RV storage gets pricey and you never know if your RV is truly safe unless it’s locked in a fully enclosed, private storage unit. Most storage places do not provide locked garages for RVs, but instead, an open spot. Some places might provide a metal cover for an RV, but you still risk someone damaging your RV when parking their own. If you have the room at your house, building a metal RV cover keeps the weather off your RV and you have less chance of having it damaged or broken into.
RV Home Storage: Why Keeping It on Your Property Makes Sense
When it comes to protecting your investment, RV home storage is one of the smartest projects you can take on. Monthly fees at commercial lots add up fast, and even then, you’re often leaving your RV exposed to the elements, other drivers, and potential theft. Keeping your RV at home puts you in control. You can walk outside and check on it anytime, and you won’t be subject to facility hours or access restrictions. For Louisiana and Mississippi homeowners who already have a bit of land to work with, RV home storage is a practical, long-term solution that pays for itself over time.
Building an RV Storage Building on Your Property
When you consider building an RV storage building at your home, you should consider several factors.
Type of Building
The type of building you choose depends on the type of weather you frequently see and the foliage surrounding your RV cover.
Iron Framed vs Tube Framed
In the Gulf South, hurricanes and tropical storms are just part of life. When choosing the type of structure you’ll be protecting your RV with, you need to consider whether you want to simply protect your RV from the sun and normal rain, or if you want true protection from all but the worst of hurricanes. An iron-framed RV storage building is your best option during a tropical event, especially one constructed with American-made building products.
Roof Only, Roof With Sides, or Fully Enclosed
Depending on the level of protection you need for your RV, there are a multitude of options for how much coverage you should get. A roof-only will provide protection from the rain and direct sunlight that causes damage to the roof of your RV. This may be enough for many people. If your property has a lack of trees and shade, you may consider adding sides, or even partial sides to prevent fading from sunlight. If you are looking to protect your RV from theft or vandalism, a fully enclosed RV storage building is the way to go.
The Foundation
You have several choices for a foundation for your RV-port. You can build it on hard-packed ground, put down gravel, or put the building on a slab. If the ground is not firm, you should consider putting a slab down, so the RV does not sink.
If you choose gravel, choose road gravel and don’t go bigger as you’ll get some pretty good-sized chunks of rock that could damage the tires. In fact, the next best thing to a concrete slab is to put down a 4-inch layer of road gravel, then a 2-inch layer of crusher run (also known as crush and run). Crusher run is composed of pulverized stone of several sizes, though usually not larger than about an inch, plus a lot of dust and chips from the fragments that fall through as larger rock are run through the crusher to get it to the size needed.
If you put down a layer of crusher run over gravel, then drive on it to pack it in, you end up with a pad that is almost as hard as concrete.
Should You Consider RV Storage Building Kits?
If you’re handy and want to take on some of the work yourself, RV storage building kits are worth a serious look. These pre-engineered packages come with the steel components, framing, and hardware needed to put up a structure on your property. RV storage building kits are a cost-effective option for homeowners who want professional-grade materials without paying for full installation labor.
That said, RV storage building kits work best when the foundation work is already handled and you have some experience with construction or a contractor lined up for the parts that require it. The actual metal components in quality RV storage building kits are the same high-grade steel used in full custom builds, you’re simply taking on more of the assembly process yourself. If you’re considering this route, talk to the team at ADCO Metals about what size and configuration makes sense for your RV before ordering.
Additional Factors to Consider for Your RV Home Storage Setup
Other factors you should consider when planning your RV home storage solution:
- Installing electric, water, and sewer/septic hookups
- The size: you might want a larger RV storage building so you can open the slides or awnings inside
- Your upgrade plans. If you plan on upgrading your RV in a few years, consider a metal building large enough for the new one
- Ventilation, especially in the Gulf South heat, to keep the interior of your RV from getting dangerously hot during storage. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that proper airflow helps reduce heat buildup inside enclosed structures, which can protect stored vehicles and materials from excessive temperature damage.
- Lighting, so you can work on your RV or load it up even after dark
- Door width and clearance height, which are critical for larger Class A motorhomes and fifth wheels
No matter the configuration, the right RV home storage setup starts with choosing the right materials and the right team.
Building the Best Protection for Your RV with ADCO Metals
The professionals at ADCO Metals are more than happy to help you plan out the perfect RV storage building to protect your investment. Whether you’re starting from scratch or exploring RV storage building kits, we’ll walk you through every option end-to-end. Give us a call today or fill out the form on our Contact page and we’ll be in touch.
