When Lucie Hartzell and her husband traded their older class A for a 2017 Coachman Freedom Express Limited Edition 322RLDS, they were thrilled with everything the rig had to offer. Unfortunately, they quickly came to realize it wasn’t going to work for them. “That October 2016 purchase turned out to be a financial mistake,” Lucie explained. “The first time we used the RV, we found it too difficult to hook it up to the truck. We did not have the physical strength. The RV was never used for personal use after that. It just sat in the yard depreciating.”
Getting a New Rig
Luckily, there is more to this story. The couple soon found another rig for personal use. “In January 2017 we purchased the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder as our RV,” Lucie told us. “Everything is push-button, and now we live in it full time, traveling in the south in the winter and staying in Pennsylvania from spring to fall.”
Putting the Old to Use
Still, something had to be done about the trailer, which was still sitting unused. This is where Outdoorsy came in. “I listed the RV late in the 2018 summer season and kept it up until October 31st, 2018. I managed to make enough money to cover all my expenses of ownership for the year,” Lucie shared enthusiastically. Obviously this was wonderful, as it meant the Hartzell’s weren’t losing any money. By listing earlier in the season next year, they should make a pretty nice profit.
Meeting New Faces
Of course, while money is always fabulous, the people we meet are the real gems and some of the very best rewards for renting. Fortunately for Mrs. Hartzell, she’s had an enormous number of beautiful renters.
Lucie recounted one of her best rental stories: “I once rented to an elderly handicapped lady who had not traveled since her husband’s death. She saw my RV and realized that she could sleep on the Lay-Z-Boy, and was able to use the bathroom. Because of this, she was able to camp for a week at the same campground that her son had a seasonal site.”
Besides that heartwarming story, she also told tales of renting her trailer for family reunions, weddings, and a little girl’s sleepover party. She’s rented the RV to a father and son who used it on the Hartzell’s property, and tailgaters hanging out before a big game.
Clearly, the Hartzell’s trailer—which once sat unused and lonely—is now filled with joy and love. Thanks to the profits earned from renting, Lucie and her husband can continue to make these fabulous experiences happen for renters, and they’ll likely make some pretty good profits doing it.
All About Lucie
Favorite morning beverage: “Black coffee”
Favorite campsite meal: “Hotdog on a stick.”
Music you like to play on the radio: “Bluegrass”
Best game to play on the road or at your campsite: “Cards”
Favorite season: “Spring”
Last photo you took: “My granddaughter modeling her new blanket she got for her birthday.”
What’s your Outdoorsy spirit animal? Butterfly
If you could travel anywhere in an RV, where would you go? “Belize”
