After some feedback

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Guy down the road from me has been doing it for a few years now and appears to be pretty successful..... as far as suplimentary income goes;

http://www.babyboomerscutloose.com.au/

He used to do Campers, but appears to be now only doing Vans, don't know if that is because of our location..... or demand.

Great concept though, a blend of your hobby and income, perfect

[wengnuts Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wengnuts]

Re: After some feedback

Sound business idea however initial capital outlay to purchase the campers would be rather substantial. Personally I would take up the offer to hire a unit if it's available in QLD.

[adam's prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close adam's prado]

Re: After some feedback

Not only the initial outlay but the insurance of each camper not everyone is responsible with others property like the old saying goes "drive it like you stole it"
so there will have to be a pretty hefty premium involved.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: After some feedback

Matt, we hire one a while ago from a place in brissie, ABL trailers, used it for tour days took it back, i don't think i will ever buy one. $300 bucks loved it.

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: After some feedback

A guy in my parents town in Tassie is doing this as his 2nd income and they're (5 campers) are booked out pretty much the year round BUT he has a great market as trailers cost so much to take on the boat over there but cars don't. Elsewhere I've thought about it previously but figured "why spend it on hiring when it could go towards one of my own" - hence I now own albeit a cheap one which is doing us well. When you say "medium duty" be assured they wont just get "medium" treatment!

As stated, it depends where you are and how many people use your route to get to a major 4WDing destination?

[WBY 1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close WBY 1]

Re: After some feedback

my dad has been looking at camper trailers for the last 2-3 years and been to every 4wd between maitland and rosehill. a couple of points we've discovered: we haven't come across anyone that hires out camper trailers (1 model with a 6 month waiting list doesn't count), resale of top end camper trailers are pretty good, the average person doesn't know what level of CT theyre after, and is >$30k on a CT really worth it??

so yes, I think there is potential if you have a range of CTs. Not sure about insurance and initial outlay side of things though...

[bevwone Member Find all posts View Profile Close bevwone]

Re: After some feedback

There a couple of dealers in Adelaide that rent camper trailers.

The only one I can think of off the top of my head though is Adventure Campers, their price list is attached here

http://www.adventurecampers.com.au/c...e_adelaide.htm or their web site here http://www.adventurecampers.com.au/. It appears they only rent from SA & Vic.

Perhaps this would be the way to go if initial capital was a problem - become an outlet for the company.

Bev

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: After some feedback

People are hiring them here in the West as well, so it seems to be an increasing trend to do this. I know a few people who have hired these, and they see it as good value, while the owner must be making a dollar as well.

There is another guy in Busselton who was hiring them, but he was making them. It was a Caravan/Camping business with a fabrication shop. They were very good units, he may still be doing this, not sure.

So its like anything, there are bz times and not so bz. Depends on what your outlay is, overheads and ongoing costs.

I agree with the comments about Rent-A-Thrash attitude. It would be my biggest worry. Would want to ensure adequate Bond, or good insurance.

[lofty Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lofty]

Re: After some feedback

There a couple of dealers in Adelaide that rent camper trailers.

The only one I can think of off the top of my head though is Adventure Campers, their price list is attached here

Challenge Campers is another one that is renting in Adelaide, we have one booked for the next school holidays. Cost is about $1100.00 for the 18 days hire period, PLUS $500.00 bond refundable two weeks after return, allowing for a full clean and inspection. I think they have 7 available, and we were
lucky to get the last one a few weeks ago.

Lots of work involved IMHO, dont know about you but spare time is limited in this house.

Best of luck.

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: After some feedback

The Idea is a good one. Take the storage problem and unused equipment problems out of the equation for people and it has to be popular. Also, there are many people (I know some) with very little time to pack campers because their working lives are extremely busy. The concept of "pick up and go" I think would be very appealing to people like this. You could even take things further and a pack a fridge for them if this is what they want. Literally... hitch up and roll.... fully set.

You'd need to look at the market you have in the area too. Right now it seems that people aren't spending what they might when times are better so I'd wait until people are more confident to spend money on things like this. For instance, you might do better with extremely simple campers that are cheaper to rent... but ready to roll. Are camper trailers the realm of the working class? I'd hazard that's a good guess. So maybe expensive tricked out campers won't be the thing. Then, if the surrounding demographic is higher socio-economic, then a little more luxury might be the thing. So I guess you really need to study your potential renters and what they can afford.

Then you'd need to advertise. On the Web. Big time on the web. Create a website that makes it simple as anything to book a camper online. Get your website linked to as many travel info sites as humanly possible. The web is now the way to book holidays. People from the UK, America, Norway, New Zealand.... any frigging where will book online and get instant confirmation of their reservation, rather than stay up till 3 in the morning for Australian business hours so they can book over the phone. If something has a good website with lots of pics and info, they get my business, because I know what I'm booking. Put up the most frequently asked questions and their answers. There's nothing worse than a difficult to follow website with precious little info on it. Advertise it properly and watch the renters roll in. Your specialty could be equipping your camper trailers for Australian conditions. People in the UK will like that I'd reckon because they will no longer have to worry if the camper will make it around OZ without falling apart.

It's a good idea. See what the competition are doing. Then ask yourself what's needed to make what they do even better. Then do that yourself.

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Re: After some feedback

There is someone renting them out of here (karratha) as well.

We have not rented one yet but are planning to do so soon.

Anyway, web address attached as a reference as to what brands and prices people are charging
http://www.northwestcampers.com.au/

Cheers,

Will

[nickchap Member Find all posts View Profile Close nickchap]

Re: After some feedback

A business called Desert Access at North Plympton here in S.A. has been hiring camper trailers and a great range of 4WD equipment for a long time.
I have hired 80L fridge and other recovery stuff some 3 years ago for a Simpson trip.
Have a look at their web site to see the range of gear and how it is set up.
A great guy and may be able to give some good advice.

Hope this helps

Nick

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

Re: After some feedback

my dad has been looking at camper trailers for the last 2-3 years and been to every 4wd between maitland and rosehill. a couple of points we've discovered: we haven't come across anyone that hires out camper trailers (1 model with a 6 month waiting list doesn't count), resale of top end camper trailers are pretty good, the average person doesn't know what level of CT theyre after, and is >$30k on a CT really worth it??

so yes, I think there is potential if you have a range of CTs. Not sure about insurance and initial outlay side of things though...

Challenge Campers is another one that is renting in Adelaide, we have one booked for the next school holidays. Cost is about $1100.00 for the 18 days hire period, PLUS $500.00 bond refundable two weeks after return, allowing for a full clean and inspection. I think they have 7 available, and we were
lucky to get the last one a few weeks ago.

Lots of work involved IMHO, dont know about you but spare time is limited in this house.

Best of luck.

It just so happens that I was looking at the Challenge Campers website on Monday and their NSW agent is about 400m around the corner from my place of work at Rydalmere. I called in to have a chat as we are looking at hiring for a weekend in October. These guys are the agent for Challenge as I said but also are directly related to Campomatic and Trak Shak and have these for hire as well.

You'd need to look at the market you have in the area too. Right now it seems that people aren't spending what they might when times are better so I'd wait until people are more confident to spend money on things like this. For instance, you might do better with extremely simple campers that are cheaper to rent... but ready to roll. Are camper trailers the realm of the working class? I'd hazard that's a good guess. So maybe expensive tricked out campers won't be the thing. Then, if the surrounding demographic is higher socio-economic, then a little more luxury might be the thing. So I guess you really need to study your potential renters and what they can afford.

I don't know what to make of the "current economic climate" as far as people spending money. You can look at two ways 1. people will pull back from spending on holidays or 2. people will take the cheaper option of camping in a little comfort instead of spending up big on overseas trips so you may snare that market. Just a thought.

Not only the initial outlay but the insurance of each camper not everyone is responsible with others property like the old saying goes "drive it like you stole it"
so there will have to be a pretty hefty premium involved.

Chatting to the guy at Challenge about purchasing an ex rental he made the comment that made sense to me which was a lot of NSW metro based rentals don't really get worked that hard as they hitch up and head up the freeway to a van park in Port Macquarie or the like as opposed to say SA where in two hours (or so) you can be on the dirt off the beaten track. Obviously you do get the minority who will treat them like crap.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Re: After some feedback

Matt,

After being in a business myself I soon realised that what may be a small problem to you will be a problem of Mt Everst proportion to your customer. People are basically pains in the arse to deal with period. Be prepared to travel to pick up campers that your customers deem to be not roadworthy and require a new one in place of it.

It wont be easy money and make sure you limit your liability in the business.

Cheers

Mav

[Malcur Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Malcur]

Re: After some feedback

Matt,

We hired a camper for a week to get the feel of camper trailers, before buying one a few months later. I think a lot of people go down that route. We hired from Johnno's who have an Australia-wide network of agents who hire and sell. You could try talking to some of their agents to see how they are doing. The one we hired from was in Freeman's Reach (near Windsor , NW of Sydney). As I recall, he was a coach driver and ran the hire business in his spare time.

Mal