Re: Trailer Tires
From BoatUS Trailer Magazine.
Trailer tires deteriorate in sunlight and can have their lives extended
by taking them off the trailer and storing them in the garage (put blocks
under the trailer frame and cover the hubs and brakes with a plastic trash
bag to keep them dry). Removing the tires also deters thieves. If the tires
must remain on the trailer on the lawn, position the trailer so each tire
rests on a piece of plywood. This is done to avoid dry rot, which can occur
when tires remain on grass in the same place over a long period of time.
Cover each tire with a heavy plastic garbage bag to prevent exposure to
the sun. Block each tire to keep the trailer from moving. Cover the hubs
with thick plastic, such as the garbage bag referred to earlier, and secure
it tightly. If the tires remain on the trailer during the winter, move the
trailer from time to time so as to avoid ?flat spotting,? which is the result
of a tire sitting in the same position over a long period of time.
And Put a block of wood under the trailer jack to raise the bow and allow
rainwater and melting snow to drain.
More info from an article on the OMC site
MAINTENANCE TIPS
When a trailer is in long-term storage, there are steps you can
take to add life to the tires.
Put the trailer on blocks to take weight off the tires.
Lower the air pressure.
Keep the tires covered to protect them from the sun's
ultraviolet light.
When taking the trailer out of storage, make sure there are no
cracks in the grooves and no wire showing. Cracks in the
sidewall could indicate interior damage or separations in the tire.
MAXIMUM PSI?
As indicated earlier, maximum load range is attained only when the tire is
at its maximum air pressure. Yet, should you maintain maximum pressure
even if you are towing below the load range of the tires?
Tire manufacturers differ on this point. "You should maintain the
maximum pressure at all times," says Carlisle's Garbarino. "There is no
advantage to taking air out of the tire. With maximum pressure, the tire
will perform and wear better, and you will get better mileage. Reduce the
psi, and you compromise the functionality of the tire."
Titan Tire's Evans feels differently. "If you want a little softer ride, drop
the psi a bit," he says. However, he cautions that: "They have to know the
actual load."
"Trailer owners should set the pressure according to the load," says
Goodyear's Fry, who provided the tire pressure vs. load chart that
accompanies this story. "Yet, this is not easy to do without weighing the
trailer."
"Once the weight is accurately determined, the pressure should be set when
the tire is cold, not when it is hot."
All the manufacturers agree on one point: If you do not know the exact
weight of your trailer, keep the ST tires at the maximum cold psi.
Based on updated thinking, there are ultimately three keys to avoiding tire
trouble while towing: (1) Make sure your rig is equipped with the proper
tires: (2) maintain the tires meticulously: and (3) replace trailer tires every
three to five years, whether they look like they're worn out or not.
As my grandfather used to say, take care of your equipment, and it will
take care of you.
Author: Robert Eckhardt, reproduced with permission from Camping Life.
America's Family Camping Magazine, July/August 2001
