Keeping Load on Trailer

[drivadesl]

Wondering for how long is it OK to keep a parked trailer loaded say at 90% full capacity without seriously affecting the life of springs and tires etc? I'm not looking to store anything for any length of time, just looking to spark a discussion.

 

[unreconstructed]

I have been trailering 400 miles round trip with my 5203 once or twice a month for two years now (finally got a barn up so can leave the 5203 there--whew). I have to get my pickup and tractor loaded one to three days before I leave due to my work regimen. That's about as long as I ever have left my rig loaded.--That includes a Miller Bobcat sitting in the back of my f350.

There's plenty of engineers on this forum who I am sure will give a much more informed answer to your thread.

 

[Highbeam]

Due to a loack of garage, I left my trailer loaded with the tractor as seen in my avatar for years. That was the aprking spot. Just like an RV travel trailer, the springs, frame, tires, and frame are designed for the load and should be able to hold the load all the time.

In the old days, the tires would develope a flat spot from setting loaded that would go away when they warmed up but the newer HD radials don't even get a flat spot.

 

[RobJ]

I probably wouldn't worry about it that much, but you can always support it with some jack stands if you want to.

 

[Renze]

In the old days, the tires would develope a flat spot from setting loaded that would go away when they warmed up but the newer HD radials don't even get a flat spot.

Some trailer tires still have that after sitting for 3 months... But you wont notice the flat spots when driving with the trailer LOADED, and the flat spots will be round again after a couple of miles. But if you offload the trailer before using it again, they do have these flat spots..

I used a trailer from work, which had been sitting with a 2.3 ton doubledeck car hauler truck body on top, for about 3 months. I drove 150 km to pick up a tractor, and the tires vibrated all the way. When i got the tractor loaded, the vibrations disappeared after 10 km...

I just dont like leaving tires loaded for months, with the sun burning on the black rubber all day...

 

[Wombat125]

I'm not a springologist, but I've always been led to believe that springs wear out by flex cycles, not by a static load within their design specs.

This topic comes up very frequently in gun circles as people constantly ask if it is ok to keep full magazines in storage without horking up the spring. Consensus is that there is no harm.

 

[wkpoor]

Travel trailers are loader their whole life as someone mentioned. I would say its a non issue.

 

[Soundguy]

I've had a ford with fel, and pto gen on the back on my trailer for a month now, driving it out to my jobsite on my farm every weekend.. no problems yet..

soundguy

 

[3RRL]

I probably wouldn't worry about it that much, but you can always support it with some jack stands if you want to.

That is pretty much how I feel about it too ... for peace of mind.

 

[drivadesl]

Yeah, I kinda felt it wouldn't be an issue, just wanted to see what experiences the rest of you had with this. What sparked my thoughts on this was one time I was taking delivery of 7 yards of topsoil, and when discussing the delivery with the driver, he was very hesitant to want to pick up the soil the night before, and let it sit in his truck over night. In his words "that would ruin my springs". I didn't think much of it then, until planning trips with my 7ton gooseneck and the likely hood of having to leave the load overnight until the morning when I would leave on maybe a 2 hour drive. It doesn't hurt to ask and, thanks for your replies.