Anyone safely store their fishing/camping gear at a self storage unit?

[lkatdpelicanfly]

I checked out 2 self storage unit companies today to possibly store my fishing gear, camping gear, kayak, float tube items. Wasn't impressed. One indoor unit had space on the top where anyone with a step ladder and a scope cam could peak over the side and see the content of their neighbors units and there was even a space in the general hallway where anyone walking down the aisle could use a scope cam to peak inside all the units on either side. Plus the metal looked really thin and flimsy.

Another with outside access to drive and unload your car right in front of your unit had the same space small space at the top to peer into their neighbors unit on one side and a wall all the way to the ceiling that was just fricken wallboard...then had a 3x3 piece of plywood bolted on top of the wallboard about chest high. I asked why that was there and the sales girl said a previous renter had leaned something on the wall and it made a big dent so they reinforced that area of the wallboard on both sides with the plywood. I wasnt impressed with either unit or her story.

Is this the norm for these self storage units? Definately not tweeker proof. Anyone have good or bad experience storing fishing/outdoors related gear at one of these places and any tips on a good self storage facility in the LA area? Or is it just a bad idea?

 

[langosta]

Most of my fishing rods are in an indoor storage unit, because my gf wouldn't let me keep them all in our apartment. Pretty standard in my world.

 

[openclass]

Some of the wall panels can easily be taken down with a cordless drill with the appropriate nut driver. Rent a unit, take a couple of panels down to your next door neighbor.....load everything out your door into a uhaul. Or simply place a camera at the entrance picking up gate codes then cut the lock on the storage unit with your bogus rented uhaul blocking the cameras, load up and be out in no time. Trouble is in this day and age you have to worry about even decent looking people stealing your stuff. Society has gone to shit in California.....is everyone liking prison reform now?

 

[plj46]

Looks pretty safe to me.And nothing's really tweeker proof is it ? Somebody would make a lot of noise trying to take apart those walls.Does the storage place have an entrance security gate ?

 

[lkatdpelicanfly]

Most of my fishing rods are in an indoor storage unit, because my gf wouldn't let me keep them all in our apartment. Pretty standard in my world.

Do the units have that space at top? No break ins?

 

[lake]

Looks pretty standard to me. I’d probably try for a climate controlled unit for my fishing tackle.

 

[MikeC.]

Most of my fishing rods are in an indoor storage unit, because my gf wouldn't let me keep them all in our apartment. Pretty standard in my world.

if your gf wont let you keep fishing rods its probably time to move your gf to the storage unit until its too late

 

[MikeC.]

storage units have a lot of theft, cost wise, not worth it to ever have a storage unit

 

[chevrolegs]

I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you have to then make sure to get insurance.

 

[hbouldin1216]

I kept my 14 foot tinny and all fishing gear in one for a year with no issues. Each renter has their own access code, and if your unit is opened without the code showing that you're in the gate, the alarm will go off and I would get a text. It happened to me once when I forgot something, went back in the still-open gate after using my code to exit, and opened my unit. That siren probably woke the dead in china. Look for a newly-built storage operation, it will likely have these safeties in place. The owners actually lived in an apartment above the office so they were onsite 24/7. To the above comments, I updated my boat insurance policy to reflect that I was keeping it there and it was covered for total loss/theft. Renters insurance would do the same.

 

[ci_seawolf]

I wouldn’t store anything of high value there for long. I won’t even keep my rods in the garage. Too many stories of theft.

 

[lkatdpelicanfly]

Looks pretty safe to me.And nothing's really tweeker proof is it ? Somebody would make a lot of noise trying to take apart those walls.Does the storage place have an entrance security gate ?

Yeah, the one in the pic is indoors.

 

[lkatdpelicanfly]

I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you have to then make sure to get insurance.

Yeah, was watching utube videos about how public storage would sell renters insurance...then the lock would get cut and taken...then they would deny the claim saying because there was no evidence of forcible entry.

 

[FishinMcNuggets]

DON'T do it for high value stuff. Too many stories of theft.

Even mid grade stuff, insure it.

 

[lkatdpelicanfly]

Yeah, i dont think id put my Makairas or accurates in a storage unit. I dont know, just the fact that people have access to the units up to 3 hours after all staff has left and a lot of these places seem to have just 1 person on staff so they have to lock the office when they show somebody like me a unit, seems really sketchy. Im thinking now just bulky shit of relatively low value that I still want to keep and use infrequently. Project rods...that need a guide replaced..my used smoker..big ice chests.

 

[sickcat]

I have a storage unit that is an 8 X 20 container. None of the indoor flimsy wall issues but I've had those units also. Close to the coast so heat is a non issue.

I've never had any issues but certainly there is some risk at a storage unit. IMO a lot has to do with the staff at any specific location. I try to keep my unit pretty full so anybody trying to steal from me will have some work too do - good stuff is in the back so thiefs!

 

[Dozer217]

Look local, many people renting gages. Also if you don't have a renters insurance policy get it like yesterday.

 

[langosta]

Do the units have that space at top? No break ins?

It does have space at the top. I have no idea of the history of brake-ins but it looks like fort Knox to me.

 

[bman440440]

I have had storage units over the years... I have been broken into 2 times... both at "Public Storage" and the management was NO help even though they claim that there security system is "excellent"... each time my lock was cut off and I was notified by them during there daily check that my lock was missing... I would NEVER leave anything of any value in a storage unit anymore... that's my 2c