“Renting is really a no-brainer if you own an RV,” Outdoorsy Owner Wayne Marci says. “The rig might as well earn some income instead of sitting in a driveway for four or more months out of the year!”
For Wayne, that income comes from listing his van on Outdoorsy.
“I decided to buy my campervan in graduate school to avoid the exorbitant rent prices of the Bay Area,” he shares. “I then used it for a four-month-long road trip around the Southwest for rock climbing and mountain biking.”
He also lived in the van for another stretch of time as he built websites, using coffee shops for internet access.
Wayne adds that he made many awesome memories during his travels. “Rock climbing at Indian Creek in Moab, Utah is probably among the best – there’s beautiful splitter cracks for hundreds and hundreds of feet. I also loved backpacking and skiing in Crested Butte, Colorado.”
Although the van was originally purchased for personal use, that didn’t stop Wayne from renting it out when the idea was quite literally hurled at him. “The co-founder of Outdoorsy, Jennifer Young, yelled, ‘I like your van, check out my new company!’ as she drove by me in San Francisco one day a few years ago,” Marci recalls. “Now the van is an awesome rental!”
“Booking came in pretty much instantly, within a week or two maybe,” Wayne shares. “I was very nervous about renting my baby out at first, but the first couple of renters made it a very pleasurable experience, and since then I’ve made just over $10,000 in a year of renting it.”
“I hope my Old Faithful ‘Van Vida’ allows others to experience the outdoors and freedom that comes with RVing,” he says. “I actually know my campervan has done that already, thanks to Outdoorsy.”
Wayne fondly remembers his very first rental – a woman and her son on their way to tour the west coast.
“They thanked me so much for the experience and wanted to book it again,” he says. “I’m very stoked to help make memories like that for people.”
All about Wayne Marci
Favorite morning beverage:
“Coffee from my AeroPress”
Favorite campsite meal:
“Burritos”
Music you like to play on the radio:
“Usually listening to old school rock, Grateful Dead, Stones, etc…”
Best game to play on the road or at your campsite:
“My buddies and I are usually in the van in the winter and avoid the cold winds, rain, and/or snow with hot toddies, the heater on, and playing cards.”
Favorite season:
“All year-round!”
What’s your Outdoorsy spirit animal?
“Probably a fox. The van life allows freedom and makes you a crafty, humble being.”
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
“I would love to float my campervan over to Europe and tour around rock climbing and mountain biking. Or better yet, rent one through one of the Outdoorsy outfitters in Europe!”
Inspired to list your RV on Outdoorsy? Extra income is just a click away.
