Teton Valley runs on two seasons of gear. By October, the bikes, paddleboards, and camp bins that lived in the truck all summer are fighting for garage space with skis, sleds, and snow tires.

Something has to move. A storage unit lets you rotate the summer kit out, keep the winter kit within reach, and still park in the garage when it is ten below. Here is how to prep your gear, choose a unit, and pack it so the swap back in spring takes an hour.

What goes to storage and what stays home

A simple rule works for most households: if you will not touch it before the snow melts, it goes in the unit.

Move it to storage

• Mountain, gravel, and road bikes, plus the hitch rack
• Paddleboards, kayaks, rafts, frames, oars, and life jackets
• Tents, sleeping bags, coolers, and camp kitchen bins
• Motorcycles, dirt bikes, and ATVs
• Patio furniture, the grill, the mower, and garden tools
• Summer tires

Keep it at home

Drive-up storage units are not heated, and Teton Valley winters are long and cold. A few things do better in a closet or a heated garage.

• Anything liquid that can freeze. Paint, cleaners, canned drinks, and water filters can crack or burst.
• Batteries. E-bike and power tool batteries last longer stored indoors at room temperature with a partial charge.
• Fuel and propane. Leave gas cans and propane cylinders out of the unit.
• Food and anything scented. Even sealed snacks in a camp bin will draw mice.
• Bear spray and other pressurized cans. Deep cold is hard on them.

Prep each kind of gear before it goes in

Gear that goes into storage clean and dry comes out ready to use. Gear that goes in damp comes out moldy. Twenty minutes per item now saves a lot of work in May.

• Bikes. Wash off the trail dust, dry the bike, and lube the chain. Shift into the smallest cog to relax the cables, and pump the tires up so they do not sit flat all winter. Hang bikes or stand them upright. Take e-bike batteries home.
• Paddleboards, kayaks, and rafts. Rinse and dry them completely, including inside hatches and valves. Store inflatables loosely rolled or lightly inflated, never tightly folded. Rest hard boats on their side or upside down on padded supports instead of flat on the hull.
• Camping gear. Set the tent up one last time to dry and sweep it out. Store sleeping bags loose in a large sack, not compressed. Wash the cooler, prop its lid open, and pull the batteries out of headlamps and lanterns.
• Motorcycles, dirt bikes, and ATVs. Fill the tank, add fuel stabilizer, and run the engine for a few minutes. Change the oil, bring the battery home to a tender, and use a breathable cover. Call us first to confirm the rules for vehicle storage.
• Mowers and yard tools. Run the mower dry or treat the fuel, scrape the deck, and wipe metal tools with a light coat of oil.
• Patio furniture and grills. Clean and dry everything, pack cushions in sealed bins, and leave the propane tank at home.

Choose a unit size that fits your gear

Most households overestimate how much space they need. Here is roughly what fits in each size we offer.

• 5x10. About the size of a walk-in closet. Holds a couple of bikes, a paddleboard or two, and a stack of camping bins.
• 10x10. Half of a one-car garage. Holds a family's bikes, boards, camp gear, and a patio set.
• 10x15. Everything above plus a motorcycle or ATV and the mower.
• 10x20. A full one-car garage. Fits a car or small truck, or a raft on its trailer with gear alongside.
• 10x25 and 10x30. Room for a long vehicle or a boat on a trailer, or a contractor's tools and inventory.

If you are storing anything on a trailer, measure the full length including the tongue and ask us about door width and height before you rent.

Pack the unit so spring is easy

How you load the unit in October decides how long the swap takes in May.

1. Get everything off the floor. Set pallets or a few 2x4s down first. Snowmelt can creep under a door, and concrete stays cold and damp.
2. Load in reverse order. Whatever you will want first in spring, usually the bikes, goes in last and sits by the door.
3. Run long items down the walls. Boards, oars, and raft frames fit along the sides and leave the middle open.
4. Leave an aisle. A path down the center means you can reach the back without unloading the front.
5. Use clear, labeled bins. You should be able to find the camp stove without opening six boxes.
6. Cover with fabric, not plastic. Old sheets and breathable covers keep dust off. Tightly wrapped plastic traps moisture.
7. Take a photo. A quick picture of the packed unit is the easiest inventory you will ever make.

When the lifts close in April, reverse the process. Skis, boots, and sleds go in, and the bikes come out.

Self storage in Victor, Idaho, with Tru Victor Storage

Tru Victor Storage has 116 units at 203 Cedron Road in Victor, in sizes from 5x10 to 10x30. Drive-up access means you can back the truck to the door and unload bikes and boats without carrying them down a hallway.

The property has digital video surveillance and 24-hour access, which helps when a powder morning or an early float changes your plans. You can rent a unit and pay your bill online at any hour. We serve Victor, Driggs, and Jackson, Wyoming.

See what is available and rent a unit online, or call us at (208) 201-1106.

Tru Victor Storage 203 Cedron Rd, Victor, ID 83455