Trailer Tires

[AHarris]

I've had my double axle TT stored (indoor unheated storage in Northern Michigan) for 4 years while we've been living in Germany. Next summer I will be taking it out of storage and pulling it about 1,200 miles to where we'll be living back in the States.



The trailer is 5 years old and the tires are original with about 3,000 miles on them. There are no signs of dry rot and they look good, but they've been sitting for 3 years without moving (inflated) with the trailer in indoor storage with stabilizer jacks lowered.



Question is should I do anything before I tow it cross country, or should it be ok w/ just checking tire pressure and hitting the road?



Thanks

 

[HBarlow]

If you like taking risks pull it as it is. The fact that your trailer was stored indoors away from direct sunlight and in a cooler climate may have provided some protection. And if the trailer has only been pulled 3000 miles the bearings might be okay.



If you don't like roadside emergencies or possible trailer damage, the smartest thing to do to make sure you don't have problems would be to repack the wheel bearings and replace the tires before towing it.



Harvey

 

[Grey Wolf]

I would have to agree 100% with Harvey

 

[CROW]

I agree with Grey Wolf and HBarlow. Wheel bearings seem to "drain off" or "go dry" if they set for a long period of time and are not moved. Seals may be dried out as well. Not a bit of fun changing trailer tires on the side of the road while you estimate the damage to the trailer caused by a blowout.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Knowing what I know now I would replace the tires with LTX (light truck)Michelin's rated high enough to haul the weight before I went on the road. ST tires are not made to last. They are "engineered" to loose 1/3 of their strength in 3 years. THIS IS BY THE INDUSTRIES OWN STATEMENT. This NOT Dry Rot, this is a SCAM. Consider they are made in China and shipped to the US and stored in a warehouse and then on a Dealers Rack. Could be a year old when you buy them. Trailer fenders are not too expensive but the labor to replace them is. Welds have to be ground off and the new fender welded on. I had a HELL of a time bending the damaged fender out of the way of the spare. Age 79 in 90 degree heat was no fun. Had I known what I know now there would have been a Michelin on there and it would never have happened. 3 weeks before that I was changing tires in 100+ degree heat. I felt like I had passed some sort of endurance test. Worst of all these ST (SCAM TIRES) are a highway hazard when they FLY APART on the Interstate.