Category: Parking

3 Reasons Your Car Might Not Be As Safe As You Think

Posted on March 28, 2014 by - Parking, Storage

Photo Credit: alicegop

Photo Credit: alicegop

You may think that your car is safe when you park it on the street. Most times it will be, however, all is takes is one time and your safety is compromised. Whether you’re parking on the street, or in your driveway there are still concerns you may not have thought of.

In this article we’re going to cover three of the biggest dangers you’ll face from parking your car in the street or in your driveway, and lastly what you can do to increase your safety by utilizing car storage.

Remember, the safety of your car is entirely in your hands. It’s up to you how you decide to store your vehicles.

1. Increased danger of theft

When you park your car along the street there’s an increased chance of theft. Either of your car, or objects you’re storing in your car. Even if you live in a relatively safe neighborhood, there’s still the chance of burglars coming into your neighborhood during the nighttime hours.

If your car is in your garage it’s usually much safer. However, if you have more than one car and you have to park it in the street you’re increasing your chance of risk.

2. Parking tickets and violations

Parking tickets are very prevalent in the Alexandria area. Of course, you can do whatever you can to avoid them, but the regulations are very strict. With the sheer amount of tickets the police department writes every year, you would think that people would learn the regulations by now. However, this isn’t always the case.

If you have several cars you know the difficulties of trying to park your cars in a legal manner. Over time, paying tickets can get very expensive.

3. Exposure to the elements

Parking a car outside also brings other dangers with it. For example, if you park your car underneath a tree and a branch happens to break and fall on your vehicle, then you’ll have to deal with the damages to your car, as well as the handle the insurance companies.

The outside environment also includes other cars. If you park your precious vehicle on the street there’s also an increased chance of being hit by another car.

All of these damages could have been avoided, if only there was another way.

What Can You Do To Avoid These?

If you’d rather pass on having to go through theft, damage and parking tickets there is another option at your disposal. Invest in personal Alexandria car storage. Although this option may seem like a hassle, we’ve have a streamlined storage process that is completely customizable to your needs.

We offer Alexandria car storage and short term and long term parking. Our facilities are secured 24/7 and you get a personal pin for easy access. We serve residents and military personnel across the Woodbridge, Alexandria, and Springfield area, as well as all of Northern Virginia. Get in touch with Gateway Storage today.

Why Your Service Company Needs To Use Storage

Posted on February 28, 2014 by - Parking, Storage

If you’re any kind of service company that has a fleet of vehicles or other equipment, then you know how hard it can be to manage and maintain your entire fleet, especially with local parking restrictions. If your place of business doesn’t have enough space to park your vehicles, where are you going to turn?

In this article we’ll show how using storage centers might just be your best option. At Gateway Storage we’re here to serve you. Just a short drive off I95, and you’ll be at our storage facility, which makes it very accessible even during the work week.

How will using storage help my business?

As a contractor or business owner with a fleet of vehicles you’ve experienced firsthand the difficulties of managing your vehicles or equipment. Especially, in Springfield and the surrounding areas, where parking restrictions can be a nightmare. By utilizing storage for your business you can reduce the amount of time you spend worrying and increase the time you spend running your business.

Local Parking Restrictions

Parking restrictions in Springfield and the surrounding areas make parking anything more than a single vehicle very difficult. If your place of business doesn’t allow for parking of service vehicles, then you might be out of luck and risk paying hefty fines time and time again.

We offer contractor yards that can grow in size depending upon how many vehicles are in your fleet. You’ll have 24/7 access to your Springfield car storage yard so you can access your vehicles and equipment if any emergencies arise.

By taking the time to invest in storage you may actually end up saving yourself money, by avoiding the countless parking tickets and fines.

Protecting Your Assets

Aside from parking tickets you may be concerned about the safety of your vehicles and equipment. If you’re simply parking your vehicles on the street there’s an increased chance of break-in or having your vehicles damaged. You may even be afraid to take a break from work, if you don’t feel safe leaving your fleet unguarded.

Investing in Springfield car storage can take care of this problem for you. By parking your fleet in our safe storage facilities you can ensure everything will be safe and protected. You’ll be able to access any equipment you need at a moments notice, while keeping your business assets safe.

I hope this article has been valuable and you have a better idea of how using storage can benefit your service company.

We serve our residents and military personnel from Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield and all across Northern Virginia. Give us a call today at (703) 339-0009, so we can talk about your needs!

Top RV Accessories For 2014

Posted on February 28, 2014 by - Lifestyle, Parking

As an RV owner you know how fun shopping for accessories can actually be. At times, it can even be as fun as buying the RV itself. That being said there are a few must-have accessories that you’ll want to have in your arsenal before you your beauty out on the road, during the spring. As you pull your beautiful RV out of our Woodbridge car storage facility right off of I95, you’ll want to ensure you have everything to make your trip the best ever.

In this article we’re going to take a look at some of the most popular RV accessories, that people are buying this year. You don’t want to miss out!

1. An awning for privacy, protection and shade

If your RV doesn’t already have an awning you’ll want to ensure you have one installed. An awning is hands down, one of the best choices you can make when it comes to RV accessories. By having an awning for shade, it will greatly improve your quality of life, no matter where you’re camping at.

2. A rearview trailer level

A trailer level is a cheap accessory that will greatly improve your quality of life, and takes a lot of the guesswork and worry out of leveling your trailer. You’ll be able to discern if your fifth wheel trailer is level on every side, all without a spotter.

3. A longer extension cord

Your RV may already have a 25-foot extension cord, and you may think this is good enough. However, what if there’s a circumstance where you need to plug into your campground’s power source and your just a little too far away. A longer extension cord will greatly come in handy. A longer cord will come in handy when you need it the most. Even if you just end up using it once, you’ll be glad you took the time to pick up a longer cord.

4. Crock Pot

A crockpot can be a delicious addition to your RV trips. Most meals on the road are cooked from the grille, stove or microwave. However, if you really want to cook up some home cooked meals you may want to look into a 12-volt crock pot. That way you can cook up come amazing meals, without having to stay back at the RV all day.

5. An extra sewer hose

An extra sewer hose will definitely come in handy in a time of need. There are many ways your current sewer hose can become damaged and you’ll want to ensure you’re not out of luck when this happens. Pick one up from your local RV supply outlet.

6. Child gates

These gates are for more than keeping your children at bay. You can use them to corral any pets you may have, or even use them to block off your campground from opposing campers’ nosey pets. Among a bunch of other uses.

Most of these accessories aren’t necessarily the funnest, but they’re absolutely crucial, and will make your life much easier if you find yourself in a situation where you’ll need to use one of the above.

We believe it’s better to be prepared than have to scramble for a situation you’re not prepared for. After all this time in Woodbridge car storage you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared and can start driving your RV in style and with confidence knowing you’ll be prepared, no matter what comes up.

We cater to residents and military personnel from Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield and all across Northern Virginia. Let’s discuss your situation–give us a call today at (703) 339-0009!

5 Ways to Tell If Car Storage Is Right For You

Posted on January 30, 2014 by - Parking, Storage

You may be thinking that  car storage is a waste of time, is too much work, or you might not even know what car storage is! If you’ve been thinking about car storage for while now and are afraid to take the plunge, take a look at our five top reasons below and see if any of them hit home.

1. You have several “junk” cars

You may love the idea of spending your weekends fixing up your “junk” cars, however in reality your projects have been untouched for months, if not years.

Depending on your county you may have even received a ticket for having a “junk” car. After all you may perceive your car as an antique, while another person may see it as a pile of junk.

After all, if you do feel inspired to fix up your car once and for all, you can always take it out of storage. In the meantime you’ll know it’s safe and avoid further citations.

2. You are always getting parking tickets for your fleet of vehicles

If you own more than one car then you know how hard parking can actually be. It’s a careful art to park all your vehicles, legally, so you don’t receive a fine or ticket.

Granted, you may have some cars that simply don’t work, or don’t have enough space outside your home to park all your vehicles. Most likely, you probably only drive one or two vehicles on a regular basis anyways.

Save yourself the hassle of constantly finding parking and take a car or two to storage. That way you’ll be able to breathe easy and know you’re never going to get cited for parking illegally again.

3. You are constantly stressing about whether or not your cars are safe

If you have multiple cars, then you may spend your nights worrying if all your vehicles are safe or not when they’re parked outside your home. If you can’t fit your vehicles into your garage then there’s a good chance you’re going to have to park on the street. Depending where you live, this might not be the most comfortable option for you.

Do yourself a favor and store your vehicles in a safe Northern Virginia car parking facility, you’ll save yourself several sleepless nights.

4. You own a commercial vehicle

Frankly, if you own a commercial vehicle for work purposes, you’re going to have trouble parking it anywhere. You may have a few commercial vehicles for seasonal work and are looking for an easy place to store them during the “off-season”.

Most people don’t know, but Alexandria car storage facilities can store commercial vehicles, just as they would any other vehicle.

5. You don’t have room for all your vehicles

Sometimes you just have too many vehicles, whether they’re “junk” cars, show cars, or inoperable vehicles, you just need more space. You don’t want to park them on the street and you certainly don’t want to sell them.

The easiest option for you to consider would be Gateway Storage Center’s car parking. You get to keep all your vehicles, and still have access to them whenever you’d like.

If any of the above reasons resonated with you, then do yourself a favor and look into Springfield car parking today.

We serve residents and military personnel from Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield and all across Northern Virginia. Let’s discuss your situation–give us a call today!

Why You Should Consider Storing Your Junk Car

Posted on January 30, 2014 by - Parking, Storage

To some people, their “junk” cars are their pride and joy. They’re weekend projects that someday are going to be transformed into beautiful masterpieces. However, your neighbors or people passing by your home may not feel the same way. When you look at your car you see its potential, when they look at it they see a pile of junk.

You might not think this is an issue. However, according to local regulations you can be fined or ticketed if your car poses a threat to community safety.

Storing your “junk” car can be done safely and easily, if you’ve had a single thought about storing your “junk” car do yourself a favor and take a look at our top reasons for using Gateway Storage Center’s car storage below.

You’ve Been Receiving Tickets Or Fines

If you’ve received any tickets or fines for you inoperable or “junk vehicle”, then car storage can definitely be your best option. That way you’ll make your neighbors and the authorities happy, all while saving yourself money. The price you’ll pay for storage every month can actually be cheaper than the tickets you’ve been receiving.

You Don’t Think You’re Going To Finish Your Project Anytime Soon

You may love the idea of finally restoring your car to its pristine state. However, this someday is so far into the future that your “junk” car may not be fully restored anytime soon. After all, you have a job, a life, and a family to maintain.

Sometimes, it can be a good idea to store your car at a car parking facility until you finally have time in your schedule to finish the restoration. This can even reduce your mental workload as well, because you won’t have to see your unfinished vehicle every single day.

You’re Worried About The Safety Of Your Vehicle

If you have a “junk” vehicle, that is actually a classic car and just needs some love. Then you may be worried about keeping your vehicle safe. Instead of staying up at night worrying, it can be much easier to take your car to a Prince William County car storage facility. That way you’ll ensure it’s safety, no matter where you are.

If you have an inoperable, or “junk” car, then  car parking can be an incredible option that can save you stress, worry and even a little money.

We cater to residents and military personnel from Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield and all across Northern Virginia. Let’s discuss your situation–give us a call today!

Trouble With Parking? Consider Storage Instead

Posted on January 30, 2014 by - Parking, Storage

Let’s face it, parking can be tough. If you own more than one vehicle, or have a large family with multiple vehicles then you know how difficult it can be to park all of your vehicles in a safe manner.

After all, satisfying all of the parking regulations can be tough.

Who knows, you may even end up paying more in fines, than you would if you considered another option. What is that other option, you ask?

Northern Virginia car storage.

Why is it so hard to park multiple cars?

When you have multiple vehicles on your hands, trying to stay within the arm of the law can have you pulling out your hair.

First, you may have a few “junk” cars, that happen to be weekend projects for you. The issue with this is that your project may be seen as a pile of junk, according to your neighbor or a passerby. It is even possible that you can obtain a citation from the city.

Second, you may own more than one car and not have enough parking. There’s a good chance that some of these cars can be show cars, cars that don’t work anymore, or even cars that you simply don’t drive anymore.

Inoperative cars, if they haven’t been certified as safe, can be given a ticket, if they’re parked outside of your garage or on the street.

Even if your cars work perfectly, you may simply have no place to park them. This could lead to parking them in non-designated zones, such as your grass, or side of the house. It might sound tempting, but it can also lead to a ticket.

As you can see, finding the proper place to park multiple cars can be a complete hassle.

How can Gateway Storage Center’s car storage ease my situation?

Using a proper car parking facility will allow you to sleep easy, knowing your car or cars are safe and protected. After all, the cost of storage might actually be cheaper than the tickets you’re going to rack up parking them in illegal ways.

By having a car in storage you’ll always know where it is. Plus, is you really want to drive that car, or work on it, you can simply take the car out of storage. Think of it as having an extra garage.

As an added bonus, you can even store your “junk” cars, that you aren’t ready to get rid of yet, or are still trying to revive from the dead.

All in all, Gateway Storage Center’s car storage is your best bet, if you want to save yourself the hassle and stress of always having to find extra parking.

We serve our residents and military personnel from Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield and all across Northern Virginia. Let’s discuss your situation–give us a call today!

Three Reasons Why You Should Store Your Junk Car with Gateway Storage.

Posted on January 29, 2014 by - Parking, Storage

Having trouble deciding what to do with you junk car? If you live in Northern Virginia including Prince William County, Woodbridge, Alexandria, etc and have a junk car–then this article is for you. Here are the top 3 reasons why Gateway Storage is the ideal place to store your old or junk car.

1. Antique or Eyesore?

Do you own a car that is an “engine tinkering project”? There is that saying, “One person’s eyesore is another person’s antique” and it’s true. Perhaps your neighbors disapprove but you can’t really see your baby that way. But you got a notice from your county that your non-working car cannot be parked in your driveway.

While the county cannot decide what does and does not look good; it does have the responsibility of keeping vehicles and residential areas safe. Accordingly, it designates any car without current tags or inspection stickers as ‘inoperative’. They cannot be parked in your driveway and neither can they be parked on the lawn. In fact all vehicles in Prince William County can only be parked on an ‘improved road’.

At Gateway storage, we permit you to store your antique cars or “engine tinkering projects”. You don’t have to worry about residential parking restrictions. Although maintenance or working on your car is not permitted– you can store it here until you decide to move it for repairs or otherwise. We can recommend a towing service with reasonable prices.

2. Your car is taking up much needed space on your property

If you’re like most people, you don’t have the extra space to park your car in your driveway or at the least it is inconvenient to do so. Also, did you know that it is illegal to park vehicles on the lawn anywhere in Prince William County? Yep–so that is out of the question too. What do you do? Easy… Free up that space on your driveway by keeping your car at Gateway Storage Center until you decide what to do with it.

3. No need for Tags and Registration.

At Gateway Storage Center, we don’t require any tags or inspection stickers whatsoever. You can park your car in whatever condition it is in, here, for as long as you want. Our storage facility is well lit, is well secured and has 24/7 surveillance so you can have peace of mind that your vehicles are safe.

We cater to residents and military personnel from Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield and all across Northern Virginia. Let’s discuss your situation–give us a call today!

Winter Storm Can’t Stop Our Excellent Parking Service

Posted on December 9, 2013 by - Parking, Storage

Oh the weather outside is frightful. More like terrifying. Schools might be shutdown and the Government might be on a delay, but Gateway Storage center is still providing excellent storage and parking services. Though the Winter Storm may give us a few inches of snow, and it might take some time to clear your neighborhood roads out, here at Gateway Storage we are on top of snow removal so our customers don’t miss a step. We know how much you depend on us for truck parking, car storage, and container storage. We won’t let a Winter Storm get in the way of you doing business, which is why we provide snow removal services to ensure you can safely get to your trucks and cars and get going.

Gateway Storage Center provides parking and storage solutions for Springfield, Woodbridge, Alexandria, and all across Northern Virginia. We offer flexible terms and affordable rates, providing you with the custom solutions you need at the best value. Our facility is conveniently located off of I-95 in Lorton, VA. Our facility features 24-hour gate access, extra-wide aisle ways, excellent lighting, and of course snow removal during those nasty winter storms.

Give us a call today and learn more about our parking and storage services!

How to Prepare Your RV for Winter Storage

Posted on November 4, 2013 by - Parking, Storage

Sigh…though we really don’t like this topic because it means that it’s going to start getting colder out, it is important to be prepared when Winter comes. Unless you’re headed to Orlando or Gulf Shores Alabama this Winter, you’ll need to “winterize” your RV so it’s ready when Spring comes around. Here’s a quick checklist of how to prepare your RV for Winter storage:

  1. Turn off everything – turn off the LP gas tank and the thermostat. You’ll also want to empty out your water heater, water tank, and holding tank
  2. Inspect the exterior – check the outside of your RV for any cracks, seals or seam leaks, and repair those. Close all windows and roof vents. Wash and wax your RV, then protect it from the elements with an RV cover
  3. Clean the interior – clean the carpets, counters, and surfaces. Essentially wipe down everything. You don’t want to open your RV after the Winter and find a funky sell. Close the blinds to protect the interior from sunlight
  4. Clean out the fridge – a must-do. Throw out anything perishable in the fridge and cabinets. Defrost your fridge, wipe it down, and place an open box of baking soda to absorb odors
  5. Get your RV a checkup – take your RV to get serviced and lubricated
  6. Check on your RV monthly – even after you’ve put it in storage, it’s good to go by and check on it monthly. The cover may have blown off and you want to just do a visual check for any cuts in the cover or any other damage. Better to catch any problems early!

Needing a place to store your RV for the Winter? Gateway Storage Center has your answer. We provide RV parking and storage solutions for Springfield, Alexandria, Fairfax, and the surrounding Northern Virginia area. We offer flexible terms and affordable prices at our secure facility located right off of I-95 in Lorton, VA.

Give us a call today or stop by to learn more about our RV storage services!

Tips for Hauling Trailers

Posted on October 17, 2013 by - Parking, Storage

Since we have many trailer hauling friends out there, we wanted to pass along some helpful tips for hauling trailers across this fine country of ours.

Getting Hitched

Before you embark on your next adventure, and especially before you latch on that trailer, check the label on your hitch to make sure your hitch can handle the load of the trailer. Checked that box? Good. Ok now you need to jack up the trailer a bit, drive your truck in reverse until the hitch ball is centered to receive the trailer couple. Once you’re all lined up, put your truck in park and put on the parking brake. You can never be too safe. Next slowly lower the trailer down until it’s completely seated. Engage the latching mechanism. Now you can hook up the trailer’s electrical chords. Don’t forget the safety chains, which are best attached in a cross-cross pattern. They should be loose enough to allow for turns but should not drag.

Braking

Remember that whole “objects in motion tend to stay in motion” deal from high school physics? Well, it’s true. And now you’re lugging a lot more weight, so be sure to give yourself extra space between you and whatever is in front of you when needing to slow down. Also the faster you’re going, the more space you’ll need as well.

Weight Distribution

To avoid your trailer rocking and rolling out of line, make sure you load it properly. You want the weight distributed evenly from left to right, and from front to back.

Backing Up

The dreaded backing up. Frustrating for most first timers. Use this trick and you’ll master it easily: place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn the wheel the direction you want the trailer to go. Turning the wheel clockwise will make the trailer go left, turning counterclockwise will make it go right.

Turning

Your rig is much longer now, about twice the size of your truck. So give yourself plenty of space while turning. The wheels of your trailer will always make a sharper turn than those of your truck, so make wide turns.

Parking

You finally made it to your destination! After all that fun with loading your trailer, turning, and backing up, now you’re ready to park it. If possible, have someone out of the truck helping you park. Once you’re in place, put the truck in park, put the parking break on, THEN let go of the break. Finally make sure to put blocks around the tires of your trailer to keep it in place.

 

Gateway Storage Center provides trailer parking and storage services for all types of trailers. With flexible terms and affordable rates, we’re the best choice for Alexandria, Springfield, and Woodbridge trailer parking. Give us a call today to learn more!