Caravan Storage
A caravan is the perfect summer recreation vehicle. You can do some road trips with it, be it to the mountains or the coast. When winter rolls around, those camping trips tend to grind to a halt. So, what do you do with your caravan when you’re not using it in the winter? Use caravan storage.
The average size of a caravan is anywhere from 5-8 metres in length with a weight of well over a ton When you think of it in those terms, you might wonder if it is indeed possible to find a place to store it. Well, the good news is that there are storage options in South Africa for caravans.
Types of caravan storage
There are three common types of caravan storage: outdoor parking lots, covered storage, and indoor storage units.
Outdoor parking lots
This is the most basic type of caravan storage. It usually involves land that a storage facility leases out to caravan owners. Your caravan won’t be protected from the elements any more than it will be in your own backyard.
It will however be within the facility’s fences and watched over by security. Like car storage, outdoor parking is a suitable solution if you’re looking to get the caravan off your own premises for the lowest possible cost.
Covered caravan storage
This type of storage is also outdoor, but it’s covered. It typically comes in two types: standard and walled canopies.
The first is simply a roof structure supported by four columns. Your caravan will have protection from the sun but will still be exposed to elements such as wind and rain.
Walled canopies offer a complete enclosure for your caravan. This offers great protection from the sun, rain, and wind. Covered storage is usually more expensive than parking lot storage, but less expensive than an indoor caravan storage unit.
Indoor storage units
These are oversized versions of your typical self-storage unit and will serve as a large garage for your caravan. Indoor caravan storage units are accessed via roll-up doors that are sometimes automatically powered by a motor. These units are typically between 3.5 – 4.5 metres wide, often around 4.5 metres tall and between 9-15 metres in length.
Indoor storage offers one major perk which is comprehensive protection from the elements. This luxury does however come at a price premium, so your budget will ultimately dictate whether you can afford indoor storage for your caravan.
How to prepare your caravan for storage
There are a number of things you’ll need to do to prepare your caravan for storage. Here are the two most important ones.
Cleaning the toilet and kitchen
This is of critical importance as all sorts of bad things could happen while your caravan is in storage such as mould growing and vermin infestations.
Firstly, you want to make sure that the toilet in your caravan is clean properly. Empty and properly clean the cassette. The cassette is what holds all the sewage on a caravan. Also makes sure the kitchen is thoroughly cleaned to avoid attracting pests while your caravan is in storage.
Tyre maintenance
If your caravan ends up being in the same position for a long period of time, the tyres will develop flat spots and eventually require replacing. This is a more prevalent issue if the storage location is exposed to cold temperatures.
The most basic precaution you can take to prevent flat spots from developing is getting your tyres rotated and slightly over-inflated. If you’re storing your caravan long-term, it’s advisable to raise it up on jack stands and remove the wheels completely.