Winter storage

[Sparky6192]

I have an idea and wonder if it makes sense. We live up by Duluth Minnesota and winter starts up here around the middle of October (earlier this year). When we retire we would still like to use our fiver in Jan and Feb. So we were thinking of "storing" the camper somewhere further south for the winter months. That way we could drive down in the winter, pick it up and head to warmer days. We don't plan on spending the whole winter in the camper so we would drop it back off at the storage place and drive back to Duluth. I think this way we wouldn't have to try and pull the camper through snowy and icy roads. Has anybody done something like this? Is there a preferred storage facility we should think of? We would bring the camper all the way home during the summer months for the quick couple week trips closer to home. Just interested in your thoughts. Thanks

[Reverse_snowbird]

Many people store their rigs in the campground where they'll be 'snowbirding.' That option is available in many private campgrounds or storage facilites in that area. It does mean extra driving time to get it down there and I can't think of many places where you don't have to winterize other than the extreme southern locations.
If your aim is to avoid snowy and icy road, you could store closer to home as long as you winterize and watch the weather carefully.
We've run into people from the southern states like ours who store their rigs (winterized) in the northern campgrounds where they spend the summers.

[Capt. Mike]

Friends of ours from Canada stored their 5th wheel at a campground in Georgia one year, and at a storage facility near Cincinnati one year.

Some campgrounds, including Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores and Lazy Days KOA in Tucson, have pretty large storage areas at their campgrounds.

I looked at an independent repair facility near Gulf Shores that also stored campers on their property. They quoted me $1 per day. It wasn't the most secure property in terms of cameras, nor convenient with 24/7 access, but it was fenced and the gate was locked unless the repair facility was open.

[Funengineer]

Originally Posted by Capt. Mike

Friends of ours from Canada stored their 5th wheel at a campground in Georgia one year, and at a storage facility near Cincinnati one year.

Some campgrounds, including Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores and Lazy Days KOA in Tucson, have pretty large storage areas at their campgrounds.

I looked at an independent repair facility near Gulf Shores that also stored campers on their property. They quoted me $1 per day. It wasn't the most secure property in terms of cameras, nor convenient with 24/7 access, but it was fenced and the gate was locked unless the repair facility was open.

Gulf State Park recently required all RVs removed from storage due to Hurricane Sally. Our friends two year old trailer was totaled due to water damage/flooding. [emoji853]

[GOTTOYS]

I also live in MN. We spend the Winter in TX or AZ. Did a lot of searching and wanted a place within a one day drive (no trailer) to our home. Found a small town in Kansas with a fantastic storage lot. Clean, very secure. Been going there for 9 or 10 years. Bring ours there in Oct. when the Minnesota campgrounds close. Couldn't be happier.

[dbledan]

If you are looking around KS as a midpoint consider the caves.

Climate controlled and they charge by the foot. You dont ever have to winterize or worry about weather. They want 24hrs to put your trailer in the lot and heavily photograph it before moving it. They store it so you dont manage driving a trailer or rv in the cave.

https://subtropolis.biz/

We do get some bad weather but it would not delay you more than a day or two unless it is the dead of winter.

[Sparky6192]

Thanks everyone for your response. It looks like it may be something we will seriously look at. You’ve been a great help as usual

[Funengineer]

Originally Posted by Sparky6192

Thanks everyone for your response. It looks like it may be something we will seriously look at. You’ve been a great help as usual

FWIW
We live in Michigan and take our TT to a storage place near Indianapolis, Indiana the last week or so in October depending on the weather. It’s about 5 hours south of our home which saves us 5 hours of traveling in unpredictable weather towing the trailer south when we head for Alabama in January. Normally the road conditions are pretty good from Indy south and if not we wait and leave a few days later. This also helps protect the frame and other trailer components from salt. Last year was the first time we did this and it worked out perfectly.