RVezy: How a Great Idea Turned Into a New Way to Find Campers for Rent
Every great adventure starts somewhere, and for RVezy, it started with a simple idea: What if people could share their RVs and campers with others who wanted to experience the freedom of the open road without having to buy one themselves?
Back in 2016, two outdoor enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, Michael McNaught and Will Thompson, recognized an opportunity that was sitting right in front of them. They loved the RV lifestyle, understood the joys of camping and road trips, and noticed something interesting about the recreational vehicle market. Thousands of RVs, motorhomes, travel trailers, and campers were sitting unused for most of the year. Meanwhile, plenty of people were dreaming about camping adventures but didn't want the expense or commitment of owning their own recreational vehicle. It was the perfect opportunity to connect two groups of people!
A Simple Idea With Big Potential
The story behind RVezy began with personal experience. Michael McNaught had purchased a motorhome and discovered that renting it out could be a great way to offset the costs of ownership. Rather than letting an expensive vehicle sit parked in the driveway, why not allow someone else to enjoy it while earning some extra income? It was a win-win situation. The idea was straightforward: RV owners could make their vehicles available to travelers looking for campers for rent, while vacationers could enjoy an RV adventure without making a major financial investment.
But there was a problem. Finding campers for rent wasn't always easy. People often had to search through classified advertisements, local listings, and word-of-mouth recommendations. The process could be inconvenient, and there were questions about insurance, safety, payments, and trust between strangers. Michael and Will saw an opportunity to make the entire experience easier. In August 2016, RVezy officially launched in Canada as one of the country's first peer-to-peer RV rental marketplaces. Think Airbnb, but instead of renting someone's spare bedroom or vacation home, you could rent their motorhome, travel trailer, or camper!
Finding Its Niche in the Market
What made RVezy different was its focus on peer-to-peer rentals. Traditional RV rental companies generally operated with their own fleets of vehicles. RVezy took a different approach by creating an online marketplace where everyday RV owners could list their personal vehicles and make them available to travelers. This opened up an entirely new world of possibilities.
Instead of being limited to the selection offered by traditional rental companies, travelers could browse a much wider variety of campers for rent. Looking for a small travel trailer for a weekend getaway? No problem. Want a large motorhome for a family vacation? You could find that too. Prefer a campervan for exploring scenic backroads? There were options for that as well. The variety was a major part of the appeal.
RVezy created a marketplace that brought together people who already owned recreational vehicles with people who wanted to experience the RV lifestyle. Owners could earn extra money from an otherwise underused investment, while renters could enjoy affordable and flexible camping vacations. It was a clever solution to a problem that many people didn't even realize had a simple answer.
Making Camping More Accessible
One of the biggest motivations behind starting RVezy was making RV travel more accessible. Buying a camper or motorhome can be expensive. Beyond the purchase price, owners have to consider insurance, maintenance, storage, registration, and other ongoing expenses. For someone who only wants to go camping a few times a year, purchasing an RV might not make much financial sense. RVezy helped remove that obstacle.
By creating a convenient place to find campers for rent, the company gave more people an opportunity to enjoy the camping lifestyle without the responsibilities of ownership. At the same time, it gave RV owners a way to turn an idle asset into an income-producing opportunity. The concept was about more than simply renting vehicles. It was about sharing experiences, helping people explore the outdoors, and making better use of resources that were already available. And that idea clearly struck a chord with the public.
From a Canadian Startup to a Growing Marketplace
RVezy's early growth showed that people were ready for a different approach to RV rentals. The company began building its community of owners and renters, expanding its listings and improving the booking experience. Its appearance on Canada's television show Dragons' Den in 2017 helped bring additional attention to the business and attracted investment from entrepreneur Michele Romanow.
As the platform grew, so did its ambitions. RVezy continued investing in technology, customer service, and the overall rental experience. It introduced mobile booking capabilities, making it easier for travelers to find campers for rent while on the go and for owners to manage their listings. The company eventually expanded beyond Canada into the United States, bringing its peer-to-peer rental concept to an even larger audience. The demand for outdoor vacations grew particularly strong during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many families began looking for ways to travel closer to home while enjoying more space and flexibility. RV vacations became an attractive alternative to traditional hotels and flights. For RVezy, it was another opportunity to demonstrate the value of its original idea.
A Great Idea That Keeps People Moving
Today, RVezy represents something bigger than an online directory of campers for rent. It has helped create a community built around sharing, earning, exploring, and experiencing the outdoors. Its success comes from recognizing that the perfect camper for someone's vacation might already be sitting in a neighbor's driveway. That's really what makes the business model so appealing. RV owners have an opportunity to earn additional income, travelers have access to more choices, and more people get to experience the freedom and excitement of life on the road.
What started as an idea between two entrepreneurs who understood the RV lifestyle has grown into a major North American peer-to-peer rental marketplace. And the original concept remains just as relevant today: make it easier for people to find great campers for rent, help owners make the most of their recreational vehicles, and give everyone a chance to create unforgettable outdoor memories. after all, you don't have to own a camper to enjoy the camping lifestyle. Sometimes, all you need is the right set of wheels, a little sense of adventure, and a great place to find campers for rent!
That's the idea behind RVezy — and it's an idea that continues to put more people on the road and closer to their next great adventure.