An inspection is a photo record of a unit's condition at a moment in time. You take one at pickup (pre-rental) and another at return (post-return) so you have a clear before-and-after for every rental. If something gets damaged, those photos are your proof — see photo evidence and disputes.
The two inspections
- Pre-rental — captured before the trailer leaves, documenting how it looked at pickup.
- Post-return — captured when it comes back, so you can compare against the pre-rental photos.
Each inspection walks through a standard set of photos: all four tires (driver/passenger, front/rear), the exterior from all four sides, and the axle. If the unit has a toolbox, that's added too. You can also add your own custom inspection items on a unit's template — checkboxes, text fields, or extra photos.
Two ways to run an inspection
1. From your dashboard. Open the booking and go to the Inspections tab. Tap Pre-Rental Inspection to start, take each photo, add any condition notes, agree to the acknowledgment, and submit. After pickup is done, the same tab offers the Post-Return Inspection.
2. Send the renter a no-login link. On the booking you'll find Renter Links (no login) with Copy Pre-trip inspection link and Copy Return inspection link. Send either by text or any platform — the renter completes the inspection and uploads photos without needing an account, and everything comes straight back to you.
Tip: Have the renter do the walkaround with the link, or do it yourself from the dashboard — whichever fits your pickup style. Either way the photos land on the same booking.
What happens on submit
Every photo is required before an inspection can be submitted. If a shot comes out wrong, tap Retake on that photo to replace it; you can do this any time before you submit. The person submitting also agrees to a short acknowledgment confirming the condition is accurately documented. When an inspection comes in, you're notified, and the photos appear on the booking's Inspection Photos view.
When the post-return inspection is submitted, Patriot Hauls also closes out the rental for you — any tracked add-on units are marked returned, and a short review-request nudge campaign is scheduled to the renter over the next few business days.
Good to know: Inspection photos are stored privately. They're shown to you and the renter on the booking through secure, signed links — they aren't public.
Why it's worth doing every time
Skipping the pre-rental inspection means you have nothing to compare against if a unit comes back damaged. Two minutes of photos at pickup is what turns a "he said / she said" into a documented case.
Still need help? Tap the Support button inside your dashboard.