Your Guide to Small Vehicle Storage

Types of Small Vehicle Storage Available

When it comes to vehicle storage, Extra Space Storage offers three options: indoor, outdoor, and covered. Each option provides unique advantages and affects the way your vehicle needs to be prepped.

Indoor Small Vehicle Storage

Extra Space Storage locations across the nation offer drive-up access units that can be utilized for indoor vehicle storage. For many small vehicles like motorcycles and ATVs, drive-up storage units offer a secure garage-like space with protection from the elements.

Outdoor Small Vehicle Storage

For those storing vehicles with large trailers, outdoor vehicle storage provides a more affordable solution. Outdoor parking spaces start around 20 feet in length and are available up to 40+ feet in length at specific locations. Proper preparation, including investing in a quality cover, is critical when storing outdoors.

Covered Small Vehicle Storage

Some Extra Space Storage facilities offer covered vehicle storage. This option falls between indoor and outdoor. Covered parking spaces are typically more affordable than indoor drive-up storage units, but offer more weather protection than outdoor storage.

Storage Tips for Your Vehicle

With varying vehicle sizes, uses for self storage, and protection needs, vehicles like motorcycles and jet skis should be approached differently when it comes to storage.

Motorcycle Storage

Common Reasons for Using Motorcycle Storage

There are several reasons for storing a motorcycle at a self storage facility. Putting a bike away during the winter, living at an apartment without a garage, only riding on weekends, military deployment, and other long-term storage needs are among some of the most common uses for motorcycle storage.

Recommended Storage Unit Sizes for Indoor Motorcycle Storage

For practically any motorcycle, a 5x10 storage unit will work perfectly. If you’re storing multiple bikes, though, we recommend taking measurements to get an idea of how much space you’ll need.

Using Outdoor Storage for Motorcycles

It’s possible to store your motorcycle outdoors. A standard 8x20 parking space will be the most common solution offered at Extra Space Storage locations. That said, with the ability to store motorcycles in smaller, more affordable storage units, indoor storage is a very appealing choice.

Motorcycle Preparation & Winterization Tips

• Wash your motorcycle.
• Add fresh fluids (brake fluid, antifreeze, oil, fuel stabilizer, etc).
• Have a plan for your battery. If you’ll be riding your motorcycle regularly, make sure it’s fully charged when put into storage. If you’re storing long-term, such as over the winter, take the battery with you and put it on a trickle charger at home.
• Cover your motorcycle to protect it from dust, dirt, and moisture.
• Place something (like plywood) under the motorcycle to lift it off the concrete.

There may be specific recommendations for your model, so it’s always a good idea to read the owner’s manual when preparing your motorcycle for storage.

ATV Storage

Common Reasons for Using ATV Storage

Similar to a motorcycle, four-wheelers are often used seasonally. Storing over the winter, getting back space in a garage at home, and storing long-term are a few of the reasons for needing ATV storage.

Recommended Storage Unit Sizes for Indoor ATV Storage

This depends on the type of all-terrain vehicle you plan to store.

Without a trailer:

• Sport ATV: Some smaller sport ATVs can be stored in 5x5 storage units, but it will be a tight fit. In most cases, a 5x10 will be best.
• Utility ATV: A 5x10 storage unit is best for practically all utility ATVs.
• Side by Sides: In most cases, a 5x10 will work. For side by sides approaching ten feet in length, though, a 10x15 would be necessary.

With a trailer:

Trailers can range from somewhere between ten and 15 feet up to 20+ feet in length. If you plan to store your ATV on a trailer, the likely solution will be a 10x15, 10x20, 10x25, or even a 10x30 self storage unit. Just measure the total length of your trailer to determine which size will work best.

Using Outdoor Storage for ATVs

ATVs can be stored outdoors, but indoor storage is the preferred option to protect your four-wheeler. Especially if you’re able to store an ATV without a trailer, smaller drive-up access units will be best. But if you plan to store an four-wheeler with a trailer, some outdoor parking spaces will be more affordable than large storage units. Proper preparation is even more critical when storing outdoors.

ATV Preparation & Winterization Tips

• Wash your four-wheeler.
• Have a plan for your engine. If you have a carburetor, make sure to drain the fuel from it before storage. For fuel-injection engines, draining isn’t necessary, but it’s recommended to add a fuel stabilizer. It’s also recommended to replace the oil.
• For long-term storage, especially storage over the winter, remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger at home.
• Cover your ATV to protect it from dust, dirt, and moisture.

There may be specific recommendations for your model, so it’s always a good idea to read the owner’s manual when preparing your ATV for storage.

Jet Ski Storage

Common Reasons for Using Jet Ski Storage

In many cases, people store jet skis at a self storage facility due to lack of space at home. But sometimes, it’s to keep a jet ski near the vacation spot where it’s used, rather than towing it back and forth each trip.

Recommended Storage Unit Sizes for Indoor Jet Ski Storage

When storing personal watercraft, the trailer length is the determining factor for the size of storage unit you’ll need. With trailers commonly ranging between 12 feet and 15+ feet, 10x15 and 10x20 storage units are the best solution. With double trailers less than ten feet wide, the same sizes should work. If you need to store more than a double trailer, such as a 4 PWC trailer, a 10x20, 10x30, or even larger storage unit will be necessary. Be sure to measure the full length of your trailer to determine the size that will work best.

Using Outdoor Storage for Jet Skis

While indoor vehicle storage is the preferred method for jet skis, especially in areas that experience winter, storing outside is an option. With most single and double trailers under 20 feet in length, standard outdoor parking spaces should be able to accommodate them with ease. For larger trailers, such as a four PWC trailer, a 30-foot or 40-foot parking spot will be necessary. It’s important to note that proper preparation for storage is always critical, but becomes even more important when storing outdoors.

Jet Ski Preparation & Winterization Tips

• Wash your jet ski thoroughly before storage.
• Drain fuel or add fuel stabilizer.
• Remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger at home.
• Fog the engine.
• Fill the system with antifreeze (in cold-weather areas).
• Cover the exhaust pipe to block rodents.
• Cover your jet ski to avoid exposure to dust, dirt, and moisture.

There may be specific recommendations for your model, so it’s always a good idea to read the owner’s manual when preparing your jet ski for storage.

Snowmobile Storage

Common Reasons for Using Snowmobile Storage

Snowmobile owners often turn to self storage for the same reasons jet ski owners store their vehicles. There often isn’t room for these seasonal vehicles at home, and it might actually be more convenient to store them near where they’re used rather than at home.

Recommended Storage Unit Sizes for Indoor Snowmobile Storage

Similar to jet skis, snowmobile storage comes down to how large the trailer is.

• One & Two Sled Open Trailers: For both a single and double sled open trailer, the width won’t be an issue with a ten-foot wide storage unit. Where you will have to pay attention is length. Snowmobile trailers in this group can be less than 15 feet in length but can exceed it at times. This makes 10x15 and 10x20 storage units the most common solution.
• Four Sled Open Trailers: These trailers typically stay within a width of ten feet, but often exceed 20 feet in length. For some smaller four sled trailers, a 10x20 self storage unit might be enough space, but a 10x25 or 10x30 unit will be the most likely solution for most.
• Enclosed Trailers: Enclosed trailers cover the same range of sizes that open trailers do. So if you choose to store an enclosed trailer in a drive-up unit, make sure to take measurements, but the same general advice for open trailers above applies. For enclosed trailers, outdoor parking is another option. At Extra Space Storage locations nationwide, we offer outdoor parking spots ranging from 8x20 to 10x40 and larger.

Using Outdoor Storage for Snowmobiles

Storing a snowmobile indoors is the preferred option over outdoor storage. That said, snowmobiles are unique because their off-season is during the summer, so they can handle winter weather. The parking size you’ll need will depend on the trailer length, similar to the recommendations for drive-up storage units above. Parking spaces at various Extra Space Storage facilities range from 20 feet to 40 feet in length.

Snowmobile Preparation Tips

• Clean your snowmobile thoroughly.
• Drain fuel from the tank or add fuel stabilizer.
• Fog the engine.
• Remove the drive belt and lubricate the drive clutch.
• Remove the battery and place it on a trickle charger at home.
• Cover the exhaust, air intake, and cooling holes to block rodents.
• Cover the snowmobile with a high-quality cover.

There may be specific recommendations for your model, so it’s always a good idea to read the owner’s manual when preparing your snowmobile for storage.

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Give us a call today to reserve your vehicle storage space! Our friendly, knowledgeable team is here to help however we can! Keep in mind that Extra Space Storage utilizes extensive security measures at our facilities, including electronic gate access, perimeter fencing, video surveillance, and even on-site resident managers at specific locations.