Purchasing her first RV was a game changer for Steffanie Esquivel and her family. “In 2021, we lived in Reno, Nevada and the housing market and everything else was getting crazy there,” Steffanie explains. “We knew we wanted a better life for our children and to spend more time with them, so we decided to sell everything we had and buy an RV.”
Unfortunately, the RV market was just as rough on buyers as the housing market, and there were very few RVs available to choose from. “Funny enough, we ended up with our RV because it was the only RV in Reno that we could find that had bunk beds,” Steffanie recalls. “The options were limited. We ended up loving it though.”
Once the family had a rig that would work for them, they hit the road. The goal? To have an amazing time while searching for the perfect place to call home. “We spent nine months traveling the country trying to find the place we wanted to raise our kids and ended up in Knoxville, Tennessee,” says Steffanie.
With their new home town picked out, the Esquivel family had to decide what to do with their RV. They could just sell it, of course, but Steffanie had a better idea. “I have always worked in real estate and property rentals, so I had a good idea of what it would be like to do RV rentals,” she tells us.
So Steffanie did her research and decided to list the trailer on Outdoorsy. “I chose Outdoorsy because they are the easiest to work with and provide so much support,” she raves. “I have loved working with Outdoorsy. Their platform is so user-friendly.”
Once listed, the RV started renting out immediately. It has now made the Esquivel family almost $20,000 in a single year, and Steffanie has been able to make a huge life change. “Now I get to enjoy being a stay-at-home mom to my two beautiful girls. Outdoorsy changed our life for the better!”
That’s right, since listing their RV on Outdoorsy, Steffanie has been able to quit her day job and stay home with her girls full-time. Not only that, but the trailer has rented out so well that the Esquivel family is considering buying a second rental rig!
Some of Steffanie’s tips for success? “Have an information binder ready,” she begins. “Know your rig. Treat this like your business, and don’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable doing. Ask the renter questions about their trip to make sure it’s a right fit and that they will be responsible—without grilling them. Be accommodating and fair, but don’t be taken advantage of. Have fun and meet lots of people and see new places!”
That last piece of advice is one Steffanie takes very seriously. “Since starting my rental business, I have had the opportunity to meet so many people and try so many new things that I am so grateful for,” she says.
All About Steffanie
Favorite morning beverage: “Coffee!”
Favorite campsite meal: “Hotdogs or a crab boil.”
Music you like to play on the radio: “Gangster Rap.”
Best game to play on the road or at your campsite: “Cards Against Humanity.”
Favorite season: “Summer.”
If you could travel anywhere in an RV, where would you go? “I would love to go to Montana.”
