There is a certain morning every September in Rabun County when the air finally turns cool, the lake traffic thins out, and you realize the boat has not left the driveway in a couple of weeks. That is the moment to start thinking about off-season storage. A little prep now, before the weather really turns, keeps your boat or camper in good shape and ready to go when spring comes back around. Here is how we suggest getting ready, and where to park it once you are done.
In North Georgia, the sweet spot is usually late September through October. The weekends on Lake Rabun and Lake Burton start to slow down, mountain nights get genuinely cold, and leaf season brings enough visitors that driveway space becomes valuable. Waiting until the first hard freeze is what causes trouble, because that is when water left sitting in a line or a tank has a chance to do damage. Getting ahead of it by a few weeks is the easiest way to avoid a spring repair bill.
Start by emptying it out. Food, drinks, and anything that can spoil should come home with you, along with life jackets, linens, and gear you would rather not leave sitting all winter. Give the inside a wipe down and leave cabinets and the refrigerator propped open so air can move through.
From there, work through the mechanical basics. Drain the water systems on an RV and run antifreeze through the lines if you are not planning to use it again until spring. Add fuel stabilizer and top off the tank so condensation has less room to form. Disconnect the battery or put it on a maintainer. Check your tire pressure, since tires lose air as temperatures drop. Finally, wash and dry the exterior before you cover it, because dirt and pollen left on the finish all winter are much harder to remove in April.
Both work, and the right answer depends on your setup. Covered parking is the better choice if you want a roof between your boat or camper and falling leaves, limbs, and winter weather, and it is especially worth it for anything with a soft top, a canvas cover, or a finish you would like to keep looking new. Uncovered parking is a practical, budget-friendly option for owners who use a quality cover and want a secure spot without the extra roof.
Our Wade Lane location in Clayton offers covered and uncovered boat parking and covered and uncovered RV parking, so you can pick whichever fits how you store and how often you plan to pull it out.
Keeping a boat or camper at home sounds convenient until you are backing around it every day. It takes up the driveway, blocks the garage, collects weather, and in some neighborhoods it runs up against covenants about parked recreational vehicles.
Storing it locally solves all of that while keeping it close to the water. Wade Lane sits within easy reach of Lake Rabun, Lake Burton, and Moccasin Creek State Park, so when a warm weekend shows up in March you can hitch up and go without a long haul first. The property is fully fenced and well lit, with keypad gate access and security cameras, and our on-site team is here in Clayton to keep an eye on things.
Vault Self Storage is a locally owned facility serving Clayton, Mountain City, and Rabun County. Along with covered and uncovered boat and RV parking at Wade Lane, our Hwy 441 location offers ground-level drive-up units, climate controlled storage, and indoor storage for the gear that comes out of the boat.
We have covered and uncovered spaces available right now, so there is room for you whether you are storing a bass boat, a pontoon, or a travel trailer. Come see us, or give us a call at (706) 970-8312, and we will help you find the right parking space before the weather turns.
