Here are the bad points to consider

First, many of these operations are temporary. As soon as the building owners can get their full leasing price for their building the RV storage goes away. Another problem occurs when they get caught by the city for illegally operating without an occupancy permit. Many businesses cannot get the permit because the buildings fire protection is not rated for all the gas, diesel and propane tanks of the stored RV’s.  Unfortunately, the storage facility will not tell you it’s closing up shop until they collect every last dollar they can get from you. Then it’s a mad rush to find something else. On one occasion, an RV storage owner pocketed all the money and never paid the building owner. The owner locked up his building denying access to the RV owners, even though they paid their rent. The police had to get involved and there were a lot of very upset RV owners.

Here is the second issue. You will rarely find any of these RV storage operations having the proper insurance policy for taking custody of your coach. That is why they make sure there is a clause in the contract holding them harmless for anything. You are held responsible and you must carry your own insurance. Most people do not realize that when you give custody of your vehicle to someone else, the liability shift to them. That leaves the RV owner in limbo because he signed away his rights to the storage business. By California law, when a business is taking custody of your RV (that is where they move, park and keep the keys), they should carry a Garagekeepers insurance policy that protects the RV’s in custody. So far, most indoor RV storage businesses continue to operate without the correct insurance, leaving their customers exposed to all the risk.

The third issue is important also. Most indoor RV storages use a stacking storage method, where the RV’s are parked in tightly, sometimes four to five even up to eight rigs deep.  The problem is that the RV’s are constantly being moved around to get someone’s RV that is parked in the back. Every time your RV is moved around there is the risk of getting it scratched or damaged. If this happened to your RV, how could you prove that they did it? Do you think they will actually claim responsibility? Who is stuck with the repair bill?

With all the excitement about indoor RV storage facilities, they offer a wonderful list of things they check for you, free of charge as part of the storage services. This makes indoor RV storage look very attractive.  Unfortunately the list is never complete so here is the complete list of checks you get for free from the employee’s. You will find the list in red not so attractive.

Our employee’s will do the following:

• Free wash before and after every pickup
• Check batteries and charge as necessary
• Check and fill fresh water tank
• Check tire pressure
• Check and turn on refrigerator
• Dump holding tanks on return

Our employee’s will do the following:

• Try not to damage your RV when moving it
• Snoop thru your drawers and personal effects
• Check for any private photos or adult material
• Check the fridge and pantry for alcohol
• Check for firearms, cash or any other valuables
• Check to see how loud your stereo works
• Make sure you sign your rights away, from
• holding the storage responsible or suing them for ANYTHING

The last drawback from considering indoor RV storage is that you have to give them notice when you want your RV pulled out.  Any last minute decision to leave town on Friday afternoon may not be possible as most indoor RV storage facilities require a minimum 24 hour notice to shuffle enough rigs out to get to yours.

Here are the good points to consider

Most everyone would agree that being out of the elements is a good thing. Protection from the sun can make the paint job last longer and you won’t have to worry if your roof leaks from rain. If they do offer free services, that is nice because it can save you time and be convenient.

Most people do not realize that there are a lot of issues with indoor RV storage facilities. Perhaps, the best RV storage is where you park your rig, you lock it and you take the keys with you. You will likely be less frustrated and the wife will be a whole lot happier knowing that things that are supposed to be private stay private You also want peace of mind that your rig is safe, returning to find it in the same condition you left it and insured properly for the “what if’s” in life. Everyone has to weigh the good points versus the bad points and come to their own decision.

#1  BEST

Proximity Card Reader:  It allows access by reading the embedded code inside the card.  The entries and exits are documented, photographed, and can be monitored in live action. The code can be manipulated by the facility staff to manage customer access dates/hours.  Additional cards can be issued for additional drivers within the household or to commercial customers that grant access to several employees.  These additional cards can be managed and controlled as part of the customer’s account.  The access card(s) can also be instantly turned off in the event of a security breach, customer abuse issues, or if the card has been lost or stolen.  The card can be loaned and returned to the customer, but duplicates cannot made or issued.  This is an extremely effective technology and used by many Police Departments and other secure facilities.

#2  SECOND BEST

Key Pad Entry:  With the keypad, the facility manager can manage the dates/hours of access for the customer.  Code entries are recorded and can be monitored in live action.  Additional codes can be issued for additional drivers within the household or to commercial customers that grant access to several employees.  These additional codes can be managed and controlled as part of the customer’s account. The code(s) can also be turned off in the event of a security breach, customer abuse issues, or if the code has been compromised.  But, this method comes in second best because the biggest downside is that customers very often give their code away to multiple family members, friends and service personnel. This issue is grossly magnified every time an “additional User” gives the code away to his/her personal family members and friends.  The result is that the facility is now accessible to a multitude of unknown Users.  As time goes on, access to unknown Users becomes unmanageable for the facility staff to handle and the security is severely compromised.

#3  LESS THAN OPTIMAL

Security Guard: The success of using a security guard depends greatly on the integrity of the guard himself.  A weak guard that doesn’t perform a proper customer check, or one that can easily be talked into letting someone in, defeats the purpose of having the guard.  Most facilities don’t use the Security Guard method due to the fact that it usually inhibits longer access hours available to the customers and the Guard is not customer service trained to take rent payments or handle customer account issues.  Most facilities will not pay for employees that cannot multi-task and generate income.

#4  WORST

Padlock Entry:  Customers have to promise not to make duplicates of the gate key or give out any duplicates.  But, it is impossible to hold the customer to their promise.  The number of keys copied and given out is impossible to monitor.  Entries and exits are not recorded or seen because there is no staff on site.  Staff cannot control customer access hours or deny access when necessary.  Security is dependent on each customer faithfully closing and locking the gate upon exit, which often doesn’t happen.  There is virtually no security, controls or monitoring.  Padlocks only mean that thieves need to bring a pair of bolt cutters with them.  Chances of staff catching and prosecuting an offender is highly unlikely.  Usually there is little or no evidence to turn over to the Police.

#5  VERY WORST

Combination Lock:  This poses the same problems as with the regular padlocks.  But in addition, access is even harder for paying customers that don’t access the facility often enough to actually remember the combination.  Facilities that use padlocks rarely have any staff on site, so customers can’t depend on help with the gate when they need it the most.

Many new RV storage facilities have opened up in less developed, recessed areas outside of suburbs.  These make attractive properties for land and business developers looking to get in while the land is still cheap, but consumers should beware.  Often these areas are lurking places of criminal activity.  Criminals are often attracted to locations that are full of expensive RV’s loaded with toys and gadgets, stored at isolated, dark, unattended RV storage facilities.  Here are some questions for thought when deciding on a storage facility for a particular location:

1. What kinds of customers do business at this location and where do they come from?  Are the customers local and visit frequently, or are most of them from afar storing for a cheap price?
2. What are the hours of operation when the staff will be present and alert to any visitors? This is important to consider if staff is available during reasonable hours so that frustrated, locked out customers don’t attempt to break into the facility after hours.
3. What security measures are in place to minimize criminal activity?  Does the facility have block walls, or does it have chain link fencing that can be easily cut by thieves and vandals?  What about surveillance and gate controls? Business developers that cut corners on these features are only saving money for themselves, not their customers.
4. Are there any weak points or flaws in those security measures, such as dark corners, isolated areas with access from other properties, alleys, or driveways?  Are the surveillance cameras real and do they record?  Does the staff appear to be competent and concerned, or just an hourly wage employee paid to answer the phone?
5. In the event of a security breach, who responds? The manager? Alarm company? Police? All of these above?  Realistically, how long will the response take?
6. Does the general location within the city show signs of neglect, such as graffiti or gang territory, broken street lights, streets cluttered with junked cars and trash, buildings and homes in need of maintenance?
7. Will homeless persons find the RV storage facility an easy target for food and shelter?  Sadly, areas afflicted with homeless do experience a higher rate of break-ins from those seeking a warm, safe place to sleep and any available pantry foods.  The cost to repair damaged RV doors and windows can be quite costly.

It is unfortunate that these types of factors have to be considered at all.  But it is better to be pro-active about keeping your property safe.  Don’t hesitate to ask the facility manager about your concerns.  Make it a regular part of your shopping experience.  Most importantly, make a site visit to the facility to meet the onsite manager and if possible, drive by the facility for a night tour.  If you determine that the facility is not in a safe location or not equipped to manage a risky location, listen to your instincts and look for another facility.

Identifying Real Security Features

The first and most important security features are the perimeter walls around the facility. You want walls around the facility not chain link fences. Here are a few reasons why: 1) Walls can’t be easily cut with wire cutters like chain link fences. 2) Walls that are 12 ft high will shield the view that there is RV’s parked behind them (out of sight out of mind rule). In addition 12 ft high walls cannot be easily climbed without special equipment that most common thieves don’t have. The perimeter walls are your first line of defense against crime and vandalism. All RV storage facilities that only use chain link fences are exposed and are not recommended.

The second important security feature is the access and control to the facility. Many RV storage facilities fail when it comes to access control.  For example:  Some have the custom to open the gates during business or office hours allowing anyone to come and go without really knowing if they belong on the site or not. Too often customers’ RV’s are stolen or broken into because of lack of access control.  The best access control is electronic gate control that uses proximity cards only. That way only customers with the cards have entry, gates using codes are not as secure because people share codes all the time with their friends (Try living in an apartment complex where it seems everyone in town know the gate codes). With electronic gate access, customers are logged in and the times are recorded that way you know who came in and when they left, making the facility better secured. If the facility does not offer electronic gate access control with proximity cards then it’s not recommended because of the security exposure.

The third important feature are properly placed video cameras throughout the facility. With quality video cameras that have recording features, placed in visible areas, can act as a deterrent against crime. But, more importantly they can capture incidences that can happen even if the problem is not criminal.  For example: You come to pick up your RV and you notice that somebody has hit and damaged the side of it. Common sense tells you that the RV owner next yours probably is responsible for the damages. What if he denies the allegations? If the cameras are put in good locations throughout the facility then chances are that the incident was recorded on tape. Cameras play a very important role in the security of an RV storage facility. Be careful, many facility claim they have cameras, but if they do not record and hold video for at least a month then they are useless. Some cameras are all together fakes and don’t even work. Don’t fall for the, “we have a live onsite manager that watches everything” sales pitch.

As you have learned now, there is a difference in real security at RV storage facilities. These features are expensive, so you would assume that you will have to pay a reasonable price for an RV storage space that has great security. The security risks involved with your RV maybe too great just to save a little money.

Let’s start with choosing the right RV storage facility. If you have a good storage facility, you could eliminate some of the biggest concerns before it becomes an issue. Don’t choose an RV storage facility that parks your RV on dirt or gravel. These facilities will turn into a muddy mess in the winter months. Mud is the worst possible problem for RV’s.  Mud is used at fancy day spas on women’s faces because it draws out the oils in the skin as it dries. Just as it draws the oils out from the skin, mud will draw out the needed and necessary oils in the rubber of the tires. Mud will cause the worst case of dry-rot on the side walls of your RV’s tires. Your tires could become ruined in just one winter season from mud. This could cost you a few thousand dollars, just from a poor choice in RV storage. Third, some of these dirt/gravel lots have no drainage for the rain. You could show up to get your RV and find that some of the RV is under water causing severe water damage to the undercarriage, wood platform, the flooring and walls. This could cost you a bundle.

A leaking roof can cause serious damage to an RV or trailer

If you have a good storage facility, you just need to make sure that you’re prepared for the rainy months. Make sure that your roof vents are closed and properly sealed. In addition, make sure that the roof maintenance (roof resealing) has been cared for. A roof that leaks can cause expensive damages to an RV. If you know that the roof is in bad shape, choose an RV storage that offers covered spaces that can protect your roof from the rain. It’s always best that you have your roof inspected once a year to make sure that it’s in good shape for the winter months. Don’t count on an RV cover to protect you from water damage when you know that the roof is bad.  You’re better off spending the money to reseal the roof as it costs similar in price to a new cover.

First, you need to understand that very few RV storage facilities are “parking friendly”. Most RV storage facilities are designed by people who do not own or even driven an RV. Their main concern in design is how to optimize the most income from any given size of property. That means that they will design the spaces as small as they can get them, resulting in the most possible rentable spaces. The problem is that for the end user, the RV owner, has to park their RV in some space that is incredibly challenging. Having these spaces so close together only invites the neighboring RV owners to hit, scratch and scrape the sides and rear of your RV. These spaces can be so tight that when parked, you can’t even open the side entry door to enter your RV without hitting your neighbors RV.

Second, you need to understand that when these accidents occur, some RV storages may deny that anything happened. They might blame you for trying to make a false claim or will say that the damage was caused by you yourself. Not all RV storages have good honest managers that will help you out when an incident occurs. Here’s what they should do if such issues come up. 1. They should make an incident report. 2. Investigate the incident and take pictures. 3. Try to identify who was responsible by looking at the neighboring RV for scratches, dents and paint transfer 4. Look at recorded video tapes to identify the guilty party. 5. Makes phone calls on behalf of the customer who was damaged and try to resolve the issue with the two parties. A good management will be proactive in helping you deal with the incident.

Third, avoid storing at RV facilities that offer spaces too small or too tight. In addition avoid facilities that park on dirt or gravel that have no way to even identify where the borders of the spaces are.  That way someone else won’t come in and encroach upon your space. Be smart and choose an RV storage facility that has large wide spaces and are angled for easy access or “parking friendly”.

You can also help yourself by choosing a facility that has great management and will be proactive in helping you with any needs or concerns. As mentioned before, not all RV storage facilities are the same and you need to see them before making any commitments.

To save some money without compromising the safety of your RV, try saving money wisely.  Ask the management if they offer any discounts for longer term leases. These are great because not only do you get a better storage rate, but you are also price protected for the term of the lease from any rate increases. Ask if there are any move-in specials or manager specials. These specials can sometimes offer you a super low introductory rate for the first month or two. These incentives do save money and should not be overlooked.

You can save money on RV storage by choosing your facility wisely. There are some big savings that most never realize or consider when they are shopping for RV storage.

For Example: suppose you chose a facility that offered amenities like:

• Professional RV washing  station (note: not just an area with a hose & bucket)
• Dump station
• Air to inflate tires
• Ice

All of these amenities can save a lot of money and time. A coin operated do it yourself car wash would cost you about $50.00 to wash an RV. A dump station service will charge you $20.00.  To air up all your tires at the gas station will costs $5.00 in quarters.  If you stop at the supermarket to buy a few 20 lbs bags of ice for the cooler will cost you $18.00.  Add all those costs up and you are spending $93.00 every time you prepare the RV or boat for an outing. If you use your RV more than once a month you could be saving $93.00 times 2 or 3 which then becomes a very huge saving. As you can see, practical useful amenities at an RV storage facility can save you lots of money!

How about the argument of choosing to store your vehicle at a facility that’s cheaper because it’s further away out in the dessert away from the cities. There are several problems with that argument. While there can be some cost savings, there is the inconveniences and travel distances to deal with. Most of your monthly saving is eaten up with extra fuel costs of going to and from the facility located too far away. In addition, if you forget something as simple as your keys, the doubling back is double the frustration. Your RV should be within 10 –40 minutes away from your home, not hours. One individual drove the point home nicely who stored his boat at the river. He complained “I have to drive over 2 hours each way to pick up my boat just to do a little work on it”. Convenience is worth some costs!

Mr Connor chose to store his RV further out from his home in Corona, California. He found an RV storage facility that only cost $95.00 per month for his 40 ft motorhome in Murrieta. The facility was not really an RV storage facility but rather a dirt field that had been cleaned off.  Some gravel was spread out and turned into a graveled parking lot. Even though he would have to drive 40 miles to the RV Parking place and it was a converted field the $95.00 price got the better of him and he committed to renting a space for 6 months. After storing it for 4 months he picked up his motorhome for a planned trip. There was an awful smell inside the motorhome. After cleaning and preparing the coach for the trip he found a serious problem, the motorhome had been infested with field mice and some had burrowed into the walls and died creating the awful smell.  The bed mattress had also been infested with mice that nested and gave birth to little ones that were still in the mattress. Mr. Connor spent $3,200 to remove the mice and replace the mattresses. That also included repairs to the wiring and hoses that the mice had chewed up. Storing your RV on dirt or gravel is a serious problem and should be avoided regardless of price, convenience or amenities.

Mr Smith chose to store his travel trailer at another storage facility that was cheap. He found an RV storage that offered a space for his 30 ft trailer for only $75 per month. The Storage place was another gravel storage lot in Fontana. After only storing his trailer for 3 months he found that his trailer had been scraped down the entire left side of the trailer. Mr Smith was afraid that this might happen because this RV storage did not have any way to clearly identify what the space was, where they started and were they stopped. It was based on an honor system were they guy next to you was not supposed to encroach upon your space needed for your vehicle. Because the spaces were not clearly marked people would park too close to his, making it near impossible to get in or out of his space. Clearly the guy next to Mr Smith came too close and scratched the whole side of the trailer. When Mr Smith brought to the attention of the storage management they accused Mr Smith of trying to make a false claim against the facility and the fellow customers. Mr Smith decision to choose a storage facility that was cheap really cost him $4,100.

Mr Rickels found yet another Cheap RV storage facility. Why they claimed that they offered secured RV storage, Mr Rickels should have known better. This storage place in Ontario offered $99.00 RV storage for his 33 ft Weekend Warrior trailer. The facility was not in the best part of town and the perimeter only had a 6 ft chain link fence around it with barbed wire wrapped around at the top. The management made claims that it was very secure because they lived on the property and they watch everything like a hawk. Well they certainly fell short of their claims because one day when Mr. Rickels came to pick up his trailer he was shocked about what he found.  He found some homeless man living in his trailer. The man was arrested and taken away but the trailer was trashed and smelled horrible from the disgusting living conditions. It cost Mr. Rickels $2,200 to have the trailer cleaned and the furnishings that were damaged or stolen replaced.

Everyone can learn from these kinds of mistakes. Don’t let the price be the determining factor in your choice of RV storage.  Maybe you’re looking to save money, who would not understand that. Just make sure that the RV storage facility offers the following 1) Paved parking surface. Avoid dirt or graveled lots. 2) Location should always be in the safest part of town away from homeless, gang and criminal activity. 3) The perimeters should be walled and not a chain link fence. Preferably, high walls that cannot be easily climbed over by unwanted guest. 4) Access should always be electronically controlled gates and monitored by cameras. 5) Good lighting at night is a must. 6) Spaces should be wide, clearly marked and defined so that other nearby customers do not encroach upon your space. Driveways need to be wide so that you and other customers can easily get in and out of your spaces without damaging other RV’s. 7) And, it’s nice if they offer other free amenities like a wash station, dump stations, and other thoughtful amenities.

Remember: If you pay more, you’re probably getting a lot more. In the end that may be cheaper than going too cheap!

There are some who love the laws regarding RV parking.  A few good reasons to enforce the laws are  1) RV’s parked out on the streets in neighborhoods are a safety hazard for playing children that drivers cannot see.  2) RV’s parked at homes in their front yards can make the neighborhood look cluttered and not pleasing to the eyes.  3) Neighborhoods with a lot of RV’s parked illegally can bring home values down.

Some RV owners dislike the laws because they feel forced into two options.  1) Park their RV’s behind or on the side of their homes which could have costs associated in building a concrete pad to park on or a large gate for access.  2) Store their RV or boat at an RV storage facility which costs money monthly.

The question is how do you get everyone playing by the same rules?  It does not seem fair that some follow the laws and they properly store or park their RV’s and yet there are others who disregard the law and park their RV’s as they choose too.  The key to the answer is Code Enforcement.  While you may live in a city that does not actively patrol for violators of the law, they will enforce the law if you call them about the violation. You might be thinking that you do not want to make enemies with your neighbors but most don’t realize that you can call your local City Code Enforcement and make a complaint anonymously.  This way you are assured that nobody knows who called and made the complaint.   It’s only fair that everyone follows the laws that are in place.   The only way to make sure that everyone follows the rules is for home owners to call Code Enforcement and make the complaints.   If you feel that your neighborhood needs cleaning up, you can call your local City and ask for Code Enforcement to make the complaint.

Here is a list of some Southern California City Code Enforcement phone numbers to help you get started.

City Code Enforcement Phone Numbers:

• Brea, CA 714-990-7139
• Chino, CA 909-591-9809
• Chino Hills, CA 909-364-2757
• Corona, CA 951-739-4970
• Diamond Bar, CA 909-839-7030
• Glendora, CA 626-914-8201
• Montclair, CA 909-447-3540
• Ontario, CA 909-395-2757
• Pomona, CA 909-620-2051
• Riverside, CA 951-826-5633
• Upland, CA 909-931-4100
• Walnut, CA 909-595-7543
• Yorba Linda, CA 714-961-7138

Today, all you have to do is look on Craigslist or any other free marketing website to find all kinds of ads for “Super Cheap RV Storage”. Most of these super cheap storage operators are illegal businesses. They dishonestly mislead customers into believing that there is no risk involved when using their services. Unfortunately, most people do not realize their cheap price comes at a very high cost to do business with these illegal operators.

The illegal RV storage operations have given the industry a black eye. They make outrageous false claims that your RV is perfectly safe while you leave it with them. Illegal operators are not equipped to deal with crime that low budget operations attract, including offenses that come from the Operators themselves. This affects the legitimate RV storage operators who set up business the right way, legally. To stop these illegal operators, several cities have already been pro-active in closing them down. Read on to see how this affects you, the storage user.

How to Identify an Illegal RV Storage Operator

Like most illegal businesses, illegal operators try to hide themselves from the city officials, government agencies and the IRS. They will not advertise using their address or show pictures that would reveal their exact location. It’s only after you have called and they become comfortable that you become a targeted customer. Only then, are they willing to disclose to you their exact location. They will encourage you to pay cash and pay in advance. They avoid credit cards if possible. Business operations are shrouded in secrecy and they come across as they are doing you a huge favor. They are not. It’s a scam! Here are some easy ways to detect an illegal operator.

The location is hidden from public view and is operated in secrecy to avoid detection from the City, County or other Governmental Agencies. All cities do require RV storage facilities to make minimum improvements to the property for a Conditional Use Permit (CPU). This permit legitimizes the business, making the business legal and enabling them to acquire a city Business License and able to purchase insurance. Most minimum improvements will include a security perimeter wall, office building, parking lot, pavement and an onsite water retention system. In addition, they will require proper lighting through out the facility and landscaping along any public streets. If you do not see these types of improvements, it’s a red flag indicating a possible illegal RV storage operation. If the storage is located in a residential back yard, this is a good indicator that it is an illegal operation. If managers can not and will not provide a copy of the insurance policy, it is because illegal facilities cannot purchase insurance.

How to avoid a disaster. The Dangers of choosing to use an illegal RV storage

Not one of these illegal operators will ever tell you about the dangers involved, should they be caught by the City, County, IRS or any other government agency. All it takes is one complaint from a neighbor, previous customer or any other individual who comes forward, to set in motion a complete breakdown in operations. In most cases, when the operation is discovered, the operation is immediately shut down. In some cases the process is done like a “drug bust” and people are arrested. The vehicles in storage are towed away to an impound yard just like you would be towed away for illegally parking in a No Parking Zone. These RV storage customers, (without any knowledge) are charged a huge tow bill. In addition they are charged a $75.00 to $150.00 per day impound charge that accumulates without you even knowing. By the time the RV customers are notified by the State of California, a total of 30 to 60 days could have passed. You could have accumulated a bill totaling between $5,000-$10,000 dollars for the towing and impound charges. To have your vehicle released back into your custody, you are required to pay the entire bill. If you are unable to pay the bill, your vehicle is lien sold at auction to recover the towing and impound charges. Impound yards show no mercy and do not negotiate releases. Imagine making payments on a vehicle that you don’t even own anymore! You can try to recover your damages from the illegal operator by a lawsuit. That usually fails because they have no money and no insurance because they were illegal. At best you may get an apology from them, if they haven’t disappeared already. In most of these situations, the illegal operator files for a personal bankruptcy and the RV storage customers are left in the cold, mad and without an RV.

Take preventative steps to avoid illegal RV Storage operations at all costs. If you are currently storing with one, get out before it’s too late! Since the recession, authorities have just begun to crack down on these illegal operations. Do not fool yourself into thinking that it has never been a problem before, so why worry about it now. There are many operating illegally that will soon be visited by the authorities. The responsibility is on you, the storage user, to protect yourself from these disastrous situations. This website, RVstorageInfo.com, provides links to legal RV storage facilities within California that can be recommended because they comply with the law and can provide copies of their business license and permits.

Please share with others about what you have learned from this website. Let us protect ourselves, our friends and others from these illegal RV storage operations.