Tips on Preparing Your Rv for Long Term Storage

by Simply Self Storage

Owning an RV is extremely fun since it will help you and your family affordably travel around the country. The only problem with owning an RV is that eventually you will need to store it for a long period of time. This is especially true if you are a working individual who can only travel for a couple of weeks during the year. In order to keep you RV in top condition it is important that you take all of the appropriate steps needed for storing an RV for a long period of time.

The first thing that must be done for long term storage of an RV is finding a good storage location. Tempting as it might be an RV should never be left out of doors for several months at a time. This is just asking for trouble in the form of rodents and weather damage. Instead invest in an RV storage facility that will provide at the least a roof and a sturdy door for your RV. There are some RV storage facilities that are similar to traditional storage units with the main difference being their size and overall function.

Once you have found a good storage site for your RV clean the storage space out. There is no need to risk your RV to the vermin that another renter might have left behind. Plus in some cases the RV storage area might have gone a long time without being used. This usually means that the area has been taken over by any wildlife or insects that are interested in having a warm, safe, location to rest in during the winter and cool comfortable place to relax in all summer. Taking the time to clean your RVs storage area will cut down on the problems you will have in the future.

The next thing that you should do is clean your RV. Do not just drive your dirty, dusty, RV into its storage area and leave it. Instead give the outside a good, thorough washing and waxing if you can. Cover the tires in grease that will help them avoid cracking and other damage. Then clean out the inside of the RV. Remove all food whether it is canned or not and vacuum the interior. Check the RV several times for forgotten food since this will attract vermin and insects who will try as long as they can to get into your RV and make it there new home.

Once you are done with the basic inner and outer cleaning of your RV it is time to get dirty. You must always remember to flush out your RV holding tank and give it a good cleaning. Most people hate this task but it must be done. If you do not flush out and clean your RV holding tank then you might notice extremely bad smells the next time you climb into your RV. Clean your RV using dish liquid that is designed to fight grease and grime. This will give you the best cleaning possible and leave your holding tank smelling fresh and clean.

If it is the winter time or winter is fast approaching there are a few more things that you will need to do to make sure your RV stays in tip top shape. The first thing you must do is completely drain your water heater. There is equipment available that will help flush the water out of your system and dry the lines. Once the water has been drained use a bypass system to add antifreeze to the lines to avoid freezing and damage during the winter. These bypass systems come with instructions that are usually easy to follow.

Last, but not least, you must remove the battery from your RV. Many RV owners are tempted to leave their batter in the RV all year long but this can lead to draining, corrosion, and even leakage of dangerous battery acid. Instead of leaving the battery in your RV when you are not using it remove it and bring it into your house. Do not store the battery in a bedroom; instead store it in a garage or outside work room that remains warm or comfortable throughout the year. To keep your battery from losing charge try to charge the batter for a few days or hours each month to keep it fully charged. When you are ready to use your RV again simply reinstall your battery and get ready to drive.

Preparing your RV for long term storage is pretty easy to do once you get used to it. Overtime you will notice that you are able to prepare your RV faster than before and learning how to prepare your RV for storage quickly and efficiently will help keep your RV running well for years to come.

Is Now the Right Time to Buy an Rv?

by Alan Wiener

The recent volatile fuel prices and the falling value of homes have impacted both RV owners and the RV Industry. In the past several months many major RV manufacturers have shut their doors permanently.

Quite a few people, who recently bought new RVs at the highest monthly payments that they could qualify for, are now regretting their decision to get the RV of their dreams. In other words they over bought their RV and they are now paying the price for it.

Is this all doom and gloom for RVers and potential RVers? The answer is a resounding NO! If you were ever thinking about buying an RV or upgrading to a different class of RV, now is the time to do it.

Because this is where the basic concept of Supply and Demand (also known as price and demand) you learned in your Economics class in high school kicks in. To put it in RV terms, when the economy is bad, the demand for RVs goes down.

With less demand, the RV dealers are going to do everything they can to get rid of those new RVs (in other words they will accept less money for them). The volatile fuel prices and questionable economy have also caused panic amongst some current RV owners. These owners have hastily made the decision to sell their RVs because they believe that they will no longer be able to afford to use them.

This has created a buyer’s market for RVs right now. Whether you are planning to buy a new or used RV, you will be able to get a lot more for your money. Of course you are going to have to still negotiate the best price you can for what you want, but now more than ever you are in the driver’s seat during these negotiations. Depending on what type of RV you are going to buy, the money you save on the purchase price could pay for your fuel and other travel expenses for quite awhile.

In some cases you may have to finance your RV purchase. When financing, remember the finance company will give you a loan for as much as you want (based on your credit). But, just because they are going to give you that much credit does not mean that you have to use that much credit. You might believe you can afford the monthly payments. But, you need to ask yourself if you can comfortably afford the monthly RV Loan payments and still have money left over to pay for the other costs of owning an RV such as fuel, maintenance, storage and of course camping. In other words don’t overbuy.

Now, let’s address the concerns of the cost of going camping in your new RV. The biggest cost, depending on the type of RV you have will be fuel. This would be a major concern if you are planning a 3,500-mile cross-country trip. Now, even for the most avid RVer is not the time to spend all of your money seeing the whole US (unless you have deep pockets).

Getting away from it all and camping does not require traveling 100s or 1000s of miles. Look around within a 50-, 60- or 70-mile radius of where you live and you will be surprised at all of the places there are to camp. Remember, the whole point of RVing and camping is to relax and enjoy your surroundings. I guarantee you there is no mileage limit on relaxation. Whether you are 25 miles from home or 2,500 miles from home, you can and should relax: after all, that is what the RVing Lifestyle is all about.

Our family has been RVing for over 35 years, and we have been all over the US and Canada and have enjoyed every minute of it. Have we changed our RVing habits as a result of the economic crunch? YES, we are not planning to travel 1000s of miles right now. Have we given up RVing? NO, we just go camping closer to home, visiting destinations we have not been to before. This change in our habits has not diminished our zeal for; or enjoyment of RVing.

You won’t regret your decision to buy an RV. Just plan ahead and don’t put a financial strain on yourself as this will diminish your enjoyment.

Characteristics Of Great Rv Storage Facility

by Simply Self Storage

When a person walk in to a room or place they will be staying there are specific things that they first notice in positive or negative ways. This normally starts with cleanliness, then you notice the amount of space there is, this is most likely followed by airflow or security of the place where you will be. When looking for the best storage space for your RV, it can be a difficult process.

One of the first things you should look for in RV storage unit is security. You want to make sure that you can feel safe when you go to check on your RV or retrieve an item form inside and you want to make sure that you feel like your storage unit is a secure place for your RV. This can mean doing a small amount of research on the internet or through friends if they have used the same type of storage. Many people submit reviews of areas they go or things they do, this can include storage meaning that knowledge of other people's past experiences might be open to you so that you may be given more information about specific things then you would otherwise be likely to receive. Some storage unit centers have been previously broken-in to and these storage facilities may not be the correct places for you or other people you may suggest a storage unit to.

RVs are very valuable and in some casers also have a great deal of emotional and sentimental value, meaning that if something where to ever happen to your RV or an individual's RV they may be very emotional and upset. This can mean that you may want to consider asking for an insurance policy so that if anything here to ever happen you know that your items will either be found or the money that you spent will be returned to you.

The second thing that you should check is how clean the area where your RV will be stored is. You want to know that the conditions for your RV will be what is best so that means you want the area clean and to have some minor amount of ventilation so that mildew will be less likely along with other types of damage. This will also mean it will be more likely for your RV to be cleaner when you come back to retrieve it before the next time where you need it.

When checking where your RV will be stored, you will also want to make sure that there is adequate security to protect your property. You will want to question the manager of the security center if he or she has security guards or a remotely controlled security system to monitor what happens on the grounds. In addition, you will want to query what happens if there is a theft of your property and what is covered by your agreement. If theft is not covered, you may want to consider insurance to protect your investment.

The location of your stored items will also be important if you wish to have immediate access due to various reasons like if you are also storing a boat and want water access. This can assist you if you will be pulling your boat or vehicle out from storage regularly. This is also handy if you have other various members of your family who will be using your boat or vehicle.

You will also want to check out reviews posted by individuals who are, or who have previously used the services of the storage complex for his or her RV that go beyond security concerns. This can be one of the best determining factors to see if the storage complex is a great RV storage facility. Past reviews can share whether or not that had good experiences or if something bad happened during the time they use the services of the storage complex.

You may also contact the local police department to see if they have received any complaints or calls to respond to thefts. These reports are public knowledge and you have the right to ask for them at any time. While not completely conclusive as there are always other factors to consider, this can provide a great deal of information, which may not have been provided during the initial interview.

In the end, the characteristics of a great RV storage facility will be dependant on your needs. Whichever decision you make, do not settle for anything less than what your needs dictate. Your property is worth making a good decision.

Advantages Of Indoor Rv Storage

by Simply Self Storage

The average RV user only uses their vehicle a few times a year. That means they have to make some kind of arrangements to store it when it's not in use, especially during winter weather. If an RV owner wants to maintain the good condition of their RV through the year, then indoor RV storage is the best option. The benefits for choosing indoor RV storage are plentiful. The most obvious is the simple fact that your RV will not be subject to any inclement weather conditions.

Sun damage can be prevented to both the interior and exterior of the vehicle by utilizing indoor RV storage. It will also help your tires tremendously, as they benefit from not having exposure to the sometimes harsh conditions of the weather. The sun and other elements of nature can cause tires to deflate and crack. Additionally, this will help maintain the long term residual value of your RV by protecting it from paint oxidation, roof cracking, and various types of potential water damage.

Another positive feature of indoor RV storage is that, when the RV owner decides to take it out of storage, things will be so much easier. Indoor RV storage keeps the RV clean from things like bird droppings and black mark stains. You won't have to worry about rodents making their home in your RV while it is in storage. There will be less necessary maintenance by season's end. No one can vandalize your vehicle indoors. Indoor RV storage offers more protection to your vehicle than just leaving it out as a target for any one to help themselves to. Also, changing weather will not become a problem with regard to damaging parts. Additionally, you don't have to worry about the possibility of violating city codes by keeping your RV parked on the street.

The security provided by indoor RV storage is unsurpassed. A sure sign that if you aren't home you don't have to worry about having your RV disappear from its usual parking spot. This would also put your home at a greater risk for burglaries. Insurance companies prefer indoor RV storage. Storing your RV indoors is the logical choice. It will help to protect your investment, and give you peace of mind. When your RV is being stored in a secure location, you don't have to worry about something happening to it. Not having to keep an eye on your RV, and the fact that you don't have to get it winterized, are real benefits.

After a harsh and cold winter people are all feeling the urge to rediscover the outdoors and begin to plan months ahead for camping season to ensure that their experiences will not turn into a dreadful one. Women, men, and children, young and old can enjoy the experience of camping. Camping in an RV requires much planning, however this task can be easily accomplished to ensure that the summer camping months are enjoyable.

When buying an RV the customer must first find a place to store the RV during the winter months. RV storage is very affordable and it ensures that your belongings in the RV are safe, and the RV is not damaged in any way. Many facilities that offer these kinds of areas may offer either indoor or outdoor parking spaces. Those that offer indoor RV storage may be slightly less inexpensive, however the RV is protected from the weather elements, protection from insect infestations and it less likely that the vehicle would be susceptible to break-ins.

A little advance work before you put your trailer to rest for the winter lessens your spring chores. Some new RV owners feel confident with just buying a good cover for their RV but soon find out in spring that they have a lot of added work that wouldn't have been necessary if you had stored it indoors. Here are a few interesting statistics about RV storage. 56% of those who store their RV keep it RV next to their house while 28% use public storage facilities. Only 4% have an RV garage for their RV. The average cost per month to store an RV outside is around $34. Storing it indoors will cost more. Most people live within 15 miles of where they store the motor home. Inside covered storage with electricity available and sometimes air conditioned can cost $140 - $430 a month. Some campgrounds and RV dealerships also have affordable parking or RV storing facilities and rates.