Boards under tires

korbe wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
.........2) If you are parked on asphalt. The weight of the camper and not moving the camper at all in heat, can cause the asphalt under the tires to soften and result in the asphalt having dimples where the tires sat. If you use boards, the weight of the camper is distributed over a wider area and will not cause the asphalt to dimple........

I have seen board depressions in soft AC pavement too. However, my conclusion is that the AC mix design used the wrong oil type or percentage.

The asphalt under those tires must have been very soft. It is possible, but the odds of NOT leaving a depression are greater if using lumber under the tires. And the longer the board the less chance of depression ... on any surface.

Relevant to this topic, we had our driveway resurfaced, crumbled areas removed, and had it slopped for better water rain drainage.

I had to move the camper off the asphalt while the work was being done so parked between the drive way and house, rather than the front yard, or behind this time. (we park on the grass often).

The camper sat in the same spot for over 2 weeks. They finished the work, and then we had rain for days which softened the yard. I did not want to leave deep ruts in the yard, so had to wait for the ground to harden enough I felt comfortable driving over it to move the camper back on the finished asphalt.

After 2 and 1/2 weeks, I got the camper moved. I was really surprised what was left in the yard. I used long boards on the ground and then my normal blocks for the tongue jack and stabilizer jacks on top of that. Total of 5 long boards on the ground, and all 5 still sunk into the ground over an inch deep! Had the tires been directly on the ground, I can't imagine how deep they would have sunk. It left an interesting pattern in the grass, and now I have 5 pretty good depressions to fix with my yard roller if it ever rains again to soften the ground... again.









I use boards most of the time. But don't need to on my drive way as the asphalt never left dimples... Um ... my asphalt just crumbled all to pieces after 8 years!

After getting the camper back in the drive way and all set up again, I realized immediately I need to use lumber under one side of the camper in the drive way. The driveway is so slopped now, the trailer is no longer level side-to-side.

We're going to a State Park this week end. When I return home ... lumber goes back under those tires!

Effy wrote:
Rolling tires under weight keeps the oils moving, flexes them and keeps them in good shape. The worst thing for any tire is to sit, drying out and hardening. So your argument is moot because it's apples and oranges.

How often should the oil be changed?:h

DutchmenSport wrote:
Simple question to answer your question? Do you park your family car on boards? Why not? You just answered your own question.

However, reason why you SHOULD use boards for your RV.

1) If you are parked on soft ground, like sand, grass, or dirt. It helps keep the tires from sinking in the ground. When it rains, the ground softens and the tires begin to sink. Pulling out of a hole might be difficult, or even cause you to get stuck and need a tow truck to wench you out. If you use boards, the tires will never sink in the ground. The board may, but the tires will not, always insuring you are able move the camper freely.

2) If you are parked on asphalt. The weight of the camper and not moving the camper at all in heat, can cause the asphalt under the tires to soften and result in the asphalt having dimples where the tires sat. If you use boards, the weight of the camper is distributed over a wider area and will not cause the asphalt to dimple.

3) If you are parked on a solid surface (asphalt or concrete) and it's prone to flooding, boards under the tires may help raise the camper higher than the water, keeping the tires dry.

4) Boards under the tires help level the camper side-to-side.

If it was bad for tires to be sitting directly on concrete, asphalt, dirt, grass, or sand, then ALL of our vehicles are in SERIOUS trouble.

Simple, you drive your car often and keep the tires moving which is good for the tires. That's why you don't do it on your car. If it sat for months, it's an entirely different scenario. Rolling tires under weight keeps the oils moving, flexes them and keeps them in good shape. The worst thing for any tire is to sit, drying out and hardening. So your argument is moot because it's apples and oranges.

DutchmenSport wrote:
.........2) If you are parked on asphalt. The weight of the camper and not moving the camper at all in heat, can cause the asphalt under the tires to soften and result in the asphalt having dimples where the tires sat. If you use boards, the weight of the camper is distributed over a wider area and will not cause the asphalt to dimple........

I have seen board depressions in soft AC pavement too. However, my conclusion is that the AC mix design used the wrong oil type or percentage.

Simple question to answer your question? Do you park your family car on boards? Why not? You just answered your own question.

However, reason why you SHOULD use boards for your RV.

1) If you are parked on soft ground, like sand, grass, or dirt. It helps keep the tires from sinking in the ground. When it rains, the ground softens and the tires begin to sink. Pulling out of a hole might be difficult, or even cause you to get stuck and need a tow truck to wench you out. If you use boards, the tires will never sink in the ground. The board may, but the tires will not, always insuring you are able move the camper freely.

2) If you are parked on asphalt. The weight of the camper and not moving the camper at all in heat, can cause the asphalt under the tires to soften and result in the asphalt having dimples where the tires sat. If you use boards, the weight of the camper is distributed over a wider area and will not cause the asphalt to dimple.

3) If you are parked on a solid surface (asphalt or concrete) and it's prone to flooding, boards under the tires may help raise the camper higher than the water, keeping the tires dry.

4) Boards under the tires help level the camper side-to-side.

If it was bad for tires to be sitting directly on concrete, asphalt, dirt, grass, or sand, then ALL of our vehicles are in SERIOUS trouble.

It may seem foolish but during the 6 month periods my Motor Home sits still I have it parked on boards and covered. And really don't care if it's on dirt, grass, rocks, or concrete. I just figure something is better then nothing.

I think it depends on what you are parking it on. Gravel- I probably wouldn't as it has really good drainage and it's not a caustic media. Grass - for sure. Concrete, asphalt, it's probably not a bad idea as they can contain caustic materials and petroleum. That said, the sun is biggest killer to tires, that and sitting still. Covering them probably makes more of a difference than what you park them on.

especially on concrete. Refer to www.michelinrvtires.com

I store our Southwind on gravel. It provides drainage, I don't use boards or anything else under the tires.

If we park on any type of "rock" we always place boards under the tires.