TZScales
Maryland
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Joined: 02/10/2008
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For those of you who have stored your Class A motorhome in an inside or outside storage facility, what have been your experiences, good or bad? How far away is the motorhome stored from your home? How do you handle keeping the batteries charged? What about running the generator once a month? Thanks in advance for your answers and any sage advice you may be able to offer.
TZS 
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wilpower
Punta Gorda, Fl
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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We've always stored at a "storage lot". Don't have the ability to keep it at home. Present location recently sold, but up 'till now it's been very secure. I added solar panel for battery maintenance, turn off battery disconnects, and yes, run the generator 2 hrs a month with a/c load etc.
Wil & Cyndi & Einstein (African Gray)
FMCA # F262386
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Buck62
Charleston, South Carolina
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Joined: 04/28/2005
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Unfortunately, I am forced to keep my motorhome at a storage lot due to association restrictions. I found a secured lot where the lot is electronically gated and with security camera's. The lot owner also provides an electrical outlet at each covered spot, a renter's dump station and free use of the automotive type wand vehicle power car wash station. It is located about 14 miles from my house. It is a 40 foot covered storage spot which reduces sun damage especially in our area. I physically check it once a week and go inside to verify that everything is okay. I have a chassis master disconnect that totally shuts down the 12V system. I would love to find a totally cover storage like a self contained garage but, there are none in my area. We use our motorhome year round and it is usually not setting in storage for more than 4-5 weeks at a time so the generator and engine does gets a work out every month or month and a half. To find a good storage lot you need to look at location, lot security and talk to other renters if you can to find out if there has been any break ins or vandelism. We have quite a few storage lots catering to boats and RV's. In our area, the monthly storage fees vary from $60 for outside storage up to $110 for covered storage.
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joppa
Massachusetts
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Joined: 09/12/2006
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I've used two indoor storage centers one in NH that was only about an hour away and now for the past year I've kept it down near Atlanta which is about a half-day away by air. Both spots have AC so everything stays nicely charged and the beer stays nice and cold.
Even now that it's a plane ride away I never let it sit more than 4-6 weeks. Take it for a spin, run the gen, etc.
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine
2007 Foretravel Nimbus
Cummins ISM 500HP
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TZScales
Maryland
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Joined: 02/10/2008
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Thanks for your replies. It seems that covered indoor storage with electricity for me is about 130 miles away one-way in Pennsylvania. I do not want to go that far.
I have researched some places in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia also and the rates are reasonable. I'll now just have to visit them to see for myself, and also taking into consideration what you have conveyed.
Godspeed!!
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JaBob
Roswell, Georgia
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Joined: 06/10/2004
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We have covered storage and pay $195 per month. Rates vary by area but this is the best we've found and it's 22 miles from the house. We use ours at least twice a month so battery maintenance and generator cycling is not a problem. We also cover are tires which are 6 years old without any checkering and will be replaced next week.
Sun is the enemy!
Bob
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livingaboard
Everett wa
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Joined: 09/06/2006
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I had to use one for six months due to being in an HOA at the time. I am so glad I have a real home with a real lot and I can store it at home.
I paid about a hundred bucks a month for secure access with a keypad and cameras. I had a spot in a gravel lot with about a foot on each side and no electricity. I thought it sucked for the money. I would probably get rid of my rig if I had to put it in storage again.
I like to tinker around with stuff and if the rig is in storage it is a pain in the butt to go do things with it. I was always forgetting a tool at home or something. The storage unit was about 6 miles from my home.
Dave
Everett, WA
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U, F53 Triton V-10
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PackerBacker
Montreal, Quebec,Canada
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Joined: 08/22/2002
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We have had the same storage lot for 6 years; it's about 2 miles from our house. It's gated and locked with the owner living adjacent to it. It's certainly not ideal, we had our 5th wheel broken into once by some kids after the gate was left open over a weekend for some heavy maintenance equipment at a business beside it.
Wish I could keep it at home.
Eric
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 33SFS
Good Sam's - FQCC/Camping Quebec
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bsinmich
Holland, MI
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Joined: 11/18/2000
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We pay $500 per year for indoor storage. The barn has about 8-10 different RVs stored there. We get a concrete floor, locked, and very solid. There is a drawback to this though. The solar panels are almost worthless in the dark. I do not get to run the generator at all. Having been there for 7 years with 2 MHs I can say I have never had a problem yet.
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, & 2002 PT Cruiser w/Remco lube pump, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
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ak_traveler
Fairbanks, Alaska
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Joined: 04/23/2005
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Well if you don't mind a fiver chiming in on this...
We keep our 5th wheel parked in a covered storage area. It's outside, but surrounded by a fenced yard, keypad entry gate, survellance cameras everywhere, and the owners live on site. So we sleep good at nights knowing it's taken care of. We also stop by periodically to check the snow for footprints!
As for the battery thing, we remove our batteries for winter - there is no electric at the yard and we bring them inside and put them on a trickle charger at home. We also have to make sure that anything that can't freeze is taken out of the rig (fire extinguisher, handheld flashlights, etc.) It's going to be subjected to sub-zero temps for a long time so we have to prepare it meticulously.
We also stop by from time to time to check the flooring (some units have had the linoleum crack over a winter) and make sure there's still pink stuff in the potty.
"There's no such thing as too much tow vehicle!"
Wes, Linda, & kids
"Tow Twuck" - 2008 Ford F350 DRW CC LB 6.4 Powerstroke
"Cougar" - 2006 Keystone Cougar 289EFS Fifth Wheel
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