Is Renting Out Your Travel Trailer Worth It? Here's Our Honest Take.

Hey there! We’re One Adventure LLC, and if you’ve stumbled on this post, you’re probably wondering if renting out your travel trailer is a smart move—or just a fast track to frustration.

We’ve been there. We’ve done it. And we’re going to give you the honest, behind-the-scenes truth.

Why We Started Renting Our Trailer

We love our travel trailer. It’s our escape pod. But like a lot of people, we realized it was sitting in the driveway a bit too often. We thought: Why not let it pay for itself when we’re not using it?

And that part worked. We listed it on a few peer-to-peer rental sites and, after a couple of months, the bookings rolled in. From weekend warriors to week-long road trippers, people were excited to hit the road—and we were glad to help.

The Pros: What’s Great About Renting It Out

✅ It Pays for Itself

This is the #1 win. Between the bookings, we cover the monthly payment (if you have one), insurance, storage fees, and a little buffer for maintenance. That alone takes a huge load off. Our trailer isn’t a sunk cost—it’s earning its keep.

✅ We Essentially Have a “Free” Trailer

Since we’re breaking even, it feels like we have a trailer that costs us nothing out-of-pocket. When we want to use it? We block off the calendar and take it out, no problem. It’s like having your cake and renting it out too.

✅ It Helps Others Experience the RV Life

We love introducing folks to the world of RVing—especially those who don’t own one yet. We’ve met some amazing families, couples, and solo adventurers who were just looking for a taste of that nomadic freedom.

But Let’s Talk About the Cons

We’re not going to sugarcoat it—this gig is not all passive income and easy money. Here’s what we wish more people knew.

❌ Wear and Tear is Real

Most renters don’t fully understand how RV systems work. They treat it like an Airbnb on wheels, but RVs are more fragile than your average hotel room. We’ve had people overload the electrical system, forget to dump the tanks, slam the slide-outs, or drive like it’s a tank.

Every rental accelerates wear and tear. That’s just the reality. Even careful renters will add mileage and cause little dings here and there. Think of it like loaning your car out to a different driver every week.

❌ Repairs Get Expensive

Let’s be real—RV repairs are not cheap. We’ve replaced water pumps, repaired roof seals, and dealt with mysterious plumbing issues that somehow only show up right after a rental ends. Even with deposits and insurance, we often end up covering things because it’s not worth the hassle to claim it—or it’s just normal wear.

❌ Profit? Not Really.

At the end of the year, when we tally up our income and expenses, we’re not really turning a profit. We’re basically breaking even. Sure, some folks out there run full-on RV rental fleets and make serious money, but for a single-trailer operation like us, it’s a break-even business with a free trailer as the perk.

❌ Time and Hassle Add Up

Every rental requires cleaning, prep, walkthroughs, drop-offs, pickups, answering questions at 10 PM because someone doesn’t know how to turn on the heater… It’s not “passive.” It's a side hustle with a steep learning curve.

So… Would We Do It Again?

Honestly? Yeah. We would. Because even if it’s not a big moneymaker, we’re not losing money. Our trailer is earning its keep, and we still get to enjoy it ourselves. That’s a win in our book.

But we always tell people: if you're thinking about renting out your travel trailer, go in with your eyes open. It’s not a get-rich-quick plan. It’s more like a creative way to offset your costs and share the adventure lifestyle with others—just be ready for the bumps in the road.

If you’ve got questions or want to know more about our setup, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to chat with fellow road warriors and small business dreamers.

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One Adventure LLC
“Every trip starts with one adventure.”