A look at your possibilities for secure van parking
Now that you’ve moved into retirement and you’re contemplating making the move into a retirement village, you might be thinking of joining the ‘grey nomads’ who love the lifestyle of exploring the Australian continent.
But when you finish your latest adventure, you do have to find a place to store your pride and joy. The question is, where is the best place to store your van?
Let’s take a look at why you should store your caravan securely, and then at the options for caravan storage – and the pros and cons of each.
The importance of storing your caravan undercover
To keep your caravan in good condition and ensure it gives you years of future adventures, it pays to take some simple precautions when storing it.
As any caravanner knows, the two big enemies of caravans are moisture and sunlight.
As far as moisture goes, it doesn’t even need to be heavy rain. The repeated cycle of exposure to dew, night after night, can cause tremendous damage to your caravan. It’s amazing how much water can enter from the merest small gap that forms as rubber or plastic seals deteriorate over time.
And speaking of fittings deteriorating, perhaps the number one enemy is exposure to Australia’s plentiful sunlight.
It’s heartbreaking to watch your caravan’s lights and plastic fittings gradually fade over the weeks and years. There’s no doubt that this sustained UV exposure will slowly but surely erode the value of your caravan.
All of this and we’ve not even mentioned the obvious damage that can be inflicted by hail or vandalism! It’s true that fiberglass vans are reasonably tough and can withstand some hail… but an aluminium van can easily be damaged.
You’re almost better off hoping that hail damage is serious enough to warrant repair from your caravan insurance. If it isn’t, you’re left with the disheartening experience of your pride and joy being covered in obvious minor damage that is not bad enough to repair – but more than enough to take the gloss off your van ownership.
Option 1) Leave your caravan parked on the street
There is the option of simply leaving your caravan parked out on the street. But of course, that means risking accidental damage or vandalism – as well as leaving your van exposed to the elements.
And while caravans generally do hold their re-sale value pretty well, it’s a competitive market. A van that’s been kept out of the weather and in good condition is going to fetch more – and with caravans being worth up to $80,000 (or more!), it’s worthwhile finding the very best storage solution.
Option 2) Park your caravan at home
If you have the space, you could keep your van at home. But is that the best, most secure, most sheltered place available? It may not even be undercover in this situation, which as we’ve seen is a must for storing your van.
Option 3) Pay for commercial caravan storage
If you have the money to spend, there are commercial caravan storage facilities available. Yet this arrangement means you won’t have your precious new toy close at hand, when you have a spare hour or two for essential maintenance or odd jobs.
As you can see, none of these options really offers the secure, safe storage your pride and joy deserves. That’s why Kensington Gardens retirement villages have created a solution!
Look after your caravan with dedicated secure storage at Kensington Gardens
Our retirement villages at Kensington Gardens Albury and Shepparton feature secure caravan storage facilities, specially designed to preserve the appearance and value of your van.
These aren’t just simple paddocks with a chain mesh fence – they are fully lockable purpose-built sheds with the complete suite of security features, where your van can be stored undercover and in safety.
The fully sealed bitumen floor offers a clean, tidy, and dry place to park and work on your caravan. You’re welcome to visit and carry out all those minor repairs and maintenance work that keep your van looking and operating at its best.
Each bay has access to power, so it’s easy to keep your batteries charged and your fridge running – as well as having a place to plug in your power tools within easy reach.
They’re also very safe and secure van storage, featuring security sensors and back-to-base alarms to protect your investment.
We reckon they’re just about the best all-round storage solution for caravans – and they’re available exclusively for the use of our retirement estate residents.
See our caravan storage at Kensington Gardens retirement villages
If you’re looking for the ideal place to store your caravan in retirement, you simply must have a look at Kensington Gardens.
To arrange a tour of our secure caravan storage facilities, call our friendly team or get in touch online to book a time to come in and visit us.
