Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

[Mark42]

The 12" trailer tires sink into the ground about 3 inches or so over the winter. In the spring when the boat is moved, I can see that the tire retained its round shape, so it didn't get (noticeably) flat spotted. I read somewhere that the ground contact is not good for the tire. A piece of pressure treated 2x6 could be placed under the tires to keep them from sinking. But I'm wondering if the flat spot the tire will get by resting on wood is worse than not getting a flat spot and having ground contact?

Any thoughts on this?

 

[79Glastron]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

Why don't you jack the trailer up, and set it on blocks so it gets the weight off the tires and springs?

 

[garyq]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

I would have to agree with 79Glastron jack her up an put blocks under trailer

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

I don't see why your tire will flat spot. Mine sit on cement all winter, so do the tires on my GTO. Although, blocking it up wouldn't hurt.....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

Ayuh,... Any wood will spread the load, the bigger, the less sinking...

As for the flat spots,... So what, they only last a mile or 2...

It's the Sun that ruins tires,... Keepin' sunlight off 'em, would probably double their lives...

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

My trailer has the 12's on it and will sink over the winter.

The last couple years i have been parking with the tires on pieces of 2X10.
I might feel just a slight flat spot the first trip in the Spring but it goes away in a few minutes at most.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

Nurseries sell 24"x24" patio stones. I put them under my RV wheels that sit on the grass. Works perfect.

Back in the 1960's, my tires got flat spots over winter so I jacked them up. When I got a tandem trailer it got to be too much of a hassle. Stopped doing that in the 1980's, and lo and behold they make better tires these days and never had a thump thump since.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

On any of my trailers which are going to sit for a long time, I pull the good tires off and store them in the garage. I either block up the trailer or put on an old used set of tires. The city here gets upset about anything on blocks so mostly my trailers sit on old tires over the winter. I also tend to move them around a bit from time to time just to keep the city happy.
I have noticed that some Chinese tires tend to flat spot worse than the higher end US made tires, but like others have mentioned, the flat spotting only lasts for a few miles.

I do have two trailers with Goodyear 4.80x8" tires which flat spot and don't seem to go away. For what ever reason, I've had better luck with the cheaper tires when it comes to small wheels. The 8" Goodyear tires, even though they are balanced and weighted, they get out of shape or something at higher speeds and start to bounce and shake. The el cheapo brand tires don't seem to do that.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

dirt will rot tires over the long term.

you want it on cement or wood.
anything but dirt.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

Why don't you jack the trailer up, and set it on blocks so it gets the weight off the tires and springs?

The MFG 's trailer sits on wood stands under the frame. Just haven't got around to making a set for the Bayliner. I have read both pro and con about setting the frame on blocks. Some say its good for springs and tires, others say it makes no difference to the springs, and the tires may flat spot, but will round out again after use.

This year, it will sit on the ground again.

 

[skargo]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

If you park your trailer the same place all the time do what I did. I had ruts from parking it in the carport I put up for it, and I noticed when it rained it captured water. I bought 10 bags of redimix concrete and filled the ruts where the tires sit. Perfect and easy!

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

If you have radial tires, they won't flat spot. If you have bias tires, they will flat spot - but after a couple of miles of heating them up they will return to round. Either way, I'd get them out of the dirt and on something solid.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

I would be more concerned about the wheel rim rusting than I would about the tire rotting out. I 2nd the suggestion for a firm surface. If you want to protect from UV cover the tires with some black plastic trash bags. Blocking-up or taking tires off for storage does not fit my life style.....I have more fun things to do!!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

I would be more concerned about the wheel rim rusting than I would about the tire rotting out.....

The rims are galvanized, so they are very resistant to rusting. No issues with the oldest set of rims from 2004 (I buy tire and rims together so they are both fresh). The galvanizing and the bearing buddy grease leakage combined with failing back side seals keeps them rust free even it salt water!

A while ago I decided to not fix the leaking back side seal on the 1985 Escort trailer because bearing buddy keeps the grease s-l-o-w-l-y leaking out and the grease coats the back side of the rim. I've replace the seal a couple of times due to grease leakage and found the axle surface was scored by a bad seal long ago. A little emery cloth polished it back up, but left a few score marks that let the grease leak out under pressure. I think this is the perfect setup for a salt water trailer! LOL!!!

BTW, those "cheap" hot dip galvanized rims from China are actually much better quality galvanizing than the OE rims that came on a 2004 Load Right trailer. And the tires are holding up just fine! Its nice to see some stuff from China is worth the money.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

BTW, those "cheap" hot dip galvanized rims from China are actually much better quality galvanizing than the OE rims that came on a 2004 Load Right trailer. And the tires are holding up just fine! Its nice to see some stuff from China is worth the money.

My 2004 and 2005 Load Rite trailers both came with Chinese tires on them, so I would guess the wheels were too.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

If you have radial tires, they won't flat spot. If you have bias tires, they will flat spot - but after a couple of miles of heating them up they will return to round. Either way, I'd get them out of the dirt and on something solid.

Ditto

 

[Guest]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

My way of handling this is to put patio stones on the ground at the very back of the trailer frame and then lowering it down on the tounge jack as far as possible so I can fit a pair of auto safety stands under the trailer frame to take the weight off the tires. On the tounge jack I then lift it up as far as possible to put the weight on the stands and then put a stone and a jack under the tounge and put it as high as I can to take the weight off the jack after lowering it to the front stand.
This has worked great for me for many years with no tire or jack problems at all

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

Wheels off and inside for the winter and the trailer on well supported stands. No flat spots stored in the garage.

 

[BillP]

Re: Tires Sinking into ground over winter...

Mark42, the flat spots are usually from the cords (usually nylon) taking a temporary set. They smooth out after driving and otherwise are no harm. Before radials came into the picture on cars it was normal to drive the first few miles with the thump, thump of flat spots. No big deal.

Oh no, the pt word again. I've stored the same 3 trailers at my house anywhere between 14 to 25 yrs on raw ground. Around 1990 I started using 3/4 cdx ply under the tires...no problems.

bp