Owning a campervan was a dream that Jenny and Stephen had for a while before finally buying their rig. “We grew to love camping and the outdoors,” Jenny tells us, “and every time we would see an awesome tricked-out van, we immediately knew we wanted one of our own one day.”
That said, it wasn’t until they saw a specific episode of a favorite TV show that they knew exactly what they wanted. “We’re big Shark Tank fans and there was an episode that featured Boho Vans,” Jenny recalls. “Their design and passion for the work they do really spoke to us. The next day, Stephen reached out to Boho Vans and was in their shop a few days later! We can talk for hours about how much we love the Boho team, and since getting our van, it has brought so much joy to our lives and many others who rent from us.”
The van was definitely a fantastic purchase and has taken the couple on all sorts of amazing adventures. “We recently did a trip from San Diego to Washington and stopped in some epic spots along the way,” Jenny recounts. “We stayed in Big Sur, Redwood National Park, along the Oregon coast, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Bend, Oregon. It was the first time either of us have explored the southern Oregon coast and we were blown away! The coast is rugged and remote, which made it feel like we were the only two in the area. We will visit again soon!”
Yes, the adventures Jenny and Stephen have taken together are wonderful, but they always planned to share their van with others as well. “We actually bought the van knowing we wanted to start a business around it, and we use the van for our personal trips about every other month,” says Jenny.
So start a business they did! “We chose to list the van on Outdoorsy because it’s such an easy platform to use and it comes along with many benefits for an owner,” Jenny explains. “It’s truly the place that most renters are leveraging, and their support teams have been absolutely amazing to work with.”
Unfortunately, the business didn’t take off right away, leaving the couple feeling a bit like they may have gotten themselves into a pickle. “When we first launched in April 2022, we did not get our first real booking until mid/late May,” Jenny shares. “We let some of our closest friends use it to provide feedback on items they’d love to have in the van. We had a moment of panic that no one was going to book it, but once summer came, the bookings came flying in!”
Since that first booking, the business has grown tremendously, and Jenny and Stephen even have plans to add another van to their fleet in the next couple of years. How’d they grow so big so quickly? “For us, service is most important,” Jenny tells us. “We’ve had people travel to San Diego from other states just to rent the van, so we quickly realized we need to operate like a 5-star resort.
“We communicate with each renter consistently prior to pickup and we provide recommendations on campgrounds, camp sites, hiking trails, etc. We ensure our van has everything you need for the perfect camping trip, and we make sure our renters feel right at home when they head out on their journey!”
Stephen and Jenny now recommend Outdoorsy to others every chance they get. “We’d highly recommend renting on the platform!” they exclaim. “There are so many unique options available aside from campervans—you can rent massive RVs, teardrop trailers, or even off-roading Jeeps. The options are endless!”
In addition to recommending people rent from Outdoorsy, the couple also encourages folks to start their own rental businesses through Outdoorsy. “There’s no better feeling than seeing your renter come back from their trip with a massive smile on their face,” Jenny says. “That said, it’s really important to create a memorable experience, and the design of your van needs to speak to your audience. If you haven’t rented a van before, we highly recommend doing so before buying your own so you know what features are important to you.”
Stephen and Jenny have a strong passion for van life, and they love sharing that passion with other wanderers. “We hope our van brings out the adventure in our renters,” Jenny explains. “Van life is truly eye-opening for those who have not done it before, and it gives you a different perspective on camping. There’s something about being able to comfortably camp in the coolest places in the world that makes the experience a memorable one. We are centrally located near some of the best national and state parks in the US and we love sharing our backyard with new faces.”
All About Jenny and Stephen
Favorite morning beverage: Jenny: “Anything with multiple shots of espresso! Stephen loves lattes.”
Favorite campsite meal: “Cheeseburgers! We can’t think of anything better than a perfectly grilled burger.”
Music you like to play on the radio: “We have similar taste in music, which makes it easy for us to agree on music. We love anything from rock n’ roll to electronic dance music to surf rock.”
Best game to play on the road or at your campsite: “We’re big UNO fans! It tends to get a bit heated.”
Favorite season: Jenny: “Fall.” Stephen: “Summer.”
What’s your Outdoorsy spirit animal? Jenny: “Moose.” Stephen: “Otter.”
If you could travel anywhere in an RV, where would you go? “We have a list of spots we want to explore soon. We want to get more familiar with the Eastern Sierra Mountains and we want to visit Zion sometime in 2023. We also plan on renting a van on Outdoorsy from the Seattle area to do an Olympic National Park trip!”
