People have been telling me that i should jack my trailer (wheels)off the ground for the winter. Whats up with this theory ??? Needed to do or not for 4/5 months idle storage ???

Was something to do with taking the weight off suspension :huh:

If they are on soft ground I put a board under the tires to keep em from sinking... :huh:

They tell me that too...Last year was the first year I kept it on the trailer over the winter (I didn't jack it up). I have always kept boats on blocks or boatstands. I guess the theory is not to get a flat spot on the tire? or keep the moisture and the load off the tire? I suppose it would help. Unless you park it in a swamp I would not worry too much about it. My friend jacks the boat up a little to take the weight off the trailer but leaves the wheels on the ground. (that makes more sense to me to get the load off the trailer)
My trailer will hold the boat load all winter. (that is what I bought it for)

In a couple weeks the ground will be hard as a rock .

first year owning a boat and it was recommended to me to due the same. So, the trailer (with boat on it) is jacked up to keep the pressure off the tires/hubs/suspension, etc... Guess it can't hurt and bought 2.5 ton jacks at Sears for 19.99.

Jack up to release pressure on leaf springs and or suspension. Also take off tires and store. Don't want boat sitting on tires in one spot all winter. Also sun, UV rays, can break down rubber in tires and ruin sidewalls if they are just sitting there all winter with sun beating down on them. Not that it happens too much in this dreary climate. I always store tires in cellar. P.M.

well I have been trailering for 12 years now and this is what I have found.

If the tires are on concret or black top I leave them alone. I have never ended up with a flat spot!

But you have to cover the tires from the sun as it will eat them up.

If you are on the grass, or dirt then I jack them up off the ground and cover them!!

I have found that tires left on the dirt ground will dry rot 5 times faster then tires that are jacked up and covered!

Why is this?? Well I think the wetness of the groung rots the tire??

If you have a shead or room in the basement, then bring them inside. This is what i do.
I had the same tires for 6 years when doing this.

Just my .02 cents worth.

Originally posted by macojoe

But you have to cover the tires from the sun as it will eat them up.

If you have a shead or room in the basement, then bring them inside. This is what i do.
I had the same tires for 6 years when doing this.

Just my .02 cents worth.

Curious, anything specific you cover the tires with?

Anything light blocking. I have some tire covers from a camper my brother had.
They work great!! And they are white which reflects the light and heat.

Before that I use to use a blue tarp turned inside out to use the silver side. for the same reasons.

I'm on dirt, looks like i'll add jacking + tire covering to the list.
Thanks for the input guys. :kewl:

With radial tires it's not an issue!
Years ago with bias ply tires, the tires would get flat spots if sat for a long period of time.

I don't cover the tires on my car?
take them off?...thats a pain.

I have an easy way i do it.

I block it tight to the axle at each end behind the tires and one in the middle, then I let the air out of the tires to rest the weight on the axle.

That will work !~! And it is quick and easy !~!

I have a new Parker this year and my dealer told me the same thing. My boat is now jacked up about 2 inches off of the ground using 5 jack stands. My boat is on pavement and under each jack stand is a board to support the jack. And I ordered 5 tire white RV tire covers to shield the tires from the sun. It took at most 30 minutes to do and so far so good.

I throw 2 jack stands under the stand and plock the front of the trailer. I don't lift the boat off but do try to tale some of the load off the trailer.

Heres a place with some more reasonable boat stands.

http://www.hostarmarine.com

After reading about that stolen parker on teh main forum, I would jack and remove my tires not only for the life of the trailer/suspension, but if you have no tires, no one can steal your boat....