Knowing how to store your RV at home safely and effectively is important, whether you are doing it for a few days or a whole winter. Assuming you have room for your RV at home, this article will give you a complete guide to everything you need to know about storing a camper safely and securely.
Why store your RV at home?
Why would you store your RV at home when there are thousands of RV storage spaces all over the USA? Storage facilities are secure and can accommodate any RV. Of course, this service comes at a cost, and unless you have a budget for it, it may not be an option.
Generally speaking, RV storage is expensive. You can expect to pay around $100 per month but many storage sites cost much more. You generally get what you pay for – more expensive RV storage will be indoor and have CCTV. Cheaper storage could be parking in a field, however.
This is why storing your RV at home is a sensible and cost-effective option. Storing your RV at home is free. It will literally sit on your drive until you need to use it. This practice has driven an increase of people not only purchasing RV’s but storing them at home.
How to store your RV at home important considerations
Storing your RV at home is not just as simple as driving it home and parking it up. There is a variety of things to consider:
- Do you have space for your RV? This is not a trick question. Of course, the smaller the RV, the better chance you have to fit it at home. A-class motorhomes are up to 40 feet in length and extremely tall, so you’d need a huge drive to fit them on. If you don’t have space, your only option would be storage
- Where are you going to store your RV? This completely depends on the set up you have at your house. You may have a big drive that has plenty of room for your RV. You could live on a farm and have endless space. Or you could live in a city with minimal parking, which could, of course, limit your options.
- Is it safe to store your RV at home? Yet again, this issue will be unique to your home environment and the local area. If crime rates are high, you may want to take caution if considering storing your RV at home. The last thing you want is to store it at home for it to be stolen. Of course, with preventative measures such as CCTV and a steering wheel lock, this is less likely to happen.
- Would your neighbours mind? (If you have any). It’s always worth considering or talking to your neighbours in advance. A big RV could become a bit of a talking point on the street. It may potentially block cars manoeuvring if you park it on the street. You might even find yourself getting the local authority asking questions about it. It’s much h better to ask beforehand than deal with the response, having done it and not warned the neighbours.
- Will there be any cost to storing my RV? Unless you have a drive and are happy to park it on, there will be costs. For example, you may have to widen a driveway to fit the RV on. As ideally, you don’t want to park it on grass; it could potentially get stuck. Furthermore, you could spend money on getting a cover for your RV. Your home set up will be unique, and so will the costs (if any) should you decide to store it a home.
Parking Tips for RV Home Storage
Take a look at some our top tips for storing your RV at home.
Tip 1: Park on a solid surface
Grass can be appealing and easy. Just pull your RV up and the job is done, right? Maybe not. RV’s usually weigh 3 tonnes upwards – imagine storing an RV overwinter on grass! Unpredictable weather can mean that sometimes the grass will be fine to park on, such as during sunny or dry weather, but the risk comes when the ground gets wet.
Your RV, with its heavyweight, could sink. An inch or two is enough to get it stuck and trying to get it off again can cause a mess. You could try and drive off and end up wheel spinning and getting mud everywhere. Even worse, you may need to face the embarrassment of having to get towed off of your own yard.
Concrete or tarmac surfaces are much better suited as they remain solid regardless of the elements.
Tip 2: Park on a flat surface
This point is common sense – parking on a flat surface means the weight will be evenly distributed. Turn the RV on, and it won’t go anywhere. The risks come with uneven, sloping surfaces. Let’s say your drive is on a slope. You run the risk of rolling back and hitting whatever the RV is parked in front of. Nobody wants 3 tonnes of RV rolling into their living room! Of course, a good handbrake and wheel blocks should stop this from happening. A flat surface will give you peace of mind that it won’t roll anywhere.
Tip 3: Ensure nothing overhangs the RV
A street light overhanging your RV may not be such a huge risk as it’s doubtful something could fall. However, birds enjoy these spots and may decide to make it their toilet. Bird waste can quickly mount up over your RV as you store it. Not only is it unsightly, it can be very difficult to remove and can permanently damage the paintwork. It’s worth it find a spot with no overhangs to save yourself the effort.
Never park under a tree or powerlines. As strong and as solid as trees are and powerlines are, there’s always a small chance they could fall. The worst thing is that the majority of camper insurance wouldn’t cover such damage. Trees can be hazardous. Animals dropping are yet again an obvious negative of parking under a tree. The real danger is branches falling and damaging your RV. The last thing you want is a cracked windscreen.
In the fall, leaves can also mound up and decay all over the RV. This will ruin the paintwork and be a nightmare to clean. Park where you look up and see the sky. That way, you prevent all of this from happening.
10 Way to look after your RV while being stored at home
When storing your RV at home, you could park it up and leave it but this exposes your RV to the elements and isn’t good practice. It’s not going to be in its best condition if you do this. The following 10 tips will ensure your RV is in the best possible condition when you come to use it.
- Purchase an RV cover to protect your camper from the elements. Although they can take a bit of time to put on correctly, it’s well worth the effort. No animal droppings, rain or frost can get to your RV. The paintwork will be protected, and when removed, you will see that your RV looks in great condition.
- Check the tire pressures once a month or so. Particularly in the winter, the tire pressures will change. So keep them at the correct PSI so they can support the weight of the RV. For example, if a tire goes flat, it could end up bending the wheel or causing issues with the steering. Take the RV for a little drive. This is good for any vehicle, and it will allow you to check the tires and the overall health of the RV.
- Start the RV once a month. It’s not good for any engine to not be used. So when you get the chance, turn the engine on. Let the engine run for an hour or two. Of course, make sure it is safe to do so. You could sit in the back as it warms up or leaves it running. Of course, make sure it is blocked if you do so as it could be stolen, which does happen.
- Please remove the battery and keep it charged up. The last thing you want Is a flat battery. Also, keeping it in the house will be better for a battery than the cold. A warmer environment prevents battery damage, whereas sub-zero temperatures could damage the RV battery.
- Clean the inside of the RV and check there are no holes for mice to get in. Animals and insects seek warmth in winter month so your RV could become their new home. As long as their RV is airtight and no animals were inside. in the first place, you should avoid this issue.
- Empty the freshwater tank. Stagnant water breeds all sorts of germs and bacteria, so you could get ill if you drank it after 6 months of storage. Furthermore, a freshwater tank could crack in the winter as the water freezes, so it’s best to ensure it’s empty. Find the fresh water tank and empty it.
- Empty the sewage tank. You can do this at home. Click here to find out how to do it safely with a sewer hose.
- Winterize your RV. This way, you will prevent the pipes from freezing and having weather-related issues. Methods include filling the RV with windscreen wash that can withstand sub 0 temperatures and emptying all tanks so no water can freeze.
- Check the electrics once a month. Doing so will allow you to see if there are any issues. Remember that any solar systems need testing, even during the winter. The best thing to do is to turn the RV on and check the circuit breaker. This will highlight if any electrics have tripped or if there are any errors.
- Regular cleaning inside and outside. RV maintenance can go a long way in regards to looking after the RV. Cleaning the inside can stop mould occurring due to condensation. External cleaning will look after the paintwork and stop rust from setting in on the alloys.
How to store your RV at home Summary
As long as you have room to store your RV at home, it can be more advantageous than putting your RV into storage. With it being on your drive, you can regularly check up on your RV. This regular maintenance will mean your RV is in the best condition it can be. The truth is the more you look after your RV, the more it will look after you. In the sense that it will drive better, be more reliable and look better.
Following the guidance in this article will give you the best chance of making storing your RV at home a success. Thank you for reading!