Daytona Beach, FL: Top Things to Know About Storage
Hot, Humid, and Damp
Daytona Beach has a humid subtropical climate, which is common of the Gulf and areas on the coast. It’s typically hot and wet from May through October and warm and dry from November through April. The city’s weather is actually quite volatile and it can be hard to tell what’s coming next. Residents are quite used to the daily, short thundershowers that occur through most of the summer and fall because of the hot and unstable air from the Bahamas and Gulf of Mexico. Winter and spring can get very dry, so it’s also common for there to be brush fires. Talk about extremes! Unlike other coastal cities in the area, hurricanes and tornadoes are much less likely to come by because Daytona Beach is more north, but they have occurred and can happen again.
Given the large variability in the weather, there are certain precautions that you should take when renting a storage unit. First of all, be sure to store your stuff in a climate controlled unit. Daytona Beach's humidity can be harmful to your belongings, so reduce humidity in every way that you possibly can. Next, try to find a facility that has covered loading and unloading zones. You never know when it will start raining, so opt for the safer option so a trip to your unit doesn’t leave you drenched. Lastly, get insurance for the things that you’ll be storing in your unit. Brush fires are pretty common, so you don’t want to lose your belongings and not be able to make insurance claims.
Traffic Can Be Tough
With Daytona Beach being such a big tourist hotspot, traffic can get a little crazy at times. Rush hour traffic generally lasts from 6:30AM to 10AM, and 4PM to 7:30PM. Going somewhere during rush hour can more than double your commute time, which can be a nightmare. The interstates and streets leading to the beaches are like a parking lot for the most part, especially during summer. You should especially avoid I-95, which has a reputation of being the worst interstate in Florida. It is always jam packed with locals, lost tourists, students, and older people who drive too slow for their own good. You also have to take into consideration the increase in traffic caused by big events like Bike Week and the Daytona 500, because these events create horrible gridlock on all streets and freeways in the area, especially the interstate between Daytona Beach and Orlando.
When you’re looking to put your stuff in a storage facility, be sure to choose one that is far away from I-95 and the beach. With all of the traffic that you’ll have to sit through, a trip to your unit that should have taken about 30 minutes is likely to take you over an hour. You’re definitely better off storing your stuff more inland. Also, opt for a facility that allows you to have 24-hour access to your unit. This might be your best option if you want to store close to the beach. This way you can get to your belongings without having to sit through horrible traffic.
Heavy Metals
Bike enthusiasts and car buffs alike are tempted by Daytona Beach's clear skies. The city hosts multiple events per year, one of which is the Daytona Beach Bike Week. This annual ten-day event takes place in mid March and about 500,000 guests attend. People put their bikes on display, participate in motorcycle racing, and attend concerts, parties, and other street festivals. This is one of the biggest events in Daytona Beach, so people fly in from all over the place to attend.
Needless to say, all of these bikes need to be stored somewhere when they are not being used, especially the classics. If you have a bike that you’re having trouble parting with because you’re not sure how safe it’ll be, consider putting it in storage. As long as you take a number of precautions to store your bike, you’ll find that it’ll remain safe and in good condition.
When trying to store your motorcycle, the first thing you have to have is proof of vehicle registration and insurance. You won’t be able to store your bike without these things. Next, make sure you have enough space to store your safety equipment like your helmet, kneepads, and jacket along with your bike. Indoor storage would be ideal because you can rent a climate controlled unit to ensure that your bike is protected from the humidity that can cause it to become rusty. However, if you’re going for outdoor storage, use a vinyl cover, tire locks, and see what other tie down options you have available.
Once you have figured out the big picture, you’ll have to take care of some little (but very important) things as well. Remove gas from the fuel tank to prevent leaks and fire hazards, and check the fuel lines and gaskets. Lay down cardboard to protect the floor in case any leaks occur. Lastly, your tires should be in good, drive ready condition because most facilities won’t allow you to store a bike that isn’t mobile.
In terms of safety, we would advise that you store at a facility that has 24-hour video surveillance so you know your bike is being watched over at all times. Also, as tempting as it may be, don’t use the storage unit as a workshop. If you get caught, you’ll more likely than not get kicked out!
We’d like to close with the most important piece of advice about storing your motorcycle: store inland! The high salt content in the ocean’s air is enough to create rust on your bike, essentially ruining its body and engine. The more inland you store, the more likely it is that you can save your vehicle from damage.
