Winter Storage in Clarkston, MI: Boats, Campers, and Summer Gear
Lake season ends fast in Oakland County. Here is where the boat, the camper, and the rest of summer go when the snow shows up.
Around Clarkston, summer has a hard stop. One week you are pulling the boat across Deer Lake or camping up north, and a few weeks later you are scraping frost off the windshield. Every October, boats, campers, trailers, and a garage worth of summer gear all need somewhere to go at the same time, and driveways, HOAs, and township rules rarely cooperate. Here is how winter storage works at our facility on Dixie Hwy, and how to get your equipment put away right.
Winter Storage Fills Up Fast in North Oakland County
Clarkston sits in the middle of lake country. Between Deer Lake, Parke Lake, Lake Orion, and the chain of lakes around Waterford, this corner of Oakland County has one of the highest boat counts in Michigan. When the marinas start pulling boats in the fall, large storage units get claimed quickly, and the renters who wait until the first hard freeze end up settling for whatever is left. If you know you will need a spot for a boat, camper, or trailer, locking it in before Labor Day weekend is the easy win.
What Fits in Which Unit
Our large drive-up units are built for exactly this. You back the trailer in, unhook, lock the door, and come back in April.
- A 10x20 unit handles most runabouts and fishing boats on trailers, pop-up campers, and utility trailers.
- A 10x30 unit fits longer boats, travel trailers, and full-size trucks.
- Our 12 ft wide bays in 12x20, 12x25, and 12x30 give wider equipment room to spare, with 12x30 drive-up climate-controlled bays available for classic cars and anything sensitive to temperature swings.
Not sure what you need? The size guide breaks down every option, and current storage unit prices in Clarkston are posted so you can compare before you call.
How to Prep a Boat or Camper for Winter Storage
A few hours of prep in the fall saves real money in the spring. Before you park it for the season:
- Add fuel stabilizer and run the engine long enough to circulate it.
- Drain water systems completely. Freeze damage is the number one spring repair around here.
- Pull the battery or connect a maintainer.
- Wash and dry the exterior, then cover it, even inside a unit. Dust happens.
- Remove food, coolers, and anything that attracts pests.
- Top off tire pressure and chock the trailer.
Storing inside an enclosed unit instead of an outdoor lot also keeps sun, snow load, and ice off your cover and canvas all winter.
The Summer Gear Should Come Inside Too
Patio furniture, the grill, kayaks, paddleboards, bikes, and the mower eat up a two car garage fast. A drive-up unit in a 5x10 or 10x10 swallows all of it and gives you your garage back before the snow blower needs the front spot. Anything sensitive to temperature swings, like wood furniture or electronics, belongs in a climate-controlled unit instead.
Why Renters Winter With Us
- Located at 9457 Dixie Hwy in Clarkston, about one mile off I-75, minutes from Independence Township, Waterford, Springfield Township, Davisburg, and Ortonville.
- Secure 24/7 keypad gate access, so you can grab gear or check on the boat any day of the winter.
- Fully fenced with dusk to dawn LED lighting and 24/7 HD video surveillance.
- Month-to-month leases. Store for the winter and move out in spring with 10 days notice.
- First month free for qualifying new renters when you rent online.
Reserve Before the First Freeze
Renting takes about three minutes online. Pick your unit, get your gate code, and park the boat the same day. Or call (248) 859-8533 and we will match your boat, camper, or gear to the right size over the phone. See the drive-up climate-controlled storage page if you are storing something that needs to stay warm, or contact us with questions.
