Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

[Cricket Too]

Just wondering if anybody puts the back of the trailer up on cinder blocks over the winter to keep the tires off the ground and pressure off of them.

Always thought about it, but thought maybe the tires and axle of the trailer are designed to hold the load, so putting cinder blocks under the trailer frame might put the load onto the wrong part of the trailer and may cause damage.

Probably over thinking it, any opinons?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

in the North colder regions, it is pretty common to block the trailer, and store the tire inside. the sun does more damage than the cold.

down south we usually use the boat year round, but not this year, cold.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

It is a very good ideal to block the trailer. But block it by the frame rather than the axle as this takes the load off the springs so they don't sag. Remove the tires as suggested and store them indoors or at least cover them with large trash bags to keep the sun off them.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

Yeah I have seen other guys up here do it, but I just never knew if it would put undo stress on the trailer frame, since the trailer was designed to have the weight distributed across the axle, suspension and tires....but like I said I am probably overthinking it. On the other hand I always though it would be better for the tires to not sit with weight on them for 3-4 months, not getting moved.

I don't know if I would bother taking the tires off, I think they would get way more affected by the UV rays blasting them in the summer, but it sits in a spot that doesn't get too much sun anyway....if anything I would pull them off in the summer or cover them. I usually coat them up pretty good with Armor All in the summer, and the trailer just sits empty for most of the year on the side of the house.

I don't have a traditional solid axle on the trailer with leaf springs, it has torsion bars on either side, conected to the spindle and hub, and then all of that connects to an axle, obviously.....but I know what you mean about not blocking up on the axle.

So I take it my thoughts about putting undo stress on the trailer frame are probably baseless and I should go ahead and block it up, huh?

Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

You are worried about nothing. The trailer frame merely supports the load on it either through bunks or rollers or both. Suspension systems like yours are really "one point" attachments at each side so technically, they place more stress on the frame than a conventional leaf spring setup that has a four-point attachment that is spread out by over two feet of trailer frame on each side. If your torsion axle has rubber inside it, then it behooves you to support the trailer by the frame to keep the rubber from taking a set over long periods of storage. Place the blocks near the axle (behind it) on each side. The tongue jack can support the front.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

Thanks Silvertip....I know what I'll be doing in the morning now. I usually stick some blocks under the toungue also, just to keep the jack from locking up, which has happened to me before.

Thanks again.

 

[arty007]

Re: Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

any pictures on how this is done? im considering doing the same thing on mine.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

any pictures on how this is done? im considering doing the same thing on mine.

Ayuh,... No pictures,.. But...

Lower the tongue jack, all the way Down....
Put blocking under the rear corners of the wagon,...
Jack the tongue jack All the way to it's Top,...
Put blocking under the foreward part of the wagon,...
Now, raise the tongue jack abit...
The Whole wagon will be sitting on your blocking...

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Putting trailer up on blocks for the winter?

any pictures on how this is done? im considering doing the same thing on mine.

Here's how I put my trailer on jack stands. I have plywood under the jackstands so it doesn't gouge my driveway. The tires are off the ground by about 3/8"

( click pictures for full size )




Jeff