Caravan tyres

Ronzo · Veteran Member

Caravan tyres

hako · Guru

My thoughts are don't bother. Back a few years they would get 'flat spots' but tyres nowdays don't have that problem. Same with sunlight and exposure to the environment - they don't crack/split like they used to, even cheap tyres.
This presumes that you follow manufacturers recommendations and replace tyres every 5 years.
Bottom line for me is keep it simple.
Good Luck.

Radar · Guru

Myself I park the van on some thick conveyer belting, the tyre which gets hit by the sun I place sunshield around it.

The reason behind this thinking is the other tyre's pressure didn't change any, the one in the sun did as it was being baked. Have changed tyres around thinking it hard a leak but no the one in the sun looses pressure.

When I went away for 3 months I parked the car up on timber also.

It pretty easy to do parking the caravan on some rubber, it not hard and crtainly easier then jacking it up.

No I don't have any paper work to prove other but then life experiences.

elliemike · Guru

I have often wondered if the storage for long periods of caravans and trailers has any "Brinelling" effect on the wheel bearings. Brinelling happens if a bearing is static for long periods and under some loading resulting in the Rollers or Balls minutely indenting (Brinelling) the bearing surface. It usually only happens where vibration is a factor. Always wondered if this happens to caravans, static for say a year. Anyone had experience of this.

I always remember the Lathes on older Ships where never suitable for precision work. Stuffed due to the vibration and the Lathe being idle for lengthy periods.

Transporting machinery (like Big Generator sets) to remote mine sites or communities along bush roads. It is always advisable to support the Crankshafts and Rotor shaft to prevent this happening in transit.

Tomcat · Senior Member

Hello Ronzo

We have a Jaco Sterling twin axle from 2010 starting with new tyres. We took the van to a tyre dealer and got the wheels balanced and have only ever topped up the air to 42lbs. The van was parked in the yard no blocks or jacking up etc. I can only estimate the kms we have done say 60,000. The tyres will be replaced and balanced soon. On our last trip around Australia I noticed the back tyres worn more than the front. The back tyres also had small chunks of rubber chewed out and I guess this may come from the rear tyres dragging on tight turns. One of the back tyres was swapped out with the spare because it was worn so badly. I believe tyres have a life weather they are used or not so thats the main reason I'm changing them out before a big trip next year. So any extra treatment I say no. All I have done is some obvious rotation because of wear and kept the tyres at 42 lbs. Hope this experience helps.

-- Edited by Tomcat on Sunday 20th of December 2015 07:33:13 PM

Tomcat · Senior Member

Just another thought Ronzo.

While away on our trip around Australia my wife 2008 Holden sedan was left on its lonesome for 6 months with no ill effects to the tyres.. It was just parked normally for all of that time and when she drove it , it felt normal with no tyre problems.

landy · Guru

I don' know if it is true today but I was once told that all motorbike"s sent from the U K by
ship had to have their wheel bearings changed as part of the pre delivery procedure, due to the motion of the ship.
Landy

Cupie · Guru

I have no evidence that putting the van on blocks is good for either tyres or bearings, but I have always done so since I got the van 16 years ago.

After long trips I like to re grease the bearings & check the breaks as well as checking out the suspension & under the van.

It only takes a few minutes to jack it up & put stands under the axles.

After all that time & around 200,000 km I am still on the original bearings & change the tyres due to ageing & not wear.

I forgot to include the spare in the replacement program & a 10yo one failed with tread separation after <5,000 km.

elliemike · Guru

landy wrote:
I don' know if it is true today but I was once told that all motorbike"s sent from the U K by
ship had to have their wheel bearings changed as part of the pre delivery procedure, due to the motion of the ship.
Landy

I would think that was a Myth.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Ford Motor company once had wheel bearing problems with new cars, but only in Western Australia.
It was eventually traced to rail transport and Brunelling of the bearings.
The solution was to leave the tie downs a little loose, so they moved about a bit.
That will never happen in the shed when stationary.

Do nothing to the tyres when you leave the vehicle un used. They will be fine.
I always fill the diesel tanks and add biocide and do an oil change immediately before parking up.

Cheers,
Peter

Ronzo · Veteran Member

Thanks everyone for your feedback Ronzo