Renting out your RV can be a smart way to generate extra income, especially if it sits idle for months at a time. But the big question is: Should you manage it yourself—or work with a professional RV rental management company?
Each approach comes with trade-offs in terms of time, income, control, and convenience. In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of RV rental management vs. DIY, so you can make the best decision for your situation.
What is RV Rental Management?
RV rental management is a service where a professional company—like RV Management USA—handles the entire rental process on your behalf. This includes listing the RV, managing bookings, communicating with renters, cleaning, maintenance, and more. In exchange, they typically take a percentage of the rental income.
DIY rental means you do it all yourself—listing your RV on platforms like Outdoorsy or RVezy, communicating with guests, coordinating cleanings and hand-offs, dealing with damages and issues, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Let’s explore how the two stack up.
RV Rental Management: Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
1. Truly Passive Income
Once your RV is enrolled in a management program, you don’t need to lift a finger. You collect income while professionals handle everything.
2. Higher Utilization
Professionals optimize pricing, listings, and availability to ensure your RV is booked as often as possible.
3. Professional Maintenance & Upkeep
Your RV gets cleaned, inspected, and maintained regularly—keeping it in better condition long-term.
4. Full Commercial Insurance
Top management services include comprehensive rental insurance, giving you peace of mind if something goes wrong.
5. Discounted or Free Storage
Some programs provide storage as part of the service, saving you money and hassle.
6. Reliable, On-Time Payments
You get paid on a consistent schedule with no need to chase renters or resolve disputes.
❌ Cons
1. Management Fees
Most programs charge 50% of gross bookings. While this can reduce your take-home, it’s usually worth it for the time and stress saved.
2. Less Direct Control
You won’t handpick your renters or respond to inquiries personally. Some owners prefer that hands-on connection.
3. Service Availability
Not all areas have professional rental managers—especially in rural or low-demand regions. Programs like RV Management USA can help relocate your RV for you if needed.
DIY RV Rental: Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
1. Higher Revenue Potential (In Theory)
By avoiding management fees, you could keep 100% of the rental income—if you do everything right.
2. Total Control
You choose who rents your RV, when it's available, how it’s priced, and how it's maintained.
3. Hands-On Experience
Some owners enjoy being involved in every aspect of the process and learning the ropes of the rental business.
❌ Cons
1. Time-Consuming
Booking coordination, renter communication, cleaning, key exchanges, and emergency calls add up—especially during peak season.
2. Unpredictable Income
Without professional marketing and pricing strategies, many DIY owners struggle to get consistent bookings.
3. Limited Protection
If you're not using commercial insurance, a single incident could cost more than an entire season’s earnings.
4. Maintenance Burden
It’s on you to keep the RV roadworthy and renter-ready between every trip—no shortcuts.
5. Storage Challenges
DIY owners often pay full price for storage or scramble to find space during off-season months.
Quick Comparison Table
When Should You Choose DIY?
DIY might be right for you if:
- You have lots of free time and energy and enjoy managing logistics
- You live near your RV and can handle in-person exchanges
- You're trying to maximize every dollar of income
- You enjoy being hands-on and learning the business
But be prepared—it can feel like a part-time job.
When Is RV Rental Management the Better Choice?
RV rental management is ideal if:
- You’re short on time and want true passive income
- You don’t live near your RV or travel frequently
- You’re risk-averse and want professional maintenance and insurance
- You’re okay sharing a portion of revenue for peace of mind and convenience
Most owners eventually move to a managed model once they realize how much time DIY demands.
Final Verdict
Both paths can work, but it comes down to what you value most—maximum control or maximum convenience.
If you want to squeeze every dollar and enjoy the process, DIY can be rewarding—but requires time, patience, and commitment. On the other hand, rental management lets you earn money passively, with minimal effort, fewer risks, and more consistent results.
At RV Management USA, we specialize in helping owners turn their RV into a worry-free income stream. From bookings and cleanings to commercial insurance and remittance, we take care of the heavy lifting—so you don’t have to.
Thinking about renting your RV, but not sure which path to take? Talk to our team—we’ll help you run the numbers and decide what makes the most sense for your situation.
– RVM Team
