Considering their success on Outdoorsy, we were curious to learn how owners Shawn and Sheila Turner got into the rental business. “I am a huge fan of converted Sprinters and saw an opportunity for rentals in Seattle,” Shawn explains. “We had been talking about taking advantage of that opportunity and starting a Sprinter camper van rental company when Sheila was laid off in 2018 due to corporate downsizing, so we decided to give it a shot and bought three vans.”
They could have chosen to go solo and rent on their own but realized it probably wasn’t the best idea. Their solution? Outdoorsy, of course. “We chose to rent our vans on Outdoorsy because we liked the rental software, insurance options, and the Outdoorsy name and marketing power,” Shawn tells us.
“We also like the driver screening and insurance. We’ve had a handful of incidents, and the Outdoorsy claims process is very user-friendly. We’ve had a very good experience with Outdoorsy and think it’s the best option out there for both individuals and small businesses.”
Not long after listing their vans on Outdoorsy, the Turners saw their business take off and they fell in love with helping others explore the outdoors in complete comfort. “We love that our vans make getting out and exploring easier, especially for people flying into the area and don’t want to lug all their camping gear with them on a plane,” Shawn says. “Not only that, but I think our modular systems that can be tailored to each customer’s needs set us apart from most others.”
One of the most rewarding things about renting RVs? Meeting new people and enjoying their adventures second-hand. “The majority of renters have been like-minded families looking to explore the beautiful Pacific Northwest,” the Turners share. “Our favorite renters? Probably the couple that got engaged on a trip in one of our vans. However, there are countless stories about how much fun people’s kids had on their trip.”
Shawn and Sheila have been incredibly successful renting their vans on Outdoorsy. They’ve brought in over $500,000 in three years and now have eight vans in their fleet. That said, their advice for those just starting out in the business might not be what you’d expect. “Be ready to clean, clean, and clean some more,” Shawn says. Honestly, though, he’s not wrong. Cleaning is a big part of the job!
All About Shawn and Sheila
Favorite morning beverage: “Water for Shawn and coffee for Sheila.”
Favorite campsite meal: “Quesadillas.”
Music you like to play on the radio: “Jam bands.”
Best game to play on the road or at your campsite: “Cornhole.”
Favorite season: “PNW summers.”
Last photo you took: “Our dog, Kaiser.”
If you could travel anywhere in an RV, where would you go? “We’d love to travel from Seattle to Chile or Argentina.”
