popular rv/trailer accessories

[City_Storage]

hi everyone. I work at a storage facility and we've had a huge influx of RVs and trailers and we want to provide for our customers so I'm curious what items/issues you all always have. What does your storage facility provide or not provide that you are thankful for or despair over? What do you wish they provided so that you can hit the road directly from where you store your rigs.

We want to give our customers the best experience possible and none of us are RVers! So, we're just curious what items/services people in your culture are constantly craving/appreciating.

Any info helps! Thanks!

For example: what are some basic no-brainer items that we should have stocked because RVers will always be looking for them? Conversely, what are some uncool/lame items that any self-respecting RVer would not be caught dead buying?

JZ

[tpi]

Side note: I once had my RV at a U-Haul storage location and they were painting the facility. I came back to get my RV and it was wrapped completely in plastic. While I appreciated the effort to protect the RV, I was pissed that people were on my non-walkable roof and taping things to my RV without my permission or knowledge. Not what you want to see when you plan to go quickly pick up an RV and end up unwrapping a 35' Christmas present. A phone call to move it prior to them painting in the area would've been greatly appreciated.

Absolutely! On my former Airstream trailer, they walked on the non-walkable end caps. Fortunately I was able to perfectly pop out the dents with a plunger.

I have repeatedly gone to office and asked them to call me during maintenance periods, and almost without fail they forget (employee turnover, jobs spread out). I am happy to pull out the RV, go camping a few days, or make other arrangements for it if they would only call. Basically my way of dealing with it is very frequent stops over there popping in office asking questions, and looking for signs of construction, painting, repairs, etc.

Some may say move, but the location is perfect and other locations are far less convenient. The convenient location at least lets me pop in a lot to see whats up. I somehow doubt things are much greener elsewhere.

[RavensFan24]

My storage place said they regularly walk the grounds and make sure nothing seems out of order with any of the RVs. I know if I had left a window open, or if they noticed an issue of any sort, I'd want to know about it ASAP rather than waiting til the next time I go over to the RV. I think this goes above just security because they are making sure that a tree limb didn't fall on it, or a window broke or something. I appreciated them telling me about that feature when I left my RV there. Never hurts to have an extra set of eyes.

Air compressor would be a huge feature. I carry a 12v pump, but would prefer to just pull up and knock it out with a better pump. A station to wash the RV would definitely be another great feature. Even if it was just the ability to hose it off, that would be nice.

Side note: I once had my RV at a U-Haul storage location and they were painting the facility. I came back to get my RV and it was wrapped completely in plastic. While I appreciated the effort to protect the RV, I was pissed that people were on my non-walkable roof and taping things to my RV without my permission or knowledge. Not what you want to see when you plan to go quickly pick up an RV and end up unwrapping a 35' Christmas present. A phone call to move it prior to them painting in the area would've been greatly appreciated.

[arush19]

1. Keep it cheap. If I was looking for storage facilities, I would call around for the best deal in the area. 2. Easy access. I don't want to be bottoming out every time due to major dips or overly inclined driveways. 3. I like the idea of an RV wash.
I agree with the others, I wouldn't stock too many accessories.

[AAFD]

Electric connections,
Keep each coach far enough apart so you can open slides or open compartment doors,
Safe and security
good roads, paved is better
covered storage
24hr access

KC

[pitch]

Easy access to electricity.
A couple of water spigots around the facility
Access to compressed air. Tires are always soft in storage
Access to a battery charger or jump bo
If you feel the need to stock for sale, possibly some hitch pins lynch pins, cotter keys, common automotive fuses and light bulbs. assorted zip ties.
Good security cameras
security
security
security

[tpi]

1. Good security
2, Excellent training supervision of employees/contractors not to damage the RVs. This has been my biggest problem in 13 years of using paid storage. Painters climbing on RV for access, groundsmen scratching paint with leaf blowers or tools, roofers splashing tar on adjacent RV. I could go on and on, but these contractors need to be heavily supervised! I am in a premium lot and they're typically not.

3. I appreciate the dump station and wash area.
4. I appreciate having easy access to the parking spot.
5. If you're in a hot sunny area and it works out with your finances I think shade canopies are nice.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
One of the RV storage lots near here has a dump station, a fill-up station for potable water, an RV wash bay with catwalks. Very nice!

See you are in So. Cal - ("Inland Empire" Riverside, San Berdoo, etc).

You would do lots of So. CA folks (like Bear II) a favor by posting the name/location of the facility!
(It's not against forum rules).

Recently 2500 (two thousand, five hundred) RVs of all types were given the boot by the storage facility at the former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro (Orange County, CA).

Nearby alternates were instantly filled in short order, and establishing waiting lists.

For the OP - a wash and dump station should be sufficient "perks".
Drive-thru sites (even at an added premium) are nice also...:C

~

[NYCgrrl]

I'd look at local RV park stores and find out what RV related items get a fast change of inventory. Good way to not tie up your capital in products.

[2012Coleman]

When I used a storage facility, I had a battery stolen and some damage from a landscape trailer backing into mine.

So I switched to a place that had a dump facility and full camera coverage. The rest of the ideas mentioned are great but good security and a dump station if you want to get RV customers. An air station for tires is also an excellent idea. This is what RV'ers want from a storage place.

Amazon is going to kill you on price. Seriously, I would not buy supplies from a storage place as I know stuff will be cheaper at Walmart and online.

[ICamel]

Ice machine

[mgirardo]

I really don't think selling accessories would be much of a money maker. Depending on how far you are from big box stores, carrying RV Anti-Freeze in the fall might be useful. I'm 15 miles from the nearest store that carries RV Anti-Freeze. If the temperature drops unexpectedly, I've got a good drive to pick up anti-freeze if I don't have any. You won't make money, but it would be a nice convenience for your customers.

Good Security Camera coverage, 24/7 access and well graded, quickly draining area to park is important to me.

-Michael

[Paul_Clancy]

Forget the accessories shop. When stuff breaks and needs new it happens at the campground. When people gear up new they do it at cw or a dealer shop or Walmart or Amazon.

[Oasisbob]

Really good security. Room to move in and out easily.

[wa8yxm]

Continuing: Story from an RVer (Who also posted the video) he had a "nanny Cam" in his RV which got real good pictures of the theif,, Same ending

Professional phhotographer 1: Thief took his own picture.. She handed it to the police who said "OH, Those Guys" and went to arrest

Photo 2: Camera was Digital had and "Eye-FI" card (Uploads photos the camera takes automastically) She downloaded, printed and police arrested.

Cameras good The better the camera the better.