An approach is provided to preserve spacing around a vehicle so as to enable movement of the vehicle from a stationary position, and to accommodate one or more lifestyle accessories that may be associated with the vehicle. The approach involves protecting the vehicle from one or more other vehicles or obstructions positioned, or moved into position, near the vehicle by deploying at least a portion of one or more load bearing members supported by a mounting member attached to the vehicle to a predetermined position within a range that includes a fully refracted position and a fully extended position. The approach also involves deploying the one or more load bearing members to a predetermined position and attaching one or more support members associated with the one or more lifestyle accessories to at least one of the one or more load bearing members.