Someone please talk me in off the ledge. We have owned various RVs for the past 18 years. We have always been able to store them on our property. When we moved into our current home, we had the driveway widened and installed HD outlet and we have kept our RV in the driveway for 7 years. Never a complaint from the neighbors. In December, one of our local police officers wrote up everyone that has an RV/Boat in their driveway. When I called him to see what the problem was, he said, 'He was just cleaning some things up for the end of the year, no complaint-just an ordinance violation'.I called my councilman, he said the cop was out of line. There is an ordinance but they never enforce it unless there is a complaint. We could file for a variance.Well, about $300 later, (cost of variance request procedure), they denied our request and we have 30 days to move it.Everyone agrees that an appeal is a good way to lose some more money.I've been spoiled having it at home and I'm ready to sell it, rather than have to store it. Those of you that store your RVs, tell me it's something I can get used to, and I'll be sorry if I sell it. TIA, I just need some reassurance.

I count my blessings every day being able to store my two RV Trailers at home in CAMP BACK YARD...I would probably move if I had to take them somewhere to be stored...Roy Ken

We are strongly considering a move to a locale where the neighborhood association rules don't allow RVs. It is the only negative about this move - everything else would be better for us, including a much lower cost of living even including the RV storage cost. It seems like it will feel weird not to have the MH right next to the house where we can baby it and take care of it, but we are scouting out storage facilities that are close enough that we could go by once a week and check on it, and that may have to do. We definitely want storage under cover (preferably indoor) and/or someone living on the property, and we will probably install an alarm. My advice is ... if we can do it, you can do it. Is it worth giving up RVing for?

I've stored mine for 10 years, and will continue to store it for the next 10 years - God willing.

I am wondering since all of your neibors were cited for the offence what there thoughts are. Could you all get together and go to council and submit a request for varience together? Sometimes numbers make a difference. Also was it just your neiborhood that was cited? If so why? My hubby and I would want all our questions and concerns answered as to why the sudden change when there were no complaints. We have out TT either in our Driveway or our neibors year round. Also our boat sits beside our house. We have had no complaints in 10 years. If all of a sudden things changed, we would fight it. However if the final answer was not in our favor we certainly would not move.

Thank you PomPom girl. I am worried about the worst case scenarios, of course-vandalism, damage, etc. There are some nearby outdoor lots nearby. Like I said, I LOVE my little camper and it kills me to have her out of my sight. Hate the thought of selling her, especially since I was looking forward to using her more this year.

Bad news?? | Good Sam Community

127 Replies

joelc
Nomad
Feb 13, 2014
Before we had an RV we went away and when we came back we found our home was broken into. This was the first time this had ever happened to us and they even had time to have a smoke and some wine. A rule of thumb, NEVER alert the local police that you are going away and to watch your house. This was the first and only time I contacted the authorities and the first and last time we had a problem. If going away, keep it low key.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Feb 13, 2014
michigansandzilla wrote:
Hammerhead wrote:
Our travel trailer has been stored off site for the past 12 years since our last 2 houses have no room to park an RV. One advantage to off-site storage is that a missing camper would be a sure sign to anyone familiar with our block that we weren't home.

Even though I don't store my TT in my yard, I worry when it's been at the house for a day or two prior to departure. I'm afraid that someone will pick up on the pattern. TT is home for a day or two and you see all of us going in and out of it.....then it's gone, nobody's home, not even the dogs. Yep, that's a dead give away and I can only imagine it's even more pronounced when it's stored on site.

I just don't ever bring it home any more!
We keep it stocked with all necessary cloths DVD's books etc. We clean the 5er the last morning before leaving the camp site.
Once home and in the storage yard, we refill propane, all dirty cloths go home and get laundered, and returned or replaced during the week.
One big plus to this method, the dogs started to get amped up once the 5er was in front of the house! Now they get about a two hour warning! We gather some additional cloths and empty the refer to take to the 5er

What I can't believe is some of the childish responses in this thread. "If I can't store my RV at my house, I will just sell it". While storing an RV at home is nice, they can be an eyesore to your neighbors and neighborhood. Seeing am RV in a driveway all winter just isn't eye candy to most. Just keep in mind as mentioned before, when the RV is gone, well likely so are you!
Jarlaxle
Explorer II
Feb 13, 2014
Go Dogs wrote:
Yes, Lot's of varying opinions. I will take the RV to storage. I'll make it work. In the mean time, I'll have a nice big empty driveway.
I see lot's of driveway/garage sales in my future-they are still allowed as long as you don't put notices on the telephone poles, (that's what Craig's List is for).
I will start going to council meetings. My brother told me about a guy in his neighborhood. This guy owned a drive-in that closed, now it's kind of a flea market/junk lot. The borough was coming after him, and he started going to the meetings. He asks to look at the books, frequently and wants an explanation for every borough expense. Then, he questions why they didn't go somewhere else to save a few bucks. They just love him!
Of course, I'll vote for anyone else to take this regime out of office.
Then, I'll leave instructions to my kids. After I die-sell the house to the most undesirable types, that they can find.

Do you ride a motorcycle? If so...maybe have a nice gathering in your driveway? Mufflers would, of course, be optional! :D
michigansandzil
Explorer
Feb 12, 2014
Hammerhead wrote:
Our travel trailer has been stored off site for the past 12 years since our last 2 houses have no room to park an RV. One advantage to off-site storage is that a missing camper would be a sure sign to anyone familiar with our block that we weren't home.

Even though I don't store my TT in my yard, I worry when it's been at the house for a day or two prior to departure. I'm afraid that someone will pick up on the pattern. TT is home for a day or two and you see all of us going in and out of it.....then it's gone, nobody's home, not even the dogs. Yep, that's a dead give away and I can only imagine it's even more pronounced when it's stored on site.
mowermech
Explorer
Feb 12, 2014
mockturtle wrote:
I've been spoiled having it at home and I'm ready to sell it, rather than have to store it.
Don't sell your RV. Sell the house!! :D

My sentiments exactly. Preferably to somebody the community would find "undesirable".
Hammerhead
Explorer
Feb 12, 2014
Our travel trailer has been stored off site for the past 12 years since our last 2 houses have no room to park an RV. One advantage to off-site storage is that a missing camper would be a sure sign to anyone familiar with our block that we weren't home.
westend
Explorer
Feb 12, 2014
JiminDenver wrote:
West

They got away with two 5 way Sherwood towers and a 6 disc CD player. They could have done more damage but I bet carrying those speakers did them in.

One of the times we brought it home to unload and clean, I woke the next morning to voices in the side yard. I looked out the window and saw two neighbor boys going through my shed. They left when I told Honey to let the dogs out and I heard one saying that he was sure we had gone camping. I had a nice chat with their Mommy later that day and from the sound of it, they would have preferred the dogs got them. :)
Cool story, about the kids. Hopefully, that experience and the way you handled it put them on a better path.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2014
West

They got away with two 5 way Sherwood towers and a 6 disc CD player. They could have done more damage but I bet carrying those speakers did them in.

One of the times we brought it home to unload and clean, I woke the next morning to voices in the side yard. I looked out the window and saw two neighbor boys going through my shed. They left when I told Honey to let the dogs out and I heard one saying that he was sure we had gone camping. I had a nice chat with their Mommy later that day and from the sound of it, they would have preferred the dogs got them. :)
pompomgirl
Explorer
Feb 12, 2014
I've always been very cautious about that sort of thing, and worry when we are gone for a few days, with the MH missing from its carport. In a way, that's an advantage of keeping the MH away from the house - no advertising when it's gone. Once, when I was single, I had a car and a little Toyota Chinook, and kept both of them in a two-car garage at my house. The only time I have ever been burglarized was one night when I had lent my car to my sister and was out late to dinner with a friend, so there were no cars in the garage. How they knew that with the garage doors closed, I'll never know. But it was the only time the garage was empty and the only time I've ever been burglarized.
westend
Explorer
Feb 12, 2014
JiminDenver wrote:
I'm glad the OP found a place to store the RV.

We are only allowed 24 hrs at the house here and it's ok. The trailer is five minutes away in a secured lot with cameras, fresh water and a dump station. we can load the food in the truck, pick up the trailer filling the water on the way out and be on the road in under 30 minutes.

We will bring the trailer home after a trip to unload and get it ready for the next trip but only after. We found that advertising that we will be gone with either getting ready before or having a empty parking spot isn't a good idea after getting robbed while taking the boat out for a day.
Ouch, that will make a guy a little bit more cautious, 'eh?
I was burglarized once. It's no fun. :(

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