what should I park my boat/trailer on

[scrit9mm]

I got a metal carport installed in my back yard and I am keeping my boat back there all winter. My trailer is a dual axle so I did not want to go through the trouble of taking the tires off and keeping it on jackstands. What would be the best thing to park on? Its on the ground now.

 

[oops!]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

what is the ground?....grass?....hard packed gravel?....

If its grass I would place plywood under the wheels.....just to keep from sinking

 

[JoLin]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

You need anything that will keep the tires from sinking into the ground. I'd use 2x10's or 2x12's, long enough that you can move the trailer back and forth a foot every couple of months, to keep the tires from developing flat spots. Keep the tires well inflated, too. You'll be fine

My .02

 

[JDA1975]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

you can buy some paving blocks 2" X 8" X 16" and put a row on each side where the tires will rest, they are inexpensive and with a shovel you could put them in nice and level.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

the ground is grass/dirt. Which is better, wood or concrete pavers?

 

[JDA1975]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I dont think there is much difference except in the longevity, a concrete paver will last and wood would have to be replaced each year

 

[cyclops2]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I jack up both trailers & put cement blocks under the frames & a paver at the bow wheel. These newer tires DO NOT like sunlight at all. Not like car tires.

 

[5150abf]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

You don't have block it but you do need to move it every other weeks or so to keep form getting flat spots in the tires, pavers are sheap and look better and last longer that wood.

Not that you are doing this but it reminded me of a guy I used to drive past on the way to work, had nice little Nissan 280Z and he "had it up on blocks" except he litterally jacked the car up and put the tires on the cement blocks where it sat for probably 2-3 years, tired had to be horribly flat spotted, I wanted to stop and tell him he did it wrong but never did.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

My thoughts . . .

Giving the tires a rest would merely require supporting the trailer up 2-3 inches with jack stands or blocks so that the weight is not substantially supported by the tires. No need to take the tires off.

I also *like* to give the springs a rest too and supporting the trailer/boat on jack stands does the same. I happen to store my boat outside, and jacking the trailer frame up is pretty much a necessity to avoid the snow load during the New England winters.

 

[skargo]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I think there is NO benefit to having the suspension unloaded and the tires off of the ground. I mean, your daily vehicles sit on their suspensions all the time.

I have a metal carport for storing one boat, I just grabbed 10 bags of quickcrete and put the crete where the tires are when parked. No problems at all!

 

[IslandManMitch]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

If the ground is solid don't worry about it.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

Some car tires WILL flatspot overnight if temperatires go to 15 F . The thump goes away in a 15 minute drive.

 

[zopperman]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

Since I'm in school and away most winter (and would rather not move the trailer every week) I leave mine on jackstands, but that doesn't sound like an option for you. I like Judge's suggestion about using pavers and making them level.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I intended to use jackstands but having the pavers would look nicer year round, and when I bring the boat back during the week it will sit on them then as well.

Pavers it is. I plan on getting a tarp and hang on the south side of the metal carport to shade the boat, that should help the tire-rot

 

[H20Rat]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

sat for probably 2-3 years, tired had to be horribly flat spotted, I wanted to stop and tell him he did it wrong but never did.

of course, he probably would have scratched his head and wondered what you were thinking... Pretty much any modern tire, especially any radial, will never permanently flatspot. I just recently moved a trailer that had been sitting 2+ years. The tires thumped going down the road for maybe 1/4 of a mile, and were perfectly fine after that.

If you think about the construction, there is no way a tire could hold a flatspot.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I put the tires covers on mine to keep the sun off of them while parked in the yard. Durring the winter I put the trailer on jack stands inside to keep the tires round.

LK

 

[LongLine]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I store mine outside. The wheels are on a 4 x 9ft concrete slab. It'll sit there till early April & the snow gone. I always jack up the frame & rest it on cinderblocks with the boat at a good pitch. I don't want the snow to add to the suspension load. Tires are chained on thru the spokes so someone would make a lot of noise trying to take them.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I use a portable compressor, and it's about a 2 minute job to pull the wheels and tires--after using a floor jack to put the boat on concrete blocks or jack stands. I prefer to keep the tires inside (sprayed with armorall) and out of the light. The whole job is 15 minutes--a small time to save so much.

My boat is not at my main residence, and pulling the tires is a security measure--to discourage theft.

If you have real trailer tires (ST code), left outside they're only good for 5 years--even with few miles. They really don't last very long if you pull the trailer very far.

 

[riptide09]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I have been using a few pieces of 1/2" plywood without any problems. I just make sure my tires are inflated to the max. I store my boat outside year round. For tire protection all you need to do is get some of the tire spray that blocks UV and is suppose to prolong tire life. I spray it on every now and then.

 

[skargo]

Re: what should I park my boat/trailer on

I see a few have touched on the UV damage to tires, that is what you should really worry about.