All You Need to Know About Storing Seasonal Recreational Items in Self-Storage

Like any other hobby, outdoor adventurists love to collect recreational equipment and machines. Boats, jet skis, ATVs, canoes, kayaks, camping equipment, and more, are important tools for enjoying the outdoors. However, they all take up significant space!

A self-storage unit is an excellent solution for avoiding storing these large items in your house, garage, or shed. You won’t have to stuff them anywhere and risk damage to your valuable equipment, and your house, garage, or shed will be much less cluttered and enjoyable to live in.

But before you stow your seasonal recreational equipment, take a look at this checklist to ensure your items will be in optimal condition the next time you want to use them.

Powered Equipment Self-Storage

Powered recreational equipment like jet skis, snowmobiles, ATVs, dirt bikes, and other equipment with motors need to be carefully inspected and stabilized before storing through the winter.

• Clean the equipment: Clean the equipment according to the instruction manual, including dirt, debris, stains, or food or beverage spills. This will prevent dirt and dust from collecting on your equipment and also prevent rodents or bugs from investigating spills and causing further damage.
• Inspect the equipment: Ensure there is no damage to the equipment or parts that need to be replaced. Fix anything before putting it into storage, as it can cause further wear and destruction to your equipment by sitting for months in weather fluctuations.
• Lubricate the moving parts: Correctly lubricate the equipment’s moving parts according to the instruction manual. This will prevent rust and ensure your equipment starts correctly after months in the unit.
• Drain the fuel: Most self-storage units do not permit flammable liquids like gasoline, diesel, or propane. You must drain the tanks before putting them in storage.
• Remove the battery: Self-storage units usually require battery removal from powered equipment before storage. If you are keeping your equipment in a climate-controlled unit or through the winter, you may keep the battery in the storage unit. However, if you are storing the battery in a regular unit or through the summer, store the battery elsewhere, like in your basement where temperatures remain cool and controlled. Standard storage units can get very hot in the summer, which could cause the battery to leak.
• Protect the tires: Properly inflate tires and consider covering them with tire covers to prevent other damage from weather fluctuations.
• Tidy the electrical cords: Sort and store all electrical cords in an organized manner, and ensure that all cords are unplugged.

 Lawn Equipment

Although lawn equipment isn’t necessarily recreational, many people use self-storage units for their lawn equipment through the winter. You can store just about any lawn equipment in a self-storage unit, but you must drain the tank of gasoline or diesel.

Additionally, you can’t store combustible materials, chemicals, or cleaning products in self-storage.

Boats and Self-Storage Units

Although some self-storage units can accommodate a boat, boats are generally too large to fit in a self-storage unit. Not only does the boat need to fit in the unit space, but you also need space for the trailer and to maneuver the trailer in and out of storage. Most self-storage companies don’t have this kind of space.

The best place for boat storage would be covered parking, an enclosed garage, or designated boat storage.

Kayaks and Canoes

Self-storage units are an excellent area to store kayaks and canoes off-season. Here are some considerations and recommendations for storing kayaks and canoes:

• Store correctly: For best storage outcomes, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for storing the kayak or canoe. Storing the kayak or canoe on its side or upside down will prevent distortion or flattening of the hull. You can also use padded sawhorses to distribute the weight evenly and keep it off the ground.
• Avoid creating pressure points: Positioning the kayak or canoe unevenly or strapping them down tightly to saw horses can deform the hull and create pressure points that will alter your steering.
• Provide good ventilation: Proper ventilation prevents mold or mildew from growing in your kayak or canoe. Don’t cover them with anything except a cover designed for a kayak or canoe
• Climate-controlled unit: Consider a climate-controlled unit, especially if you have a wooden canoe. This will prevent the wood from swelling and shrinking depending on humidity and temperature.

Ready to get started with Peavler Moving & Storage? Contact us today!