By Tyler’s not your typical small business owner.
He’s a full-time pilot, which means he’s either in the air, preparing for a flight, or recovering from one. Home time? Limited. Free time to meet customers or shuffle paperwork? Even more limited.
But Tyler also has a thing for equipment. Trailers, machinery, anything with wheels and a purpose. So when he decided to rent out a trailer, he knew one thing for sure: it had to run itself.
Today, that’s exactly what he’s built, a fully contactless trailer rental business that stays booked, handles its own operations, and doesn’t need him to be anywhere near it.
Here’s how he pulled it off.
The Problem: Being Everywhere Except Home
When Tyler first looked into renting out his trailer, the math was simple.
He had the equipment. His area had the demand.
But his schedule? That was the issue.
“I’m gone a lot,” he said. “If I was going to do this, I needed something where people could book, pay, pick up, and drop off without me being there.”
He started looking for a system that could handle:
- Online booking
- Payments and deposits
- Digital contracts
- Customer communication
- Photo check-ins
Not five different tools. One.
That’s when he found towlos.
Going Fully Contactless
For Tyler, contactless wasn’t just convenient; it was essential.
“I want someone to be able to drive by, scan a code, and rent the trailer on the spot,” he explained. “Towlos makes that possible. Everything runs through the platform. I just get a text when something happens.”
Customers book online, pay through towlos, sign the rental agreement digitally, and check in with photos at pickup.
Tyler gets notifications, but he doesn’t have to lift a finger unless there’s an issue (which has been rare).
Even deposits run automatically: held, released, and documented.
“It’s easy for them, and it’s easy for me,” Tyler said. “I don’t have to chase people down or worry about whether they signed something.”
The Trailer That Started It All
Tyler’s first rental was a 20-foot, 10K car hauler, versatile enough for cars, ATVs, and small equipment.
It booked constantly.
That confirmed what he already suspected: people in his area were tired of big rental chains or sketchy Craigslist meetups. They wanted something reliable, affordable, and simple.
So he upgraded to what he runs now: a bright-orange 20-foot Rice car hauler rated at 9.9K.
Hard to miss. Even harder to forget.
“The orange helps,” he laughed. “People see it around town and remember where they can rent one.”
What a Day Looks Like (Or Doesn’t)
Most days, Tyler doesn’t touch the business at all.
A customer books online → towlos processes the payment → the rental agreement is signed → the deposit gets held → Tyler gets a notification.
At pickup, the customer sends photos.
At drop-off, they do the same.
If something’s damaged, the timestamped photos are already stored. If everything’s fine, Towlos releases the deposit automatically.
Tyler might check in through text, but that’s it. The system runs whether he’s home, at the airport, or 30,000 feet over Kansas.
“I can manage everything from my phone,” he said. “That’s what makes it work.”
The Part That Keeps Him Going
For Tyler, this isn’t just about extra income. It’s about staying connected to the equipment and projects he enjoys.
“I love hearing how people use it,” he said. “Some are hauling cars to a show. Others are moving equipment for landscaping jobs or heading out on road trips. There’s a human side to it that makes it fun.”
He’s built something that works around his life, not the other way around.
What This Proves
Tyler’s not a tech guy. He’s not a marketer. He’s just someone who saw an opportunity, found the right tool, and built something that makes sense.
Towlos gave him the automation.
The trailer gave him the product.
His schedule gave him the motivation.
The result? A business that runs itself.
If you’ve got a trailer sitting in your driveway and you’re wondering whether it’s worth renting out, Tyler’s story is your answer. You don’t need to be home. You don’t need to micromanage. You just need the right system.
The rest takes care of itself.
