By now you’ve probably heard the horror stories about Atlanta driving (and Atlanta parking). We’re not going to lie to you and say that Atlanta is a big rig paradise with resort-style campgrounds on every corner, but we’re not going to discourage you from bringing your RV there either. Like a lot of cities, Atlanta is growing, bustling and totally accommodating to you and your RV if you exercise a little creativity and a lot of patience. One thing that can help make owning an RV or boat in the city that much easier is self-storage. There are 18 facilities in the Atlanta area that offer RV and boat storage. We know what you’re thinking; yikes! That’s a small number. We recommend reserving early, locking down a unit long term once you get one and following a few of our other tips on RV and boat storage in Atlanta.
Keep Your Baby Safe and Sound
We know how important the well-being of your RV or boat is. Atlanta is rapidly gentrifying, and while we’re not going to get into a discussion on whether or not this is a good thing, we will tell you what this means for the safety of your beloved extra vehicle. We’ve already established that your storage options for your boat or RV are pretty limited, but we still think it’s important for you to consider the safety of the neighborhood in which you’re storing it in. Use
crime mapping to check out stats and of course, see the area in person before you commit to a lease. Atlanta has far more property crimes than it does violent crimes, which means that making sure that your storage facility is
secure is crucial. Look for a facility with a gate system that only allows tenants and staff inside. If there’s actually security officers in place to patrol the property, that’s great but not necessarily common. Find out how often the facility manager and his or her staff walks the grounds. Ask about 24 hour security cameras. Most RV storage is typically in an open lot setting, so if you can find an indoor storage unit (this will look like a private garage), ask about individual door alarms. Check out the property’s fencing and lighting as well. Remember, these are features that will make you feel safe too if you’re going to be occasionally returning your RV or boat after dark.
Don’t Be Late
Atlanta drivers spend about 52 hours a year in traffic. While you can use public transportation to bar hop downtown, it doesn’t help you with driving to and from your campground of choice in an RV. Most outdoor recreation in Atlanta is at least 10 miles outside of the city. If you’ve been around the block a few times, you know how quickly a 30 minute drive can turn into hours of traffic in Atlanta. Places like the popular destination of
Stone Mountain Park Campground offer tons of fun activities (Skiing? A cable car? The world’s largest laser show? We’re there.). Don’t cut your weekend short because your storage facility’s hours are strict. Opt for
24 hour storage. Fair warning: If this is a must for you when it comes to RV and boat storage, your already limited options get even more limited. Another route you can go is to store closer to a destination that you frequent, or talk to your facility manager about the possibility of allowing you later access in exchange for a slightly higher rent. Not all facility managers will be open to this, but if you’re renting through a smaller facility, rather than one that feels more corporate, you might be able to work something out.
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot
Odds are, you’re going to end up storing your RV or boat in the lot style storage we mentioned earlier. The advantage to this type of storage is the price. The downside? Exposure to the elements. If you’re putting your baby to sleep in storage for a season, take the extra time to clean it out thoroughly. Remove cushions, if possible. Basically, you want to look for anything that is adversely affected by heat and anything that is adversely affected by moisture. That second one is the most important factor. Soft items absorb moisture more than hard items do. If you have to store kitchenware or other items inside your actual RV, store them in plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes, as cardboard is another material that wicks moisture. Make sure your RV is airtight and consider investing in a specialized fan to circulate air without letting outside moisture in. Last but not least, check your refrigerator and cabinets. That Atlanta heat plus a bunch of hamburger patties you forgot about? We don’t even want to think about it.
