Pros and Cons of Owning a Motorhome – Storage Hacks & Tips

Motorhomes provide the ultimate source of freedom to travel and explore where and when you want to. From local weekend trips away, to staycations in the UK, or travelling further afield across Europe, a motorhome provides the perfect way of ‘getting away from it all’ surrounded by your home from home comforts. Whilst it would great to be able to travel continuously  throughout the year (and many of our customers do), for the majority of motorhome owners, one of the questions that needs to be considered, is where do I park my vehicle when it’s not being used?

We’ve put together some useful information to help you store your motorhome safely and securely to help you enjoy your motorhome and to protect your investment.

Where’s the best place to store my motorhome?

When you’re not using your motorhome, there are really two options – you can either store your motorhome on your premises e.g. garden or driveway, or you can store it securely off site. There are pros and cons to either option. Read on to find out more.

Can I store my motorhome on my driveway?

If you’ve got the space to store your motorhome on your driveway or in the garden where you live, this could be the perfect option for you.  The two key benefits of this method of storing your motorhome are that it’s free and very convenient for being able to throw in a few essential items before you’re immediately ready to head off on an adventure. Home storage also enables you to keep on top of routine maintenance of your motorhome, such as circulating air and running heating to help prevent dampness. Furthermore, from a security perspective you’ll be able to keep an eye on your motorhome to help protect it from being stolen.

There are some reasons why home storage may not be suitable for you. Firstly, some homeowner’s properties have restrictive covenants applying to them which specify that motorhomes and/or caravans cannot be stored on the premises. Another common reason for not storing your motorhome on your property is that your neighbours may object to the storage, or you don’t want to upset your neighbours.

Can I store my motorhome in a garage?

A large garage would be the perfect place to store your Motorhome as garages protect vehicles from the elements, keep them out of sight of thieves and provide added security. However, garages are better suited to smaller vehicles such as campervans. Even a campervan would be a ‘tight fit’ for most modern garages.

I can’t store my motorhome on my property, what other options do I have?

If storing your vehicle on your property is not an option, you’ll need to find a suitable storage location. It’s a good idea to find a storage location in close proximity to your place of residence for convenience. This allows you to access your motorhome or campervan quickly and frequently to check up on it and to undertake regular maintenance whilst you’re not using it for travelling in. Also, if your motorhome is being stored in close proximity to your home, you will feel more inclined to use it frequently. There’s nothing more tedious than a lengthy drive to a motorhome storage facility to collect your vehicle for a trip, particularly an impromptu weekend away when the weather forest is good!

At Comfort, we always recommend CaSSOA storage (Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association) facilities. CaSSOA is an accredited storage facility for leisure vehicles with high levels of security to help prevent theft.

What do I need to consider when storing my motorhome?

Motorhome and campervan theft is at an all time high, so doing everything that you reasonably can to prevent your motorhome from being stolen is highly recommended. Whether you are storing your motorhome at home or in a storage site, both visible and physical security deterrents will help to safeguard your motorhome from thieves. We also recommend that you consider fitting a tracker. Trackers allow the motorhome’s location to be continually monitored and will help it to be recovered in the unfortunate event that it does get stolen.

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Whether it is storms, flooding or high winds, the weather can cause serious damage to motorhomes whilst they are in storage, particularly during the winter months.  When deciding where you are going to keep your motorhome it is recommended that you give consideration to the potential for your storage site to be flooded, or its susceptibility to very high winds. Proximity to rivers and streams, low lying ground, tall trees etc. are all factors that could cause damage to your precious motorhome.

How often should I visit my motorhome when it’s in storage?

It’s impossible to be prescriptive as to how often you should visit your motorhome or campervan whilst it is being stored. Frequency of visits to the storage site are dependent upon various factors including how and where you are storing your motorhome. Motorhomes use commercial vehicle engines and chassis which are intended to be used every day, covering high mileages. At the very least you should visit your motorhome regularly enough to give it a good run to keep everything moving. Whilst you’re driving your motorhome, open the windows, run the heating to help dry it out and to help prevent dampness occurring.

You should also inspect the paintwork to make sure that your motorhome is clean. Tree sap, bird droppings etc can cause serious damage to paintwork if not removed quickly and regularly.

Routine inspections should also include checking that your motorhome hasn’t been the subject of an attempted theft. If thieves have tried to steal your vehicle once, there’s a likelihood that they may come back and try again.

Keeping your battery in good health is vitally important during lengthy periods of inactivity of your motorhome. If you can, use a trickle charger wired into the mains. This will ensure that when you go to power up your motorhome it will start. In addition, well maintained batteries hold their charge for longer and last longer than batteries that have been neglected. When visiting your motorhome, make sure that any trickle charger and any other live devices are performing as they should be.

Protection and peace of mind comes as standard with Comfort Insurance

Here at Comfort, we know how much your vehicle means to you and why it’s so important you’re your motorhome is fully protected. Our comprehensive motorhome and campervan insurance policies are tailored to suit your needs, so you can be rest assured you’re fully covered whilst on your travels. Call our friendly UK based team on 0208 984 0666 for more information and we’ll be happy to help you. Alternatively you can click here for an online quotation.