Where to Park -> leave it alone

[pinback78]

Hello everyone,

I am from Germany and have a 5 year assignment with our US-Branch, and I can basically live wherever I want as long as I am near by an airport...So my dream is to buy a Airstream and just hit the road, explore the country and just follow my nose (a german saying).
I still do my homework, and I found answers on the most of my questions by research, but 1 question seems to be hard to find:

Where can I park the Airstream when I don't use it?

I understand I can park it in a RV Park and just pay the money and leave...that's not really what I am looking for. If I get job, I want to unhook it, park it on a safe spot for low rate, drive to the airport and come back when I am done (usually 2-3 weeks)

Are there such parking lots? Or can you park at the airports?

Would be nice if you guys could give me some help on that one.


Best regards
Alex

[McDave]

As you drive around the country, you will notice many areas where RV's are stored. Sometimes storage charges are by the week and sometimes by the month. The RV's are parked close together; not at all like an RV park where people stay in their RV's. In Sacramento, for example, a medium sized city, there must be 40-50 of these storage facilities. You should probably consider using these storage facilities when you are away, and regular RV parks when you are using the Airstream.

[Lily&Me]

I'm going to recommend finding a campground, and paying that rate, so you can remain plugged into electricity when you are gone.

It would seem to me that emptying and cleaning out your frig/freezer while gone for a couple of weeks would not be the way to go...throwing out food, defrosting, then reversing the process when you come back.

And then, if you are in heat, you would want to keep your air conditioning running.

Unless you could find a storage facility that let you plug into electricity.

I suspect that campgrounds will be more plentiful and conveniently located for you than RV storage facilities with electricity.

Just my thoughts.


Maggie

[Piggy Bank]

A lot may depend on your location. Will you always be leaving your RV at the same airport location when you leave? Or do you anticipate traveling all over, and leaving it at different airports in different cities?

If it is the first scenario, you may be able to rent a storage space fairly simply. If it is the second scenario it will be more challenging.

Where I live in the wide open midwest, we pay just over $100 per month for a storage facility to store our Airstream. It is at a self storage facility which has an assigned key code to open the electronic gate, 24 hour video surveillance, and 24 hour access. There is no cover or electricity. It is safe, secure, and basic. It is a convenient and safe location. It is always full and they usually have a waiting list for new renters.

I suspect in larger cities that fee would be higher, and availability may be scarcer. You would likely need to pay on a month by month basis for this type of place, and be OK with paying the fee when you are not there.

To get a place with electricity and a cover or a locking unit would cost us much more, and be in less convenient areas for us.

Best of luck with your search for information and welcome to the USA.

[Mollysdad]

If I understand you correctly, you want to travel, so you won't always be using the same airport.
If it were me, I'd try to find a covered storage facility with power (it doesn't need to run everything just maintain the batteries, etc.)
That way, while you are gone, it's relatively safe from storms, leaks, intruders. I have my RV stored in such a facility, it's very secure (gated, on site property manager). It's owned by U-haul, and I think they have similar facilities all over the US. I think it's expensive, about $250/month, but it might be someplace for you to start.
I don't think any airport will allow parking there, and the cost would be prohibitive.
Most campgrounds will allow storage, or just pay by the month.

[Bhkh226]

We park at a self storage facility, most have rv parking but usually by the month. I'm sure they would make you a deal if they have a spot and need the income.
I pay $142.00 a month. Gated, security cameras, no worries.

[demijac]

There are several Airstream-only parks in the U.S. If you are a WBCCI member, you should be able to get economical rates for storage. As an example, we utilize the Top of Georgia Airstream Park as our East Coast home base - about 2 1/2 hours from the Atlanta Airport. When we went on a multi-month trip to Europe, we left the Airstream there with the added bonus of having people we knew checking up on it from time to time.

Cheers!

[goodshepherd]

Since you are in the US for a 5 year assignment and want to travel and "follow your nose," hook up the trailer and take it with you - unless you're going to Michigan in the middle of the winter or some other place with adverse weather conditions when you're there.

Then, you have your "home", you have your "stuff" and you can enjoy your assignment and see the USA just "following your nose."

[xrvr]

Amazing how little reading comprehension some of us have! Reread what the op posted, please.

[DKB_SATX]

I suspect that you'll need to keep a couple of options in mind and play it by ear based on where you find yourself when you need to fly off somewhere.

In addition to what's already been mentioned, many campgrounds I've stayed in have a section where it appears that locals store their RVs, parked closer together than you'd want to be for occupying the trailer but fine for storage.

RV dealers in some parts of the country offer storage, especially in off-season times.

Storage facilities are an option, but many of them want to make long-term arrangements so that may not be helpful to you.

[Caffeinated]

I would NOT leave my trailer plugged in 24/7 where I could not check on it easily. Too many things to go wrong. A electric short, a hungry mouse chewing on wires.... Same for water hookups. I'd figure out a reasonable airport, with rv storage in the area, and use that as a base.

Mike

[pinback78]

Thank you all for the informations and suggestions. I really appreciate it!
And I think storage facilities will do for me. I don't need electricity hooked up when I am going for a project because I never know exactly how long I am gone. So even today, renting apartment in Texas, I turn off the electricity, empty the fridge (I never stock for more then 2 days anyways) and go.

I will of course always go back to the airport I was leaving from, to pick my truck and the RV and then hit the road to the next RV Park, National Park.

I actually living like that for the past 10-15 years, with the difference I have a rental apartment to where I always went back. And I just change that into the RV.

I am in the US since February, pay 1200$/month rent in Houston and been exactly 9 days in that apartment, so for me it really makes no sense of having a "structural home" at all...

Thank you again,

Regards
Alex

[WayneG]

You may also want to look into a RV rental. If you are only going to use it a few weeks a year, that may be cheaper overall

[andreasduess]

The Airstream will be his home. How would that work with rental?

[PKI]

Drive a little, save a lot.

Try to find covered or inside storage. It is more expensive, but it does exist for around the $200 a month rate. It's safer and dryer with less UV. The problem can be that the ones close to metro areas fill to capacity. Try them during vacation season. There are underground facilities in some areas.

Not sure where your assignments take you. A German company that we used had a technician who lived in Texas and flew out to CA for work on our equipment. We would have been happy to have him park his big tool box in our lot if he was around sometimes for a quick system check or training. Maybe a long shot. Maybe a good back scratcher. Park next to the security office.

Dealers have storage and it can be free if they are servicing your coach. The Airstream only parks mentioned by others may work. The one near Seattle was quite reasonable.

Some boat storage places have room for a coach. Usually a drive, because they are close to recreation areas.

A subscription to Passport America might save you some money. They are half price parks, but you have to work with their restrictions. Intent is to fill a space that would be empty. Weekends often are blacked out, but not always. Might be a good backup plan for places where storage is tight.

Also, a lot of airports have private company long term off site parking with shuttle service. Doubt it would be safe for your trailer, but the parking for your TV would be discounted. Look for coupons.

Good luck with your new assignment. Pat

[Ted S.]

I have researched this idea for a few years. We live in Boston and want to fly to our trailer out west, travel for a week, then fly home.

After much research we decided we would consider a condo garage when the time comes:

http://garagetown.com/

There are a few like this, you want a place near an airport.

Another option is Full Service Storage in Utah:

https://www.fullservicestorage.com/

I imagine there are a few like that as well.

[Scorge-ION]

I can't add anything meaningful to what others wrote. I can say, "welcome to the U.S."! I wish you a pleasant stay and I hope you get to travel lots. Please remember the U.S. is huge and don't venture out into the deserts with less than a full tank of fuel. And carry plenty of water.

This question is a very good question. It seems to me a computer-cell phone app and service is called for, along the lines of AirBnB or Uber. E.G., Let's call it UberAir. "I want to park my RV in Sac for two weeks from ____ to ____ and leave it plugged in." Someone in Sac is registered into the system and offers "I have space in my garage with an outlet. I will let you park there for $____ ." You've both been vetted by UberAir so there's a great deal of trust and UberAir requires all parties to carry insurance, etc. and probably has a conflict resolution specialist to arbitrate disputes.
Just thinking while keying words onto the screen.

Happy trails from Dave, the Scourge of the ION

[Len n Jeanne]

Follow your nose?

There is an Anglo expression, "Follow your heart."

Especially in the western states, you will probably meet other German tourists.

Have a wonderful time.