Full-time pilots put $150,000 into an RV side hustle. They explain how it generates revenue and share unexpected challenges.

After their own mediocre RV rental experience, Carrie and Brian Smith saw a business opportunity: offer travelers a more polished version of RV living.

The Dallas-based couple, both full-time airline pilots, had already been exploring side-hustle ideas as they approached the industry’s mandatory retirement age of 65.

At the end of 2023, they purchased seven RVs for about $782,000, putting down about $127,000 and financing the rest.

They spent another $23,000 outfitting the fleet with sheets, towels, kitchen supplies, toiletries, first-aid kits, and other amenities and started listing their rentals in early 2024.

The Smiths compare their business, Suite Glamping Adventures, to “Airbnb on wheels.” In the RV world, the closest equivalent to Airbnb is Outdoorsy, a platform for renting RVs from individual owners.

Bookings range from three- or four-day trips to rentals lasting several weeks, but they’ve learned that longer trips are generally more worthwhile. “You almost get nothing out of it on a three-day rental because of your costs,” Brian told Business Insider.

Starting with seven RVs allowed the couple to experiment with various sizes, from a 22-footer to a 32-footer, and learn which models customers preferred.

They said their larger RVs perform particularly well, while the smallest RVs are rented less frequently but appeal to couples and smaller groups.

Spring break is one of the Smiths’ busiest periods, while August can be slow because of the Texas heat.

Rentals also tend to drop in January and February.

There are other ways to make money beyond traditional family vacations.

One of their RVs, for example, served as a mobile broadcast studio for a Dutch public radio crew covering the 2026 World Cup.

They said the booking generated about $9,500.

The Smiths’ fleet has grown to nine vehicles, which Business Insider verified by reviewing the insurance identification cards for each one.

They said the business brought in about $114,000 in 2024 and $95,000 in 2025.

They’re confident it can eventually generate at least $150,000 a year as they improve operations and pursue more corporate and event bookings.

Loan payments, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, storage, platform fees, and other operating expenses all reduce what they ultimately keep.

Sometimes it feels like “everybody’s got their hand in your pocket,” Brian said.

While the business isn’t yet profitable, the Smiths said it has already benefited them financially through tax deductions and the accumulation of assets.

As high-earning W-2 employees with several children in college, they were looking for ways to put their money to work in a business rather than continue facing a growing tax bill.

For now, they said, deductions tied to the business have allowed them to report losses that reduce their taxable income.

The Smiths learned early on that owning an RV fleet would not be “a cakewalk,” said Brian.

They had requested that all seven of their original vehicles be delivered winterized, but only three were.

Dallas then experienced an extended stretch of temperatures below 20 degrees, causing about $16,000 in freeze damage that they had to repair.

Other challenges and headaches have included vehicle damage, maintenance and upkeep, demanding renters, and finding a place to keep the fleet.

Over time, the Smiths have become more selective about whom they rent to.

They’ve found that a small share of customers can create a disproportionate amount of work — an “80-20 rule” of sorts — and have learned that saying no to certain bookings can save them headaches later.

Storage presented another challenge.

After paying $2,000 a month for covered parking at a public-storage facility, they purchased 2.5 acres where they can maintain their RVs and, eventually, rent space to other RV owners.

Some lessons have been less expensive but no less practical. “One of the biggest things we learned is not to buy all-white sheets,” Carrie said.

Because the RVs contain king-, queen-, full-, and twin-size beds, they initially spent hours trying to distinguish nearly identical linens before replacing them with color-coded sets, with each color representing a different bed size.

They’ve also learned that hooks are “the key to a successful vacation,” since RVs can sleep far more people than their limited drawers and closets can accommodate.

Some lessons have come through trial and error, while others have come from networking with fellow operators and attending industry events and travel-business summits.

The business is far from passive and demands a significant time commitment on top of their already busy careers and lives.

On one recent day, Brian had a flight simulator session, a physical, this interview, and dance lessons with Carrie before leaving for four days of flying.

Carrie, meanwhile, spent several hours working on the RVs at their property. “We don’t sit still,” he said. “It’s crazy, crazy bouncing around and just juggling it to make it work.” For Brian, the biggest lesson has been learning to stay calm no matter what comes up. “The key is to try not to get too high or too low,” he said, noting that unexpected situations are inevitable when running a business. “That’s kind of life, really, when you think about it.

Each day is going to come with challenges.”

Advertisement