bits of blue string, sea shells, polished glass and the like all mixed up with enough clothing to outfit the cast of Oliver.

It all ended up with everything else piled on the floor of my photographic studio. I then returned to the van to review the situation.
The main issue was a worrying odour of mildew coming from around the over cab bed. Water ingress is not a friend to a motorhome’s interior and should be attended to immediately if discovered. Unfortunately I did no such thing and I really dreaded what I might find.

Fortunately, the issue was not as bad as I feared. The wood structure was sound (if a little damp) but some insulating materials I had fitted beneath the bed base were growing things and needed immediate eviction.

A treatment of the area with appropriate cleaners and several hours of warm air circulation from a well-placed fan heater and I was able to replace the bed base with no lingering smells or moisture to offend our incoming guests.

Meanwhile, the rest of the van was getting the showroom treatment with a spruce up and deep clean that would make any mother proud.

One of the things about motorhomes (or any RV for that matter) is the way they amplify dirt. While I have come to accept a dirty floor as par for the course, I could hardly expect my paying guests to be so understanding. Imagine that conversation…

‘Sir, this floor is dirty’
‘Yes, I was going to clean it but I realised it would just get dirty again 30 seconds after your arrival so I decided not to bother’
‘That may be so but it would be our dirt’
‘Touché!’

So despite the potential fruitlessness of the task, I scrubbed and I scrubbed until the old girl positively glowed. I finished with barely 15 minutes to spare before our first guests arrived.

So with everything looking so pristine, I did what anyone would do and took some fresh pictures and posted them on Facebook.

And what of our guests? Did they enjoy their stay?

“Probably our best AirBNB experience to date - very highly recommend!”

And this…

“The camper had everything our family of four needed and more. It was very comfortable and functional. The kids especially enjoyed the experience. The beer in the fridge, outside fire and trampoline were fab. Being able to walk to Timbertown was a big bonus. We would go back. Thanks Paddy”.

So, OK, I admit I filled the larder with food and put beer in the fridge so these testimonials might be slightly biased but I later found out there might be some food legislation* that could prevent this kind of gesture in the future.

It's a shame because I figure treat people the way you like to be treated yourself, right?

Providing guests with premium lager, free range eggs, bacon, bread and a stocked pantry might not make renting our RV hugely profitable, but if all our guests are as lovely as the first two families who stayed with us I don’t mind at all.

* Like any home based business, you should check with your local council to ensure your short stay rental does not contravene any council laws.