Where/How do you store your Shasta?

[LittleVintageTrailer]

If our 68 Compact was a foot shorter it would fit in our garage, but unfortunately it's just too tall even if we let the air out of the tires some.

So we have two options: One being that we tarp it when it's time to put it away for the winter. My concern with doing that is being mindful of the amount (weight) of snow on the roof.

The other option would be to pay for indoor/heated storage somewhere for the winter. I'm not opposed to that but it would depend on the cost.

With our driveway the way it is we don't have the option really of a putting up some sort of carport. The driveway is narrow/long and then widens up where the garage is. But with 3 cars + the trailer there really isn't room for a carport.

How do you all store your trailers? Those without a barn or garage do you just throw a tarp over it? Should the trailer be aired out now and then over the winter or once you tarp it...that's it and you leave it sealed up until Spring?

Kel

[Shutzee]

I have a 64 Compact and had the same problem getting her in the garage. My husband came up with the idea last fall of actually taking the tires off and pushing her in on the frame. When we got her in the tires went back on. It allowed me to work on it through the Minnesota winter. This spring same routine to get her out. That's our plan instead of worrying about snow or paying to store it. More $$ to buy bling for her.

[LittleVintageTrailer]

How did you push her on the frame? with no wheels I mean? That might work for us but trying to envision pushing her on the frame without distroying the frame. Maybe a few flat dolly's? Or did you push her on her metal wheels with no tires? No worry of damage doing that?

[Shutzee]

The lowest point when the tires are off are the u-bolts that hold the axle. The worst that could happen would be grinding the end of the u-bolts, but that didn't happen. We position the trailer as close to the garage opening as possible so the push isn't that far. It works for us. We tried heavy duty dollies and they collapsed so we took our chances and it worked. ;D

[LittleVintageTrailer]

Thanks, might try it. Though our driveway is gravel so not sure if it would work well even if we got real close to the garage opening. Hmm, will have to give them more thought. Do you have a standard 7 foot garage door height? I think that is what ours is.

[Shutzee]

Yep, standard garage door.

[diamondrelics]

My little girl is going to be stored in my Dads garage this winter ( I conned him into doing the wood work on her). That way I get my interior done, she gets to be inside , and my Mom can have her TV back! The little old lady I bought her from always just left her outside. When shes finished she will be stored in our shop.

[mary1960]

Haven't had to deal with that yet but she'll probably get one of the garage spots so I can work on her over the winter. However the people that owned her previously just let her sit outside. Haven't decided yet what I'm going to do.

[elliott]

I don't have to deal with snow, but still get plenty of precipitation. I just want a roof over the Shasta year round.
I have a tarp rigged up semi-custom with strings that I can pop bungees on really quick. It keeps the tarp tight so the water drains right off. But that doesn't really allow much airflow through the camper.
I've been considering some sort of canopy or tarp frame, despite the eyesore. Northern has one on sale now
www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200304845_200304845
The question being, is it tall enough. But they show a vintage camper in one of the pics. Near it though not under it. I guess that implies that a Shasta would fit, but I bet the height could be increased with a little ingenuity.
-Elliott

[LittleVintageTrailer]

Elliott,

I too have been thinking about one of those portable carports similiar to the one you posted. Though I think I need a "snow rated" one because we get so much snow here in MI. What I was told is those lower costing ones won't hold up in the snow. Since we have a gravel driveway my husband said we could use 5 gallon buckets and put the poles in and fill with cement so the whole thing doesn't blow away. We get high winds here too. I would much rather have a portable carport than tarp it. As I too am conserned with no air flow all winter and concerned about condensation being trapped under the tarp and ultimately finding it's way inside the trailer.

[betsy99669]

kel1,

When I bought my camper in March, it had been exposed for years. It suffered a caved roof from snow load. (see caved roof from snow load in Alaska-posted under exterior section). Someone from Mn responded and told me about putting supports inside (basically 2x4 from ceiling to floor, with end of plank cushioned to aviod damage to interior ceiling). I am going to try that idea.

I also noted when I covered my Shasta with a tarp after I brought it home, we still had 2 months of heavy snow. The weight of the snow pulled on the tarp and my wings started making holes in my tarp. Another post told me about putting tennis balls over the wings. I bought some pillows from the thift store to bungee over my wings. We have long winters up here and I want to have all my ducks in a row before the snow blows.

[LittleVintageTrailer]

Yikes! Now those are things I want to avoid for sure. I'll have to go see the roof cave in pics. Almost scared to see those LOL! I think I'm definitely going to try the portable carport idea. Maybe that way it will avoid snow getting on the roof altogether. As long as I don't have to worry about the carport collapsing.

[ithastabeshasta]

I am lucky in the fact that my 70 shasta compact fits into the garage right alongside our 49 Plymouth. The house was built with an extra panel on the garage door. What luck!!!

[betsy99669]

I got nervous about the upcoming snow and bought a carport with metal frame. The zipper goes all the way to the peak. We put it together last weekend, but I still had to raise it up on cinderblocks because the camper was too tall.

It's all set now. i thought about putting bales of straw around the carport to keep the snow out from the base since there is a gap. I just haven't decided yet. We get an average 3-4 feet of snow up here that keeps accumulating until breakup (about April/May).

I was mostly worried about the snow load on the roof. A garage is the perfect solution, but that is just a dream away.

Betsy

[LittleVintageTrailer]

I'm still debating on the best route. I wish we had time to build a lean to. I have to call our township first and see if they would allow that and what permits we would need. I think if we go that route, we'll have to wait until next year. So need to decide what to do about storage/covering it this winter.

[mary1960]

I actually think the LoFlyte will fit in the garage ... which of course means someone's vehicle gets to park outside but at least we can work on her during the winter. The compact was a lot taller which shocks me!

We might have to deflate the tires just a little bit but hubby measured last night and she should clear.

[LittleVintageTrailer]

That's great if it can go in your garage! I'm suprised too that it's shorter than the Compacts. But the LoFlyte's in the photo's I've seen do look overall shorter than other Shasta's. I bet parking in the garage works out perfect for you.

[joek]

I read somewhere that LoFlytes were made to fit in the garage. That they originally came with dollies, where you'd remove the wheels and rest the wheel hubs on the dollies getting it even lower.

[waywardho]

My brother works with a guy who is a die hard camper. A little off topic but he stores his campers outside, covered. He said if you put an open box of powdered laundry detergent inside the camper it keeps the mice at bay. He swears by it and it even works with his pop ups!! I am going to try it. We don't see many mice but I would like to keep it that way!

[kevschofield]

We are fortunate in that the house we bought last year came with a seperate garage with a nice large bay..

Now I've got a place out of the weather to work on it this winter and get it ready for our first summer of camping

[mcaf10]

I don't have a garage and need to remove more skin that I thought, to do some repairs to the frame. I have been researching this canopy but I have mixed feelings about it - some like it, some don't. I have it tarped right now but it would be nice to have some kind of shelter to work under. Does anyone have another kind of canopy to recommend? Or if you have this one, how do you like it?

www.amazon.com/Caravan-Canopy-Domain-Carport-White/dp/B0032UY0C4/ref=pd_bxgy_ol_text_b

[LittleVintageTrailer]

The problem with those is wind, snow load, etc., I wish I could afford a steel one. I've looked at these for our Compact, but they are quite a bit more than the one you are looking at. I like that the sides all come down. Thinking I could anchor it and since it would be on the sandwiched between the side of the house and a fence it might not be effected by wind. Now snow...I'd still have to go out and brush off excess snow I'm thinking.

www.portablegaragedepot.com/index.cfm?sku=71874&catid=999999