Trailer Maintenance Question

[Baby Tran Cat]

Got a question. I have not needed to use my trailer now for six months since I moved the boat to the West End Marina. What kind of maintenance should I do on it now and how often since it just sits on the island? I have seen some trailers on jacks so as to take the weight off the wheels but unsure if that is worth or not. Any help?

Thanks

[2112]

There should not be much you need to do, BTC.

People take the weight off the trailer thats sets up for extended periods because it keeps the tires from developing flat spots.

Id spray most of the fasteners and leaf springs if you got them to retard rust.
It's a good time to work on them trailer harnesses too.

A note about trailer tires;
They go by milage and not tread life. The average trailer tire is good for about 5k miles, not the depth of the tread.

Trailer tires get hotter than normal tires because of the load they can carry. No side wall cracks

Has it been awhile since you've inspected you're bearings and them gave them a good re-pack? Perfect time to do it. You can even wait until by-week if you are not going to use it for a time.

[Robalo]

Brad:

As you see by the evidence in my driveway, the springs rust, flake and crack and go bad-seems like about 2-3 years they basically fall apart. I read in SWS about a guy mixed 30 wt oil with STP Oil treatment and used an old paint brush to "paint" that stuff on his springs to retard rust. You need to inspect the axles for rust, especially where the U-bolts bolt on the springs to the axle and spray the tires with armor all spray. If ya haven't packed the wheel bearings for a while, ya may wanna re-pack or replace them, load em up with lithium based grease. My fenders rusted out due to spilling hull cleaner on them, so I'd expect them to last many years.

Sure is easy to say, not so easy to do.

[Hogie70]

Spray some LPS 3 or some corriosion X on the leaf springs. I really dont think with the boat off of the trailer you need to install the stands under the axial to keep the weight off of the tires. That is usually done when the boat is on the trailer to keep the tires from forming flat spots. I would assure the grease in the bearings is fresh. Ever now and then hook on to it and run to the car wash and wash it down real good.