It's a commonly asked question - well if I buy it, where will I store it? Or, you might have already purchased and been looking into your options for storing your new purchase safely.
With the move into smaller housing/apartment living or retirement village, storage solutions aren't as readily available so storing your caravan can become a little more of a challenge.
Shed
Of course, the ultimate storage solution with a motorhome or caravan is to have it in a shed but, that option is not always possible for everyone. Storing your caravan in a shed means it's protected from the elements and the exterior shine can be maintained all year-round. You'll still need to maintain and clean it, but in general, anything that is stored inside and undercover is going to to be less under pressure from the elements.
To help with maintaining the exterior of your motorhome regardless of where you store it, consider applying SealX, which can be completed by the TrailLite Service Centre.
Carport
So, working down from a shed, the next possible storage solution would be a carport or portal. If it is a "temporary" portal, and only pinned to the ground, you may not even require a building consent.
The main advantage of these is that they keep rain and UV rays off the caravan.
The big things with these first two options though, is that you really need the space on your property to build one of these. And, they can add significant cost to the caravanning lifestyle.
Caravan cover
If a shed or portal is not possible, then the next option would be to go for a caravan cover. When you get a cover, make sure it has enough tie-down points to ensure the cover is lashed down snug. Otherwise, wind can get under and cause it to billow, which can cause damage to the cover or fittings on the caravan.
The most challenging part of using a cover is getting it over the caravan. A great tip is to have a couple of long, sturdy poles with tennis balls attached to the ends. Place a person either side of the caravan, and walk the cover over it, with the poles giving you clearance and the tennis balls preventing the poles from sticking through the cover. Once in place, lash down tightly.
Check out Camec for options for caravan covers.
Commercial storage
If you just don't have the room on your property to store the caravan, another option is to put it in a commercial storage facility. Some are out in the open, while others are in massive commercial storage sheds, but obviously, storage fees will vary according to the type of yard and the location. Regular storage can be pricey though, around $55 per week.
A simple google search brings up heaps of options for storing all over New Zealand. Here are just a few I found:
- National Mini Storage
- Gateway Storage
- National Storage (This company has 13 storage facilities throughout NZ)
Caravan Movers
If you are storing it by your home, but access is a bit tight, caravan movers can assist you in moving it into far more confined spaces than what you could probably do with the tow vehicle.
You can get fitted caravan movers or an independent unit that fits on the drawbar, allowing you to "drive "the caravan around the yard, and pivot in its own length, all done at a comfortable walking pace.
What about storing it on location
Pick a location you love; Raglan, Orewa, Twizel. Find a local campground and permanently site the caravan there. It's a quarter of the price of a holiday home but still with all the appeal. You just rock up when it's holiday time, and you have your own little piece of paradise. For the rest of the year, your caravan stays safe, locked up and waiting for you to arrive.
Or the best option of all - sell up, hit the road and use the whole country to store your caravan, perfect!
Convinced now you can find somewhere to store it? Check out our caravans here...
