It’s estimated that more than one million Americans live in their RVs full-time. For those who do, storage is not often a worry, but what about the more than 40 million Americans who regularly go RVing and require indoor or outdoor storage?
When storing your RV, it’s important to ensure you’ve chosen the right motorhome storage facility. The last thing you want to learn is that your RV has been stolen, vandalized, or damaged because of where you decided to store it. There are many trustworthy motorhome storage facilities, but weeding them out can be challenging.
That’s why the team at I-10 RV Storage has created this guide detailing how to choose the right RV storage facility. We’ve provided various pointers to help you determine if an RV storage location fits your needs. So, buckle in and read our guide before choosing an Arizona RV storage facility.
An RV is a trusty home on wheels that can take you, your family, and your friends on vacations and other outings nationwide.
Yet, if you’re not a full-time RVer, you’ll need to store your motorhome somewhere safe to use it again without problems the next time you plan a vacation.
To help ensure you store your RV somewhere safe, we’ve detailed how to choose the right RV storage facility below:
When choosing RV storage, your first consideration should be location and accessibility. You don’t want to drive hours to get to your storage unit, and you don’t want to have difficulty accessing your motorhome.
So, looking for covered RV storage, outdoor RV storage, or indoor RV storage close to home is best. To find storage close to your house, you can complete a quick Google search, but don’t be too hasty when choosing a nearby RV storage location; you don’t want to choose the wrong one.
Regarding accessibility, you want to store your motorhome in a place that is easy to access, so look for gated access facilities. Depending on your preferences, you might also want to look into storage units that allow you access to your motorhome at any time of day (24/7). Some only offer access during normal business hours, so be sure to check this before choosing.
RV storage security is incredibly important. You should carefully examine a storage facility’s security offerings before entering into a long-term contract. After all, the last thing you want is to waste money on storing your RV at a location where it could be broken into, damaged, or stolen.
Usually, the best thing to do is find an RV storage facility that offers covered or indoor storage, as these options are safer than outdoor uncovered storage. Where you store your motorhome, 24/7 surveillance security cameras should also be everywhere, watching it from all angles in case the worst happens and criminals can steal it.
You should also choose an RV storage facility that provides individually controlled alarm systems, secure electronic gate access that limits entry based on a personal entrance code, and lockable units if you store yours indoors. As an added security measure, you might also want to choose a storage facility that offers security guard patrol, like I-10 RV Storage.
Not every motorhome storage facility can accommodate your motorhome’s size. For example, there are few places that are open to accommodating large RVs where their sizing fits outside the norm.
Often, storage facilities offer predetermined lot sizes, so it’s up to you to choose the best spot for your motorhome. RV storage size is usually based on the different classes of motorhome. There are usually specific bays for Class A, B, and C motorhomes and for travel trailers, camper vans, fifth wheels, and toy haulers. You will need to find out about space availability based on the type of motorhome you want to store.
Additionally, you might be tempted to squeeze your RV into a smaller, cheaper lot, but we advise against this. Storing an RV in a too-small space can make it difficult to access your motorhome and cause damage. Likewise, an RV parking space that is too big can be a waste of money.
Fortunately, storage facilities like I-10 RV Storage offer transparent sizing options for spaces as small as 12×25 and as large as 12×70, so you shouldn’t have any issue finding a storage unit that fits your motorhome.
Few people realize how sensitive their RVs are to temperature changes. Any major shifts to extreme cold or extreme heat could damage your motorhome’s interior and, in worst-case scenarios, its interior, too. That’s why it’s important to ensure you consider climate-controlled RV storage.
If you choose climate-controlled motorhome storage, your motorhome will experience appropriate temperature regulation and humidity control, which will help your RV maintain a mild temperature during indoor RV storage. This will limit the chances of you needing to resolve rust issues or repaint your motorhome when you take it out of storage.
Besides security services, you also need to consider other RV storage services and amenities a storage facility might offer that make it worth the price you pay for short or long-term storage.
For example, it’s important to choose an RV storage facility that offers maintenance options, dump stations, a proper washing area, electrical outlets at covered storage spaces, extra-wide drive aisles, and a shop. If a storage facility offers these extra services and amenities, it can make your life easier since you won’t need to go elsewhere.
In addition, if possible, try to secure a storage spot at a facility that offers regular interior and exterior cleaning and engine servicing. It might cost you extra, but it’s worth it.
An RV storage facility could offer all the security features and amenities you’re looking for, but it’s not worth it if customer feedback through RV storage reviews proves that the facility’s reputation isn’t the best.
A poor facility reputation usually indicates that you’ll receive bad service and questionable storage, so look through reviews and determine what other customers have experienced before you book a spot for your motorhome.
You can usually find reviews on the storage facilities’ social media channels, online directories, and forums. If you see more positive reviews about security, cleanliness, customer service, and overall satisfaction than bad reviews, it’s a good indicator that the facility is worth considering.
Contract terms and pricing are other important considerations when choosing the right RV storage facility. Cheaper isn’t always better, and if it seems too good to be true, it might be.
RV storage pricing should reflect the amenities and services you receive. You shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a storage unit that doesn’t offer you more than the basic amenities and security measures.
So, when reviewing the contract terms, be sure you’re being offered a fair deal, especially if you’re paying for long-term storage. Some places will often provide storage deals and flexible payment terms to help you save money in the long run, so be on the lookout for them.
Now you know how to choose the right RV storage facility for your motorhome. If you’re looking for Phoenix RV storage or Arizona RV storage, you might want to consider I-10 RV Storage. We tick all the boxes for motorhome storage and can guarantee your RV will be safe at our facility.
With 24/7 surveillance, a guard patrol, varying storage lot sizes, electrical outlets, covered indoor and outdoor storage, and dedicated wash bays and dump stations, we have everything you need in one convenient location. Contact us here, and let us match you with the right storage lot at our facility.