You’ve been on plenty of adventures with your recreational vehicle. Over the years, you and your trailer have been on some fantastic journeys together. From road trips to camping in new states and exploring national parks, there’s nothing you haven’t seen or done together. Although travel trailers are meant for traveling, there will be times when it needs to go into storage, mainly in storage units.
This could be because of work keeping you stationary or because winter has arrived. It doesn’t matter if you’re planning on a short getaway or a long road trip; you need to know how to use the storage units for the travel trailers correctly so they will stay intact.
We have created a helpful guide with the 12 best travel trailer storage tips. Our list covers everything from where to store your trailer to how to prep it for storage. By following our tips, you can ensure that your TRAILER is clean and ready for long-term storage.
Choose Your Storage Location Wisely
If you’re looking to store your trailer; we recommend using reputable storage units specializing in trailers. These locations are typically the best places to store a travel trailer as they provide the perfect environment for storing one.
You’ll find that many storage facilities offer uncovered parking spaces and covered TRAILER storage, for example, a room with an overhead roof. You can also locate storage units for travel trailers complete with indoor climate control to help protect your vehicle against the weather – like direct sunlight, rain, snowfall, and extreme temperature changes.
Recreational vehicles can be challenging to store, especially if you need a storage facility. If you don’t have the appropriate space to store your trailer, see if any of your friends or family do.
Chances are, someone close to you has the extra space you need. You could even offer them a monthly fee for letting you use their space.
Do a Deep Clean Before Keeping It In Storage Units
One of the most crucial pieces of advice we can give for storage units for the travel trailers is to clean your trailer before placing it into storage. Give it a good wash down with soap and water, removing all the dirt and grime. Remember the tires!
To prevent any further build-up, start by removing all grease and oils. Once the exterior is clean, see if any cracks or peels need to be sealed or caulked; you don’t want any critters getting into your trailer through these openings!
Before you put your cleaning supplies away, dust and vacuum the interior of your trailer, wipe down surfaces, clean countertops, vacuum furniture, and sweep up any dirt. You want a pure starting point since your trailer will gather more dust while in storage.
Pest-Proof Travel Trailer Before Parking In Storage Units
Making sure your trailer is pest-free should be a key priority when preparing it for storage. Check all surfaces for gaps or holes where animals can get in. You can plug vents, hoses, and pipes with special screens or plugs and seal cracks with steel wool or spray foam. To discourage insects, try placing mothballs around the inside of your trailer.
Remove Leftover Food When Planning To Use Storage Units
Most trailers are packed with the owner’s favorite food, but no one wants their leftovers to take up space while the trailer is in storage.
Take out any food that might attract pests from the cabinets, fridge, and freezer. Furthermore, you won’t have to deal with leftover bad smells or moldy food. Once everything is removed from the Fridge and freezer, shut off both appliances and keep their doors open so no mold will grow inside while in storage.
Open The Vents
Keep your rooftop vent open to circulate air and prevent mold or mildew. This allows airflow into the motorhome without water entering. Additionally, by keeping the air moving inside your trailer, you’ll avoid any musty smells when it’s time to use your recreational vehicle again.
Retract All Slides
Our recommendation for those wondering whether to store their trailer with slides in or out is always to retract them. If you’re not using your trailer and sitting idle for several days or more, then it’s acceptable to leave the slides extended.
But if you’re planning on long-term storage, close them up. By doing so, they are much better protected from harsh outside conditions. Make sure you give the mechanical components and seals a quick clean before shutting everything away, though!
Drain The Fluids
Flushing the water tanks, plumbing system, and water heater is a good idea when you’re done using your motorhome for a while. If you’re storing it during winter, our number one tip is to add some antifreeze into the piping, valves, and waste tanks. This will stop any leftover water from freezing up.
Cover Up Outside When Storing In Storage Units
An exterior cover is a key to storing your trailer outside. This is vital during summer, as harsh sunlight and high temperatures can damage your vehicle.
Even if you’re lucky enough to have a spot with a roof overhead, it’s best to cover your trailer to keep out direct sunlight, water, dirt, etc. It might not be very pleasant having to put the cover on initially. Still, you’ll be thanking yourself later when there’s no Mother Nature-inflicted damage for using your travel trailer again.
Cover Up Inside
Remember the inside of your TRAILER! Put covers on your furniture to keep dust and grime away. This can also help stop pests from ruining your sofas, chairs, and mattresses with chewing or burrowing. And the best part? You won’t have to waste time vacuuming or dusting your furniture when you’re ready to use your motorhome again!
Care For Your Tires Before Keeping In Storage Units
Excess weight and pressure on your tires from a trailer can damage them; we recommend removing any unnecessary weight and placing the trailer on blocks. If you have the opportunity, try driving your trailer every few months to keep it in good condition.
Attend to Your Battery
It’s advised that you remove your travel trailer’s battery to store it during winter, as this will prevent the battery from freezing. If you don’t plan on removing it, be sure to charge the battery fully before placing your vehicle in storage units. While disconnecting the power sources, also use the battery disconnect switch.
Consider Security Measures When Storing In Storage Units
A trailer is not easy to steal, but you should still take precautions to ensure its safety. Be sure to lock your door and window before leaving them unattended, and don’t leave any valuables inside. If you are using trailer storage units, check if they offer insurance for added peace of mind.
Final words:
If you have a travel trailer for vacations or weekend getaways, it’s essential to keep it in good condition by performing regular maintenance. Following these 12 tips for proper storage units care, your trailer will stay looking and running like new for years to come. Have any other information to share? Let us know in the comments below!
