Trailer care during winter?

[Lck7960]

We have had our boat since June and have taken it to a marina for inside storage over the winter? We brought the trailer back home and it will be sitting outside over the next several months. Is there anything we should do for it over the winter...someone told us to put bags over the tires to keep it out of the elements and to keep them from freezing. We are in the south. Thanks!

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

Freezing won't harm the tires, but covering them is a good idea if they're in the sun. UV rays will destroy them eventually
Lubricate rollers and any moving bits, and let it sit!

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

If your boat and trailer were purchased used, I'd suggest having the bearings packed. It's also a good time to check the lighting and make repairs.

You could put a plastic bag over the coupler and seal it with duck tape--to minimize future rust. Setting your trailer on jack stands is very easy with a floor jack and a X-handle lug wrench. Keeping your tires inside during times of inactivity will make the tires last much longer. It's also a theft deterrent.

That's about it.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

You could put a plastic bag over the coupler and seal it with duck tape--to minimize future rust

Depending on climate, that can CAUSE tons of rust. You get condensation and the plastic bag doesn't allow it to breathe, basically you make a perfect environment for things to rust up.

 

[acarter92]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

Depending on climate, that can CAUSE tons of rust. You get condensation and the plastic bag doesn't allow it to breathe, basically you make a perfect environment for things to rust up.

Agree....

If it needs any work now is the time to do it. Other than that just let it go, putting cover's over the tires never hurts because as said above the sun will get to them sooner or later. Most trailer tires don't get wore out before the sun gets them...

Austin

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailer care during winter?

leave it alone. at most lean plywood against the tires to shade them. But since they are only good for 5 years regardless, even that won't make any difference.

I do not believe in wrapping stuff in plastic; better to let it dry out and breath IMO.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

leave it alone. at most lean plywood against the tires to shade them. But since they are only good for 5 years regardless, even that won't make any difference.

I do not believe in wrapping stuff in plastic; better to let it dry out and breath IMO.

x2 - just park it and forget about it. My car trailers live outside in the snow, never do anything special other than shovel them off if I want to use them.

 

[tanuki]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

leave it alone. at most lean plywood against the tires to shade them. But since they are only good for 5 years regardless, even that won't make any difference.

I do not believe in wrapping stuff in plastic; better to let it dry out and breath IMO.

x3... also maybe turn wheels to avoid flat spots on tires once in awhile.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

If you are really concerned about rust, spray the coupler and anything else you are concerned about with any of the corrosion inhibitors. Long term storage of a trailer can cause the springs to take a "set" so supporting the trailer frame with jack stands to get the wheels off the ground can prevent that. Unfortunately, you may return to your boat to find the jack stands gone along with the wheels.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

tire flat spots aren't really a problem. Yes, tires will develop flat spots, but they have zero negative affects of any sort. A couple miles down the road and the tire will be back to normal.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

Agree, flat spots is a non issue. Unless the trailer is parked on a hard surface(cement) either put the trailer on stands or put a chunk of board under the tires. If the tires just sit on the lawn, they will weather check at the point where the sidewalll meets the ground(the tires will sink slightly into the lawn).

 

[rbh]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

+1, wimusky called this one.


Just put the tires on a hard surface or gravel were water/moisture will not collect around them.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

I'm in the jack stands and pull the wheels camp. (1) makes it pretty much theft proof. (2) You're halfway there when you want to do your bearing service next spring (3) letting the tires relax in the garage certainly won't hurt anything.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Trailer care during winter?

Why in the world would you pull wheels off of something(camper/trailer/car/airplane etc...) for 6 months?

So it gets a little flat spot...big deal. It's not permanent and it'll work it way round in a couple of miles of driving.

If you were planning on "storing" it(read 1 year or more) then that's a different issue, but for seasonal "lay-up" removing wheels and fuel additives(even with E-10) is not necessary.

Plastic bags are a horrible idea. They do not breathe and will cause MORE corrosion/rust. At the MOST...tape up the electrical connection under the tounge and call it good.