The Best Ways To Make Money From An RV
You can do so many things to make money while on the road. You can work camp, take seasonal jobs in different parts of the country, or work remotely. But have you ever thought about how you can make money WITH your RV?
Whether you are just starting your RV adventure or been down the road a few miles, think outside of the box and check out some of these ideas on how to make money with your RV.
Rent out your RV
There are so many people who would like to live a full-time RV life. Jobs and money, however, seem to be hindering factors. Also, the question, “Will I be happy doing this?” comes up.
Renting your RV might be the perfect solution. You get a chance to find out how well you like it and you get up and running, making some money before going all in.
Some ways to rent out your RV include doing it yourself. You collect all the rent you make, but you are also responsible for everything from marketing to cleaning up and more. You also must be able to troubleshoot any RV problems or provide any help your renters may need. If you choose to do it this way, make sure your insurance will cover any problems, and make sure the renter has insurance that would cover the rig.
There are several companies you can go through to rent your RV. RVShare and Outdoorsy are just a couple of those places. Before you choose one of these, make sure you and your RV stay safe. The company you choose should provide insurance as part of the booking, provide roadside assistance, and technical support to your renters. The company will likely do the marketing, so that’s one less thing you need to be concerned about.
Some positives to renting out your RV are you get to decide when it gets rented. In other words, you can live in your RV for most of the year and just rent it out when you want to be away. That’s particularly good if you still have a sticks and bricks.
Airbnb is also a great way to rent out your RV in a stationary place. People who are looking to stay in a certain area might like the idea of glamping. They don’t have to move it anywhere, worry about setting up, or tearing down or taking it on the road.
Check out the filter on Airbnb to see other RV rentals. If you are interested in getting into the rental business, you can always rent out one RV while you travel around the country in another.
Turn your RV into a business
How about turning your RV into a food truck? You can travel around the country parking at events and make money selling food. You could also turn your RV into a mobile dog grooming or dog washing business. A smaller Class C or a van would be great for this. You could pull up to someone’s site and make sure Fido has the best care.
Anything you like to create can be sold out of your camper. Put on your thinking cap. What are you good at that will turn your RV into a small shop? Everyone loves those cool personalized RV signs you see everywhere.
What about selling a product? Essential oils, homemade soaps, and other products can be a great source of income. You would likely sell a lot of these products online, but be sure and check with your park to make sure there are no rules to prevent you from selling to your RV neighbors.
You can also sell your goods at festivals, fairs, or RV shows, or run an Etsy shop out of your RV.
Become a traveling nurse
Becoming a traveling nurse is a great way to work and see the country. You need to have your RN and at least one year of experience. Once you have that, you can sign up with an agency that specializes in placing nurses.
Traveling nurses usually spend three or four months at a job, depending on the need and on your specialty. Traveling nurses fill in the gaps when there are unfilled positions, maternity leave, leaves of absence, and emergency shortages.
Become a mobile RV tech
Mobile RV techs are in great demand all over the country. You might want to check into a school such as the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. There, you can follow a curriculum for an RV tech or an RV inspector.
The Recreational Vehicle Services Academy in Palmetto, Florida also provides certified RV technician training. Both schools will get you on track and done with training in a relatively short period of time.
Try flipping RVs
If you like working on RVs, both technically and aesthetically, you might be up for flipping RVs to make extra income. If you can live in the RV you are flipping, then that’s even better. Be sure to share your work on YouTube and social media for more attention.
Take advantage of seasonal work
There are many jobs that seasonal workers can do from their RVs, from working in the retail or services industry to managing a Christmas tree lot in the winter. Many of these positions require you to live in your RV on-site.
Carnival or circus work can also present opportunities to travel in your RV while working.
With the way the economy is today, there are many companies that need workers and can’t find people to fill the positions. My husband has come across a temp agency here in Phoenix that hires mostly food service workers but others as well, such as valets, special event workers, and more.
He can pick and choose the jobs he wants through an app that gives him open jobs on a daily basis. If he doesn’t want to work, he can reject any position that comes up. This not only gives him more experience in different areas but also gives him flexibility and the ability to travel in our RV whenever we want. We plan to work camp in the summer when it’s too hot to be in Arizona.
Amazon is a great place for seasonal work as well.
Be an in-demand virtual assistant
With a good phone and internet connection, and the ability to multitask, virtual assistants are in demand. They provide services to a company or individual such as managing projects, scheduling appointments, making travel arrangements, sending emails, making phone calls, and much more.
To do this job, you need great communication and organizational skills, but you can set your own hours, work independently, or be part of a team.
As a virtual assistant, you can make upwards of $30 an hour, depending on the services you provide.
Other jobs for RVers
How you make money from your RV can also include jobs such as freelance writing, including writing blog posts, technical writing, business writing, and editing.
If you have the skills, jobs such as a web designer, graphic designer, or video editor are also great for RVers. You might want to check out medical coding, online teaching, or work sites such as Upwork, Rev.com (transcription services), or Flexjobs, just to name a few.
All of these online positions require a good internet connection, so make sure you research campgrounds before you arrive. Check RV LIFE Campgrounds and the Speed Tests from other RVers to learn more about a campground’s connectivity.
No matter your skills, if you are ready to put your RV to work for you or work from your RV, there are plenty of opportunities to be had. Get that resume ready and get ready to work.
Get tips from other RVers
One of the best parts about RVing is engaging with the community of traveling enthusiasts. iRV2 forums allow folks to chat with other RVers online, and get other perspectives on everything RVing, including products, destinations, RV mods, and more.
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Interesting. But several of the money-makers would require licensing, permits, whatever. Saw no mention of any of that. Personally I would only be interested in such information for Etsy, none of the rest of the suggest ions appeal to me.
So, I would like to know about these things, and I am sure a bunch of other people would also.
Thanks for the good info. What’s the agency and app your husband uses in AZ?
Ever been inside a dog grooming van. The mess is unbelievable. Not sure I could live in my RV again if it had been used for grooming. Bad idea for how to make some extra money.
Same with turning it into a food truck. Unless you’re not cooking what, you’re selling the added smells and grease turns your RV into a grease pot, not to mention the required permits and the extra sanitation required to sell food.