How One RZR Owner Earned Over $15,000 in Less Than 10 Months using Side by Side Share

When Colton first mentioned he’d be leasing out his vehicle, a 2022 Polaris RZR Turbo R, his friends thought he’d lost it.

“Aren’t you worried about damage?”
“You’re letting strangers ride your RZR?”
“Sounds risky!”

But Colton wasn’t fazed. He’d already done the math: His RZR was sitting idle for days at a time, and he wanted to offset the financing (and maybe even make a profit) without giving up the thrill of, occasionally, riding it himself.

The only question was how to do it safely.

Learning The Hard Way

Colton started off doing what most American entrepreneurs would do – he tried Facebook Marketplace.

At first, it worked just fine. He crafted a listing… posted it to a few Facebook Groups in his local area… and, eventually, booked a few rentals on his own.

But that all came to a screeching halt after one renter returned the machine with a bent axle. The inevitable, right? And because there was no formal deposit or contract, Colton got stuck chasing down a stranger for repair costs. Nightmare scenario? Check.

That’s when he decided to pivot and, fortunately, discovered us at Side by Side Share.

“Never doing Facebook again… Not without SxS Share.” – Colton

What changed his mind so drastically? In short, the built-in Vehicle Protection Plan. At Side by Side Share, we process a $1,000 security deposit from renters for every booking – automatically. And if something ever goes wrong, the platform helps handle the claims.

It’s like operating your own rental company, without all high insurance costs, overhead, and headaches.

For Colton, that was the peace of mind he needed to say, “Alright, let’s do this for real.”

Early Bookings & Big Earnings

Colton created his first listing on site in February 2024 and spent a little extra effort up front:

• Professional Photos: Action shots on the red dunes of Sand Hollow State Park
• A Friendly Bio: Colton included a selfie, and a short bio describing his love of off-roading
• Detailed Description: His listing highlighted key features of his RZR, including its 4-seat capacity, upgraded suspension, unique accessories, safety features, etc.
• Competitive Pricing: Colton researched local rental rates and set a fair price that appealed to both tourists and locals

It didn’t take too long for that prep work to pay off. In just a few short weeks, he scored his first official booking through SxS Share. Payout? $265 for a single day.

“Colton was great…easy to work with and very knowledgeable.” – Corey F, renter

By the end of 2024, Colton had racked up 44 bookings, netting over $15,000. This means that, on average, each rental brought him ~$340 – not bad for a machine that might otherwise have been collecting dust in his driveway.

The Snowball Effect: Listing #2

With Colton’s first RZR bringing in consistent income, he doubled down in Fall 2024, adding a 2022 Polaris Pro XP 4 Turbo to his Side by Side Share profile.

His goal for 2025? Earn up to $30,000 between both vehicles.

In the process, he also figured out a sweet pricing strategy: Start lower, build up reviews, then inch your rates higher once you’ve proven yourself.

Now, he’s bumped his listing prices to $300 and $450 per night for his two machines – still cheaper than many big outfitters at the end of the day, but enough to show how in-demand his RZRs really are.

What Makes Colton So Successful?

1. He Treats His Listing Like a Business
Clear photos, a professional bio, a straightforward vehicle description, a friendly tone – these little things matter. Renters want to feel like they’re booking from a real person who cares about their experience.

2. Location, Location, Location
St. George is prime territory for off-road enthusiasts, with Sand Hollow State Park just around the corner. Colton hypes up these local spots in his listing, which helps potential renters see the “adventure” right away.

Interestingly, Colton was Side by Side Share’s very first listing in the St. George region. While he certainly benefited from having that first-mover advantage, this showed us that renters were willing to trust our marketplace and quality listings like Colton's over the dozens of traditional adventure outfitters in that particular region.

3. Extra Promotion
Even though Facebook Marketplace was a bust for direct rentals, Colton still uses it – but only to link people to his official Side by Side Share listing. Think of it as free advertising, pointing folks toward a more secure platform.

4. Flexible Bookings
By default, Side by Side Share charges renters per night – which can add up to a nice profit for multi-night stays. Colton leaned into this by offering 15% off for bookings of five nights or more, a simple strategy that boosted his average cart value.

But he also realized that some people only want a machine for the day, so he clarified in his listing that same-day pick-up and drop-off is totally fine.

This way, Colton caters to both the multi-night adventurers and the day-trippers, expanding his reach and filling up his calendar.

5. Exceptional Service
Colton’s renters consistently left positive reviews thanks to his quick responses, well-maintained vehicle, and general knowledge of the local area. He promptly answered questions and responded to inquiries, ensured his RZR was always in top condition, and shared trail recommendations that enhanced the renters’ experience.

For every single-day rental or extended weekend trip, Colton’s renters came away impressed – something that often translates into glowing five-star reviews.

So, Should You List Your SxS?

If you’re staring at your own side-by-side right now – wondering if it’s worth the hassle to rent it out – look at Colton’s story. He started with:

• One RZR gathering dust mid-week
• Zero experience renting on a formal platform
• A ton of (justified) anxiety about damage

He ended up with 44 bookings in less than a year, a second machine, and a plan to hit $30k in annual income.

The secret sauce? A marketplace that seamlessly handles payments, security deposits, and all the other dirty work so that owners can focus on the fun parts.

Your Turn

Instead of letting your UTV or ATV collect dust or rack up storage fees, you can do what Colton did:

1. Create a top-notch listing on SideBySideShare.com at zero cost
2. Snap a few awesome photos
3. Set a competitive rate and watch the bookings roll in

Worried about damage risks? Let the built-in deposit and claims process shoulder that burden. Side by Side Share also screens each renter every step of the way.

Afraid nobody will rent? If you’ve got a good machine and a prime riding area, you’re probably in better shape than you think.

Ready to take the plunge? List your vehicle now and see just how easy it is to earn extra income.

Final Thoughts

Renting out your beloved off-road vehicle on SideBySideShare.com is kind of like opening up your garage to fellow adventurers – only you’re getting paid for it, and if something goes wrong, you have a safety net.

Colton’s story is proof that you don’t have to be a big rental outfitter, with ugly billboards to pull in serious income.

All you need is a good machine, a straightforward listing, and the willingness to share the trail with others.