4 Helpful Trailer Storage Tips
If you own any sort of flat deck or utility trailer, it's most likely serving you well for quite a few uses, particularly during the spring and summer months. However, once the harsher weather of the fall and especially winter rolls in, you may decide it's time to put it away for a while. If you're careless about this process, though, your trailer could end up being worse for the wear when you're ready to use it again, so it's important to do it the right way. For more information, come see us at our locations in Red Deer and Edmonton, Alberta. We also serve other parts of Alberta, as well.
1. Keep it Covered
It's ideal if you can find an indoor area to store your trailer, but that isn't always possible or affordable. If you do end up needing to leave it outside, it's crucial that you make a point to cover it up. While an inexpensive tarp is better than nothing, splurging for a higher-quality cover will be much more reliable in terms of shielding your trailer from the elements.
2. Relieve the Trailer's Pressure
When you leave a trailer sitting idle for a long period of time, even if it's unloaded, the weight of the trailer itself can put quite a bit of pressure on the tires and suspension. To alleviate this, think about jacking up the trailer while it's in storage. To achieve this, you can stack either concrete blocks or beams of wood high enough off the ground for the trailer to be able to rest on them.
3. Provide Tire Protection
When your trailer's tires sit unused for extensive stretches of time, it's possible that they'll start drying out and cracking. If you want to keep them in great shape for when you're ready to use the trailer again, consider giving them a protective coating and inflating them all the way before you put the trailer away. However, if you're storing your trailer somewhere that it'll be exposed to extreme weather conditions, consider removing the tires altogether.
4. Provide Regular Lubrication
When you aren't using your trailer, the axle bearings are no longer going to be lubricating themselves. After a while, this can start to negatively affect their ability to work once you've taken the trailer out of storage. To remedy this, simply take the time to re-lubricate them yourself every week or two while the trailer is put away.
If you want your trailer to be in great shape once you're ready to use it again, don't underestimate the effects of storing it properly. To learn more, visit us at Allan Dale Trailers & RVs. We're located in both Red Deer and Edmonton, Alberta, and also serve other parts of Alberta.