Trailer Storage?

M

mcgyver210

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Joined
Nov 27, 2010
RO Number
32409
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22
Sorry in advance for dumb questions

We have moved our boat to marina & now have trailer in yard which has made me think about storage. Should I just cover tires & winch or whole trailer?

I was thinking I could just buy a cheap Boat cover the length of the trailer if whole trailer needs to be covered.

I figure I am doing as I always do & over thinking this?

I will not be using trailer very much or at all while at marina but I would like to store it without letting it just rot away.

Thanks
 
If you can jack it up so the tires are off the ground and you cover them that would be what I would do. It saves the tires from getting flat spot and halps the suspension.

Covering it will be hard with water pooling on the cover.
 
I have planned on raising the tires along with tire covers & tire dressing which has always done a good job protecting my travel trailer tires. I had also thought of covering the trailer in a way as to prevent water pooling until I get around to building a new shelter I have planned for the travel trailer etc I have.

I have noticed it seems most people that store their trailers don't do much for them even at the marina which is a little confusing since the trailer is also important to keep in good shape IMO.
 
I take my trailer out for a spin once a month. Considering it's well over 30' in length, it keeps me in practice too!

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BTW - it's now a tri-axle as the tandem setup wasn't quite up to the load.
 
Your home port isn't listed. . .will your trailer get snow accumulation or will the boat be on it in the winter ? (assuming there IS a winter where you are). My opinion is #1- Protect the tires (as you already know) #2-at a minimum at least roll some matching paint on the easy to get to places on the frame. #3-inspect and keep paint on welded joints since they seem to rust first and can cause catastrophic failure. #4- find some way to cover the tongue & associated braking mechanism on same. #5- now that the trailer is easy access, install sealed or LED lights so when you hook up in the fall you can plug and go.
 
If everything is covered up, how does one "exercise" the trailer regularly? I get the idea of keeping UV rays off the tires, but isn't keeping the trailer active important to keep the brakes and hubs in good working order?
 
Since a trailer is designed to be in and out of the water constantly, I don't think it's necessary to protect it from the elements. Galvanized steel doesn't rot too easily. However, I think either jacking it off the tires, or "excercising" it occasionally is a good idea.
 
mcgyver210, first, WELCOME to boatered.com! We are only mean to us oldtimers and always want to be helpful to newcomers! So, again, welcome.......

I kept my boat in a marina and stored its trailer in an open area for 16 yrs. The only us =e the trailer got was the few times the boat had to out of the water for repairs in a boatyard. My trailer was very much neglected over the years. About all I did was give her some grease once a year and adjust tire pressure whenever it needed to be used.

Last summer I gave the boat/trailer to my son who then towed it up to Fairbanks Alaska. Before towing, he had the lighting harness and tires replaced. He also had the brakes thoroughly inspected and reworked. Then he towed the boat 3700 miles without any breakdowns!!!!

I was amazed that that trailer held up so well. It deserved better then I gave it.....
 
A Tyvek tent the hubs. Cover the wheels and tires and keep the tires off the ground.

Best thing is in a garage. If you have no space horizontal, go vertical. That's how my cousin fit his and hers Vettes in his 2 car garage.
 
Thanks for all the GREAT suggestions Im now thinking of:

1. Elevating the trailer.
2. Covering all tires & every so often cleaning & dressing the tires.
3. Covering the tongue & winch.
4. Clean & wax trailer.

Question on elevating is it better to elevate from frame or axles for a boat trailer?
 
I don't think you need to wax the trailer or dress the tires. Spend your energy (and time) on the boat.

Trailers, as Tim said, are made to withstand the elements. I'm guessing you've got a fresh-water trailer and you boat in fresh water. You should be fine. Take that thing out for exercise every month or two. That's the best thing you can do for it. Faded paint isn't your biggest problem to worry about. Frozen hubs and screwed up brakes are.
 
quote:
Originally posted by mcgyver210

Thanks for all the GREAT suggestions Im now thinking of:

1. Elevating the trailer.
2. Covering all tires & every so often cleaning & dressing the tires.
3. Covering the tongue & winch.
4. Clean & wax trailer.

Question on elevating is it better to elevate from frame or axles for a boat trailer?

Click to expand...


Place cinder blocks or jackstands under the frame of the trailer to keep the tires off the ground.

BTW, if you're botating in a non-seasonal location where the boat's going to be in the water pretty much all the time, you might want to reconsider whether you want to hold onto the trailer at all. Trailers need to be maintained, and take up space on your property. There's really no point in keeping it if it's not going to be used.
 
I'm curious why you can't store your trailer during the summer at the marina where you have your boat slip, if thats the case? Usually thats goes hand in hand with renting a slip.

Tire rot is your biggest problem with storage, keep them covered up.
 
The area where my trailers are stored is not in direct sunlight, so I don't worry about covering the tires. I tried covering the whole trailer for awhile, but never could keep the cover from pooling water, it became a big hassle so I leave them uncovered, except the winch which I cover with a plastic trash back. For the tires, I bought a few of the gutter downspout splashes from Lowes, roll the trailer onto those, keeps the tires out of direct contact with the ground. The sit in a shaded mulched area in the back of the yard.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Tim R

Place cinder blocks or jackstands under the frame of the trailer to keep the tires off the ground.

BTW, if you're botating in a non-seasonal location where the boat's going to be in the water pretty much all the time, you might want to reconsider whether you want to hold onto the trailer at all. Trailers need to be maintained, and take up space on your property. There's really no point in keeping it if it's not going to be used.

Click to expand...


Since this is our first boat & it is trailer-able I like the convenience of having the trailer available not to mention the trailer isn't worth as much as it would cost me to buy another one.

Also in my area there are a few different lakes we can go to & the marina has facilities for loading trailer so I can use other lakes also which to me is a plus.

quote:
Originally posted by mrbigsea

I'm curious why you can't store your trailer during the summer at the marina where you have your boat slip, if thats the case? Usually thats goes hand in hand with renting a slip.

Tire rot is your biggest problem with storage, keep them covered up.

Click to expand...


Answer is I have property to store it for free & marina charges a monthly add-on for trailer storage which is also outside same as on my property. Im at marina mostly for the business networking potential.

quote:
Originally posted by BillK

The area where my trailers are stored is not in direct sunlight, so I don't worry about covering the tires. I tried covering the whole trailer for awhile, but never could keep the cover from pooling water, it became a big hassle so I leave them uncovered, except the winch which I cover with a plastic trash back. For the tires, I bought a few of the gutter downspout splashes from Lowes, roll the trailer onto those, keeps the tires out of direct contact with the ground. The sit in a shaded mulched area in the back of the yard.

Click to expand...


Good ideas where I have our trailer at only one side gets full sun & I do have plans on building a shelter in next year or so unless we decide to move which is also in our thoughts.

Thanks for all the GREAT Suggestions they are really helping me figure out how to store the trailer & keep it usable.
 
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