Why you should use an RV for storage when selling your home

If you’re an RV owner selling your home you should probably consider moving your RV to a storage facility. A home with it’s own RV parking area, usually adds value to the property and therefore it’s important for potential buyers to be able to see the potential of the space, without your RV being there. If you’re wondering what the options are for storing your RV, we’ve done some research to help you navigate the RV storage process.

How to store a travel trailer?

Good RV-covered storage is relatively easy if you follow the basic standards for storing RVs. When it comes to long-term RV storage, some preparation is required to ensure proper conditions and standards are met. To best store a camper, you’ll need to follow the outlined guidelines.

1. Proper storage

Choosing the right location is vital for long-term RV and trailer storage. The reality is you’ll want to find a cool and dry place for your RV. You’ll need to be especially careful with some aspects of the RV. For example, you should keep the RV tires away from direct sunlight. This is because tires are more likely to break down or crack when exposed to sunrise. If your travel trailer has electronic parts, those will need to be stored in a dry place as moisture could destroy them in the long run. Indoor storage is better when available for these reasons.

2. Unpack your RV before storing it

This might seem like an obvious RV storage tip, and yet, it’s one many people can’t remember when storing away their RV. You always want to store your RV at its minimum weight. While there are certain things in the RV you may not want to unpack or put away, you should as much as possible keep the things stored within your trailer to a minimum. The more weight in your RV, the worse it will be for your tires which will get worn from the excess weight.

3. Take care of your Tires

As is evident from the other two RV tips on this list, your tires need to be protected for better RV storage. When your trailer is sitting idle for a long time, the compounded weight can cause your tires to dry or rot. As a result, your tires will need much more frequent changes. You can use specific tools to store your RV with the tires lifted over time. Apart from those, though, you can also focus on how inflated your tires are when you put your travel trailer in storage. Inflating your tires to the inflation capacity is another great way of protecting them. Naturally, as the weather conditions change, so will your tires’ inflation levels. By inflating to maximum capacity ahead of time, you can ensure a relatively good level of inflation for your travel trailer.

Storing your RV correctly could help you save money on maintenance costs in the long run. You should always take the necessary steps before parking your RV in its long-term storage location.

How do I store my RV safely?

If you’re going to store your RV independently, you’ll need to check the conditions and location you’ll store your RV in. Opting to store your RV in your area should not be about saving money at the cost of your RV condition. In the long run, if you keep an RV in bad conditions, you’re more likely to have to spend extra on maintenance. However, you can follow the RV tips outlined below to store your RV safely.

1. Choose the proper storage location

When choosing where to store your RV choose a dry location with mild weather conditions. Where possible, avoid leaving it in the sun for prolonged periods. However, always check that direct sunlight will not be hitting your RV for many hours. Sunlight can harm your RV tires, resulting in more frequent changes. Places with high humidity levels should also be avoided as increased moisture could damage your RV’s electronics.

2. Unpack and Deep Clean

Before storing your RV, unpack it as much as possible. The extra weight from all the things you’re holding in your RV could lead to your tires getting damaged as prolonged storage periods could result in cracking and earning damage. Apart from unpacking your RV, you’ll want to clean it deeply. A deep clean help you keep unwanted pests and bugs from finding their way to foods left behind. If stored outdoors, deep cleaning is necessary for storing your RV.

3. Keep some vents open

When you’re storing your RV, you’ll want to keep the rooftop vents open. The circulation of air is the best way of keeping mold away, so you should always keep the air moving throughout your space. If there is no air circulation in your RV for a long time, you’ll likely be welcomed by a musty smell when you open it back up.

4. Slides In

If you have an RV with slides, retracting them is the best way to go while storing your RV. If you’re only storing your RV for a short period, keeping the slides open could be an option, but you should permanently close them up for long-term storage.

5. Flush out the Tanks

Besides deep cleaning your RV, you should also clear out your tanks. You should drain everything in your plumbing system and even your water heater. This is incredibly important as in colder weather conditions, any liquid left behind could potentially freeze up and even cause damage. Adding anti-freeze to your pipes and valves before storing your RV is an excellent idea if you’re storing your RV in colder weather conditions.

6. When storing outside, always use a cover.

If you are storing your RV outside, you should use an RV cover. This will protect it from the weather conditions and help keep water and dirt off it. Unfortunately, the effects of sunlight can also be damaging to your RV and tires. While covering up is necessary for outdoor storage, it should not be ignored when your RV is stored indoors. RV covers can also help ward off pests and rodents from gaining access to your RV.

7. Battery

Depending on the weather conditions in the area you’ll be storing your RV, you may want to consider removing your RV battery. Especially in colder weather, you should permanently remove it to prevent it from freezing while storing your RV. When storing your RV, you may also want to turn off all power sources.

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How much Is it to store an RV?

The type of RV you own will determine the cost of storage for your RV. Usually, professional RV storage costs between $90 and $200 per month. However, depending on the length of time you’re planning to leave your RV in storage, you may benefit from different rates for storing your RV. If you’re looking at long-term indoor storage, then usually, the charge will be based on the size of your RV. Most RV garages or facilities will require $10 to $25 per foot. For larger RVs, this could mean that the overall cost of storing your RV in one of those facilities could be closer to $1000 per month. For long-term storage, this amount could swiftly add up, which is part of the reason so many people choose to store their RVs in their home’s driveway or backyard.

Where do I store an RV?

When it comes to available locations for storing your RV, there are many different locations you could look at. The first location chosen by many is your home driveway. The one catch with this is that many HOA’s don’t allow long-term storage of RVs in the neighborhood. Therefore, you may need to check before storing your RV on your property. You may also store your RV indoors without worrying about your HOA’s policies and rules if you have a two-car garage. Another great option is taking your RV to an RV storage facility. While these facilities may often cost quite a bit of money, their conditions are often better for long-term storage. For that reason, many people will choose to bear the extra storage cost, as it could lead to lower maintenance costs in the long run.

Options for storing your RV:

• Home Driveway
• Home Garage
• Backyard/ On Grass
• Indoor paid RV storage facilities
• Outdoor paid RV storage facilities

What are the benefits of covered RV storage?

Whether you’re storing your RV indoors or outside, you should look into covered RV storage. Covered RV storage is more protective, and thus, it helps keep your RV in better condition. One of the main benefits of covered RV storage will relate to the space you’re choosing to keep your RV in. Whether you’re storing your RV on grass or your driveaway, properly covered will help keep it from harmful sun rays. It will also remain protected regardless of the differences in the elements. Keeping these things off your RV can be important for its longevity from snow to rain.

While protection from weather conditions is one of the critical aspects of choosing your RV’s storage location, it’s not the only thing you should be considering when choosing covered RV storage. Covered RV storage can do wonders for keeping rodents and pests out of your RV. In situations of long terms storage, or when your RV will be stored outdoors, keeping nasty visitors outside is crucial. While pests can be annoying, rodents could also cause damage to the electronic parts of your vehicle. As such, they should be kept away at all costs.

Finally, if you choose covered RV storage, you’ll quickly realize how much cleaner your RV stays, even after prolonged periods of it being unused. This is a great reason to consider using a cover, especially if you have deep cleaned your RV before storing it away. In addition, keeping your RV sealed and protected from dust can make travel season that much easier, as you’ll not need to worry about your RV not being clean when your first take it out of storage.

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How much does it cost to store a 40-foot RV?

The rate for RV storage dramatically varies based on your area and the size of your RV. Most paid RV storage facilities will ask for $10 to $25 per foot. So if you have a 40-foot RV, a month of storage could be anywhere between $800 and $1000. Looking at long-term storage solutions, then $1000 per month can seem excessive. If that is the case, you may be able to find outdoor storage facilities in your area that would charge less than $200 per month. These have some of the same security features in terms of having cameras, but they don’t provide cover from adverse weather conditions. Apart from that, there are higher chances of security breaches which could keep some people from choosing these options.

Summary

If you have an RV and looking for storage, you should consider all of your different options. The cheapest of these is keeping the RV on your property. This is a great option, especially if you own a property in an area where the HOA doesn’t mind RVs. Alternatively, you can pay for a storage facility. These RV storage facilities can be relatively pricey, but they are still great options for those who want extra security, space, and peace of mind.