Car Storage on a Trailer

[9toofaresser]

Is it OK to store a track car on a trailer for short periods of time?
Long periods of time?

I need to make some room in my garage for a couple of months.

Just wondering...

Thanks.

[realroadrage]

Was wondering the same thing. Good question.

[smdubovsky]

Most track cars I know of live on trailers. Don't see how its any different than parking it in your garage.

[Toby]

My friend keeps his 6000+ lbs boat on the trailer when it's not in use. (Many months each winter for many years now.) Can't imagine why car trailers would be any different.

[9toofaresser]

I would rather keep it in the garage for obvious reasons, but I need some room to work right now.

Good point about boats - that makes pretty good sense to me.

I guess I'm in the market for a good all-season car cover now.

[VaSteve]

Wouldn't it depend on if you tie it down via the wheels vs. the body? I would see the body tie downs compressing the suspension the whole time.


Disclaimer: I don't know how you all tie your stuff down since I don't pay that close attention. :)

[OldTee]

That car doesn't give a damn where it lives and will adjust to its new situation without complaint. I would put some mouse poison around, a few moth balls inside on the floor, a good lock on the door, crack a window and don't start it unless you warm it up to operating temperature.

:)

ARF

[realroadrage]

I guess my curiosity was more in line with what Steve asks, e.g., impact to the car being tied down and also ramifications to trailer tires, etc.

[HoodPin]

Good points about the possible suspension compression. But if the trailer's not going to move, then I would suggest simply putting some slack on the tie down straps. The car in gear and/or parking brake would hold it just like in the garage. Although, I would suggest for long period outdoors, probably best to NOT engage the parking brake.

Also a good idea to overinflate a bit the tires on the car and trailer for long storage periods. Particularly for the trailer if will be loaded. Overinflating helps avoid the flatspotting. In most cases, driving the car will help round out the belts again after several miles. But I've heard that trailers tires can suffer over the long term. Many trailers, particularly boats, are stored for long periods with the load on them. The compression of the tire causes the belts to form a seam over time. Supposedly, these "seam" create weak points in the metal belts, which can result in failures.

From what I've heard, trailer tire failures on the road, seem to be more evident in trailers that normally store a load on them. My boat trailer (almost always with the boat onboard) experienced 2 separate incidents where a tire, in otherwise good condition by appearance and tread depth, just burst while going down the road. However, after 3 years with the car trailers, which are either parked unloaded, or overinflated if loaded, I've not yet to have a tire failure (.....ok....where's that wood for me to go knock on..... ;) )

[VaSteve]

Tony when do you have time to go out on a boat? :)

[9toofaresser]

Thanks Tony and OldTee - that helps.

I was thinking mostly of the effect on the trailer tires sitting under load in one spot for a longer period of time. I don't have the car tied down right now, so that is not a problem.

When you say "over-inflate" do you mean above the recommended max pressure, or just more than normal? I keep them at 25 psi normally. I think the max pressure is 32 psi.

[HoodPin]

Thanks Tony and OldTee - that helps.

I was thinking mostly of the effect on the trailer tires sitting under load in one spot for a longer period of time. I don't have the car tied down right now, so that is not a problem.

When you say "over-inflate" do you mean above the recommended max pressure, or just more than normal? I keep them at 25 psi normally. I think the max pressure is 32 psi.

I would recommend about 20% over the max PSI shown. Remember that most tires list a COLD PSI; on the road the tire will heat up and expand a bit anyway. The idea is to keep the tire as round as possible. When my wife used to autox a VW Rabbit in stock class, we used to bump the stock 35PSI tires to around 50PSI. Tires can handle a fair amount of extra pressure. Just remember to drop them when towing season starts again. Also, direct sun can cause some pressure fluctuations, so depending on how/where parked, might want to check periodically.

[smdubovsky]

DONT tow a car w/ it in gear. Any rocking against the straps causes the crank to shift back and forth w/o oil:( So, I wouldn't ever put it in gear lest you forget to take it out.

I inflate trailer tires to the recommended amt (which is near max). The things had 15k# sitting on them for almost two years and no ill effects. I didn't do anything special to the toyos the car was sitting on either. No ill effects ever noticed there either.

I worry FAR more about trailer wheel bearings that sit still for long periods of time than the tires they're holding up...

BTW, if you ever need new trailer tires just let Wonger borrow it:p

[Trak Ratt]

DONT tow a car w/ it in gear. Any rocking against the straps causes the crank to shift back and forth w/o oil:( So, I wouldn't ever put it in gear lest you forget to take it out.

I inflate trailer tires to the recommended amt (which is near max). The things had 15k# sitting on them for almost two years and no ill effects. I didn't do anything special to the toyos the car was sitting on either. No ill effects ever noticed there either.

I worry FAR more about trailer wheel bearings that sit still for long periods of time than the tires they're holding up...

X2 except I would leave it in gear AND writ a note to myself or others that the straps were lose and the car was in gear. I do the same when changing oil and not refilling imediately. Just makes sense to take the extra step.