Month: March 2020

While you may love bass fishing, unfortunately, you can’t take your boat out every day. That means you’ll need somewhere to store it while not in use to help maintain its condition. Luckily, we have plenty of bass boat storage ideas for you to protect your boat, and we’ll walk through a few of the most popular choices below.

If you’d like to store your boat away from the elements, a metal carport is the best way to protect it. Customize your structure with our Build & Price tool, and get a free quote today!

The Off-Property Option

Before getting into the different ways you can store your bass boat at home, let’s first talk about the idea of storing your boat somewhere else. Specifically, using a storage facility that has boat/RV storage spots available. This approach is certainly a viable option for those who don’t have space available at home to store their boat, but it does come with some significant drawbacks, such as the following:

• Ongoing cost. When you store your boat at a storage facility, you’ll be paying that monthly fee for however long you own the boat. Investing in a storage solution on your own property comes with an upfront cost, but you’ll enjoy savings in the long run by avoiding the monthly expense.
• Your boat isn’t at home. Sure, you can go pick up the boat when you are ready to take a trip, but what about when you just want to work on the boat for a few minutes? Whether you want to clean it or make a small repair, you’ll have to head off to the storage facility to make it happen.
• Unpack every time. You won’t want to leave any of your fishing gear in the boat when you park it at a storage facility. If you store your boat at home, you might be able to keep a few things inside, especially if you park inside an enclosed and locked garage.

In the end, while off-site storage is a necessary choice for some people, it shouldn’t be your first option. If possible, storing your boat on your own property is the way to go.

Parking Outside

As another option, you could simply park your boat on an open space on your property and leave it out in the elements. With a cover placed over the boat, it would probably fare pretty well as the seasons come and go. This approach does work, but again, it has some drawbacks to consider.

For one thing, you’ll need to put the cover on each time, and the condition of that cover will likely deteriorate pretty quickly as a result of being exposed to the elements so regularly. That means you’ll have to replace the cover at some point, and you might get tired of taking it on and off. Also, even with a cover on the boat, it will still be exposed to more of the elements than with some of the other options we have listed below. If you’d like to keep your boat in the best possible condition, parking outside should only be your choice when no other options are viable. 

Add a Carport to Your Property

If you’d like to store your boat under cover without making a big financial investment, go with a metal carport. These are affordable structures that offer protection from elements like rain and snow. You can even add a wall to one side if you would like to protect against the prevailing wind.

With this approach, you may still decide to put your boat’s cover on when it is parked for long periods of time, but that cover won’t have to do nearly as much work. The roof of the carport will offer the bulk of the protection, and your boat should remain in nice condition well into the future as a result.

A Detached, Enclosed Garage

This is the ultimate bass boat storage option. Building a metal garage that is detached from your home will provide your boat its own place to live. You won’t need to put the cover on when it is parked, since the boat is inside. Also, if you lock up the garage, you may feel comfortable leaving some of your fishing equipment in the boat. With this approach, there will be very little standing in your way each time you want to head to the local lake – just hook up your hitch and be on your way.

Order from American Carports, Inc. Today!

Out of all of the bass boat storage ideas, a metal structure from American Carports, Inc. is the best option. Whether you go with a simple carport or an enclosed detached garage, you’ll have a great place to park your boat between fishing trips. Not only do our structures make for an excellent storage solution, but they are also affordable and can be constructed quickly. Customize your new structure today!

Create a Carport

If you own an RV or camper, you know one thing to be true—your rig spends a lot of time in storage. Sure, you’d love to be out exploring the countryside more often, but real life tends to get in the way. Even if you spend a few weeks per year on trips, you’ll still be storing your RV more often than not. That said, having a good storage plan in place can make RV life more convenient, and it can help keep your RV in better condition for years to come. Take a look at these RV and camper storage ideas to get started.

Need a reliable cover for your RV? American Carports, Inc. offers affordable, fully customizable metal RV carports. Shop now!

Don’t Make These Mistakes

To get started, we are going to highlight a few mistakes that you’ll want to avoid when storing your RV or camper:

• Leaving the windows open. If you get back from a trip on a beautiful summer day, you might have the windows open in the RV while you are cleaning it out and getting it ready to be stored for a while. That’s great – just don’t forget to close them when you are done. Leaving the windows open will invite water inside, and that’s never good news.
• Forgetting perishable food. You might be able to leave a few staples in the RV, such as canned goods, but you’ll want to take almost everything else out when it comes to your food supply. Leaving perishable items behind can make for an unwelcome surprise before your next trip, and you may even attract some critters (if they can find a way in).
• Not locking the door. Even if your RV or camper is parked on your property, you can’t assume it will always be safe. Get in the habit of locking the door while it is stored so no one is able to easily let themselves in.

Park in a Covered Spot

Establishing a covered parking spot for your RV will go a long way toward protecting its condition. While RVs are designed to be exposed to the elements, leaving them out in the weather all year long is just asking for premature deterioration. If you can add a metal RV carport to your property, you’ll have an affordable solution that will keep your RV out of the weather and in great condition for upcoming trips.

Keep the Curtains Up

Hopefully, you will be able to keep any unwanted moisture out of your RV while it is stored. That’s the goal, but real life isn’t always so kind. Keep the curtains up in your RV while it is parked so sunlight can get in during the day. If there are some damp spots, the sunlight may prevent the development of mold. Of course, in addition to leaving the curtains up, it’s also a good idea to check in on the RV from time to time to make sure it’s staying dry inside.

Think Like a Rodent

As you get ready for a long period of storage, take a careful look around the exterior of your RV and seek out spots that might let little critters inside. Remember, small rodents and other animals can often squeeze through very tight spaces, so even the smallest crack could be an issue. Seal the rig up to the best of your ability to keep rodents out and to prevent yourself from finding an unwanted surprise when spring rolls around.

Consider the Condition of Your Tires

This tip doesn’t apply to campers, but it is important for any RV that has tires, such as a motorhome or trailer. When you store the rig for a long period of time, that period of inactivity can be hard on your tires. RV tires are expensive to replace, so it’s in your best interest to care for them while in storage.

For starters, check the air pressure and make sure there is plenty of air in the tires before you leave it parked (the air pressure might be a bit low after a long trip). Also, try to move the vehicle from time to time during the storage period to alter which portion of the tire is resting on the ground. Finally, do what you can to keep the tires out of direct sunlight, as the UV rays are hard on the rubber. If needed, you can purchase tire covers to help guard against sun damage.

Order a Metal Carport from American Carports, Inc.

A metal RV carport is one of the top RV and camper storage ideas to provide your vehicle with the shelter it deserves. Keeping the rain, snow, and sun off your RV while it is stored will help preserve its condition and should cut down on maintenance requirements down the road. Plus, with American Carports, Inc., you can customize your RV carport exactly to your liking with our Build & Price tool so that it meets your exact needs. We look forward to serving you!