Storing tents in self-storage units

[Gazmatron]

Hey guys,

As I travel from overseas I’m looking at renting a storage unit in either Reno or Fernley this year to save buying and then recycling gear each time. I’m looking at the style with a roller-door and drive-up access, probably 5 x 10 ft.

My question is, given the local climate how well do tents keep in long-term storage? Has anyone had any experience leaving tents and tarps folded up in self-storage units for a whole year? Do they get any mildew issues, or is the climate dry enough for such things not to be a problem?

Any thoughts much appreciated!
G

[icehousehi]

I've stored tents folded up to 5 years at a time, and no problems.

[delle]

Any suggestions where one could hose their gear down before storing it to avoid untimely-death-by-corrosive-dust as it sits and awaits your return?

[Savannah]

My tents store fine unwashed, but I don't know if I have had some sort of magical luck in that regard. I have never washed any of my (nylon) tents--have just swept them out with a broom and shook them out, folded 'em up and stored 'em for the year. I would have to borrow a yard in order to do otherwise, so I've discovered by chance that it doesn't seem to hurt my tents--maybe I've been lucky. One (used) tent lasted 4 burns before I chucked it more out of annoyance with the degree of mesh than anything else. The other is about to make its 5th trip out there.

Fabric doesn't seem to get eaten by the playa quite like metal does. For example, I didn't wash one of my of my canvas backpacks last year and it seems none the worse for wear when I finally washed it last week. Then again, I'm not going to live inside of it.

Your tent stakes may rust and corrode. I've had that happen. None of them so badly that they couldn't be used, but I always bring extra stakes because I don't know how strong I'll find them.