Tire care during extended storage.

[RickeyG]

I am curious to know if others raise tires off the ground while storing their campers for the winter. In the midwest we have 5 or 6 months where we can't use our campers. Is it worth while to get tires off the ground? We store indoors on a concrete floor. Is it acceptable to use the 6 point leveling system to support the camper or should it be set on blocks or stands?

[ColoradoRick]

In Colorado, our trailer normally sits from October until April or even May. I always cover the wheels to protect from the UV rays and, now, I do put down the stabilizers/levelers because one year I didn't and we had high winds and it pushed the front of the trailer a couple feet to the side. I chalk wheels on both sides and I also cover the A/C on the roof and will visit her at least monthly to ensure the covers are still there, no critters are inside, and that the tires are still full. (I keep a portable 12-volt air compressor in the truck.)
Concerning the wheel covers, I wrap them with straps because our high winds take them off pretty easily. (Our lot has gravel, not sure if folks on concrete need to do anything else.)
I have a TPMS system so I take those off the tires (I mark where they go so I don't have to re-program the receiver in the Spring) and I'll replace all the little batteries during the winter. (Having them off in the winter also makes it a lot easier to top off the tires...I won't let them get below 45, they are supposed to be at 50.)
Every drop of water gets drained from the camper and the pink winterizer solution is pumped through the lines and some goes in every p-trap and we also put a few inches in the toilet to prevent any bad odors from coming up. During our monthly visits we'll open a few windows and vents to get fresh air in there and if we have a warm winter day we'll dust and vacuum. (It's funny how many dead flies you find in a parked camper.)

[Chief T]

ColoradoRick provided some great advise. To answer your question, yes, raise your tires off the ground. Some use wood, some plastic levelers, but either way, get 'em off the ground.

Safe and happy travels.

[RickeyG]

I have used wood to get the rubber off the ground in the past. I was thinking more about getting all the weight of the trailer off the tires by either using the leveling system or blocks of some sort.

[jrowe0521]

Use "303 protectorate " and cover with white covers

[Teamgreen]

Hey Rickey:

Good advice given before my reply.

For sure wheels at least on wood
The ground has a great way of weather checking tires even with the covers on.

One other thing you can do which I think has helped mine is to spray silicone on the sidewalls as this prevents condensation on the rubber and looks nice too.

Tires don't like setting in one position for a long time so off the ground is always the best but sometimes not possible.

Hope this helps,Teamgreen

[PSU Turf]

Just out of curiosity, what happens to the tire rubber when in contact with the ground for several cold months? I know when tires were bias ply they would get a flat spot from sitting for long periods.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by PSU Turf

Just out of curiosity, what happens to the tire rubber when in contact with the ground for several cold months? I know when tires were bias ply they would get a flat spot from sitting for long periods.

Only the tires with Nylon cords flat-spotted. It would occur overnight. After 2-3 miles the problem was gone. When they switched to Dacron (early 1960s IIRC), the problem went away. I've never heard of flat-spot occurring with steel-belted tires.

Larry

[Stlcaly]

Add to all above...take battery out and place on trickle charge or charge maintainer, preferably is a garage or basement

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by PSU Turf

Just out of curiosity, what happens to the tire rubber when in contact with the ground for several cold months? I know when tires were bias ply they would get a flat spot from sitting for long periods.

Nothing that I can tell. We have many farm trailers and other equipment that are only used about three months out of the year. The rest of the time the tires just sit in either dirt, concrete, or crusher fines. Some even get irrigated regularly.

We replace these tires even less often than our RV tires. And yes, the farm trailer tires, when used, are at highway speeds.

I also have '79 half ton that get used infrequently. It has 15 year old Big O AT tires on it. Sits in the sun, on concrete, all day. I even use dreaded tire dressing on the tires. No checking and the white letters still look good

I do cover my RV tires when at home, (because my wife bought them) parked on crusher fines.

[txredfish]

I store my TT at home. When not using. I leave the A/C on 80. I place plywood between ground and tires. Cover the tires for sun. I have a monthly routine that I go through which consists of using everything such as as checking air in tires, stove, refrig, slides, furnace, tv, etc. I put out the levelers. I winterize when needed by pushing air through the lines. I check roof caulking about every 6 months. I check inside for leaks after a hard driving rain.

[djhender]

I went to a factory rally and one of the seminars was on tire care by the tire manufacture that provides the tires for the travel trailers. They said that the reason tires blow out before the tread wears out is because of moisture in the tire rotting the tire from the inside out. They then said that you shouldn't store the tire on concrete, dirt, gravel, or even wood. The best way is on plastic. I live in mine, am stationary for 6 months in the winter. So I went out and purchased 4 plastic cutting boards and when I get to my winter home. I park on them. You should also store with the wheels above ground level so water does puddle around them. I also read another article, forget the source, that the standard cover everyone uses to prevent UV rays degrading their tires are not good either. They hold moisture and don't allow air movement around the tire. Better to us a skirt hanging from the wheel wells like I have been seeing on a lot of Class A.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by djhender

I went to a factory rally and one of the seminars was on tire care by the tire manufacture that provides the tires for the travel trailers. They said that the reason tires blow out before the tread wears out is because of moisture in the tire rotting the tire from the inside out. They then said that you shouldn't store the tire on concrete, dirt, gravel, or even wood. The best way is on plastic. I live in mine, am stationary for 6 months in the winter. So I went out and purchased 4 plastic cutting boards and when I get to my winter home. I park on them. You should also store with the wheels above ground level so water does puddle around them. I also read another article, forget the source, that the standard cover everyone uses to prevent UV rays degrading their tires are not good either. They hold moisture and don't allow air movement around the tire. Better to us a skirt hanging from the wheel wells like I have been seeing on a lot of Class A.

I would hope that one of the tire experts responds to this. I'm wondering exactly what "rots." I haven't seen fabric tire cords for decades. Even the nylon and dacron of the 1960s don't rot. Today everything is steel-belted. Not sure how water would pass through the treads to the steel anyway. I've picked up more than a few tire carcasses and never have seen serious rust.

Larry

[markb422]

If you want to just get separation between the tire and concrete I bought some rubber pavers from home improvement store that are made from recycled tires. They are about an inch thick and cost very little. Use for the motor home every winter in the barn and summer on the concrete rv pad.

[helferdm]

I do not lift the motorhome off the ground, but do take some of the weight on the stabilizers. Also check the air pressure monthly.

[Craigrrr]

A little what I learned about tires going bad, specially trailer tires...
My brother who lives in Missouri used to work for Couples Company, they made tires and innertubes he was high up on the food chain there, from him It is the carbon black in the manufacturing process that goes bad by not being used , hence trailers that sit for half a year or so. The carbon black gets activated every time the tire rotates. No rotation carbon black not activated and tire degrades. Next problem is UV ray degradation. After I learned that, I would put trailers on jack stands and rotate the tires a few revolutions per week or month.

[Pixelbum1]

Originally Posted by Stlcaly

Add to all above...take battery out and place on trickle charge or charge maintainer, preferably is a garage or basement

AND...don’t forget to get the DW out of there before you lock it up for good over the winter!!!!