Everything You Should Know About RV Storage

In the United States, 11 million households now own an RV.

RVing has never been more popular than it is today, with new owners growing every year. If you’re one of those new owners, you need to give some thought to RV storage, and if you’ve owned one already you know how important properly storing the RV can be.

RV Storage

What should you know about RV storage? To start with, it is imperative that you store your RV in a safe, covered RV storage facility. This will prolong the lifespan of your RV whether it is towable or a motorhome.

Why Do We Need Storage?

Some people forget how damaging nature and the elements can be. This is why having an enclosed or covered RV storage solution is so important. You don’t want to have your RV out in an open field, not if you want it to last a long time and look good.

Leaving an RV exposed to the sun can cause considerable damage. This is because of the UV radiation which slowly breaks down the materials of your interior. Sun damage can also affect the exterior of the RV, fading paint and making openings like doors and windows have their seals break down.

On top of the damage, having an RV out in the sun increases the amount of maintenance you have to do. It will also have an impact on the price of the RV should you decide to sell it or trade it in for another RV. All of these are reasons to consider using local RV storage facilities.

Wind, rain, and weather are all parts of living. When these elements become severe they pose a considerable risk to your RV. Hail is a major culprit of structure damage and windows being broken, and every year thousands of RVers experience this while their RVs are parked.

Having indoor RV storage can prevent all of these problems from happening. Storms truly are your worst enemy when you are in an RV, so don’t let them destroy your dream camper and turn it into a nightmare.

Another reason why you really should be looking for “covered RV storage near me” on your preferred search engine is because of temperature variances. As we have all learned, extreme cold isn’t only something that people in the north of the US have to worry about. Extreme cold can cause tons of damage, from busted lines to weakened structural elements.

Another factor that many people overlook is the expansion and contraction of construction materials during spells of extreme heat or extreme cold. Having a covered area really helps to minimize the impact of sudden, 30 to 40 degree shifts in temperature.

Storing an RV outside or on the street is an incredibly poor idea. Most RVs are wide, and they take up a lot of space. This means that they are more vulnerable to being hit by vehicles as they sit beside your home.

One way to alleviate this is to pull them into the driveway, but then there are other concerns. Your RV could be totaled by a nearby tree falling, or wind could cause it to collide with your own vehicle or your neighbor’s house. Whatever the situation around your home, make sure you take the RV to a storage facility.

How to Prepare An RV For Storage

Now that we have looked at some of the potential sources of damage, let’s take a look at what we need to do to protect our RVs. There are a few steps you can take that will make all the difference. None of these steps are difficult, but if you feel uncomfortable with anything make sure to do some research.

Recent weather patterns show why it is so important to winterize your RV when you put it up for the season. Even in an enclosed space, the temperatures can get low enough during a polar vortex that winterizing is essential. Any water left in the line is a possible weakness that the cold can exploit.

When you’re away your RV doesn’t need any energy. That is why you can disconnect the battery and remove it. Store your battery at home in a safe, temperature-controlled environment for longer life and more use.

It is very important that everything is fully retracted. This means ensuring that slides are fully pulled in awnings are secure. This will not only make your camper fit better, but it won’t fatigue the joints and seals in the slides which could lead to links.