Forum Discussion

PierreBois's avatar
PierreBois
Explorer
Nov 16, 2018

Storage on driveway

We are changing things up a bit this winter in that we are planning on heading south after New Years. I have always stored my trailer on grass with a tarp between the ground and the tires. This year i am parking on my driveway for the time before we leave. My driveway is asphalt. I was once told that the rig shouldn't be stored on a concrete pad for any length of time, and now I wonder if the same holds true for asphalt. Thanks for any advice
  • enblethen wrote:
    Concrete has chemicals (calcium) when water (rain) splashes it on to the tires, chemical reaction can damage tires.
    No problemm sitting on asphalt.

    Lol. Now I’ve heard it all!
    Actually, you’re partially correct. If you parked IN freshly placed concrete before it set up, and it rained then the fresh concrete could splash onto your tires.

    As for the OP, park it on your driveway. This isn’t even a question. What do you drive and park the trailer on when your using it?
  • Well, if sitting on asphalt is a bad thing, then I suppose I'm in trouble. My pop-up, all 3 of my previous travel trailers and now my 5er sits on asphalt at home. They've been sitting on asphalt for some 25 years now. The only difference right now? I use a board under one side of the tires to make it level now. We had the drive way resurfaced this last Summer and they put a 6 inch slope (25 feet wide) so water would run off opposite side of the house when it rains. The board keeps the trailer level.

    But, if you are concerned about your trailer tires dimpling the asphalt, then just put a long board under the tires on each side and you'll be just fine!

    Does asphalt or concrete hurt your auto tires? Just asking?
  • enblethen wrote:
    Concrete has chemicals (calcium) when water (rain) splashes it on to the tires, chemical reaction can damage tires.
    No problemm sitting on asphalt.


    Old "wives tales".

    If concrete is going to "hurt" RV tires then I WOULD expect "asphalt" to totally MELT down the RV tires since the base of asphalt AND the rubber compounds is "hydrocarbons" or crude OIL fractions.. And we ALL know that oils do break down rubber compounds..

    Besides, perhaps you could explain to me why everyone who owns a home with a garage that has a UNPAINTED CONCRETE FLOOR and never experience "damaged" vehicle tires from sitting on concrete?

    In fact, I have an antique vehicle which had 50+ yr old tires on it when I got it, they were not damaged sitting on concrete or asphalt that they sat on all the years it was garaged in an unheated out building.. No, those tires were just plain tired from old age and the cotton cords used inside were rotted from time.

    OP, you will not have any issues with your RV tires sitting on asphalt, concrete, wood, grass, dirt, mud, gravel, stone, river rock, pea gravel, flyash, wood ash, coal ash, plastic, ect..

    I personally have concrete paver stones under my trailer tires, I did this so I don't have issues with the trailer tires sinking into the ground..

    Do be aware, parking any heavy weight items on asphalt for extended times CAN eventually lead to the ASPHALT developing low spots where the heavy object sat.. So, as a precaution, make sure you at least put some wood or something like a paver under your trailer tongue or jacks which ever applies to your rig.. Would hate to see you end up with a hole in your pavement..
  • Concrete has chemicals (calcium) when water (rain) splashes it on to the tires, chemical reaction can damage tires.
    No problemm sitting on asphalt.
  • No worries. When we were camp hosting oir fiver would sit on asphalt for 2 months at a time with no ill effects.