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Unless you’re on the road full time, you’ll need to find a place to store your RV in between trips or at the end of your seasonal adventures. Not only do you need to find a spot to park it, but you’ll need to prepare it for long-term storage and, depending on your climate, winterize it, too.

We’ve compiled some options for different ways to store your RV, as well as some things to take into consideration as you prepare to store your rig before your next RV road trip. 

Storing Your RV at Home

Check Out Residential Rules

If you own your own home in a rural area with plenty of level ground and no homeowners association (HOA) rules, consider yourself lucky! You may just be able to prep (see below) and park your RV on your property -- perhaps with a waterproof cover or in a carport -- and call it a day.

If you do live in a city or suburban neighborhood, you might be able to park it in your driveway or in a communal apartment parking lot, but you’re going to have to check with your landlord or HOA.

Some municipal laws may prevent you from parking your RV on your own or rented property. Be sure to check the rules and regulations in your area. 

Consider These Parking Tips

Parking off street -- in a driveway or on open rural land -- is ideal, as it’ll be safe from other drivers. But if that’s not an option, you might need to park it on a local street. 

If you need to park your RV on a public street, answer these questions to determine if your rig will be secure:

• What’s the speed limit on the street?
• How busy is the street?
• Do other large vehicles like garbage trucks and street sweepers make their way down the street?

Keep Your RV Protected at Home With a Carport or RV Cover

Ideally, you’ll be able to protect your RV from the elements, whether that’s rain, snow, or constant sun. If you don’t have a large garage to store your RV in, consider a carport to protect your RV. 

An alternative is a waterproof and protective cover that can encase your entire rig. A flexible cover won’t protect from damaging debris like a tree limb that might fall in a violent storm, but it will ensure that your paint isn’t damaged from the sun, snow isn’t piling up directly on the roof, and birds aren’t nesting where you can’t see them.

Protective covers come in all different sizes to fit different types of RVs, from truck campers to fifth wheels to Class A motorhomes. They typically have zippered panels for easy access and built-in air vents to help prevent condensation. Integrated straps and buckles help keep the cover secure, even in inclement weather.

Storing Your RV at a Facility

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

A commercial storage facility is a great way to store an RV when it’s not in use. Generally speaking, these storage spaces are safe and secure, ranging from fenced-in (or otherwise security patrolled) parking spaces to temperature-controlled garages. Storage facilities might also include battery charging or snow removal services -- of course, those will also cost you the most. 

Depending on your budget and the options available in your area, you might be able to choose from the following: 

Parking Space

Commercial parking spots aren’t necessarily recommended if you live somewhere with potentially damaging weather such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or hail storms. However, these can be affordable choices for short-term storage, especially when paired with a high-quality cover. 

Carport

Carports provide a roof for your RV, but they are open on the sides. They can mostly help protect your RV from hail, water, snow, or sun damage, but they don’t do much in terms of protection from heavier storms. 

Covered Garage

A garage is the best option for long-term RV storage -- but this type of quality protection also costs the most. The most upscale garages for RVs have a large access door, they’re enclosed on all sides, and each RV in the facility has its own access. There are upgraded temperature-controlled garages that can help keep all parts of your RV in tip-top shape. While these aren’t necessary, they will keep your RV newer for longer.

How to Shop Around for an RV Storage Facility 

Below are a few questions to ask when making a decision on a storage facility for your RV:

How many RVs are stored at the facility?

If your RV will be the only one stored there it could become a magnet for theft or vandalism. You may want to choose a reputable RV storage facility or even one that specializes in RV storage. 

How secure is the facility?

Be sure that the facility, at minimum, has working security cameras, a gate around the property, as well as proper lighting. Extra security measures can include computer-controlled gates where you need to enter a security code to gain access to the property. Some RV storage facilities don’t allow customers in at all and instead have a valet service. 

Does the facility offer pest control? 

It’s tough to keep away rodents and bugs if your vehicle is parked outside. But if you’re considering a garage, you can ask if they make regular efforts to keep pests from taking up residence in your RV. 

How is the facility’s customer service?

Chances are high that you’re paying a pretty penny to store your RV. The facility should offer great customer service for whatever you may need. For instance, if your RV is stored outside, you might want someone to check on your rig after a storm. An RV storage facility with high-quality customer service should have no problem assisting you with this request.

How often are employees on site? 

Having staff on the premises, even occasionally, is a must. There should be someone generally monitoring security and checking on the RVs regularly. 

How to Prep Your RV for Long-Term Storage

Photo by Célio Pires on Unsplash

There are a few things you’ll want to do to your rig before you park it somewhere safely for the longer term. Here’s a list to keep in mind: 

Clean the Exterior of Your Rig

You’ll want to give your RV a good washing before it goes into storage. It’s easier to remove those bugs on the windshield sooner than later, and better to get rid of any collected dirt and dust to help keep your rig’s paint job in good shape.

Make Sure Your Tires Are Properly Inflated

Every rig, depending on type and model, has a recommended pressure for its tires. Ensure your RV’s tires are properly inflated to keep them in good working condition. 

Empty All the Tanks

Make sure your water tanks, as well as your black and grey tank, are empty before storing your rig. 

Turn Off the Appliances

All of the following should be turned off before storage: water heater, air conditioner, heater, and refrigerator. Unplug any smaller appliances, like your coffee maker and toaster, that you typically leave on counters.

Turn Off the Propane

If your RV has an onboard propane tank, be sure that the tank is turned off before storage. If your RV has small propane tanks, it’s best to turn them off and remove them before you store your rig.

Disconnect the Batteries

Fully disconnect your RV batteries if your rig will be stored longer than 3 weeks or so. This will help prevent your batteries from dying. That said, even disconnected batteries will lose their charge after about 6 months. It’s recommended to charge your disconnected batteries about every 3 months to help maintain their charge. Check to see if your storage facility will do this for you, and if you’re storing your RV at home, mark your calendar to remember to take care of this. 

Disconnect Electrical Devices

Again, if you’re storing your RV for more than a few weeks, you’ll want to disconnect or remove the batteries out of electrical devices such as smoke detectors. Acid can begin to leak out of batteries that are stored too long. 

Add Fuel Stabilizer

Adding fuel stabilizer to your gas taking is helpful if you plan to store your RV for more than a few months. Stabilizer can help protect your fuel system as the gasoline naturally evaporates over time. 

Winterize Your RV

If your RV will be stored below 32°F (0°C) at any point, you’ll absolutely need to winterize your RV. This process can be daunting, but it’s worth the time and effort to protect your RV and keep it running in tip-top shape. 

Guest post submitted by the Harvest Hosts team.

Harvest Hosts allows members to take a step off of the beaten path and enjoy unlimited overnights at almost 3,000 unique locations such as breweries, farms, golf courses, wineries, and much more!  Our app allows users to plan a full route and create wish lists for locations to visit. And now that most of our Hosts utilize our online reservation system, you can easily log in and immediately see if the date you are looking for is available. Start your adventure today! 

School: FOCUS Program, Des Moines, IA

Teacher: Mrs. Simons, 3^rd - 5^th  Grade Teacher

Project: Supply students with games and equipment so that they have activities to play at recess.

The Students

Mrs. Simons teaches a special program in a urban school district. The students in the program struggle with mental health issues that interfere with their progress in a comprehensive school setting. Her students are eager to learn academics, but also need to put Social Emotional Learning practices into place to allow them to be as successful as possible in school.

The Project 

All students need a break during the school day. The FOCUS program recently was moved to a different building, and has no playground. All students need recess to help burn off steam and give them a break from the hard work they put forth learning each day. Without a playground or outdoor games, the students do not look forward to their recess. Soccer balls and Soccer Goals will give an option for several students to play together. Outdoor Jenga, Ladder Ball game, Ring Toss, Bocci Ball, and the different sports balls will give a variety of choices so that everyone can find something that they enjoy doing each day. These supplies will also give the option to set up an indoor recess if the weather does not allow the students to be outside.

EmpireCovers decided to fully fund Mrs. Simon’s project to help bring some fun to recess. We know that physical education and breaks from academics are important to students' mental health and success in the classroom. Mrs. Simon's wrote back after receiving her donation and said, 

"Dear EmpireCovers,

I want to thank you for helping fund this project! As I mentioned when I first published the project, our program does not have a playground for our students at our new location. This makes recess very tricky to keep everyone playing and using appropriate social skills. With your donations, we were able to purchase a variety of games that can be used indoors or outdoors to help give variety to our recess time.

Giant Jenga was a HUGE hit! The first time we got this out was at our end-of-the-year Track and Field day (which had to be held indoors due to weather). My students were able to build such a high tower. It was amazing to watch them have so much fun. We were able to set this up on a carpet square in a classroom.

We were able to set up other stations in the gym. The students played horseshoes, yard darts, ladder ball, and yard dice. Everyone was able to get along and wait patiently for their turn.

The soccer goals have also been very popular! This allows us to have a larger group of kids playing together. Again, it is so fun to watch them play in an organized, structured way together.

Once again, I can not express enough gratitude for the funding of this project. These kids truly NEED recess and with this funded project, I can give them the recess that they deserve!!

With gratitude,
Mrs. Simons"

If you would like to support a classroom near you, visit www.donorschoose.org

School: Sadlowski Elementary School, Chicago, IL

Teacher: Ms. Townsend, 3^rd & 4^th  Grade Teacher

Project: Help students stay safe while returning to school in-person

The Students

Sadlowski Elementary has adopted the inclusive education setting. Their goal is to create a community where all students feel welcomed and valued. Ms. Townsend teaches 3rd and 4th grade math, a total of 4 homerooms. Within her classes every child is unique, which is why it is important for her to provide her students with opportunities to learn in a variety of ways to best support their social, emotional, and academic needs.

The Project 

This project will be used to keep students safe during in-person learning. The presence of desk shields will help to ease many student's and parents’ anxieties about returning to in-person learning. Desk shields are needed in order to make a comfortable and safe in-person learning environment. The desk shields will also allow for students to be able to have instructional conversations in the classroom. Ultimately, these desk shields can help protect students from being exposed to Covid-19.

EmpireCovers decided to fully fund Ms. Townsend’s project to help these students return to the classroom while remaining safe. We know that the pandemic has been especially hard for schools, so we will continue to give back to schools who are struggling due to the pandemic throughout the year.

If you would like to support a classroom near you, visit www.donorschoose.org

Schools: Abram Jenks Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA
               Constitution High, Philadelphia, PA
               Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA
               Cayuga Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA
               Woodrow Wilson Middle School, Philadelphia, PA

Teachers: Ms. Peduto, PreK - 2^nd Grade Teacher
                Mr. Rogerson, 9^th - 12^th Grade Teacher
                Ms. L, PreK - 2^nd Grade Teacher
                Ms. Danziger, 3^rd - 5^th Grade Teacher
                Ms. Rawling, 3^rd - 5^th Grade Teacher

Project: Help students and schools in Philadelphia by funding supplies that they need.

The Students

This time around for our Empire Gives initiative, we wanted to give back to schools and students in the local Philadelphia area. The students in all of the schools we donated to come from low-income households and do not have access to all of the resources and tools they need to be successful. Ms. Peduto’s students at Abram Jenks are energetic five-year olds who always come to school eager to learn. Mr. Rogerson, from Constitution High, is an athletics teacher whose students experience violence and negligence daily in their neighborhood, yet they come to school each day determined to succeed. Ms. L, from Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School, says her young students, “live in one of the poorest places in the world, but they don't know it because they are rich in the spirit of learning”. Ms. Danziger, from Cayuga Elementary, says her students are curious and excited about learning. About 1/3 of the students are English Language learners and they also have a very high number of Special Education students with unique needs. Despite their learning obstacles or financial difficulties, the students come to their elementary school ready to learn. Lastly, Ms. Rawling’s class from Woodrow Wilson Middle School is culturally diverse and living below the poverty line. They love to come to school virtually and are excited to learn, especially when they know participating in her class can be fun.

The Project 

Each school that we funded had different needs. The students from Abram Jenks Elementary School needed supplies to help learn math. The materials will be used both at home and in the school. The students are learning about numbers and how to count and subtract. The supplies will help teach and keep the students engaged, learning and having fun.

Constitution High was in need of equipment for their athletic teams, which were hit hard because of the pandemic. Right now, they are waiting for sports to return. To encourage student athletes to stay in good physical condition and to do their best, they needed access to new gym equipment.

Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School was in need of technology in the classroom in preparation for students returning back to the classroom. When the students began learning from home, the school gave away their Chromebooks to students so that they can learn online from home. However, they ran out and do not have enough for the classroom.

Cayuga Elementary students have adjusted, some better than others to the new normal of virtual learning. That being said, they are very limited, to using their Chromebooks. Some are prepared at home with a notebook and a pencil, but so many are not supplied with what is essential for a successful virtual learning experience. The students are in need of writing supplies which would increase their successful engagement and provide practical, yet needed tools to the dynamic learners.

Lastly, the class at Woodrow Wilson needs an Apple iPad, keyboard, and Apple Pencil so that Ms. Rawling can teach them without her old laptop shutting down in the middle of a classroom meeting. The advanced camera and microphone on the iPad would keep voices and faces crystal clear. The computer she currently used is not clear and lags constantly. Ms. Rawling wants to give her students the best education she can virtually but she feels like the technology she currently uses is hindering her and the class.

EmpireCovers decided to fully fund all of these schools to lend a helping hand to the teachers and students that are in need, right in our backyard. We know that the pandemic has been especially hard for schools, so we will continue to giveback to schools who are struggling due to the pandemic throughout the year.

If you would like to support a classroom near you, visit www.donorschoose.org

School: KIPP Columbus Elementary & Middle School, Columbus, OH
Teacher: Ms. Mayer, 3^rd - 5^th Grade Teacher

Project: Help give students STEM kits for additional at home learning with virtual learning.

The Students

Ms. Mayer has the honor of teaching a wonderful group of 5th graders this year. Her school is currently 100% remote. All of the students receive free lunches and 90% are of color. They have a special education population of around 10%. The students use their curiosity and perseverance to accomplish goals and show their true spirit of seeking knowledge when given the right tools and a place to grow. A child who attends KIPP Columbus is four times more likely to graduate from college than their peers, and the school hopes to see that number continue to rise in the coming years.

The Project 

The students have been learning at home so far this school year, which can be very challenging for them. Many of them do not have resources at home to help foster the love of creativity and science. These different science and STEM kits would give the students the opportunity to continue their learning and love of science at home after school hours. The STEM kits include a microscope, a geode discovery kit, and more. The students need exciting and hands-on activities to keep their minds learning at home, and off of the uncertain world around them. STEM education is so important in today's society and unfortunately, many of the students are not participating in these types of activities at home. It is important for their mind and curiosity to continue to grow even at this time. The STEM kits will fill the gap in materials and creativity they are experiencing at this time.

After fully funding the project, Ms. Mayer wrote back to us saying, 

Dear EmpireCovers.com,

Thank you so much for your contribution! I am so excited to be able to share these STEM projects with my students at home and can't wait to see their faces light up when they get them! Thank you for believing in my students! Happy holidays to you and may the new year be filled with many blessings!

With gratitude,
Ms. Mayer

If you would like to support a classroom near you, visit www.donorschoose.org

Christmas trees and gingerbread houses aren’t the only thing being decorated this holiday season.

We all know that 2020 has been a tough year for everyone, but especially for teachers and students. So, as an opportunity to bring some holiday cheer and excitement, we decided to host a unique art contest for schools in the local Philadelphia area. The EmpireCovers Holiday Car Cover Contest challenged schools to compete against each other in one of the winter seasons oldest traditions - decorating Christmas trees car covers!

The schools that participated in the contest were Wissahickon Middle School, Stephen Decatur School, and Orchard Valley Middle School. The public voted on their favorite car covers from December 7th to the 17th, and it is now time to announce the winner!

1st Place - Stephen Decatur School

Coming in first place with over 2,000 votes is Stephen Decatur's entry - "Another Day in the Mail Room". Stephen Decatur students took a unique approach with their cover by turning it into an installation of Santa working in his mail room. The cover was transformed into a desk where Santa is hard at work reading over all the Christmas letters sent to him from boys and girls all over the world. Students in Grade K, 1st, 7th, and 8th came up with the idea and worked on the cover together.

2nd Place - Orchard Valley Middle School

In a close 2nd place is Orchard Valley's entry - "Sweet Ride". This car cover is a “sweet” design made with sugar and spice. Bumper to bumper gingerbread and graham cracker. Topped with candy canes, gum drops and marshmallow icing galore. Complete with peppermint rims and a chocolate brick chimney that actually works!. This car cover was created by the Orchard Valley Middle School Art Club, consisting of students in 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade.

3rd Place - Wissahickon Middle School

In 3rd place is Wissahickon Middle School's entry - "Krampus & the Slay Belles". The students of Wissahickon Middle School took a spooky approach with their cover. The front hood is showing Krampus, who in Central European folklore, is a horned, anthropomorphic figure described as "half-goat, half-demon", who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved, kind of like today’s Elf on a Shelf watching or getting coal in your stocking. This contrasts with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts.The sides of the car depict everything from Snoopy and other beloved cartoon characters, Winter Wonderland imagery, Hanukkah menorah with latkes and dreidel, elves in a variety of poses and actions and the end to 2020 with a New Year’s Eve countdown and fireworks. The tailgate end depicts Santa’s “Slay Belles” balancing out the theme of naughty and nice.

We want to thank all of the teachers and students that participated in the contest despite the difficulties they faced in getting the project done amidst the pandemic. We also want to thank everyone that supported and voted for the entries by sharing them on social media. We hope to bring the contest back next year and make it even bigger and better!