RV/Boat owners must have a place to store their RVs and boats, and their personal driveways are generally not practical (nor appreciated by neighbors). A growing number of property owners have turned this in to a profitable business opportunity.
If you own a property that you'd like to put to good use, or have a self-storage business with suitable land, erecting one or more Arco steel buildings for covered RV and boat storage could be a profitable proposition. RVs and boats are major investments, and a growing number of owners are seeing storage options limited by community regulations. They seek the safety, security and protection from the weather that an enclosed pre-engineered building can offer.
Owners of RVs and boats are sure to have some key concerns, such as access, drive-aisle width and site slope. They may also seek amenities such as dump stations, wash bays and shielding. Here are some key factors you need to consider in deciding to buy and erect one or more steel buildings for RV and boat storage.
Aisle Width and Access
RVs can be 55 feet long, 8 feet wide (plus the 16-inch mirrors on each side) and more than 10 feet tall (plus satellite dishes, ladders and air conditioners). If you lay out your steel building units with a 900 turn from the aisle, you'll need a 55-foot-wide aisle. If you can angle your units at 300 to 450, you can reduce the aisle width to 35 feet and easily accommodate the largest RVs.
Standard door clearance height for RV and boat storage is 14 feet, enough for even the most- tricked-out vehicles. Doors are often designed at 14 feet wide.
Site Slope
Site SlopeSlopes on a site can be acceptable for canopies, but it's critical to use the most level site available for enclosed steel buildings for RV and boat storage. To make a site suitable, you'll need to grade the property to reduce or eliminate the risk of an RV bottoming out. You'll also need to keep the slope of the building slab at 0.5% or less to keep rollup doors from binding. Confirm that the engineers you hire to assess the feasibility and then design your site understand the needs of accommodating RV and boat owners and the principles of sound steel building design and operation.
Dump Stations and Wash Bays
RV and boat storage site owners like to include dump stations and wash bays to increase their marketability and income. Unfortunately, these ancillaries are often neglected until late in construction, causing construction delays. Make sure you and your engineers address those needs early in your project planning. Owners should urge their civil engineers to account for these uses as early in the design phase as possible. And, of course, verify that local regulations permit them and that you comply with all regulations.
Shielding
Finally, see if zoning laws require steel buildings for RV and boat storage to be completely shielded from view. This can be especially challenging if there's a subdivision on a hill above the project. Building high earth berms with 8- to 12-foot walls is how most developers choose to deal with the issue.
Next Steps
The development of steel buildings for RV and boat storage can be highly rewarding for the self-storage industry. We suggest you add Arco to your team of architects, engineers and general contractors. As your single source supplier, Arco can provide any size steel building you may need along with the exterior and interior finishes and accessories to create a special place. Whatever your steel building needs, our experienced team can help you and your team navigate the details of design and construction, ensuring a successful project. We invite you to contact us today.
