Tire flat spots when storing for winter?

[roxysurf]

Even though we live in sunny southern California we are now stored away for winter. All batteries in sensors/alarms removed, main batteries disconnected (but will be checked once a month for charge), all water drained (good thing because it forced me to check the water heater anode which was completely gone).  Next outing is scheduled for May 2010. One question I have though is should I be concerned with the tires just sitting there for 6 months?  Will they develop flat spots?  If so, should I just move the trailer a few feet every month?

[Oz and Us]

One question I have though is should I be concerned with the tires just sitting there for 6 months?  Will they develop flat spots?  If so, should I just move the trailer a few feet every month?

If you really want to help preserve your tires cover them during long term storage ... here's mine at the moment, winterized and waiting for spring ... and I'm sure not going to move it in the interim!

[HappiKampers!]

I wonder the same thing.  We have a neighbor with a BIG RV, and he just parks it on his pad and covers the tires and covers the RV, I don't think it's moved the entire winter.

We will be storing our PUP in our garage for it's first winter with us (parking pad w/ carport to be built next year) and asked a friend who owns a PUP do I need to put it up on blocks - they said they never did.  But then I remember when I stored my Mustang one winter (had a beat up Explorer to use) and the next spring - WAM, needed all new tires!

Just put new tires on the PUP, so my question is  - do I need put it up on blocks or should it be fine in the garage for the winter?  If I don't put it up, should I roll it around a little every month to keep the tires from flattening.

What do you other PUP owners do?

[URB1960]

I store mine outside, and all I do is to cover the tires. I've never had trouble with them flat spotting. And it gets cold up here.

[CampRock]

Ours sits on blue stone rocks (thats what my driveway is made up of) do you think we should put ours on boards?

[Oz and Us]

Just put new tires on the PUP, so my question is  - do I need put it up on blocks or should it be fine in the garage for the winter?  If I don't put it up, should I roll it around a little every month to keep the tires from flattening.

What do you other PUP owners do?

I can't imagine why you'd do anything but ensure your tires are properly inflated, then just wait for spring when you can once again enjoy your pride and joy ... anything more is nothing but a make work project IMO.  Whenever we weren't camping I stored our Santa Fe year 'round in my garage for six years and never had any tires issues whatsoever with either the original Duro bias ply tires or the replacement Carlisle radials.

Admit it ... you're just looking for any excuse to play with your camper over the winter!

[another_newfie]

We used our TT throughout the winter last season so it moved around, but this season it will be sitting on a campsite in the same place for 5 months.  I did park on boards and will get covers for the tires.  The fact that we will be using it will enable me to keep an eye on the tires, especially pressure etc, I suspect covering and parking on boards should be sufficient.

[Unstable Tripod]

Mine is now in the beginning of its second winter sitting in the garage on concrete.  I had no trouble with the tires last year and expect none this year.

[blw2]

Ever parked a car for a week or two when gone on vacation.... maybe at the airport?  when you get in and going, notice that shimmy that goes away after a few miles?  It's usually worse in cold weather than when it's warm. 

I used to travel a lot and experienced this quite often.  Tires were always running smooth before I got home which isn't more than 15 miles or so on the highway.  I've experienced the same thing with trailers many times that sit parked a lot longer than 1-2 weeks.

In my opinion, nothing to worry about.  If you are so inclined though, you could jack her up and put it on jack stands to take the load off.

[AustinMN]

The only thing I've ever done is:
1) make sure the tires are not directly on the ground (dirt or grass)
2) not sitting in water
3) properly inflated.

No flat spots, no dry rot, nothing.  My first set of Duro tires lasted 5+ years and 25,000+ miles at maximum load.  I'm into the second set now with 3 years and about 5,000 miles, and they still look great.

IMNSHO, the best thing to do for your trailer tires is use them. 

Austin

[HappiKampers!]

Admit it ... you're just looking for any excuse to play with your camper over the winter!

Oz - you found me out! I am itchen' to work on it!

After putting new tires on the PUP, don't want to do anything that will shorten their life.  No one in my family owns any type of RV, so I seek everything I need to know from the wise PUP owners of PUX!

[Hotel Royale]

Our pup is parked right next to the street, with one tire on our paved driveway and one in the grass [not enough room for both tires on the pavement].

As I'm somewhat concerned about theft in our neighborhood, when camping season is over I remove both tires and put the pup on blocks for the winter. Great theft deterrent. And in the spring, I've got a headstart on the annual "packing the bearings" ritual since the tires are already off and the pup is securely jacked up.

If I wasn't concerned about theft, I would likely just go with putting a board under the one tire that sits on the grass and use tire covers.

   

[Miller Tyme]

All 3 of our pop-ups have been parked for the winter on 2x6's next to the garage, with the tongue up for drainage over the winter.

[rabird]

As I'm somewhat concerned about theft in our neighborhood, when camping season is over I remove both tires and put the pup on blocks for the winter. Great theft deterrent. And in the spring, I've got a headstart on the annual "packing the bearings" ritual since the tires are already off and the pup is securely jacked up.

I bet the tire manufacturer would agree with removing and storing them in a cool dry environment. The axle manufacturer would agree on the annual packing, suspension relief! Win/win.

[Geodude]

The Goodyear site gives good information for their tires.  IIRC it looks like this:

1) take them off and store them in a cool dry place, if possible; or
2) try to move the trailer every month or so; or,
3) leave them on but over-inflate them by 25%

So I go for door #3, and also cover them and park on some wood.