winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

[chrisg]

Ok, I'm sure this has been asked a Zillion times ( dont know what to search for).

I was reading the thread about trailer tires, so.....

I noticed not many lift the trailer up off the wheels. One reason I know is that, unless the ground is level, you will bend the frame. but what about the bearings? Tires these days I'm told will 'roll out' any flat spots. no need to do this.

Reason I ask is, I have this 24-foot pontoon, with a SINGLE AXLE! ( I did not know they allow that, I would assume its heavy!)

the wheels are so tiny! I would be afraid that they/the bearings would fail by having it sit for 6 months!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

it is advisable to jack the trailer, but keep it level when get to the permanent set. best to store tires inside.

 

[arks]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

When I got my first boat (many moons ago) I blocked the trailer for the winter and removed the tires. For the last 15 years or so I've gotten lazy and just park my trailers with 2x8 scraps under the tires. Never had a problem come spring.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

I jack it up, block it up and bring the wheels and tires inside till spring.

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

"I jack it up, block it up and bring the wheels and tires inside till spring."

Ditto

 

[Silvertip]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Unless a trailer is parked on a paved surface, it doesn't sit level for nearly its entire life so there is no danger in bending the frame. They are designed to flex. If they didn't there would be lots of broken trailers sitting around. Whether a trailer is blocked or sitting on its tires makes no difference to the frame. Getting weight not only off the tires, but off the springs as well is a good idea so blocking the frame rather than the axle is a better method for winter storage. This prevents the springs from taking a set. If you are concerned about those "little tires" check the sidewall for the load range. I suspect they are load range "E" so those 10-inchers are good for a tick over 1500# each. If they are load range "E" they are inflated to 90 psi.

 

[chrisg]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Thanks, sounds like its a good idea to lift them off the wheels and springs. I'll check the tires for the rating. Wow, I be that makes a noise if punctured!

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

For our long off season, I was worried about the extra weight of the snow (that always built up on the shrink wrap during every snow fall) plus the extra weight of a large full fuel tank in the boat sitting on the tires and springs all winter and possibly causing the springs to fatigue or flatten out over time.

To avoid this, I always blocked the frame of the boat trailer just high enough after winterizing so that the suspension was unloaded with the tires slightly off the ground. Storing the tires inside is optional - or just leave them on the trailer but cover them.

Mike

 

[mthieme]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Your 24' toon is a lot lighter than a 24' fiberglass boat.
Single axle is okay.
I put boards under my trailers for the three or four months they're out of the water.
I'm about 100 yards from the community ramp, so my tires will dry rot long before the tread wears out.

 

[mvn]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Same here. I block the frame letting the axle hang. I take the tires off and store inside. It also deters would-be thieves I suppose.

 

[dingbat]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Taking the load of the springs may make you feel better but it doesn?t really buy you anything.

Spring steels get their mechanical properties in the way the molecules are aligned within the steel during heat treating. Unless you heat the materials and realign the molecules the compression strength of the material will remain the same for the life of the material.

Over the life of the trailer the springs may take on a compression set and lower your trailer by a ?? or so but the load bearing capabilities remain unchanged.

Corrosion from the lack of use would present a much bigger problem

 

[chrisg]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Your 24' toon is a lot lighter than a 24' fiberglass boat.
Single axle is okay.
I put boards under my trailers for the three or four months they're out of the water.
I'm about 100 yards from the community ramp, so my tires will dry rot long before the tread wears out.

Never thought a 'toon is llight. ( it looks big way up on that trailer)

What do you mean put boards under your trailers?, you mean have the tires on boards, so they dont sink into the ground? or lift up the trailers onto boards?

 

[mthieme]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Yeah, I just roll the trailer onto 2x12's so the tires don't sink in.
The heaviest boat is stored on sand, 2 other lighter ones on loose pea gravel.
I tried the heavy on pea gravel first, but it sunk 6 inches just backing it in the hole.

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Taking the load of the springs may make you feel better but it doesn?t really buy you anything.

Spring steels get their mechanical properties in the way the molecules are aligned within the steel during heat treating. Unless you heat the materials and realign the molecules the compression strength of the material will remain the same for the life of the material.

Over the life of the trailer the springs may take on a compression set and lower your trailer by a ?? or so but the load bearing capabilities remain unchanged.

Sorry DB, but I am not buying your molecule story hook line and sinker because of my previous experience with previous race trailer springs, automotive springs, rv springs and utility trailer springs.

Most rv, boat or race trailer springs are not the highest quality springs for their particular application and if there was a higher quality spring availble - then it was an option you paid for. As an example, the springs on our 33'11" travel trailer are not rated to carry the entire gross weight of the trailer - but the gross weight MINUS the 1000 pound tongue weight.
A camping forum acquaintance with a 28' travel trailer left in an outside storage yard in winter without the stabilizers down or the frame blocked by the wheels (not lifted) to reduce the extra weight of snow being carried mainly on the springs and tires has resulted in a Reese Dual Cam hitch head height adjustment after one winter.

New at posting pics -

[/URL] [/img]
This much snow will over stress springs!

A couple of full sand bags added to the trunk of an old friend's rwd Pontiac for extra winter traction resulted in a noticeable drop of more than 1/4 inch in back. When the sand bags were removed in spring, the car continued to ride visibly lower in rear. Actual carrying capacity may or may not have changed, but the rear suspension was closer to the bump stops.

Mike.

 

[dingbat]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Sorry DB, but I am not buying your molecule story hook line and sinker because of my previous experience with previous race trailer springs, automotive springs, rv springs and utility trailer springs.

As an example, the springs on our 33'11" travel trailer are not rated to carry the entire gross weight of the trailer - but the gross weight MINUS the 1000 pound tongue weight.
A camping forum acquaintance with a 28' travel trailer left in an outside storage yard in winter without the stabilizers down or the frame blocked by the wheels (not lifted) to reduce the extra weight of snow being carried mainly on the springs and tires has resulted in a Reese Dual Cam hitch head height adjustment after one winter.

A couple of full sand bags added to the trunk of an old friend's rwd Pontiac for extra winter traction resulted in a noticeable drop of more than 1/4 inch. When the sand bags were removed in spring, the car continued to ride visibly lower in rear.

Mike.

In both of scenarios your confusing compression set with compression strength. While your spring may take on a "compression set" and sit lower to the road the spring still has the same "compression strength" and is still capable of carrying the same amount of weight before failing as before.

Spring steel by nature will withstand very little deformation before failing. Had the weight exceeded the spring?s compression strength, which obviously they didn't, the springs would have snapped under the weight.

Out of curiosity, did you replace the springs or make adjustments and move on?

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

DB, I understand what you are saying about spring set and capacity but when I was at a dealership many years ago, the spring shop I used would replace or rebuild more trailer springs every spring to restore carrying capacity (as well as set height) more often than had to replace a broken spring.
Something about trailer tires almost touching the fenders with the "same load" (customers are never wrong) Vs the previous year.

We found more sprigs were broken as a result of bad road conditions than over load.

A customer did not believe that the weight of snow and ice was an issue on his race trailer for outside winter storage and after a storm - towed it to his local Cat Scale and his slip showed he was more than 1,800 pounds over gross weight with less than 2' of snow and ice on the roof. Springs did not break despite the over load. He has blocked the frame on either side of the trailer axles every winter since and something I still do for our TT.

Mike.

And NO I do not condone towing with snow or ice on the roof.

 

[chrisg]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

No wonder there is LOTS of snow in that Pic, its from CANADA,Eh.

I can understand the worry of added snow load, but I make sure to brush off the snow after a snow fall, so the load is temporary, and making the cover not be flat ( as would be for covered trailers) the snow would only pile up so much before sliding off.

Perhaps trailer lifting is a Canadian thing eh. I would lift up the trailers I had when I lived in Ontario, but noticed no one does it down here. I guess they assume trailers would have a better chance of being destroyed by floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fires or earthquakes , before the leaf springs give out! ( I have never experienced them in Canada, they are not allowed over the boarder!- they don't have a valid passport ) - But I digress.

I think I'll take the laze approach, put wood under the wheels to stop them from sinking into the ground, and call it good.

 

[6MISFITZ]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Our old boat (shrink wrapped with a high peak - big snow mound at the right side of driveway by the house) had been brushed off 2 days earlier and would be again after I had found the driveway with the snow shovel.

Boat trailer was lifted by frame - however I respect that this may not work for boat trailers approaching the length of our travel trailer so in that case - block the frame (not lift) near the axles and drop the stabilizers - which is what we do with the TT.

Worse than snow that is building up on trailer roofs is ice - and for my safety I won't try.
The only way I do know to safely remove ice from the roof of a trailer - is to visit a heated wash bay at a truck stop.

Mike.

 

[F16TJ]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Sorry DB, but I am not buying your molecule story hook line and sinker because of my previous experience with previous race trailer springs, automotive springs, rv springs and utility trailer springs.

Most rv, boat or race trailer springs are not the highest quality springs for their particular application and if there was a higher quality spring availble - then it was an option you paid for. As an example, the springs on our 33'11" travel trailer are not rated to carry the entire gross weight of the trailer - but the gross weight MINUS the 1000 pound tongue weight.
A camping forum acquaintance with a 28' travel trailer left in an outside storage yard in winter without the stabilizers down or the frame blocked by the wheels (not lifted) to reduce the extra weight of snow being carried mainly on the springs and tires has resulted in a Reese Dual Cam hitch head height adjustment after one winter.

New at posting pics -

[/URL] [/img]
This much snow will over stress springs!

A couple of full sand bags added to the trunk of an old friend's rwd Pontiac for extra winter traction resulted in a noticeable drop of more than 1/4 inch in back. When the sand bags were removed in spring, the car continued to ride visibly lower in rear. Actual carrying capacity may or may not have changed, but the rear suspension was closer to the bump stops.

Mike.

Dang! That snow looks cold! Not looking forward to that this winter. Since I got my boat...I'm all for the endless summer!

 

[chrisg]

Re: winterizing - lift trailer off wheels?

Only in CANADA, Eh, pitty!