Storing boat on trailer ?

[maicoman]

Hi everyone and thanks for any advise in advance.Just bought a 20 foot Sea Ray with a tandem Venture roller trailer.I just replaced both axles with Tie Down torsion units.My question is can I keep the boat on the trailer without hurting the torsion axles or should I block the boat for the winter.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

you should be fine by just blocking the trailer trailers are meant to hold boats so you just should block the trailer with with blocks under the frame near the wheels high enough so the wheels are off the ground maybe 1"

 

[gtochris]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

Just leave it on it's wheels, it goes down the highway that way, ensure you have the tires aired up.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

If you really want to know, consult the manufacturer of the axles

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

If its going to hurt the axles with the boat sitting on it, not sure I would want them on there going down the road. Only reason to block the boat up is to give it better support " if needed" to the hull for long storage time.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

I've got 2 torsion axle trailers. Neither has ever left the ground, other than to change tires. They both work fine, and are 15 and 16 years old.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

I block up my trailer (not a torsion) to take the weight off the tires. Personally I think it can't hurt so why not?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

If you are in an area where it snows during the winter, then block the trailer up, so that the snow load does not over load the springs.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

if you live in snow country, protect your boat from snow..... cover it such that snow slides off.

the tires live on the ground quite happily

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

the issue for long-term parked trailers is not the trailer itself but the tires.
If you can, park on something other than dirt (eg boards) and protect the tires from direct sun if feasible: a piece of plywood would do.
From previous comments, you don't have to worry about "flat spots" any more and if there is one, it rolls out in a mile or two. Just be sure you're inflated before you store it.
If your spare lies horizontal, cover it, too.

 

[Handyman1]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

Hi I live in Canada long winter lots of snow and ice. Snow and ice can hurt the tire if stays on the ground. I block up the trailer take the tires of put them in the boat. In the same time I check the bearings,hubs, etc... just to be sure everything is ready for the spring.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Storing boat on trailer ?

I have had coil and leaf springs "sag" with age on cars and trucks, so same would hold true for a boat trailer and I have seen some....we saw one on here just last week where it was obvious the leaf lost it's curvature.

On torsion bars, Chrysler had them for years and I never saw a saggy Chrysler/Plymouth/Desoto/Dodge. That's about all I know about torsion bars.

On storing a boat out of doors, I personally go "beyond the call" on some things and if the boat is not to be used till spring then I would remove my tires and while doing it check my trailer bearings. What you do to check hubs to me. is determined by what type of axle/lube system you have and how many miles you put on the trailer. Also, I always roll the hubs and listen carefully for ANY bearing noise and if I hear any I pull the bearings and inspect for rust-pitting.

If I am going to use the boat several times over the winter then I don't block it but I keep mine in a garage with a concrete floor and the boat and all weighs in at about 1000# so it's not that big of a deal for me to worry about springs and tires......and on tires I check them at least once a season for weather cracking and damages caused by road hazards.

My 2c,

Mark