Storing Recreational Vehicles and Boats

Storage facilities are popular for storing recreational vehicles and boats because they are perfectly suited for it. While not all boats can be stored in interior storage units, quite a few sizes can be accommodated. Recreational vehicles are even easier to store and follow the same general guidelines for storage as would be employed for storing a car. Here are a few tips for storing your recreational vehicle or boat at a storage facility.

Size matters, and if you are storing a boat then you need to know what size your boat is including head clearance. A 10' x 15' sized unit is as small as you can expect to be able to use for any boat, but a 10' x 20" is a better choice as you will find there are always some items associated to the boat you will want to store along with. A little extra room and the ability to maneuver inside the unit is worth the extra money. Most vehicles can be stored in a 10' x 20' unit.

Once you have determined the size of the storage unit you need, you can begin preparing it for storage. You should not proceed with storing anything until you have placed a plastic barrier on the floor to protect from drips winding up on the floor as well moisture rising from the ground that could cause corrosion to brake lines. Vehicles should be backed in so that if the battery dies while stored they can be easily jump started. It is your choice whether or not to disconnect the battery, but usually with newer cars that operate on a computer chip, this presents more cons than pros.

If you use a dust cover, it is essential that you choose one with a breathable fabric that is not going to trap moisture under the cover. In the case of vehicles, you should plan on stopping by every two weeks or so to start the vehicle for a couple of minutes. It is also a good idea to move the vehicle forward or backward a few inches to keep the tires from settling. When it comes to storing anything with fuel in it, if you cannot store it with an empty tank it is better to store it with a full tank so that an excess of fumes do not build up.

If your boat is too large to store in a unit, many self storage facilities offer outdoor storage for wrapped and unwrapped boats alike. If you go this route, make sure that your boat is being stored on a paved surface rather than unprepared ground or gravel. The headaches you will save when pulling out once boating season arrives are well worth any extra cost.