“We are a family that loves the Outdoors,” owner Keith Malatesta tells us. “We ski, snowmobile, hike, bike, boat, and everything between! As my kids got to an age they could enjoy all the outdoor activities, an RV was a logical choice to fuel our adventures!”
Since it was such a logical move, the family purchased an RV and enjoyed it for a few years before ever considering renting it out. In fact, Keith likely never would have had the idea if it weren’t for a friend. “When I left my career as an IT executive,” Keith explains, “I was building houses, and my partner mentioned ‘renting out’ the RV that was sitting in my driveway.”
The rental idea seemed like a good one, so the Malatesta family decided to give it a try. “We originally listed on several platforms but found Outdoorsy to be the most user-friendly,” Keith shares. “The majority of our bookings were coming in from Outdoorsy, so we abandoned the other platforms and now work exclusively with Outdoorsy.”
Almost as soon as it was listed, Keith’s RV was in high demand. “We made $20k in bookings in one summer! We used the profits to buy our first two travel trailers, and the rest is history,” Keith says.
Keith is currently up to 13 rental RVs! “Using the revenue generated by each previous camper, we purchased new rigs with cash,” explains Keith. “Because of this, we are able to offer choices — different sizes, weights, configurations, and prices — from 17-foot bunkhouses that weigh 2,700 lbs and are easily pulled by a smaller SUV to an 8,000 lb 38-foot travel trailer that will sleep ten people in comfort.”
What do all of those rentals mean? New friends, of course! “We have met many great families,” Malatesta says. “It is one of the best things about running this business: meeting awesome people.”
Keith then goes on to give some examples. “I rented a camper to an older lady that was having her floors redone. I set the rig up in her backyard and got her all set up with utilities. It was November, so I visited her throughout the week to ensure she was warm enough and had adequate propane. I received the nicest letter from her after the rental, and she left me a great review!
“Now, I have a family in the Raina. They are on a month-long national park tour — The Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon. I love getting texts from them with pictures of their great adventure!”
“Our target market is young families that have never camped before,” Keith tells us. “There is nothing better than building a repeat customer list of families that had originally never camped and now do it two or three times a season. Giving people the ability to experience camping in comfort is a great reward.”
All About Keith
Favorite morning beverage: “Water (gave up coffee 6 weeks ago).”
Favorite campsite meal: “Breakfast: Bacon, eggs, toast, and hash browns cooked outside. Dinner: Lengua tacos or bratwursts with grilled peppers and onions.”
Music you like to play on the radio: “My taste in music is as wide as my taste in food: I like it all!”
Favorite season: “Fall.”
Last photo you took: “Lucy (our 1.5-year-old Weimaraner).”
What’s your Outdoorsy spirit animal: “Eagle… we seem to see them on every adventure!”
If you could travel anywhere in an RV, where would you go? “Grand Canyon (it’s on the bucket list).”
