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01-23-2021, 05:28 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,819
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Tire storage
Is it a good idea to take a jack to each axle and spin my tires 180 deg over the course of winter storage? Seems like flat spots could develop or at the least some deformation from sitting so long in one spot. Or would it be better to block the axles close to the tires? I do cover them.
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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01-23-2021, 06:50 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
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Some time ago this was discussed on the forum with numerous and varied opinions but I don't know where to tell you to search for it. I guess the first thing is to define winter storage. Where we live "winter" or more accurately winter conditions can vary drastically year to year. It was 5 years ago this week I believe we had 30" of snow. Christmas day <a month preceding it was 70°.
I will say this, for the last 50 yrs or I've owned some sort of trailer, boat, camper, utility. I've never rotated the tires unless it was going down the road. In those years I've never been aware of a flat spot and never had a "blow out". Lord I hope I didn't just kink myself! I've had two flats from "kissing" a curb when I got myself into a tight spot that's my fault, not the tires.
Cover them if exposed to sunlight, keep them properly inflated at all times has been my routine and it's worked for me. If we get a stretch of mild weather and it works with what's going on at the time, I'll hitch up and go for a short ride ( I don't cover the camper). I may be "old school" but in my experience mechanical things are made to move/operate. So by dragging it around for a half hour or so
I think is better for the bearings, the brakes, and the suspension. Movement warms things up and disperses lubricants. I fog the engines on things like my chipper shredder, power washer, small engines, but I'll only put stabil in the riding mower. On a good day in winter I'll fire it up and due some laps mowing the leaves to keep it limber. This has worked for Mr, YMMV.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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01-23-2021, 06:57 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,979
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I've been storing trailers "on the tires" without moving the trailer for up to 6-7 months at a time, for the past 10 years. I've never had an issue with "flat spots" forming. I'd suspect that in your area, you won't be parking it for that long at one stretch. IMHO, it's probably because we now use radial tires as opposed to the old bias ply tires that were more prone to getting flat spots.
For me, it's more important to store the trailer (protect the tires) by making sure they are not in wet, damp spots, not stored in a place where they may sit in water or mud for extended times, not subject to sunlight/UV, not subject to OZONE from a nearby furnace motor or compressor motor, and not sitting on asphalt where the oils may affect the tread rubber compound.
If it's stored outside, I'd park it on concrete pads or use wood under each tire to "lift it out of the dirt/gravel" so the tires remain "as dry as possible" even during rain when water pools under the trailer.
Some people have jacked/blocked their trailer to remove all weight from the axles, letting the tires "hang" rather than support the trailer weight. I don't recall any of them boasting that their tires "didn't age out at 5 years" just like those that were left sitting on the ground.
I'd suspect that preventing flat spots goes along with measuring tire capability by tread depth.... All of our ST tires will "age out" long before they "wear out".... Flat spots, tire damage from flat spots and unsuitable towing has never been reported as a problem on the forum. As Marshall said, there was a thread discussing flat spots a few years ago, but as I recall, there was no evidence or no procedure discussed that would have changed how I store my trailer, so apparently that thread did not have any "convincing evidence" to motivate any changes to storage of my trailer....
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-23-2021, 07:16 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
Some time ago this was discussed on the forum with numerous and varied opinions but I don't know where to tell you to search for it. I guess the first thing is to define winter storage. Where we live "winter" or more accurately winter conditions can vary drastically year to year. It was 5 years ago this week I believe we had 30" of snow. Christmas day <a month preceding it was 70°.
I will say this, for the last 50 yrs or I've owned some sort of trailer, boat, camper, utility. I've never rotated the tires unless it was going down the road. In those years I've never been aware of a flat spot and never had a "blow out". Lord I hope I didn't just kink myself! I've had two flats from "kissing" a curb when I got myself into a tight spot that's my fault, not the tires.
Cover them if exposed to sunlight, keep them properly inflated at all times has been my routine and it's worked for me. If we get a stretch of mild weather and it works with what's going on at the time, I'll hitch up and go for a short ride ( I don't cover the camper). I may be "old school" but in my experience mechanical things are made to move/operate. So by dragging it around for a half hour or so
I think is better for the bearings, the brakes, and the suspension. Movement warms things up and disperses lubricants. I fog the engines on things like my chipper shredder, power washer, small engines, but I'll only put stabil in the riding mower. On a good day in winter I'll fire it up and due some laps mowing the leaves to keep it limber. This has worked for Mr, YMMV.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
I've been storing trailers "on the tires" without moving the trailer for up to 6-7 months at a time, for the past 10 years. I've never had an issue with "flat spots" forming. I'd suspect that in your area, you won't be parking it for that long at one stretch. IMHO, it's probably because we now use radial tires as opposed to the old bias ply tires that were more prone to getting flat spots.
For me, it's more important to store the trailer (protect the tires) by making sure they are not in wet, damp spots, not stored in a place where they may sit in water or mud for extended times, not subject to sunlight/UV, not subject to OZONE from a nearby furnace motor or compressor motor, and not sitting on asphalt where the oils may affect the tread rubber compound.
If it's stored outside, I'd park it on concrete pads or use wood under each tire to "lift it out of the dirt/gravel" so the tires remain "as dry as possible" even during rain when water pools under the trailer.
Some people have jacked/blocked their trailer to remove all weight from the axles, letting the tires "hang" rather than support the trailer weight. I don't recall any of them boasting that their tires "didn't age out at 5 years" just like those that were left sitting on the ground.
I'd suspect that preventing flat spots goes along with measuring tire capability by tread depth.... All of our ST tires will "age out" long before they "wear out".... Flat spots, tire damage from flat spots and unsuitable towing has never been reported as a problem on the forum. As Marshall said, there was a thread discussing flat spots a few years ago, but as I recall, there was no evidence or no procedure discussed that would have changed how I store my trailer, so apparently that thread did not have any "convincing evidence" to motivate any changes to storage of my trailer....
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Thanks guys! I did ask the question before but couldn't remember what the consensus was. I started looking back through my posts but gave up. I do park on gravel so I may just put some boards under the tires and probably give them a spin while in at it
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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01-23-2021, 09:12 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
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I would just add this, if I had a newer trailer with the leveling system that was capable of lifting the tires off the ground I might reconsider. For me, jacking up to spin a tire without some true empirical evidence for some great benefit would be a definitive no. If I could push a button, kick the tire 90° then maybe I would do it if I were bored out of my mind and needed an excuse to go outside and smoke a cigar.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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01-23-2021, 11:11 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
I would just add this, if I had a newer trailer with the leveling system that was capable of lifting the tires off the ground I might reconsider. For me, jacking up to spin a tire without some true empirical evidence for some great benefit would be a definitive no. If I could push a button, kick the tire 90° then maybe I would do it if I were bored out of my mind and needed an excuse to go outside and smoke a cigar.
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Never considered the leveling system! Good point!
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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01-23-2021, 01:06 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Shirley
Posts: 36
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I just park mine on a 2 X10 so the tires are up off the ground / grass / dirt ... and cover with tire covers for UV protection
__________________
2018 Cougar 25RES 5'er
2019 Duramax 2500 CCSB SW
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01-23-2021, 02:38 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diver
I just park mine on a 2 X10 so the tires are up off the ground / grass / dirt ... and cover with tire covers for UV protection
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Thanks. That's my plan going forward
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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03-20-2021, 03:21 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Denver
Posts: 5
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Do you have a recommendation for brand of tire covers?
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03-20-2021, 03:27 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vickster
Do you have a recommendation for brand of tire covers?
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These are what I have ... perfect fit and quality construction
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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03-21-2021, 05:46 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,007
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My 14 ply tires are six years old.. when 5th wheel is stored at the house the tires sit on concrete from Oct. to mid May.. They are covered to protect from UV and I don't raise and spin the tires during storage
Same with my motorcycles during the winter.. they sit on the tires and I have no issues at start of first ride in April
__________________
2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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03-27-2021, 06:47 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vickster
Do you have a recommendation for brand of tire covers?
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I use Adco covers;
https://www.amazon.com/ADCO-3961-Des...6856185&sr=8-3
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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03-27-2021, 08:58 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,327
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What Diver ^^^^ and pretty much what the rest said. A complete waste of time. And buy the cheapest tire cover that will actually stay in place. It isn't a fashion show, just blocking UV rays.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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