blocking of fifth wheel during storage?

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My previous 5er and last set of STs... I kept it stored with the tires off the ground and covered. In the 4 yr life span of those tires, they were on the ground for maybe 3-4 weeks and one of them still blew out a sidewall while being stored at the end of the 4 yrs. The previous set of STs lasted 4 yrs and they were never stored off the ground but were covered. I have big pneumatic cylinders and it's a breeze to raise it and put jack stands under it. I still store it off the ground to maybe help the morryde rubber. Craig

Sure are lots of newbys in the trailering world. The OP pics are the prefered method . What I do or you do has no bearing on what the actual tire experts tell us and how long the tires are in storage.

Per Discount Tire;
•For long term storage, put the trailer on blocks to take the weight off the tires. Then lower the air pressure and cover the tires to protect them from direct sunlight."

Per Carlisle Tire;
During extended storage, use a thin piece of wood or other surface
barrier under tires to extend tire life. For seasonal or extreme long
term storage, elevate the trailer on blocks to take the weight off the
tires. Reduce the air pressure and cover the tires to protect them
from direct sunlight."

Per Goodyear Tire and Rubber;
Storing your vehicle properly helps protect your tires.
• Keep your vehicle in a cool, dry storage area out of direct sunlight and UV rays.
• Unload your vehicle so that minimum weight is on the tires.
• Inflate your tires to recommended operation pressure plus 25%, but don’t exceed the rim
manufacturer’s inflation capacity.
• Thoroughly clean your tires with soap and water before storing them to remove any oils that may have
accumulated from the road.
• Move your vehicle at least every three months to help prevent cracking and flat-spotting,
but avoid moving it during extremely cold weather.
• Place your vehicle on blocks to remove the weight from the tires. If the vehicle can’t be put on blocks,
make sure the storage surface is firm, clean, well-drained and reasonably level.

Same info from just about every source of tire tech info.

For better or worse for long storage I feel better with at least some weight off the tires & suspension .

Doing it tomorrow. The 5er goes into it's 5 month winter sleep. My method is a partial lift with wheels still touching the ground but most of the weight taken by the frame aft of the wheels

1. "Best Practice" ?

2. What is this thing called "winter"?

rseymour21 wrote:
I read on here about parking on two 2x6" while parked for extended periods of time.

What I do. I got 2 8' redwood 2x6" pieces, cut them almost in half, one side being 6" shorter than the other, them screwed the 2 pieces together, one on top of the other. Just run the FW up on them, but the covers on, and I'm good to go. Cheap enough...

Lyle

Old-Biscuit wrote:

It is best practice to block so weight is off tires when in storage (If no blocks, make sure the storage surface is firm, clean, well-drained and reasonably level).
Inflate tires to MAX PSI.....readjust before using
Cover tires
Reposition every three months to avoid flat spotting (but avoid moving it during extremely cold weather).

So much hog wash, never heard of this being "Best Practice"!!

Looking closely at the picture, not only are the tires still there, but, they are also bearing weight. The bottom of the tire on the left side (in picture) is "flat spotted" on the pavement, indicating to me anyway, that it is bearing weight. If I had to guess, and I am, the owner probably has one or more tires that won't hold full pressure for the duration of storage and has put the wood cribbing in place to keep the full weight of the trailer from bearing down on a tire, or tires, that may go flat (a definite bad thing for any length of time). That way he doesn't have to periodically go check them. Maybe they have vandals that go around letting the air out of the tires for a lark... It may be that he (the owner) thinks that he can avoid flat spots by cribbing up the axles and then letting air out of the tires so that the pressure on the tire is reduced...not likely though. Doing that wouldn't prevent flat spots, but, anyone hooking up to the rig to tow it away would get a surprise when the unit wouldn't roll and with insufficient air in the tires (so the weight would be on the cribbing), they'd have to drag the trailer off the wood first...

Lots of reasons why he might do what the photo shows, but, the only sure way to find out his intentions would be to ask him.

Mine stays stored on 2x10's on a gravel pad for drainage. Won't settle and keeps them high and dry and protected by covers to prevent UV damage.

I read on here about parking on two 2x6" while parked for extended periods of time.

blkdodge wrote:
If that was in my old neighborhood you would think somebody stole them or were taken off to prevent being stolen. It also makes it kinda difficult to steal the whole rig if there aint no tires and wheels.

Tires/wheels are still on trailer in picture....they have covers on them.