Who Stores Their Rig Indoors Over the Winter?

[blofgren]

OK, so the not so nice weather is here for much of us and our fiver has been in indoor storage for almost 2 months now :(. As much as we hate not having it with us it is comforting knowing it is dry and clean indoors. We live in the very wet West coast that is not kind to an RV sitting outside in the elements. Unfortunately we do not have enough property to have a shop so we are forced to pay to have it inside a former chicken barn on an agricultural property about a 20 minute drive from our home.

When we started RVing over 20 years ago we always left our units outside and dealt with moldy awnings, extremely grime, black streaks, etc. in the spring and then we finally had a Terry fifth wheel that developed a leak. Friends of ours convinced us to store indoors for the late fall/winter/early spring months and we have been doing so since. It is great to put the rig indoors and pick it up 6 months later completely clean, dry, and looking exactly as it was when we put it away.

So what are others doing?

[blownstang01]

I also didn't have room for a huge pole barn, so I built this next to my garage. Since this photo I added a 12" wide 1/8" thick aluminum gutter to connect the carport to the garage so it's basically closed in. I did all the work myself and have about $2500 in it including concrete and lights.

[TCollins]

DW and I built a 30'x40' barn when we moved to this property in 1992. We built it to house a horse, our popup and my junk. Put a 12' high door in it never dreaming we would have something taller than that. Horse is long gone. Last 5th wheel was over 13' tall so rented indoor storage off site as I hate to leave the campers outside. Last year we were looking at Class A's. One stipulation was that it had to fit in my barn. Found a Holiday Rambler Admiral that is around 11'6" tall. It goes in the barn whenever we are not on the road. Stays cleaner and I can go out and work on it any time and any weather.

TomC

[blofgren]

Hammerboy wrote:
I am fortunate enough to store it indoors year round in our rv garage behind our house. Its sits inside over 300 days a year, the less sun, rain, and snow it sees the better I figure, plus it's secure too. It even sits inside when we are loading up most times, it stays inside until the day we leave and goes back in the day we come back most times. I'll pull it out for a wash then ill back it back in and wax it inside. My fifth is spoiled more than our dog. 😉

Dan

OK, I'm drooling now.....that is definitely a dream situation! :B

[Hammerboy]

I am fortunate enough to store it indoors year round in our rv garage behind our house. Its sits inside over 300 days a year, the less sun, rain, and snow it sees the better I figure, plus it's secure too. It even sits inside when we are loading up most times, it stays inside until the day we leave and goes back in the day we come back most times. I'll pull it out for a wash then ill back it back in and wax it inside. My fifth is spoiled more than our dog. 😉

Dan

[bluie5]

Where we live the county’s fairgrounds open up the buildings for RV and boat storage over the winter. That’s where ours go from November to April.

[Mr_Mark1]

We don't store all winter as we use ours all year long. When not in use, I rent two garages, one at each of my destinations. Both homes are in gated communities so there is no 'at home' storage.

This set-up works well for us as the motorhome is sheltered when we are at either home.

Safe travels,
MM.

[SoundGuy]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
- stuff just stays nicer when not subjected to the sun.

We've recently returned from visiting rels Down Under and one thing I noticed immediately is that everything exposed to the sun fades noticeably - vehicles, campers, outdoor equipment, houses, etc, etc - virtually everything. Tile roofs on homes are quite common and so too are services to restore the finish of these roofs, breathable covers on RVs are also becoming popular, and some who can afford it store their rig under some sort of covered carport - anything that isn't protected fades really badly. :E There's no question in my mind that if you can't store your rig indoors, at least for the winter, then a breathable cover is the next best step. I've never covered ours during the camping season as it's quite a bit of work but I am now beginning to consider it, if for no other reason than to minimize sun fade. Lucky stiffs are those who can store under some sort of protected area year round. :W

[doc_brown]

Always inside when not in use.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

We own a large building, so have usually stored out RV inside. We sold our 2004 Class C after using it for 10 years, and it still looked like new. Conversely, the 5er sat outside, and "aged" visually each year. Now we're down to a large converted van so it will fit in another building we own - stuff just stays nicer when not subjected to the sun.

[JIMNLIN]

All my equipment sits in the garage or the tractor barn or the trailer shed. Nothing is left outside for the sun to runneth (11th commandant).
The rv trailers sits in a 16'X 40' pole barn with metal sides down to 4' above ground for good air flow when temps hit 110-113 degrees and all day long sun.

When you lived in a mobilehome you soon learn rain and sun are the trailers worst enemy.

[afidel]

fj12ryder wrote:
There's a storage facility less than 1/4 mile from us with only indoor storage, electricity, water, sewer, and private entrances. I'd love to put our toyhauler in there, but he wants about $375/month. A bit steep for my blood.

That's crazy, for our 20' unit I can store it in a constant temperature mine for under $150 for the entire winter. If I didn't want to drive the ~100 miles to the mine I could store it in a barn at any of the nearby counties fairgrounds for about the same. I'm actually storing it in a heated bay in my dad's factory but I've looked into the alternatives in case he sells the company or needs the space for raw materials.

[blofgren]

malexander wrote:
Everything I own is stored inside. The airplane is a 1969 Cessna 172, been hangared all it's life, looks great. Nobody knows if I'm home or not because everything is either in the garage, under the car/RV port, or in the hangar. There's no comparison to something that's been kept inside vs outside.

Fantastic! The security benefit you mention is a huge bonus and is a major reason why I bought my current truck because the crew cab long bed would not fit in my garage.

[blofgren]

spoon059 wrote:

blofgren wrote:
My thoughts exactly. It does cost me $1200 for 6 months but that is cheap compared to dealing with water damage. I sleep well during stormy nights knowing it is safe and dry inside!

I bought a Carolina Carport for $2400 installed. Mine is under cover 320 or so days a year. If you have the land for it, I would strongly encourage you to consider a carport. You'll have it paid off the first year.

That is a steal for that carport. I may still pursue this option after feeling the neighbors out a bit. I’m on a 7300 square foot lot in the city so I have to be a bit cautious.

[malexander]

Everything I own is stored inside. The airplane is a 1969 Cessna 172, been hangared all it's life, looks great. Nobody knows if I'm home or not because everything is either in the garage, under the car/RV port, or in the hangar. There's no comparison to something that's been kept inside vs outside.

[spoon059]

blofgren wrote:
My thoughts exactly. It does cost me $1200 for 6 months but that is cheap compared to dealing with water damage. I sleep well during stormy nights knowing it is safe and dry inside!

I bought a Carolina Carport for $2400 installed. Mine is under cover 320 or so days a year. If you have the land for it, I would strongly encourage you to consider a carport. You'll have it paid off the first year.