You just bought your first—and maybe your only—RV. Visions of tooling down a highway with all the comforts of home at your back float through your head. You already know that RVing is cheaper and often easier than loading up the car and jumping from one hotel or campground to the next, even with a smaller gas tank. Now all you have to do is decide where to store it.
Your goal is to protect this investment of both money and fun. Where do you park it? Driveway? Backyard? Will the hot, dry, or humid temperatures be a problem? Cover it with a tarp? Be sure the ground is level and doesn’t encourage rust?
In most communities, parking an RV at the curb can get you fined. If it is in the driveway or beside the garage, anyone can get to it. Take a look at the possible headaches and expenses of parking your RV in the backyard between excursions. First of all, is there access to the yard that allows for the turn radius? Then, issues could include falling tree limbs, extreme temperature variations, tire damage, invading insects or even rodent-chewed cables and wires, mold—or the opposite, cracked surfaces from dryness—even vandalism, hailstorms, or the neighbors’ complaints.
You certainly can volunteer to deal with potential problems, but in the long run, you will spend more than you need to, both money and time. Do you want to be faced with repairs or extensive cleaning every time you decide to hop in and take off?
Consider the advantages of an RV storage unit: security, weather protection, and a consistent climate, easy access, and electricity. The right storage unit not only protects your investment but can simplify and smooth out those spontaneous trips that made you want an RV in the first place.
Convinced? Your first step is to choose the best storage facility. Do some research before you sign on the dotted line!
- To help you understand which amenities are important to you, consider first whether it is location or ease of access—or both? Is cost at the top of the list, or security? What about access to electricity for a trickle-charger on the battery? Bathrooms and shower facilities are highly practical. Can you access your RV at any time, any day?
- An Internet search can lead you to review sites, but read reviews with a careful eye. These are usually over-the-top positive or sharply negative. No one seems to write a middle-of-the-road assessment. Balance out what you see and continue your research.
- Word of mouth still holds the most value. Talk to friends, colleagues, acquaintances. Check business organization sites, such as the Better Business Bureau or Chambers of Commerce. As you make new friends in the RV community, talk to them about their choices for storage.
- Until you meet more RVers, online forums give you access to the experience of veteran owners and travelers. Facebook groups and blogs can introduce you to a world of useful information. A quick Internet search will open up that world to your living room.
- Look for experience, but be aware that older is not necessarily better. Newer facilities may have valuable amenities or even offices in multiple locations and a more thoroughly trained staff. Businesses in their early stages may also offer discounts or competitive pricing without sacrificing quality.
- Don’t rush your decision. Your storage unit is also an investment. Take time with the contract. Ask questions. Be sure you are clear on the details and if not, ask for clarification. Perhaps take an experienced RV owner with you.
After doing as much exploration as possible, trust your now-informed feelings. A storage facility will be caring for your investment. Luxelocker rents and sells units with state-of-the-art amenities in prime locations for RV and boat owners including Henderson and Spanish Springs, NV, Lake Havasu, AZ, and soon in Boise, ID, and Richland, WA. With a reliable, efficient storage unit, you protect not only your RV investment but also your time and peace of mind.