Uncovered outdoor storage in the North

[bikechuck]

I really, really, really want to purchase an Airstream trailer as a retirement gift to myself and my spousal unit. However, I live in a northern state that gets a fair amount of ice and snow, I cannot store a trailer like this at home and I would need to pay for offsite storage. Is it worth paying a premium for covered storage or indoor storage or will these units withstand outdoor uncovered storage?

My dealer tells me to save my money and not pay for covered or indoor storage but they are trying to sell me a trailer so their advice might not be totally objective.

I would love to hear from anyone that stores their trailer in uncovered space through the winter months in a northern climate. How hard it this on your trailer?

[SteveSueMac]

Had mine in outdoor storage since purchasing new in 2012. It's fine. Handles it well. It's built to be outdoors. Would I love covered storage? Sure - but it's fine either way. My $0.02.

[markdoane]

My '59 Tradewind spent 55 years outside in Minnesota with no ill effects. My bigger concern would be hail.
The last two years I've wintered it in my daughter's barn because she has room for it.

[woodfox45]

I live in Ohio also and would love to have covered storage but what I have seen offered is $350/ a month . I have stored mine outside since 2007 so far so good and hail is my biggest concern with outside storage .

[aftermath]

I have a 2006 and it has never been stored under cover. Would I like to? Yes. Do I need to? No. I live about 100 miles from Canada in Eastern Washington where we get plenty of snow and ice. It has never been a problem yet but I am more concerned about the constant exposure to the sun and heat than the snow and ice.

Inside storage is the best but parkingit outside isn't a problem.

[mefly2]

I think that we are a bit further north than you and have never had our AS "under cover" ...no problems so far; but, it would be nice to have Eddie protected.

[Wingeezer]

Ours has been outdoors since we bought it (used) 8 years ago and doesn't seem to have suffered from it.

It can be a bit of a pain getting it out of the storage yard in Feb. each year to head south though and I generally have to do a bit of digging!

Not usually too bad though, the owner of the storage area does a decent job of clearing the yard. Problem happens when adjacent trailers park sticking further out than mine and then I need to dig out the tongue area.

I have learned to leave my trailer out a bit more to match the location of larger trailers parked by me!

I do get a bit concerned about snow accumulation on the roof if we have had a mix of freezes/thaws and there is some heavy ice up there, especially as we about to hit the highway, so I try to get as much off as I can .... and also try to stick to the slow lanes until it clears. I am concerned about causing hazards if it comes off all at once!

I was also concerned about the weight of the snow /ice causing problems with the trailer but it seems fine - apart from no doubt exceeding my GVW on the first day of our travels south!



Costs me about $1000Can a year for the secure outdoor storage - I think indoor storage would be out of the question for me!

Brian.

[urnmor]

We live on the Eastern Shore of MD and I have only used outdoor storage with no adverse effects. I know it does not snow nor get as cold as in New England but it does get to the twenties. My thought always has been that AS were made for the outdoors

[BOBCONEYBEER]

If you livery near pittsburgh you can store your rv for under 500 for the entire winter. I have an interstate and it cost me 230 dollars for 6 months of storage. Toys underground storage is a old limestone mine. The temperature is 50 to 55 all winter no snow rain wind hail. Perfect conditions..

[sallye]

We live in MA and leave our trailer in a spot on our driveway all winter. Even two years ago when we had 109" of snow in 3 weeks, it was no problem. I was a little nervous about the tremendous snow load on the nearby garage, and whether the 5 - 6' of snow there was going to give way and crash into it, so we did remove some snow from the garage roof, but that was all.

I'd love to have covered storage, but it seems to do just fine without it. A nice coat of wax or Liquid Glass on the outside probably helps the snow slide off too.

[B00merang]

Have used outdoor and covered storage for the past 6 years out here in Idaho. Both work without any bad effects if you're smart a bout it. But note the common thread here...most folks would prefer indoor storage. Either way, make sure you rodent proof your AS (and since that's impossible, use repellent in all floor spaces and storage areas). jon

[PatLee]

I stored my new 2005 Bambi for 10 years at an outdoor storage lot at Quantico, va which can get quite wet and cold and icy and she did very well. It had a lot of shade from surrounding trees so I had to give the glass guards on front of trailer a good cleaning every spring - mostly green mold and leaves caught between the shields and the windows but an easy clean. I sold her in 2015 for just $8K less than what I paid for her. I was vigilant about maintenance and replacement of small exterior parts that showed wear i.e. License plate frame, waxing and cleaning, etc. I wanted her to look "eternally young" and it also kept her value high.

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

Ours has been outdoors since we bought it (used) 8 years ago and doesn't seem to have suffered from it.

It can be a bit of a pain getting it out of the storage yard in Feb. each year to head south though and I generally have to do a bit of digging!

Not usually too bad though, the owner of the storage area does a decent job of clearing the yard. Problem happens when adjacent trailers park sticking further out than mine and then I need to dig out the tongue area.

I have learned to leave my trailer out a bit more to match the location of larger trailers parked by me!

I do get a bit concerned about snow accumulation on the roof if we have had a mix of freezes/thaws and there is some heavy ice up there, especially as we about to hit the highway, so I try to get as much off as I can .... and also try to stick to the slow lanes until it clears. I am concerned about causing hazards if it comes off all at once!

I was also concerned about the weight of the snow /ice causing problems with the trailer but it seems fine - apart from no doubt exceeding my GVW on the first day of our travels south!

You really shouldn't be driving on the highway with any snow or ice on the roof. It's dangerous and illegal(at least in New Jersey)


Costs me about $1000Can a year for the secure outdoor storage - I think indoor storage would be out of the question for me!

Brian.

You really shouldn't be driving on the highway with any snow or ice on the roof. It's dangerous and illegal(at least in New Jersey)
I narrowly avoided a bad accident 2 winters ago from a sheet of ice sliding from a truck roof.

Why not just run the heat for an hour or so?

[RMB]

I live in the PNW - lots and lots of rain. My 23' International has been outside for 5 years without any real issue ..HOWEVER... I do have a filliform corrosion issue, which I have read may be related to dampness, and the seams, joints nooks and crannies get black from the pollen in spring and green from algae over the winter, all of which I don't think are good for the long term condition of my AS.

With snow and ice, you may have different issues, but my point is, cover if you can - its better for your AS.

I recently erected a 26x12x12 metal shelter from Coast Carports to protect mine. I swear that I can hear her purring as I sit inside at night, with the rain pouring down, but not on her ;-)

[dhroberts]

I don't live in the north (i.e. ice, cold, etc.) but live in the south (i.e. heat, intense sun, hail, etc.). I recommend a storage unit: security, protection from the elements, a year-round place to go to interact with your rig.

[Outdoors4me]

Ours has always been outdoors and it's fine. However, the factory told us not to use an RV cover or it will abrade the aluminum.

[Antique Pedaler]

We are fortunate to be able to store our Bambi II for a nominal fee indoors for the winter in otherwise vacant County fairgrounds barns while we are snowbirds with the 25' FC. Extra income for the fairgrounds and a great service for us rvers

[MelGoddard]

My new 30' FC was stored outdoors at CanAm over the last winter, and everything worked fine.
However.....
When I washed it in the spring, (After a short 'camping' trip), I found a bird's nest in the lower airconditioner shroud, with two dead chicks in there.
Being unable to get up there, I took it to CanAm and they removed the nest and birds.
I also gave them some large hole door screen and some GE RTV to glue it, and they covered the larger holes in the shroud on the inside. so far, seems to work.

[Wingeezer]

Originally Posted by Shiny16

You really shouldn't be driving on the highway with any snow or ice on the roof. It's dangerous and illegal(at least in New Jersey)
I narrowly avoided a bad accident 2 winters ago from a sheet of ice sliding from a truck roof.

Why not just run the heat for an hour or so?

Tried it one year with little or no success! Best I seem to be able to do is get up on a ladder and remove as much as a can with a driveway broom.

Alternate would be to stay home I guess!

It is about the only time I stay in the right lane and drive slowly so generally n-oe stays behind me for very long until it's gone. Once teh weather warms, it doesn't take long.

Be interested to know what others might do differently.

Brian.

[Wingeezer]

Originally Posted by Outdoors4me

Ours has always been outdoors and it's fine. However, the factory told us not to use an RV cover or it will abrade the aluminum.

Good suggestion - I once ruined the gloss finish of a racing boat I owned due to a tarp flapping in the wind all winter!

Same reason that you don't usually see any sort of cover on motorcycles when being transported on open trailers I think.

Brian