Do you need to jack your trailer for winter in NE?

[dguertin73]

I am reading some serious trailer info on storing a boat on it outside in the winter in New England. Do you need to jack it or just let it sit or rotate it a bit every now and then?

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

Back in the day I used to jack the trailer, but now with 4 trailers on the go, some belted and some radial tires I don't bother, and I've never had any tires develop flat spots.

Mine are kept inside on a cement floor in an unheated garage in Quebec, from Nov to April.

If nothing else jacking the trailer makes it harder to steal. Lube the bearing buddies before you put her away, top up the tires.

 

[dguertin73]

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

I have the trailer lock on the coupling....a good one. I will grease/ pack the bearing buddies that are in it and pump up the tires a bit. Thanks,

From the US Canadian....eh.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

If you store it on cement or a hard surface you should be fine without jacking it. If it sits on a soft surface grass/dirt it can weather check at the point of contact on the sidewall because the trailer will sink slightly. You may want to jack it in that scenario. I've had it happen....

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

I've been storing my boats outside, on grass, during the winter months for 30+ years. 20 of those years were in WI, the rest in MA. I have always had bias ply tires. The only thing I do is put down wood planks or cement blocks to distribute the weight so they don't sink in as much. I also raise the pressure slightly to account for loss and/or pressure reduction due to low temps during the storage time. They sit for about 6 months minimum this way and I have never had issues with rot or flat spots. YMMV.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

One other factor in jacking a trailer for long periods of storage is to support it by the frame so the load is taken off the springs. This prevents spring sag and it also allows you to give the wheels a spin each time you walk past it. That prevents the tiny marks on the bearing races from eventually turning into a bearing issue. Springs don't sag during normal use because they are doing what they are designed to do -- spring up and down.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

Re: Do you need to jack your tailer for winter in NE?

I park mine on grass with boards under the tires. Then I block up the back end and crank hard on the tongue jack. this way the trailer is supported back, front, and center.