📦 Storage 101: Everything You Need to Know About Self-Storage in South Dakota

New to self-storage? Not sure what size unit you need, whether to go climate-controlled, or how to pack a unit so you can actually find things later? You’re in the right place.

This hub is your comprehensive resource for understanding how self-storage works — and how to use it effectively. We’ve written guides covering every major question we hear from customers at our Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman locations. Read what’s relevant to your situation before you rent.

Choosing the Right Unit Size

The most common mistake in self-storage is renting the wrong size. Too small and you’re playing Tetris trying to fit everything in. Too big and you’re paying for space you don’t need. Getting the right unit size starts with an honest inventory of what you’re storing.

Our guides walk you through how to estimate storage needs by room, by category, and visually — with real examples of what fits in a 5x10, a 10x10, a 10x20, and our large 14’x14’x50’ units that are popular for boats, RVs, and farm equipment.

Climate-Controlled vs. Standard Units

South Dakota’s climate is extreme in both directions: bitter cold in winter, baking heat in summer, and dramatic swings in humidity between seasons. Climate-controlled units maintain a stable temperature and humidity range, which matters for furniture, electronics, documents, artwork, instruments, and anything sensitive to moisture or temperature extremes.

Standard units are fine for most household goods, tools, equipment, and anything that can handle temperature variation. The question is what you’re storing — not which is generically “better.”

Weather Protection

Even in a standard unit, how you prepare your items for storage matters. Proper packing, moisture barriers, pallets to keep items off concrete floors, and choosing a well-maintained facility all make a significant difference when South Dakota’s weather tries its worst.

Packing and Organizing

There’s a right way and a wrong way to fill a storage unit. Packed incorrectly, you’ll be digging through boxes every time you need something, and you’ll waste space. Done right, you can fit more, protect items better, and find anything within a few minutes.

Our packing and organizing guides cover box labeling systems, loading order, furniture disassembly, how to create an aisle, and how to store fragile items safely.

What You Can (and Can’t) Store

Self-storage has rules — some obvious, some not. Hazardous materials, live animals, and perishables are always off the list. But there are nuances: firearms, cash, certain liquids, running vehicles. Know the rules before you load the unit.

Storage Insurance

Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may cover stored items — or it may not. Storage facility policies are not always comprehensive. Understanding your coverage options before you need them is the smart move, not the reactive one.

Choosing a Facility

Not all storage facilities are equal. Security cameras, lighting, gate access, unit condition, staff responsiveness, and contract terms all vary significantly. Know what questions to ask before you sign a rental agreement.

The Economics of Self-Storage

Is storage worth it? For most people in the right situation, yes — significantly. The cost of storage versus the cost of renting a larger home, replacing what gets damaged or stolen without secure storage, or the productivity lost to clutter is often a clear calculation in storage’s favor.

Storage 101 Articles

• How to Choose the Right Storage Unit Size: A Guide for Yankton, SD Residents
• Climate Controlled vs. Standard Storage Units in South Dakota: Is It Worth the Extra Cost?
• Self-Storage in Small-Town South Dakota: Why Tyndall and Tripp Residents Are Running Out of Space
• How to Protect Your Belongings from South Dakota’s Extreme Weather
• What Size Storage Unit Do You Actually Need? A Visual Guide
• How to Choose a Storage Facility: Security, Access, and What Actually Matters
• What Can You Store in a Self-Storage Unit? (And What You Can’t)
• The Ultimate Packing Guide: How to Pack a Storage Unit Like a Pro
• How to Organize Your Storage Unit: Tips and Tricks That Actually Work
• Storage Insurance: Do You Need It? What South Dakota Renters Should Know
• Why Self-Storage Beats Renting a Bigger Place in South Dakota
• The Real Cost of Clutter: Why Self-Storage Pays for Itself