RVer Tackles Corrosion Control With Adaptive Shelter

We are camping 100 yards from the beach in Corpus Christi, Texas. It’s windy here and the salt air causes corrosion on anything made out of metal. Our campground neighbor Neal Lund is a “Winter Texan.” He’s actually from Minnesota but has been coming down here for the last three winters. You can’t help but notice the silver tent-like object in front of his motorhome. As it turns out this is a portable shelter for his 2003 Harley Davidson “Fat Boy” motorcycle. This product is made by Cycle Shelter. It’s a portable non-contact (meaning it won’t scratch your bike) stand-alone storage unit; a one-size-fits-all unit that’s easy to assemble and comes with a carry bag. Neal says this shelter has withstood sustained winds of over 50 miles per hour broadside without additional ropes or tie-downs. He should know because he has a miniature weather station on top of his motorhome. He added a plywood floor with a front wheel cradle attached. I asked him to explain the little bell on the bottom of the front fork and he told me it was for warning rhinoceros and giraffe to get off the road. “So far it’s worked,” he said. The plywood provides additional support and he doesn’t need to stake it down because the weight of the bike holds it firmly in place. The shelter is vented to prevent condensation and Neal says it really does help protect the chrome. Living at the beach still requires a lot of TLC in order to keep this beauty in mint condition. Riding a big Harley down a coastal highway is a marvelous experience and worth the trouble of a little extra work. Having the Cycle Shelter makes it much easier to prevent salt air corrosion and ultra violet damage. For the return to Minnesota this week he’ll load his car and motorcycle on the trailer he tows behind his motorhome. The Cycle Shelter is yet another example of how RVers adapt their hobbies to the RV lifestyle. Your under cover reporter - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.