If you own an RV, you need a place to store it. You can try to leave it on the side of the road at home, but that’s not always viable, and you might want more security and peace of mind with your storage anyway.
With that in mind, this guide will help you compare your storage options to make an informed decision that feels good.
Access
The most important aspect of picking your storage is location. If the perfect storage facility is located across the country, it’s useless to you. While that might be an extreme example, it marks the point. You need a storage location that you can regularly access. Adding significant driving time to store or retrieve your RV defeats the purpose.
Even considering that, access runs deeper than just geographical closeness. There are other aspects of access that matter. Even if your storage is next door to you, parking and retrieving need to be convenient. No one wants to go through extraordinary efforts just to get an RV in or out of a parking spot.
As such, access is the very first consideration. Look for options that aren’t painfully far away. Additionally, make sure you can reliably get the RV on your own terms.
Here are a few realistic scenarios to help you think about access. Not all storage facilities provide 24/7 access. If you ever want to park or retrieve your RV at odd hours, that’s a big deal.
Some storage facilities are on very busy roads with significant traffic jams. Will traffic impact your RV usage?
You get the idea.
Physical Protection
The next consideration is physical protection. There are a lot of places to park an RV. Not all of them are safe.
Usually, there’s a trade-off to consider here. If you want more protection, it will probably cost more. Unless you happen to have an RV parking garage at your home, you’ll have to consider parking outdoors, under open roofing, or in a climate-controlled unit.
It’s obvious which options provide the most physical protection. You’re really just weighing the costs of that protection versus the risk of choosing a more affordable option.
Security
Third on the list is security. Regardless of the elements, how easy or difficult would it be for someone to steal your RV from its parking location? Keep in mind that people can also break into the RV without stealing the whole thing. Neither situation is good.
If you park the RV at your cousin’s house, does it get that much security?
For many parking centers, even the most physically unprotected spots can still come with pretty good security. In fact, here’s the basic security checklist to think about when considering your choices:
- Access. The best parking locations are completely walled off with a security gate restricting access to the entire facility.
- Cameras. You want security cameras as they raise opportunity costs and can potentially help you recover stolen property.
- Additional locking. A climate-controlled unit is typically in a gated facility, and you can add your own individual locks to your specific unit. It’s extra security.
- Personnel. Many sites are unmanned at some or all hours. Some sites have on-premises personnel specifically to raise security. Others might hire a security company to do regular checks.
How much security you need for peace of mind is up to you, but these are the standards to think about.
Advanced Amenities
Beyond the essentials (and cost), it’s ok to explore additional amenities. You can look into facilities with app access so you don’t have to memorize a code. Climate control for an RV is often considered an advanced amenity. Online resources, automated billing, and in-person customer service can all raise the experience and help you get more out of storage.
Navigation
The last item on the list is not an issue at all storage centers, but it is sometimes a problem. The layout of the facility does matter, and you can check out the configuration before you commit to a contract.
Essentially, you’re looking at two things. Can you reasonably navigate your RV in this facility? If you’re worried that you might not be able to negotiate turns or get in and out easily, that’s a serious concern.
Similarly, you want to feel confident that other owners using the facility can also safely get in and out. It would be a waste to spend money on security and protection only to have your RV hit by another renter.
Good facilities have more than enough space to navigate, and it isn’t a concern. But, if you have reservations while looking at the facility, pay attention to your intuition.
How to Get It All
Now that you know what you want from your RV storage, let’s think about how to get the most bang for any investment. There are two techniques you can apply to try to get better storage for less money.
Negotiate Seasonal Storage
You can negotiate any contract, and you certainly should. That said, RV storage is not a unique marketplace. Negotiations here will look like anything else. Look for special deals, compare prices with other locations, and ask the lessor to give you the best deal possible (it works surprisingly well).
There is one area where these negotiations are a bit different, and that’s with seasonal storage. If your RV stores for an entire off-season, and then stays out of storage during active months, try to get a contract that reflects your needs. You can save considerable amounts of money by ditching your storage unit when you don’t need it.
Keep in mind that such negotiations can change the nature of the contract. You may or may not have an available spot in the next storage season, but it’s still worth exploring these options.
Debate Your Trade-Offs
Other than that, saving money is a matter of comparing what you want against the cost. If you want an individual unit, you might find one that isn’t climate-controlled, and that can save you money. It’s just one example, but ditching specific amenities or location convenience within the facility can help you save money while still getting what matters most to you.
