Winter Storage: Inside vs. Outside

[KristinU]

After our really crummy winter in New England we're thinking about indoor storage for next winter.

Before it is suggested, we don't have enough real estate at home to erect a covered space for it. We can fit it in the driveway during the summer months, but our driveway is too narrow to store it at home when we have a decent amount of snow. So in the winter it is either outdoor storage about 5 miles from home as we have been doing or find something else.

The indoor storage I've found is at a fairground where you put it in in November and take it out in April. So no engine or generator exercizing.

So what would you all think is the better of the options? Outdoors where we can access it and run the engine and genny regularly or indoors out of the elements but not touch it for 5 months?

I appreciate your thoughts!

[DaCrema]

I am in favor of inside too. Make sure that you have all food stuff out. I am sure that the owners protect from mice but if there are a bunch of RV and cars there are a lot of places for them to hid. Fill the tank and add a gas stabilizer then go for a half hour drive to mix it well with the gas in the tank. Then run the generator long enough to get the stabilized gas into the generator. I would also fill the tires to max air pressure. If the place is very close to home (less than 10 minutes or so) drive around for a good half hour to an hour so any moisture in the exhaust system and engine has time to cook off.

[mlts22]

I would definitely fog the Onan generator (OnaGard), as well as fill the gas tank and add twice the usual amount of fuel stablizer.

Winterizing goes without saying as well.

[golfknut]

I'm sure they could accommodate your early April exit date. They take that into consideration when "loading" the building and will have you in an appropriate spot to be able to get out when you want.

[AAFD]

Inside, we have a covered storage unit, no sun but it gets a good breeze and I can access as much as needed plus can run both the motor and generator:)

KC

[KristinU]

Yeah, Nomad 289, it wouldn't be heated so we'd still have to winterize like normal.

Now the big question is how early we'd be able to get it out in the spring. I need to investigate a little more to find out what "April" means since we usually use it the first few weeks in April. I guess we could forego the spring break trip with it if it means that we'll preserve it for longer and not have to go out and shovel the roof off multiple times.

[ScottG]

In.

[nomad_289]

Inside:
Flush/Drain + Flush/Drain tanks and add tank treatment.
Non-Ethanol gas and/or Stabil.
Disconnect batteries.

[KristinU]

This would be inside-inside and not just covered. Inside one of their exhibition halls. Sounds like it is the way to go, which is how we were leaning. I don't love not being able to "play" with it for months on end, but it is probably best.

[pnichols]

It depends upon what you mean by storage "inside"?

Storing your RV only under a roof with open sides so as to get out of the rain and sun and for good air circulation around the exterior - with roof vents open for air circulation in the interior - would be a very big plus. Of course the ultimate approach is storage inside of a heated and cooled building to keep moisture, cold, extreme heat, and the sun's ultraviolet rays completely away from the RV.

For example in our case, the best we can do is store our RV shaded as much as possible throughout the day by big trees. This helps with the biggest gremlin - the sun's ultraviolet rays which dry out and rot all rubber components and sealants and oxidizes surfaces ... which ends up causing leaks and a wornout appearance.

[brirene]

Inside would definitely be preferable. I used to store mine at our local fairgrounds, and they indicated I could have access to it whenever I needed. Turned out to be not quite that easy, but I was able to go in after a couple of attempts. Might they allow you to do so?

[Mfan]

Inside. Add gas stabilizer where needed.

[Executive45]

Inside, no question. Sitting for five months won't hurt anything...just ask a farmer....Dennis