I just put new tires on my trailer and I'm looking for tips to make them last.
The trailer is a homebuilt (not by me) 4x8 utility trailer with an additional rack welded on to carry kayaks and canoes. It is mostly used to take the canoe/kayaks to the water during the spring/summer/fall, and for a few odd and end home projects. It is also used for camping trips etc. However, the majority of it's time is spent parked on the side of the house as a storage for said canoes and kayaks. The wheels are covered by the fenders on top, but are sitting on the grass.
Thanks
Keep them aired up, replace them every 7-8 years.
You can buy tire covers to put over them. I see them all the time on RVs.
Pics of trailer please, my mom just picked up a watertoy hauler that we are converting to a kayak hauler.
Knit up some tire cozy's to keep the UV off of them like the ones on motor homes.
Also I agree with Toyman01 just plan on replacement, they are not that big of an investment. Age will kill them no matter what you do, it all depends on your tolerance for blowouts.
Buy decent tires designed for trailers. The cheap ones last 3-4 years, the good ones 6-7 years.
Don't overload them or turn too sharply, this pulls the tires from the rims and distorts them.
If they are baking in the sun, the covers help with dry rot. Cheap on Amazon, just white canvas with a little wire inside.
Keep them aired up, low pressure will kink the sidewalls and they will fail sooner.
A few things I have found are correct air pressure, tire covers (UV), and since its small trailer I would put it on jack stands to keep the tires off the ground. This will help reduce flat spots over the winter.
Paul
If you don't have one already, get a wheeled trailer jack. Makes it easy to roll around. If you can't pull the wheels, roll it around every so often to prevent flat spots. As said, tire pressure, very important, before every use. Also check your wheel bearings, spring and fall, at the very least, depending on how much you use it.
Sorry it took so long. Here are pics of the trailer
Trailer tires just suck. Make sure you keep them aired up, and always always always carry a spare. Especially on a single axle. Watch curbs and stuff when backing and making turns, and shoulders on narrow roads. Trailer tires live a horrid life.
I have a similar 4 x 8 trailer, and replaced the 12" tires it came with, with 14" ones. The extra load capacity rating seems to make them last longer.
volvoclearinghouse said:
Watch curbs and stuff when backing and making turns, and shoulders on narrow roads. Trailer tires live a horrid life.
This is truth.
I followed a guy leaving CMP Sunday afternoon. It's about 15 miles to the nearest town on a old narrow road. He drug that poor trailer down the edge of that road the entire way. Pot holes, ruts, trash, he ran over all of it.
44Dwarf
UltraDork
3/27/18 8:21 a.m.
Lay down some PT ground contact rated 2x12's where you park it. Take 3/4 wood dowels cut in half at a 60deg angle so you have a point drill holes pigeon toed in the 2x12 then drive the dowels in leave them up 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. This will let you back the trailer on to the planks with out them moving and wood will not pop the tire as rebar or other metal might.
Once you find the sweat spot for it add wheel chocks to the back side so you back until the tire hits then chock both fronts to form a cradle for the tire.
Yes keep them covered. Those tires look like small diameter you may find a plastic 25 or 55 gallon drum cut up then knotch the side to fit around the wheel chocks.
Toyman01 said:
volvoclearinghouse said:
Watch curbs and stuff when backing and making turns, and shoulders on narrow roads. Trailer tires live a horrid life.
This is truth.
I followed a guy leaving CMP Sunday afternoon. It's about 15 miles to the nearest town on a old narrow road. He drug that poor trailer down the edge of that road the entire way. Pot holes, ruts, trash, he ran over all of it.
You didn't happen to be following a battered old crew cab pickup towing a purple LTD on a car hauler, did you? 
