Me&Ma
NW Wisconsin
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First a little background: DW and I, are considering the purchase of a medium size travel trailer designed for two people (around 25 Ft., 5,000 Lbs. UVW with maybe 500 Lbs. tongue weight) and storing it in central Texas. We have spent time in the areas of: RGV, Corpus Christi, Waco, Houston and the Hill Country. We loved all of these areas, but our hearts were captured by the Hill Country. We prefer to keep moving (presently using the class B in our signature) and have rarely spent more than a week in one spot, but time is catching up with us  and we’re entertaining the thought that a base camp, from which we could take three or four day trips, would make our winters easier. Our motor home (based on a Chevrolet Express 3500 van) will easily tow a TT such as I’ve described (it’s rated for 8,100 Lbs. maximum tow weight and 1,000 Lbs. maximum tongue weight), so we would leave the trailer stored and take a long pleasant Roadtrek trip in the fall ending up where our TT is stored in Texas; at which time we’d decide where we wanted to be Winter Texans, and in the spring put the TT in storage, and a leisurely trip (staying behind the frost line) would end up at home in Wisconsin.
My question: has anyone had experience storing a trailer (preferably in central Texas, San Antonio, Austin or possibly Corpus Christi), and what should we expect for storage prices, facilities, trailer safety and the like? We’ve towed TT’s long distances in the past and we don’t feel we want to do that any more. But, if it was centrally located so we could reach any of the good wintering areas with a tow of under 300 miles, it sounds achievable. Does anyone know if we should license it in Texas if we bought it there and it never leaves the state? Also, insurance issues: I have a feeling we would need a Texas based policy for the TT. I did a search of the Snowbird site, but didn’t find much that pertained, probably my fault, bad search parameters. Your comments would be welcomed. Thanking y’all in advance  , Marsh
07/08 Roadtrek 190P
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alicatg
ingleside on the bay texas
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Marsh
There are plenty of RV storage areas in the Corpus area. Prices range from $25 a month outside to $150 a month inside. You may find a park on the north side of the bay that will be more economical to park it hooked up with neighbors to watch it and use it as your base.
Good Luck
Larry
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pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
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If you plan to use it as a base camp look into renting a lot on an annual basis, It is quite reasonable.
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Me&Ma
NW Wisconsin
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pawatt, although your right, eventually we'll probably pick a spot and pay the annual rent, it's probably more economical and definitely easier, we'd still like to retain the ability to move around the area. We're thinking probably one to two months at a park and then move to someplace different (two months on the Gulf, two months in the Hill Country, two months in the RGV, Etc.). So, I guess we're looking for a storage facility, or even a private RV park that would rent a storage space for the “Snowbird off season". We plan on looking around when we get there this year, but that won't be until after January. Meanwhile I'm hoping you folks could maybe tell me if what we're thinking actually exists, in the real world.
Larry, are the RV storage areas you mentioned in the Corpus area fenced and relatively secure? The $25 a month amount seems kind of low, we expected to pay more than that, but the $150 price seems a bit high (although having the TT inside a building definitely has an appeal), we're hoping for something in between the two. We realize we'll have to make some compromises to get the price we want, but it has to be a safe place where we can be reasonably sure that it won't end up all dinged up with everything of value removed.
Thanks for your consideration, Marsh
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alicatg
ingleside on the bay texas
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Marsh
There are many choices for storage. We don't have a big problem with theft/vandalism but it does happen. Outside storage are fenced and many are guarded, local police patrol in most places. You can find a wide range of prices throughout south Texas based on the facility and the size of the town and demand. IMHO it would be best for you to come down and look around for a storage place while you are having fun and looking the area over. No need for reservations for short term.
Larry
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WTTCS
freedom , U.S.A.
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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And if that dont suit you, in North Texas, there is a glut of storage places for 25-50 month outside, with bad guard dogs , 12 gauge shotguns, and vicious neighbors for security.
Storage in Tex , unlike most heavily populated areas, are relatively cheap.
1997 chev crew cab 454, 5 sp. 4.10
2000 Fleetwood Caribou 11.5
1975 Dodge Merry Miler "B"
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onehorsehitcher
Donna Tx
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Joined: 04/06/2007
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Insurance may have to be changed. Depending on where you store it your present insurance may not be covering you TT. Our TT had the normal homeowners coverage as long as we had it on our property in Wisconsin and was covered as long as we were living in it where ever it was. When we decided to leave it on the lot in Texas we had to purchase different. It was decided it was stored and the homeowners no longer covered it. Our carrier had no agents or agencies in Texas and we insured thru a local company. It was deemed a "mobil home" and insured as such. Foremost seems to be the only company that insure mobile homes and we checked three different agencies and all had different prices for the same coverage. It was not much more expensive than what we had but we were forewarned by the agent that prices were going up considerably due to last years hurricanes. One of the agents required tie downs and skirting, the other two did not. I did anchor and use tie downs for my own piece of mind. We turn off the electricity and shut off the water. I also removed any articles that could be easily unhooked or taken away such as LP tanks and batteries. They were locked into our shed. If and when we ever decide to move it back we will have to reinsure it as a travel trailer. A couple of friends just leave the trailer and never notified their carrier that it was in left in Texas. We are not in an RV park. Private lot in a small subdivision. That may make a difference.
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ReadyToGo
Minnesota
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Joined: 11/17/2002
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We stored our 5er for two summers in Texas. Both places were at Johnson City right in the Hill country. One was $1 a day (30 or 31 a month) and the other was $40 month, prorated for partial months, Miller creek GC. Totally safe, both of them. Now comes the but. The first year, we covered every opening, water, AC, heater etc. We got bugs in the drain system. Not actually a problem, but kind of discomforting. The second year, ceiling paper had come unglued, and even though we put the red antifreeze in the lines out water line broke. The first year, the 3 year old batteries were totally ruined. Both of them bulged out the sides. Interesting in that the the 5er was a 93 model that we have owned for 12 years and we never had a broken water line when storing it in MN. While it was convenient, we have taken to towing the 5er back home over the summer. I think that the many days of 100 plus degree days are not beneficial for storing TT etc over the summer in TX. Just my opinion.
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Me&Ma
NW Wisconsin
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I appreciate the responses.
onehorsehitcher: your point about the battery and LP tanks is well taken. I was planning on hauling the battery home to keep it charged, anyway, but the tanks I'll probably just run a chain through the tops and padlock them down someway. I don't own the TT yet so I havn't discussed it with my agent, but I expect as you say that I'll need a local policy.
ReadyToGo: I like what I'm hearing for storage prices at private RV parks. We stayed at Johnson's Creek (near Ingram, TX) last year and I noticed several rigs parked off a back cul-de-sac. At the time I remember thinking that would be a really safe place to leave an RV over the summer, but I wasn't thinking about doing it at the time so I never asked about it. I'm not sure I understand what bugs in the drain system means. Would that be the sewage drain system? Also, please elaborate on the burst pipes with red antifreeze. Mine says it's good to -50 F. and I've never had a problem in NW Wisconsin. What in the world caused your pipes to burst in TX? I'm still thinking about the issue of storing a TT over the summer in TX. I know it will be over 100 F. fairly often. Your ceiling paper coming unglued does give one pause.
Again, thanks to all who have taken the time to comment.
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ReadyToGo
Minnesota
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Me and Ma: sorry I am taking so long to respond.
The bugs: Wife was alone in the 5er and all of a sudden (the first day of setting up) bugs start coming across the floor. We say they were coming out of the kitchen sink drain and walking (believe it or not) in a single file up down and out. She immediately put Lysol or something in the drain and swept the others ones out the door and killed them.
Yes the water line breakage was very confusing. I can only guess that because it was so hot all summer in that area of Tx that the heat caused the problem. The pipe at a joint split. Fortunately it was under the sink but the design made it impossible for an amateur without correct tools to fix. Yes I had both blown out the water and put in antifreeze just like at home.
The ceiling paper coming unglued is a fixable problem, just reporting that because of the heat issue glue is something that will come undone very easy.
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