What Do You Do With Your Trailer Tires During Storage?

[longfisher]

I've owned my boat for 12 years now and it's been stored under cover but in the open all these years. I've replaced the trailer tires twice during that time all the way around.

Now, I won't say that winter dry rot or not moving the boat over the winter is the cause of the tire replacements, mileage is. But one winter I did let the boat sit for about 4 months without even bringing it home and the tires were still inflated but were also, well, flattened as all get out and dry rotted a bit where the tire had bulged during the period of storage.

Since then I've been bringing the boat home from the lot ever two weeks and doing a bit of maintenance or just cleaning it up a bit just to keep the tires rolled. Even that's gotten to be a pain.

This year I fogged the engine, choked all the fuel from the lines, filled the tank and added antioxidant, removed the batteries to the garrage where they can be charged easily and sprayed anti-corrosion compounds on the electical connections. But I'm at a loss as to what to do with the tires.

I think I'm going to buy some cinder blocks and jack up the trailer so the tires are off the ground. Then they won't tend to bulge. I'll also "dress" the tires with one of those tire dressings that is supposed to keep the dry rot at bay.

Anything else you guys would recommend?

LF

[gottaflylee]

Mine stay on the trailer year round. If it is going to site for a long period of time I will roll it on to some 2 X 8s to keep is out of contact with the ground.

[marine4003]

regardless of weather i use my fishing boat year round, but the family boat gets pulled from storage and driven twice a month,in my warehouse lot the big RV's are jacked up,tires off the deck and tire covers used, one guy uses silicone spray to keep tires pliable, i didn't think it got cold enough on the western gulf to pull a boat.

[bigfish4me]

A few choices.....block the trailer up to get the wheels off the ground........check the air pressure in the tires before un blocking......move the trailer a few feet every 6 weeks or so, I agree with Marine though your in texas I figured you could fish year round.

[longfisher]

A few choices.....block the trailer up to get the wheels off the ground........check the air pressure in the tires before un blocking......move the trailer a few feet every 6 weeks or so, I agree with Marine though your in texas I figured you could fish year round.

...but my family's into hunting and camping too. So, we sort of do fishing mostly in the warmer months and hunting and hiking when the weather is cooler and more permissive.

There's nothing more deadly than the Texas sun during the warmer parts of the year. It's virtually impossible to have fun with "gear" on hunting or hiking during the summer (we always travel with at least a fanny pack of survival gear each).

It's not that we ever get lost. But there's been a few times we've been "confused" for a couple of days. South and West Texas where we recreat are very big places and the terrain all looks the same once you leave the roadway or established trails.

So, we reserve the cooler months for things other than fishing.

About the tires, I like the idea of blocking them up off the ground. I have a three ton floor jack. That with a piece of plywood should do the trick.

Thanks all,

LF

[LuckyLady]

Not really sure what the answer is here, maybe a heavy coat of tire shine or armoral?

[bigfish4me]

...but my family's into hunting and camping too. So, we sort of do fishing mostly in the warmer months and hunting and hiking when the weather is cooler and more permissive.

There's nothing more deadly than the Texas sun during the warmer parts of the year. It's virtually impossible to have fun with "gear" on hunting or hiking during the summer (we always travel with at least a fanny pack of survival gear each).

It's not that we ever get lost. But there's been a few times we've been "confused" for a couple of days. South and West Texas where we recreat are very big places and the terrain all looks the same once you leave the roadway or established trails.

So, we reserve the cooler months for things other than fishing.

About the tires, I like the idea of blocking them up off the ground. I have a three ton floor jack. That with a piece of plywood should do the trick.

Thanks all,

LF

The Jack will do the trick......and as LL suggested spray the tires down once in a while to protect them and you should be good......I must say I am a tad bit jealous of the open spaces right at your back door.....I once read to find yourself you need to loose yourself once in a while.....I bet those times of confusion have been some of the most memorable trips ever.

[longfisher]

The Jack will do the trick......and as LL suggested spray the tires down once in a while to protect them and you should be good......I must say I am a tad bit jealous of the open spaces right at your back door.....I once read to find yourself you need to loose yourself once in a while.....I bet those times of confusion have been some of the most memorable trips ever.

...the first time was a bit alarming.

My Son and I were given permission to hunt about 166 acres of river bottom land near Austin and right on the Colorado River. The terrain there is cut up badly with small but deep creeks, some dry some wet. So, no one plows the land, but rather, they allow it to remain fallow and run cattle on it.

It was really not out intent to hunt that day, but rather, to meet our benefactors, get to know them, show them our gear so they'd not get nervous about us shooting their cattle and then to just truck-hike the place. So, we didn't bring along any survival gear or even a GPS. Big mistake.

Our hosts accompanied us by truck as far as the trucks could safely travel and then wished us a good day and left. We were only about a half mile from the fence and the gate, so, we didn't feel uncomfortable and decided to shoot some squirrels.

Once we got down into the creek bottoms though the canopy and the gray sky that day made us lose our sense of direction. As it got dark, we made our way to the river and decided to simply walk the bank until we encountered a fence line. Well, unfortunately fences along the river get carried away by frequent floods and the cattle often lean on them and knock them down. So, we didn't end up where we thought we'd end up.

But as we crossed a wide wash I saw on the horizon to a dim light reflected. We headed for it thinking it was probably a house. Turned out to be our truck's sideview mirror and we were safe but rattled a bit. We'd actually traveled in a very large circle, as I've heard so many people say when they've been confused.

While we were confused, I'd been thinking of how I'd keep my 7 year old son warm all night given we were without any way to make a fire (dopes). And, even when I got to the truck and headed home that thought unsettled me.

So, I set out to make sure 1) we always had survival gear on that would carry us for at least three days, 2) always had a means of communications both with each other and with the outside world, 3) had a positive attitude about being in the woods or on the prarie or in the desert even when we didn't know exactly where we were or how to get out. Turned out that the last of those three things was the trick.

We now plow into the wilderness without much concern at all. If we get turned around or if the weather closes in unexpectedly and we have to spend a night in the open we have the gear on our backs to make it a pleasant evening. We travel without fear.

Actually, it's been really great for the kid. He's gotten to the point that going to the woods for our two and sometimes three day adventures is the most desireable thing in his life. He's sort of an over-achiever and he puts a lot of pressure on himself at school and in sports. Getting completely away from that life is like a tonic for him.

He really became an outdoorsman and a naturalist...because we had the good fortune to get lost one day and decided not to allow it to stop us. As I've said before, we don't know fear...but we do manage risk.

Thanks for your kindness, Big.

LF

[marine4003]

Check on line for compounds that "preserve" tires, some stuff ie:armourall is only for show and doesn't do much,UV inhibitors are great if you don't cover the tires,but there is stuff that keeps rubber from dry-rot,although i read somewhere that todays tires are only 40% rubber and the rest is man made stuff..so check it out before appling..Merry Christmas LF.

[bigfish4me]

...the first time was a bit alarming.

My Son and I were given permission to hunt about 166 acres of river bottom land near Austin and right on the Colorado River. The terrain there is cut up badly with small but deep creeks, some dry some wet. So, no one plows the land, but rather, they allow it to remain fallow and run cattle on it.

It was really not out intent to hunt that day, but rather, to meet our benefactors, get to know them, show them our gear so they'd not get nervous about us shooting their cattle and then to just truck-hike the place. So, we didn't bring along any survival gear or even a GPS. Big mistake.

Our hosts accompanied us by truck as far as the trucks could safely travel and then wished us a good day and left. We were only about a half mile from the fence and the gate, so, we didn't feel uncomfortable and decided to shoot some squirrels.

Once we got down into the creek bottoms though the canopy and the gray sky that day made us lose our sense of direction. As it got dark, we made our way to the river and decided to simply walk the bank until we encountered a fence line. Well, unfortunately fences along the river get carried away by frequent floods and the cattle often lean on them and knock them down. So, we didn't end up where we thought we'd end up.

But as we crossed a wide wash I saw on the horizon to a dim light reflected. We headed for it thinking it was probably a house. Turned out to be our truck's sideview mirror and we were safe but rattled a bit. We'd actually traveled in a very large circle, as I've heard so many people say when they've been confused.

While we were confused, I'd been thinking of how I'd keep my 7 year old son warm all night given we were without any way to make a fire (dopes). And, even when I got to the truck and headed home that thought unsettled me.

So, I set out to make sure 1) we always had survival gear on that would carry us for at least three days, 2) always had a means of communications both with each other and with the outside world, 3) had a positive attitude about being in the woods or on the prarie or in the desert even when we didn't know exactly where we were or how to get out. Turned out that the last of those three things was the trick.

We now plow into the wilderness without much concern at all. If we get turned around or if the weather closes in unexpectedly and we have to spend a night in the open we have the gear on our backs to make it a pleasant evening. We travel without fear.

Actually, it's been really great for the kid. He's gotten to the point that going to the woods for our two and sometimes three day adventures is the most desireable thing in his life. He's sort of an over-achiever and he puts a lot of pressure on himself at school and in sports. Getting completely away from that life is like a tonic for him.

He really became an outdoorsman and a naturalist...because we had the good fortune to get lost one day and decided not to allow it to stop us. As I've said before, we don't know fear...but we do manage risk.

Thanks for your kindness, Big.

LF

I once got turned around in the Moshannon state Forrest in Pa.....first time hurting it and 4 hours from home....just shy of4000 acres......we got a topo map and found the highest point of the land and after and hour and a half of washboard like dirt road we found our spot. It was opening day of rifle season in PA.....which is the first Monday after thanksgiving....it was unseasonably warm that day I would say high 50's to low 60 degrees. We went in in the dark, armed with my 308 and a climbing stand I shimmied up a ree and the hunt began.

I was with my brother in law...me I love to hunt but live to fish....he...he likes to fish but lives to hunt. We had radios to stay in touch......about 2 pm I noticed what seemed to be snow flakes.....now the only time we broke radio silence was to either let each other know we wee getting out of the stand o we had one down.....I broke the code and asked him if he was seeing snow flurries, after he got done laughing and telling e was 60 degrees.....he said son...they aint snow flakes they are ashes get out of your tree and get to the truck!

Sure enough I got out of the valley i was in and was met by a wall of fire.....cut off from the truck and fearing for my life, by the time I got out of the way of the fire and around it I was out of handheld radio range, lost beyond belief and in the dark. You now what saved my life?.....My father teaching me to be prepared for going out in the woods.....I spent the night in the woods and the temp dropped like a rock. I built a fire and didnt get much sleep, in panic and running from a raging forest fire....the wind was blowing an honest 30+ and spreading it like mad.....I lost my bearings and in the process my compass. I stayed calm.....well as calm as I could be...actually I was shitting my pants lol. I waited for the sun to rise and got my bearings and started to make my way back to where I believed we started our hunt....that was around 7 am.

3 hours later I picked up my Bro in law on the radio, there was a search team out looking for me and I was about a 45 minute hike from where I needed to be....but on the right path.....2 minutes after I talked to him I walked up on a clearing and low and behold there is a small but legal buck 250 yards away in a field.......smoked him, dropped right where he stood.....I called my bro in law and told him I would be a little longer since I Was going to be dragging......man did he read me the riot act....a moment of confusion I will never forget.....Thanks for sharing your moment with us LF....many of us have been there.