Month: March 2023

7 of the Best Camper Storage Ideas

Man and woman shopping together for plastic bins, one of the many creative storage solutions for campers!

Even the largest RVs come with limited storage space on board. As you start loading up the rig with clothes, cooking gear, food, recreational equipment, and more, that space will disappear quickly. So, it’s always important to save space where you can, making the most of every last square inch. Of course, you’ll get better at the skill of packing your RV strategically as you gain experience, but we’d like to help by offering some creative tips below. Read on to discover seven of the best camper storage ideas!

#1 Utilize Bins

Keeping your things in plastic bins or totes is one of the best ways to tame the packing beast. When you use containers, you can easily stack things that otherwise wouldn’t work well for stacking. Also, you can purchase containers of various sizes to fit every little nook and cranny you have available in your RV. Consider looking for bins with locking lids so you don’t have to worry about the tops popping off in transit. Also, clear containers make it easier to find what you are looking for quickly, so that’s another appealing feature.

#2 Store in the Shower

While shower storage might seem odd at first, it makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Unlike the shower in your home, you probably don’t use the shower in your RV all that often, and when you do use it, you are just rinsing off quickly. So why not put some things in there for storage that can easily be pulled out of the way? A few of the bins we mentioned above would be perfect candidates for storage in the shower space.

#3 Collapsible Trash Container

You certainly need a place to put your trash in the RV, but a regular trashcan may take up more space than you have to spare. Try using a collapsible container instead that you can set up while you are on your trip but can quickly be emptied and folded away when in transit from one place to another.

#4 Look for Shoe Solutions

You might find that you want to take a variety of types of shoes with you on RV trips, especially if you are exploring the outdoors. Many shoe storage options on the market are designed specifically for RVs, including hangers with slots for several pairs. These products are typically cheap and can be found on Amazon.

#5 Sticky Hooks

Add hanging hooks to your RV that stick onto the wall and can be pulled down anytime without leaving residue behind. These are a great way to hang towels in your bath or kitchen area or create a spot to leave the keys. Since these hooks are so affordable and easy to install, you might find yourself coming up with countless ways to use them.

#6 Keep Your Food Gathered

Earlier, we discussed using plastic bins for your various items, but you can also take the same approach for the food that goes with you on each trip. First, buy some shallow plastic containers that don’t need lids that will fit nicely in the pantry area of your RV. Then, each time you get ready for a trip, fill up those containers with the foods you want to take, and everything will be organized and under control when you arrive at your destination.

#7 Bring Fewer Things

Okay – so this last one isn’t a trick to get more out of your storage space, but rather a reminder that you probably don’t need to bring everything you planned on packing. Things will often go unused during a trip, so pay attention to the items that never seem to get used as the trips add up. Once you notice that certain things are never needed, leave them behind on future trips and open up some space for easier packing or other items you might enjoy.

The Perfect Home for Your RV

We hope the seven camper storage ideas above have motivated you to work on properly packing up your camper for your next trip! Once you implement some of these tips, along with your own unique solutions, you’ll be amazed at how much can fit on an RV without making it feel crowded or cluttered.

And, when your RV isn’t out on the road exploring new places, make sure it remains in good condition at home by parking it under a structure from American Carports, Inc. Explore our Build & Price tool to experiment with different features and configurations. And always, you are welcome to contact us at any time if you have any questions along the way! Thank you for visiting our blog, and we hope to help you soon!

Is It a Good Idea to Cover Your RV?

An RV camper parked outside near the ocean

Purchasing an RV is a significant investment. Depending on what size and type of RV you buy, it’s easy to spend in excess of six figures on your new rig. Of course, you get a lot for your money regarding experiences and enjoyment, but there is no downplaying the high costs of owning an RV.

Given those costs, it’s essential to protect an RV as much as possible, both while it is in use and storage. When in storage, you can cover the RV to keep it protected from the elements. But is it really a good idea to cover your RV? Let’s dive into that question in the article below.

The Short Answer: Yes

To cut right to the chase, it’s a good idea to cover your RV whenever possible. Even if you live in a relatively mild climate, the damage that local weather conditions can do to your RV will be significant. You may discover that you need to look into repairs sooner rather than later just because of what happened while your RV was sitting still. The potential threats are many, including the following:

UV rays

The sun beating down on your RV can dry out essential parts like seals and gaskets. It will also quickly fade the appearance of your RV’s exterior, causing it to age prematurely.

Rain and snow

While your RV is designed to keep water out, you don’t want to force it to do that work any more often than is necessary. By covering the RV, you won’t put it under undue stress while parked, and you can let it work hard when you are traveling, and it needs to be out in the open.

Falling debris

If you live on a property with plenty of trees, you need to consider things like falling leaves and branches. Even if it’s only a pile of leaves that builds up on your RV’s roof, that pile could become a home for pests, and soon you’ll have an unwanted problem.

Temperature control

It should also be mentioned that covering your RV will help moderate the temperature inside of the rig while parked. During the summer, an uncovered RV can get extremely hot inside, and that heat can damage various parts and systems. So no matter how you look at it, covering your RV is a wise move.

Two Unique Options

Once you decide that you would like to cover your carport, the next step will be to determine how you will make that happen. Two standard options are buying a cover or creating a covered parking spot.

Buying a cover for your RV is cost-effective, but it doesn’t offer the same protection as covered parking. With a cover, you have to deal with the hassle of climbing up onto the RV to stretch it over the rig, and then you have to undo that whole procedure when the time comes to take your next trip. Also, this type of soft cover doesn’t provide any meaningful protection from something like a falling branch or even a hailstorm that could damage the top of the RV.

When covering your RV, everything you want regarding performance is delivered by building a large carport tall enough to park your rig under. With this approach, you pull the RV into place under the roof, lock the doors, and you are all set. Neither the sun nor the rain will be able to beat down on the top of the RV, and the roof will catch any falling branches before they can strike the RV itself. And, since no cover is stretched over the exterior, you can access the inside of the RV at any time to start packing up, retrieve items you forgot, or do maintenance work.

American Carports Has You Covered

So, is it a good idea to cover your RV? We hope this blog helped answer that question! As you can see, protecting your RV from what Mother Nature has in store is a great way to maintain its condition and extend its useful life. While buying a fabric cover that can be stretched over the RV is one option that will provide some benefits, nothing works as well as putting a roof over the RV. If you need help with this exciting project, turn to American Carports! Our structures are easy to customize using our Build & Price tool, meaning you can create one that is the ideal size and shape for your RV and your property.

The Best Push Mower Storage Ideas for 2023

A push mower sitting outside: vulnerable to the elements, it seeks a safe home in a metal structure.

For the average homeowner, a mower is one of the trickiest things to store effectively. There are a couple of different problems that you’ll encounter when looking for a storage spot for this tool – the shape and the mess. A mower is quite long from front to back when you consider the length of the handle, and when you have finished mowing the yard, the blade and housing will be covered in a mat of grass. With all of that said, parking your mower outside isn’t a great solution, either. It’s a little bit unsightly, and the condition of the mower may quickly degrade when left out in the elements.

This article explores some of the best push mower storage ideas for 2023 to make your life a bit easier. And remember, if that solution involves a new metal structure on your property, American Carports, Inc. is the easy choice for such a project. Explore our Build & Price tool to customize your new shed or detached garage. If you have any questions, our team is always happy to help!

#1 Build a Shed

Without a doubt, the best place to store a push mower is in a shed in your yard. The advantages to this approach are many, including the following:

Convenient access

The yard is where you use your mower, so it only makes sense that you would want to store it in the same place. Then, when you are ready to mow the lawn, you can simply open the shed, pull out the mower, and get to work. When the job is finished, you tuck it away and close the door. This simplicity will make the whole chore of mowing the lawn feel far less of a hassle than it might be currently.

Space for other things

Your mower will only be one of many landscaping tools and supplies you can keep in this shed. Once you have it all set up, your shed will be a one-stop shop for everything you need to take care of your yard and have it look great all year round.

Contain the mess

Most of the tools you use to care for your property, including the mower, will be rather messy after you use them. Sure, you’ll want to clean them off before putting them away, but you don’t want to go through a full cleaning ritual every time. By having a shed that is dedicated to the storage of landscaping equipment, you can allow it to get a bit dirty without a worry.

If you add a shed to your property, look for a convenient spot that is also off to the side and out of the way. Depending on the shape and size of your lot, the side of the house tends to work well. That way, you won’t have to look right at the shed when you step out the back door, but it will be close at hand and ready to use when needed.

#2 Park It in the Garage

If a shed is not a suitable option, consider parking your lawnmower in the garage while it is not in use. For most people, the garage is a space that serves many different purposes, including the storage of various types of items. By keeping a spot on the side of the garage open for mower parking, you can roll up the door and push it in when the yard work is done for the day.

One problem you might experience with this plan is the smell that a lawnmower can produce. Unless you get all of the grass off the mower after each use, some grass will dry on the mower – and drying grass tends to smell pretty bad. So, if you like to use your garage for other things and don’t want it to stink, carefully cleaning the mower deck will be required.

#3 Buy a Cover

Finally, you could leave your mower outside with a fabric cover to keep the rain away. While a cover is the least effective option discussed in this article, it’s still better than nothing. On the plus side, these covers are affordable, so you won’t have to spend much money to add at least a little protection to your mower as it sits near the house, waiting for the next mowing day to arrive.

American Carports Has You Covered

We hope you enjoyed this blog on the best push mower storage ideas for 2023! Don’t let another summer go by with push mower storage being a source of frustration on your property. Instead, turn to American Carports, Inc. to add a quality, durable metal shed that can act as a comfortable home for your mower and many other landscaping tools.

Explore our Build & Price tool to get started today. Thank you for stopping by our blog; we hope to help you soon!