A stay-at-home-mom transforms tent trailers into stunning tiny homes on wheels on a budget

Sophie-Claire HoellerOct 16, 2020, 04:22 IST

Stay-at-home mom Lisa Rice says she renovates and sells around two tent trailers a year as a hobby.Lisa Rice

When Lisa Rice and her husband finished renovating their 1970s home she decided that she needed a new project.
The stay-at-home mom and camping aficionado decided to look for a run-down trailer to work on.
She bought a 1978 tent trailer that cost $400, invested $200 in the renovation, and sold it for $1,900.
She now buys, renovates, and sells around two tent trailers a year as a hobby, and usually doubles her investment.

After spending two years painstakingly renovating a home, most people would breathe a sigh of relief at the finish line.

Lisa Rice decided she needed a new project.

When her and her husband finished renovating their 1970s home outside of Portland, Oregon, which she said was "in terrible shape" when they moved in, she told Insider she was "hungry for more design projects."

The stay-at-home mom of two said she decided to look for the cheapest, most run-down trailer she could find, and got lucky with a 1978 Jayco that cost $400.

"It was super ugly, but it was in great shape," Rice said, adding that she fixed it up in a week and sold it for $1,900, spending less than $200 on the renovations.

"And that's kind of how the whole thing got started," she said. "I just love doing design projects, I wanted to do more and more."

Now, Rice renovates about two tent trailers a year — just for fun. See more of her work below.

When Lisa Rice finished the renovations on her 1970s home near Portland, Oregon, she immediately started looking for a new project.

The "Mike" trailer pictured before (left) and after (right). Lisa Rice

While Rice said she went to school for psychology, she's always been drawn to interior design and had renovated several homes before doing her first trailer. She said that both she and her husband grew up in handy, DIY-prone families and that they just figured out what to do by trial and error. Now, it's become her hobby.

"I just love fixing things up and making old things new," Rice said.

I just love fixing things up and making old things new, Rice said.

As a camping aficionado, she decided to renovate a trailer: Her first one was a 1978 tent trailer that she bought for $400, spent $200 on, and sold for $1,900.

The "Mike" trailer pictured before (left) and after (right). Lisa Rice

"I'm pretty cheap," she said, adding that she rarely spends more than $200 on a renovation.

One of Rice's top tricks to keep things looking "extra fancy" on a budget is to go mine Craigslist or Facebook for any leftover flooring from a home renovation, since tent trailers don't usually have much floor space.

She also checks out local granite shops because she said they often have small remnant pieces that they'll give out for the price of cutting them to size and finishing off the edges. Rice uses these for the countertops.

I'm pretty cheap, she said, adding that she rarely spends more than $200 on a renovation.

One of Rice's top tricks to keep things looking extra fancy on a budget is to go mine Craigslist or Facebook for any leftover flooring from a home renovation, since tent trailers don't usually have much floor space.

Rice likes that tent trailers are basic but functional, and can make you feel like you're camping outside thanks to the screens all around.

The "Ray" trailer pictured before (left) and after (right). Lisa Rice

The simple reason Rice renovates tent trailers is that they are light, and just about all her car can tow home.

Usually, tent trailers have a double bed, a dinette that often turns into another bed, a stove, fridge, and sink. Some have toilets and showers, too. Their sizes vary, but they're usually quite compact and easy to store when collapsed, and they pop out to reveal a larger space.

Rice said she loves the feel of a tent trailer because they have screens all around that make it seem like you're outside, which is what most people want from camping trips.

Rice adds that they're easy to store and that they can double as extra office space, a playroom, or a school area for kids.

"If you want to get into RVs, tent trailers are a great way to start," she said, adding that her family had a tent trailer growing up, though most of her childhood camping involved sleeping in a tent.

"I've always loved camping and I love being outside. So [tent trailers] seemed like a good fit," she said. "I always liked the idea of having a bed, something a little nicer than sleeping on the ground."

The simple reason Rice renovates tent trailers is that they are light, and just about all her car can tow home.

Rice said she loves the feel of a tent trailer because they have screens all around that make it seem like you're outside, which is what most people want from camping trips.

Rice adds that they're easy to store and that they can double as extra office space, a playroom, or a school area for kids.

If you want to get into RVs, tent trailers are a great way to start, she said, adding that her family had a tent trailer growing up, though most of her childhood camping involved sleeping in a tent.

I've always loved camping and I love being outside. So [tent trailers] seemed like a good fit, she said. I always liked the idea of having a bed, something a little nicer than sleeping on the ground.

Rice says her prices vary depending on the year and cost of the trailers when she first bought them.

The "Tiki" trailer pictured before (left) and after (right). Lisa Rice

Rice says the older a trailer is, the cheaper she can get it for — which means she can also sell them for less.

However, Rice says that she tries to earn double the amount that she spends. For example, she said that a tent trailer from 1988 cost her $1,400, and sold for $3,500. A recent one she renovated was from 1994, cost her $2,500, and sold for $5,000.

Rice says the older a trailer is, the cheaper she can get it for — which means she can also sell them for less.

Generally, she prefers to keep fixes simple.

The light color palette makes the "Mike" trailer feel bright and airy. Lisa Rice

"I always look for cosmetic fixers only," she said. "Sometimes I have to do other things too, but I always look for [trailers] that have been well taken care of."

According to Rice, it's always a good sign when trailers are stored in garages. She also makes sure the screens don't have any holes, that there's no water damage anywhere, and that there aren't any funky smells, which she said is often a sign of water damage.

She said she's had good luck finding trailers, but has also said no to a lot of ones she's viewed.

I always look for cosmetic fixers only, she said. Sometimes I have to do other things too, but I always look for [trailers] that have been well taken care of.

She said she's had good luck finding trailers, but has also said no to a lot of ones she's viewed.

Rice says it usually takes her no more than a week or two to do renovations.

Lisa Rice and her husband Wesley, who often helps her with the flooring. Lisa Rice

"I can get it done pretty quickly," she said, speaking of renovating a trailer. "If I'm taking my time, I can stretch it out over a couple of weeks, but they're such a small space, they're really doable and easy."

Rice broke down what she does in a typical week for a renovation, as follows:

A deep clean on day one;
Paint prep, such as sanding, taping, and priming, on day two;
Painting on day three;
Flooring, usually with the help of her husband, on day four;
Lining the drawers with contact paper and trimming on day five;
Sewing curtains and cushion covers on day six;
Hanging the curtains and adding décor on day seven.

I can get it done pretty quickly, she said, speaking of renovating a trailer. If I'm taking my time, I can stretch it out over a couple of weeks, but they're such a small space, they're really doable and easy.

Rice broke down what she does in a typical week for a renovation, as follows:

A deep clean on day one;
Paint prep, such as sanding, taping, and priming, on day two;
Painting on day three;
Flooring, usually with the help of her husband, on day four;
Lining the drawers with contact paper and trimming on day five;
Sewing curtains and cushion covers on day six;
Hanging the curtains and adding décor on day seven.

While she occasionally works with clients, Rice says she prefers to renovate trailers to her own style and sell them on Facebook or Craigslist.

Rice says that tent trailers make great extra spaces. Lisa Rice

According to Rice, her buyers have been mostly women in their 30s and 40s. She chalks it up to tent trailers being an easy way into RV life.

Rice said she may make her side gig of flipping tent trailers a business in the future.

The "Ray" trailer features pops of yellow. Lisa Rice

"I love doing trailers. I would love to do it as a job full-time," she said. "I just need a bigger yard!"

I love doing trailers. I would love to do it as a job full-time, she said. I just need a bigger yard!

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