Part 3 - Readers' suggestions for Editor Chuck's RV storage dilemma

In the RV Travel Newsletter Issue 619, Editor Chuck asked for help with his RV storage dilemma. Below are suggestions from our readers (some of whom are looking for ideas for their own storage dilemmas):

RV storage at airplane hangars, boat marinas and county fairgrounds

John Singer, from Colo., writes: “We keep our RV in an airplane hangar at a small airport just east of Denver. This particular hanger is heated, also has a full bath and kitchen. I have never had to winterize the RV.” He says, “The farther away from the major metro area and the smaller the airport, the cheaper the hangars get. … [A] lot of the recreational pilots have sold their planes, leaving a lot of empty airplane hangars. The small general aviation airports are the place to look.” He then did some research and suggested Harvey Field in Snohomish, Wash., for Chuck to check out, and added that they are advertising RV storage for $90 to $400 per month.

Bart Heath, from Wis., also suggests an airport hangar. He says, “Often an RV will fit down a side or back of a hangar and still allow for the movement of the planes in and out.” He keeps his RV in a hangar that he built. “The RV goes in a door built just for it and sits along the back wall, where I can plug it into water, electric and sewer. Planes go in and out the front door. It’s heated so even if we stay around for a Wis. winter, it doesn’t have to be winterized.”

Gary Barrett, from Clinton, Wash., is looking for suggestions. His motorhome is parked in a facility 40 minutes away. It is covered, has water and electricity and is fenced, but it is not heated. He has suggested to Chuck to check with the Edmonds Marina (near where Chuck currently stores his RV) to see if there are any large boat storage facilities that are empty. He also suggested an empty airplane hangar at a nearby air field. He suggests, “If you find a shelter with no heat or sides, you would need to winterize your RV, and that is a real pain when you use it from time-to-time in the off-season, de-winterizing and then winterizing again when you are back from wherever you go.”

Gilberto Olivarria, from California, also suggests an indoor boat storage at a nearby lake, either rental or ownership, such as buying a storage unit in a co-op. He offers the further suggestion that if Chuck stores excess product from his store in the unit, maybe he could write off some of the expenses on his tax return.

Glen Scofield, from Mich., says they store their RV in a barn at a nearby fairground, and although they don’t have casual access to it, they haven’t needed it. He also suggests a local grange or fairgrounds site may allow such access. The only drawback they’ve seen with their arrangement is that, “if we intend to travel early in the spring, we need to tell them so they’ll put the rig where we can get out easily, because there are dozens of other RVs in the same large barn.”

Jim Bell, from Upstate N.Y., also suggests a barn at a county fairground. He says the barns at the fairgrounds are “empty during the winter so they rent the space to anyone wanting to store their RV or boat. … It is cold storage but the RV is safe, dry and well cared for.” In his situation, he can “gain access with a call before I visit, which is not a problem as the operators are as nice a group of people as you could ever meet.”

Bob Seymour also suggests a county fairground for indoor storage of an RV. He adds, “…many of those buildings stand empty for the year and are used for auto/RV storage with in-and-out privileges.” 

Mark Walsh, from New Brunswick, Canada, has the same idea. He says there are agricultural fairgrounds which use their buildings for winter RV and boat storage in his area. He also reports that “some farmers have moved to the rental business where they see more $$ and less problems storing 25-30 rigs at $300 for the winter than letting the buildings lie idle.” He reminds anyone going this route to seal up every tiny crack and pin hole so that little rodents don’t get in.

Roy Shaw, in Ill., also suggests renting a space at the county fair buildings, adding, “This helps the fair expenses and it helps owners.”