Fall Car Care
Storing vehicles securely this winter
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Storage units continue to grow in popularity. Once thought of as places to store household goods such as furnishing, appliances and other bric-a-brac — the items you can’t bear to part with and hope to someday put to use again — these facilities have grown in size to serve even larger needs, such as campers, cars, trucks and boats.
Whether you have a classic car you want to keep safe from winter’s wrath or just want to store your camper for the season, the safest option is renting a space.
Options are plentiful throughout Aroostook County, with storage facilities strategically located in places including: Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Mapleton, Mars Hill, Ashland and elsewhere. While some may only be large enough to house smaller vehicles, like motorcycles and compact cars, others can house items as large as campers.
The Presque Isle Industrial Council has some of the largest spaces for storing vehicles. Space filled fast this fall, with every inch claimed as of Oct. 18, thanks to Larry Clark, executive director of the Industrial Council, who works year-round to promote storage options at the Industrial Park. The buildings provide a safe and secure place for folks to house their property, for a nominal fee, providing peace of mind for the owners.
The Northern Maine Fair Association also puts many of its buildings at the fairgrounds to use, serving as winter storage for many a camper and other property.
Storage Solutions, located at 52 Houlton Rd. in Presque Isle, offers some of the larger units available in the region.
“For vehicles, we have units that are 10-feet by 20-feet by 8-feet, as well as 10-by-30-by-8. We do monthly rentals, with a 10-by-20 going for $80, for example. We offer a discount if the full winter (six months) is paid up front, which would be $375 for the same size,” said Shawn Manter, owner.
Manter said typically this time of year he has about 10 units available, but this year space is limited.
“I have a few units left but it’s filling up fast. It’s getting so people are renting them year-round,” he said.
“Our facility stands out because of the extras we provide — being on location, security cameras, a paved driveway and well-lit units for nighttime access,” Manter said.
Anyone interested in availability can visit the business, Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 764-5438, e-mail smanter@maine.rr.com, hmanter@maine.rr.com, or visit us at www.mainstoragesolutions.com.
Tim Cowett, owner of Cowett’s Used Auto Parts on Davis Street in Presque Isle, posted on his Facebook wall over the weekend that he also has storage space available.
“I have some storage for the winter for ATVs, personal watercraft, bikes, cars and pickups. This is heated storage for $40 a month, $25 for bikes and ATVs,” posted Cowett. For more information or to reserve a space, call 762-3048.
For those unable to rent a unit or who choose not to, police have some tips for securing your vehicle wherever you choose to store it.
“Make sure the vehicle is locked and the keys are stored somewhere away from the vehicle,” said Police Chief Bill Campbell, of the Fort Fairfield Police Department.
Campbell also suggested putting your vehicle in a garage or barn for the winter, locking the vehicle and the building, if possible.
He also recommended removing parts to prevent would-be thieves from stealing your ride.
“If you plan to leave a vehicle parked for an extended period of time, remove the battery. This will prevent thieves from taking it. Storing the battery in a warm location will also extend its life,” said Campbell. This is an especially useful tip, according to Campbell, for owners of older-model vehicles that don’t necessarily require a key and can be hot-wired.
There are many storage options out there — from businesses that specialize in storage units and municipal facilities with space to rent, to private places to park a vehicle. It’s all about what suits your needs the best.
