How to park your RV for extended periods of time

Considerations for long term parking or your RV

Here at Access Outdoor Storage, we are RV enthusiasts! When you will not be operating your RV, Motorhome, or Camper for several weeks or months, there are many things to consider to ensure your prized recreational vehicle is well cared for and secure during the extended downtime. Here are our top recommendations:

• Batteries: for long term parking of your RV, we highly recommend shutting off or disconnecting your batteries, and even taking them with you for long term storage. The ensures the batteries will be ready to go when you are ready to get your RV rolling again.
• Holding Tanks: you should stive to empty your holding tanks as frequently as possible, but especially during long term parking. This includes the water tank as well as the black and gray tanks.
• Propane Tanks: it is important to shut off or disconnect your propane tanks on your RV when parking for extended periods. In fact, your propane should only be in use when you have an appliance that requires it. If you are not using appliances that require propane, it should be kept off even during the use of the RV.
• Tires: another important consideration for extended periods of RV parking is to make sure your tires are fully inflated. This way when you come back to the vehicle and ready to roll, hopefully your tires will be good to go or only require a little inflation.
• Window blinds: when storing your RV long term, make sure your window blinds are drawn and that you have a main windshield protector on the inside of the vehicle. This is for a number of reasons – mainly the sun can really cause a lot of damage on the inside of a motorhome when parked for extended periods of time. Moreover, keeping the window blinds drawn and using a windshield protector keeps prying eyes from looking inside the vehicle which is an important security consideration.
• Securing the vehicle: it’s important to make sure all compartments and vehicle entrance doors are securely locked. And don’t forget the sky lights! Make sure they are in a close position not only for security but for weather as well.
• The Parking Area: try to find a parking space that allows you free access all the way around the vehicle. Do not park the RV under a tree, as tree limbs may come down as well as other debris such as fruits and nuts or sap which can damage the vehicle.
• Electricity: If you have access to electricity where you are parking the RV, it is a good idea to leave the vehicle plugged in to maintain the charge on the batteries. As mentioned above we recommend disconnecting the batteries, and even removing them and taking them with you for long term storage.
• Cover The Vehicle: if you have a cover for your vehicle it is highly recommended to use it. It can really protect the shell of the RV from weather such as hail. Additionally, it is another deterrent for people with prying eyes as well as providing a barrier to break-ins.
• Clean Your RV: be sure to remove all the food perishables from your RV, and thoroughly clean your RV.
• Inclined Parking: we like to recommend parking the RV on a bit of incline for water runoff.
• Gasoline Considerations: gasoline can go bad when parking your RV long term. We like to recommend using a gasoline additive in your tank for extended parking periods to keep the fuel fresh.
• Generators and Motors: It’s also a great idea to run the motor and any generators every month or so during extended parking periods to keep the fuels and oils fresh, and the carburetor running smooth.

Access Outdoor Storage, Your Number One RV Parking Facility in Northeast Ohio

If you are looking for an outdoor parking facility to park your RV for an extended period of time, contact Access Outdoor Storage. We not only can provide an ideal parking location, we can help with all of the recommendations mentioned above to make sure your RV is well cared for during downtime.

With convenient access to 10 major Northeast Ohio highways including I-71, I-480, I-90, I-80 (Ohio Turnpike), I-76, I-77, I-271, I-277, I-380 and I-490 we are within easy driving distance of Cleveland, Akron, Medina, Canton and all the surrounding areas.

Give us a call today or fill out the request form to discuss your storage requirements. We can customize a plan to fit your needs.