Most people who search for trailer storage in Bakersfield want the same thing: get the trailer out of the driveway or the side yard without leaving it to bake. The catch is that "trailer" covers everything from a 6-by-10 utility trailer to a 40-foot toy hauler, and the right storage depends on which one you have.

Here's how to match the trailer to the space, the measurements that decide whether it fits, and what to sort out before move-in.

Your options for storing a trailer in Bakersfield

• At home. Free, if you have the room and your city or HOA allows it. Many Bakersfield neighborhoods limit how long a trailer can sit in a driveway or on the street.
• An open storage lot. A fenced parking space. The cheapest paid option, with full sun and dust.
• Covered parking. A roof with open sides. Stops overhead sun, but not blowing dust or heat.
• An enclosed drive-up unit. Four walls, a roof and a door you lock. This is the only option that keeps a trailer out of the sun, the dust and sight.

Elite RV & Storage rents only the last kind: enclosed, insulated drive-up units, with no covered or open-air spaces.

Which kind of storage each trailer needs

For work trailers, skid steers and equipment, see where to store work trucks and equipment in Bakersfield.

The three measurements that decide whether it fits

Measure these before you reserve anything:

• Overall length, hitch included. The coupler or kingpin, the tongue jack, a rear bike rack or a ladder can add several feet to a trailer's advertised length. Measure bumper to coupler.
• Overall height, roof equipment included. Measure to the top of the A/C unit, vent covers or antenna, not just the roofline. This is the one that rules out a unit.
• Width, mirrors and awning included. Most trailers are 8 to 8.5 feet wide, which fits easily in a 20-foot-wide unit, with room for a vehicle or gear beside it in the larger sizes.

How Elite's units handle trailers

• Doors: 12 x 12 feet on most units, 14 x 14 on some. Travel trailers, pop-ups, cargo trailers and many Class C-height campers clear 12 feet. Fifth wheels and toy haulers often stand 12.5 to 13.5 feet with the A/C on, so they need a 14-foot door. Tell the office the height when you reserve.
• Length: units run from about 600 to 2,220 square feet, all 20 feet wide, and the longest take rigs up to 45 feet. A trailer up to roughly 27 feet fits a 20x30; a 40-plus-foot fifth wheel or toy hauler needs a 20x50 or longer.
• Ceilings: 16 feet, so roof height inside the unit isn't the limit. The door is.
• Backing in: concrete drive aisles about 60 feet wide give you room to swing a trailer around and back it straight in. Drive-through units let you pull in one end and out the other without backing at all.
• Inside: concrete floors, fluorescent lighting and 120-volt outlets.
• On site: a free dump station, so you can empty tanks before the trailer goes into storage.
• Insulated: R30 ceiling and R19 walls. Insulated, not climate controlled. What that means.

Before move-in: what to sort out

• Propane and fuel. Elite prohibits storing combustible liquids. Ask the office how that applies to your trailer's propane cylinders or a generator before you move in, so there are no surprises at the gate.
• Tanks. Empty black and gray tanks (the dump station is right there) and drain the fresh tank and water heater.
• Food and anything alive. Perishable food, plants and live animals aren't allowed in units. Clean out the fridge and pantry, and leave the fridge door propped open.
• Batteries. Disconnect the house battery, or ask the office about using the unit's outlet for a maintainer.
• Tires. Inflate to the recommended maximum and consider blocks or tire covers for long stays.
• Seals and slides. Inspect the roof and slide seals before storage, and retract everything.
• Hitch lock. A coupler lock adds a layer of security, even inside a locked unit.

What about cost?

Trailer storage pricing depends on whether you choose an open space, covered or enclosed, and on the trailer's length. What RV, camper and trailer storage costs in California breaks down typical ranges by rig type. For current rates at Elite, check the rent page or the current move-in special.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I store a trailer in Bakersfield?

There are three main choices: an open storage lot, covered parking, or an enclosed drive-up unit. For a travel trailer, toy hauler or anything with a car or cargo on it, enclosed is the option that actually protects it from Bakersfield's sun and dust.

Can I store a trailer in a regular storage unit?

Only a small one, and only in a drive-up unit with a tall enough door. Most standard units are 10 feet wide with 8-foot doors, which rules out campers. Elite's units are 20 feet wide with 12- to 14-foot doors.

Will my fifth wheel fit through the door?

Measure its height including the A/C unit. If it's taller than about 11.5 feet, you'll need one of Elite's units with a 14 x 14 door. Ask when you reserve.

Can I store my tow vehicle with the trailer?

In a long enough unit, yes. A 20x50 or longer can often take a truck and a mid-size trailer together. Give us both lengths and we'll help you pick a unit.

Can I store a trailer with propane tanks?

Ask the office before you move in. Elite prohibits storing combustible liquids, and the office can tell you how that applies to your trailer's tanks.

Is there a dump station?

Yes, there's a dump station on site at no charge.

Get it out of the side yard

Elite RV & Storage is at 8700 Scobee Street, by the Walmart on Gosford between White Lane and Panama Lane. The gate is open 5 AM to midnight, and rentals are month to month. Reserve online, try the size calculator, or contact us with your trailer's length and height and we'll tell you which unit fits.