Trailer lifting?

[Jason B]

Do you guys store your boats with the trailer supported off the ground? I was told I should do this to prevent flat spotting the tires and relieve stress from the axles to prolong thier useful life. I put 4 jacks under the frame at the cross members fore and aft.

I started thinking though, my motorhome sits all winter. Vehicles sit for that long. I'm not so convinced my efforts were necessary now that I've put some thought into it.
Any opinions?

[Domsz06]

i have heard that too, and I used to do it with my trailer. But since my tires are getting replaced I won't be this year, plus in ca I can use it yr round. It's a real PITA so not sure it's worth it. Who knows. I can argue both things, but also why don't you just go move it once every other week or so I do that and it's so much easier IMO

[illiniboarder88]

I don't necessarily put enought blocks under it to keep it off the ground, but I do make it so that the tire coudn't go completely flat leaving the rim against the ground.

[Razzman]

That is actually true but ... it applies more to bias ply tires than radials. Because of the nature of bias ply tires where the ply run around the diameter of the tire they are prone to flat spotting. Radials on the other hand have their plays that run across the tire and disperse the load evenly.

[Domsz06]

there is the tire guru razz, I knew you would step up.

[Razzman]

there is the tire guru razz, I knew you would step up.

Ya know me, gotta get in on stuff!

[tessa]

On my previous boat I did not do it until I got blowouts 2 years running after the trailer was 6 or 7 years old. From that point on for the next 7 years I put it on blocks and the blowout problem went away. I have been told it is more important on a single axle trailer but when I get done fussing with the tandem trailer I plan to not block the trailer. I need to find out if you rotate tires back to front and front to back.

The tires that blew out where Goodyear Marathons which I believe where radial tires. This seems to conflict with Razzman but it happened to my 19' Four Winns.

[Razzman]

I need to find out if you rotate tires back to front and front to back.

On a vehicle with bias ply you would rotate side to side in an x pattern, front to rear same side with radials. But because trailer axles have additional built in camber and both axles are fixed you shouldn't swap side to side. Rotating front to rear / rear to front will not benefit at all as the only reason for doing so is to compensate for the steering axis (the front steering on your car).

[Jason B]

Yeah, can't see a good reason to rotate front to back on a trailer. Essentially, all you would be doing is moving a tire 18" forward/backward--not changing any of the loads or wear patterns near as I can figure.

I suppose it only took me 30 minutes to jack it up so no big deal really.

[TigeDuner]

I pull mine out every 6 weeks or so during the winter (November-March) and flush the engine, charge the batteries, and let the tires roll. No problems yet.

[kana12]

i let alot of my trailers sit sometimes for months at a time depending on what im gonna be pulling, and when i get going down the road they bounce just a little but those flat spots dont last more than a few hours of pulling. i wouldnt be real worried about it. if you are just do as you already have with the jacks. and like someone already said if you have raidial tires instead of nylon then it shouldnt be a problem at all.

[dogbert]

That is actually true but ... it applies more to bias ply tires than radials. Because of the nature of bias ply tires where the ply run around the diameter of the tire they are prone to flat spotting. Radials on the other hand have their plays that run across the tire and disperse the load evenly.

Like Razz says, it's a problem with bias ply tires.

Depending on where you live, tires will last only a certain amount of time before they get brittle and weaken. The rule of thumb down here (and in most warmer climates) is 5 years.

[chpthril]

Due to Ozone, I would be scared of any tire more then 5 yrs old, no matter how much tread is left.

Putting a trailer on jackstands is just not worth my time anyway, even if I had B/P tires. Maybe only if I stored it for 5-6 months at a time unmoved.

[TeamAllen]

I put my trailer on jack stands through the winter (Nov-Mar).

[CP3]

i have had mine sit for a couple of months with out moving it and havent had any problems. that a lot of time just to save a lil life on tires and axles...