Back to Basics: Prepping for Peak Season & Maximizing Profits

Welcome back to the RV Rental Secrets Podcast! In this episode, your hosts Stacy Maxon and Garr Russell dive into the essentials of prepping your RV rental business for the busy summer season. Whether you're just starting out or already have a growing fleet, this episode is packed with insights to help you simplify operations, increase profitability, and approach the upcoming season with confidence.

As the weather warms up, it’s time to go back to basics—like de-winterizing your RVs, inspecting seals and roofs, deep cleaning each unit, and addressing any lingering repairs from last season. Stacy shares her own process, with help from her certified RV tech husband, while Garr emphasizes the importance of mindset and preparation. They also explore a key strategy that many owners overlook: setting higher nightly minimums. Instead of filling your calendar with short, two-night bookings that lead to more work and potential for damage, Stacy and Garr explain why focusing on longer stays can actually reduce your workload and boost your revenue.

Another big focus of this episode is the creative use of add-ons. From chairs and grills to airport pickups, craft kits, and even extra-clean packages, the possibilities for additional income are endless. The duo shares clever ideas for how to test what renters really want—without overspending or overcomplicating your offerings. Garr even throws in out-of-the-box ideas like offering next year’s booking in exchange for a small gift or bonus, such as a pizza night or letting guests keep the camping chairs they rented.

Finally, Stacy and Garr remind us that every renter is a potential repeat customer—and your goal should be to create an experience that brings them back year after year. From strategic follow-ups to converting platform customers into direct repeat bookings, they offer simple but powerful ways to think long-term. Plus, they give a special shoutout to Katie Reeder in Las Vegas for building a collaborative RV rental community that’s raising the bar for everyone.

This episode is full of real-life tips, inspiration, and practical strategies that will set you up for a successful 2025 rental season—and beyond. Don’t forget to leave a review, share with a friend in the industry, and let’s continue to grow this amazing RV rental community together!