So you've finally decided to buy
that RV you've always planned on. It may have taken you months or even years to
save up for that vehicle, and you surely would want to take care of it so it
stays with you for the longest time it can. Whether you bought it for yourself
or your entire family, you'll always have to be conscious about keeping that RV
in safe conditions.
After all, it did not come cheap, although it may be
relatively less expensive compared to other options you've had. But in general,
a recreational vehicle is not something you can decide to buy overnight, unless
you're filthy rich. That's why part of owning it must be a consideration for
how you plan to store it off season.
There are three choices you'll have
when it comes to RV storage.
First, you can
keep it in y our own backyard if you have all that space. It's good when you
have the vehicle in your own compound because you get to keep an eye on it
yourself. However, this will only be good if you can offer the vehicle exactly
the kind of protection it needs. For example, you have to be able to cover it
enough so it's kept away from the elements such as dust, rain, wind, etc. which
all can cause damage to your vehicle.
The second choice you
have is to put your RV in a public storage facility. This will be of no cost on
your part, there will be no rules and you get to put your vehicle there for as
long as you want. The problem with this is, there will be no one to look out
for your RV, and since it is a public facility, it will be exposed to vandals
and thieves. Aside from that, there is nothing that will protect your RV from
damage caused by the natural elements.
Your third choice
is to put your vehicle in a private storage facility. Of the three options you
have, this is obviously the best. Here, you can store your RV and have it
watched by on-site staff. There will be cameras all over the place for 24-hour
monitoring. There will be high and secure gates and fences to secure the area
and keep all unauthorized people out. Of course, your vehicle will be housed in
a facility designed to protect it against natural damage.
Why leave your recreational
vehicles unprotected in your storage facility. You protect your tires from the
sun why not the whole vehicle. I often see people protecting their recreational
vehicle tires by covering them to protect from dry rot. How come they never
think of protecting the whole vehicle so the exterior and interior don't
receive damage?
There are two major problems with
not covering your recreational vehicles in storage where the climate is wet and
dry. In the West the sun will damage the exterior paint and all the plastic
parts by sucking the life out of them. Soon you will see your paint fade,
oxidize and even crack, all your plastic parts will start to shrink and crack
as well. Your interior is also vulnerable in the Western sun, for instance, RV
drapes will fall apart and the interior will then receive sun damage like
fading and heat damage from high temps inside your RV. A good Recreational
cover can help and even stop all this damage.
In the East where it rains a lot and
the moisture levels are high you will see damage to the exterior like rust and
water leaks. Most recreational vehicles exteriors are made of aluminum but
there are still parts that are steel that will rust and cause problems down the
road. The interior has the chance to be damaged by water leaks from water
setting on the roof and seeping into to seams that over time break down. You
may damage the rug or the moisture will cause mold to grow, and there will be a
musty smell to the interior of the RV. A good Recreational Cover can help and
even stop all this damage.
When you look for recreational
vehicle covers make sure they have a good warranty and the business will be
there to stand behind it. Also look for a multi-layer cover to protect your RV
from all types of conditions, like the sun, rain, dust, dirt, bird droppings,
pollution, etc.
If you own an RV you already know
that both storing and parking it can be a major hassle. An RV is very large and
obviously needs its own dedicated space to park and store when you are not
using it for an extended period of time. Most of the time RV's are only used
for a weekend here or a week there, so the question of where to keep it safely
when you are not using it comes up frequently.
Some RV owners are fortunate enough
to have a large backyard or driveway, but others are limited to storing it on
their lawn or in front of their home - choices that few neighbors appreciate!
One option for these people is to store their RV at a recreational vehicle
park. Many of the parks available for camping and traveling while on vacation
also have storage for unused RV's that simply take up a lot of space at your
home. Bear in mind that you are basically paying the same price as if you were
using your RV at the time, so you need to have a very large budget to keep up
with the price of storing it at the park.
For a more inexpensive option, you
may want to look into storing it at a self-storage area made specifically for
recreational vehicles. You can rent these self-storage units for your RV by the
month. Not only is this relatively inexpensive, but it keeps it safe from theft,
vandalism, and weather elements. Doing so allows you the freedom to retrieve
the RV any time you wish with minimal effort. Keeping it in a self-storage area
is one of the best choices for extended periods of non-use.
Finally you do have the option of
storing the RV on your own property.
Again, though most people do not prefer
this unless they have a lot of excess room, it can be done if you run out of
other viable options. You might even consider building a garage specifically
for it to keep it safe from the weather and out of harm’s way, or instead you
could simply park it in your yard if your neighborhood has no covenants or
other restrictions forbidding it. (Even without covenant restrictions, you
should consider housing value in your neighborhood and neighbor impressions
before using your property as an RV storage site.)
