Trailer Storage

[Bill Tattersall]

I need to block off a large 2 axel trailer for long term storage. Should I jack it up and block it up under the frame or under 1 of the 2 axels?

 

[Ray,IN]

Inflate tires to maximum then cover them; yes I'd support all 4 tires off the ground. If the bed is wood, consider applying something waterproof, most such products are actually not waterproof so I paint the wood with clear concrete sealer, which is waterproof.

 

[NoDakInMN]

I see nothing to be gained by blocking under the frame and it means you have to block it higher to get the wheels off the ground making it potentially less stable.

 

[MarkB_MI]

What is "long term"? Unless you know the trailer won't be moving for the next year or two, I wouldn't do anything special.

Blocking under the frame would take the load off the springs. But assuming the trailer is unloaded, there's not going to be any load on the springs to begin with.

 

[caterpillar guy]

If you can get it inside that would be better than all the blocking. As for jacking it up that pretty much disappeared with the Model A. We have lots of things that set for years on the tires with no ill effects from that. wagons drill, screen semi trailers and even tractors. othing has been a problem with tires. Just dads old wood trailers and the tires are marginal on most of them anyway.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I see nothing to be gained by blocking under the frame and it means you have to block it higher to get the wheels off the ground making it potentially less stable.

I suspect he's worried about storing the trailer with the suspension under load.

Too bad we don't have more to go on than "2 axle trailer." That could be anything from a 16' car hauler to a 53' van trailer. Springs, torsion, or air ride suspension... Storing the trailer for later use, or using the trailer as storage... If the latter, what's being stored?

Radial tires don't get "flat spots" and if you store the trailer long enough, the tires won't be any good for road use anyway. Same deal if it has airbag suspension. If you plan on ever putting it back on the road, plan on replacing anything made of rubber.

If it's just an old van trailer you're using as a storage building, then it doesn't much matter. Block it up so it's stable and doesn't get to leaning if enough tires go flat. An empty trailer can just sit there on its wheels with no ill effects.

 

[Bill Tattersall]

Sorry, here's more info: it's a 20' aluminum enclosed car hauler. I don't have any shows planned for about a year and I'm using it to store my 8N tractor at least through the winter. I don't have room to put it inside but plan to take the wheels off and store them inside. Any more thoughts?7;

 

[cjunrau]

Sorry, here's more info: it's a 20' aluminum enclosed car hauler. I don't have any shows planned for about a year and I'm using it to store my 8N tractor at least through the winter. I don't have room to put it inside but plan to take the wheels off and store them inside. Any more thoughts?7;

I would just throw blocks under the hub then and forget it, not like you will be going in and out of it so it needs to sit firm. as far as weight on the springs that would never be an issue in my books.

 

[joeysmith]

I might block the back end up so if I wanted to get the tractor out I wouldn't have to put the tires back on an hook it to a truck

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Sorry, here's more info: it's a 20' aluminum enclosed car hauler. I don't have any shows planned for about a year and I'm using it to store my 8N tractor at least through the winter. I don't have room to put it inside but plan to take the wheels off and store them inside. Any more thoughts?7;

Honestly, I would unhook it from the truck. Anything else you do can't hurt. If you're going to pull the tires, I'd set blocks under the axles at the springs, as that will most closely approximate how the trailer is supported by the axles.

 

[504]

Your trailer is going to have rubber springs instead of leaf springs. Block it up so the springs don’t have any load on them . If you can do cover the tires to keep the sun off of them

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I see nothing to be gained by blocking under the frame and it means you have to block it higher to get the wheels off the ground making it potentially less stable.

And blocking off the trailer will show up online at Robmenowy,com
Easier to remove your tires when on Blocks.
A business in town has a very expensive looking trailer with a crane on it.
They removed the tires,

 

[TerryfromSWIowa]

I would block the back end and use the tongue jack.

 

[Ray,IN]

I suspect he's worried about storing the trailer with the suspension under load.

Too bad we don't have more to go on than "2 axle trailer." That could be anything from a 16' car hauler to a 53' van trailer. Springs, torsion, or air ride suspension... Storing the trailer for later use, or using the trailer as storage... If the latter, what's being stored?

Radial tires don't get "flat spots" and if you store the trailer long enough, the tires won't be any good for road use anyway. Same deal if it has airbag suspension. If you plan on ever putting it back on the road, plan on replacing anything made of rubber.

If it's just an old van trailer you're using as a storage building, then it doesn't much matter. Block it up so it's stable and doesn't get to leaning if enough tires go flat. An empty trailer can just sit there on its wheels with no ill effects.

Not really; when we bought this motorhome it had been stored in a barn for 8 years due to owners poor health. It still has the original air springs that came on the 1999 Spartan MM GT bus chassis. None of the air springs even have 1 crack.
Sunlight is the main enemy of rubber products. I put new tires on my cargo trailer then parked it for 5 years. I had to put new tires on it again when I went to use it, as the old "new" tires were flat and sidewalls split.
The new"new' tires are covered.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I need to block off a large 2 axel trailer for long term storage. Should I jack it up and block it up under the frame or under 1 of the 2 axels?

All I would do is put something on the ground to prevent grass and weeds from growing up around it. If you are going to store it for a long time the tires will be shot if radial. If bias tires you might cover them. Just raise the trailer up enough there is air under the wheels.