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DEITZ645 · 10-22-2008, 04:39 PM

This may have been covered before and I know there have been threads discussing jacking up the trailer to keep weight off the tires and axles dutring long term storage.

But I am interested in how folks store their trailer over the winter months.

Do you store the trailer with the stabilizer jacks in the up or down position. I can think of pros and cons for both, but would like to hear from the masses.

So let's hear everybody's opinions

**azflycaster** · 10-22-2008, 04:47 PM

We do not store ours over the winter months, we use ours. It's a desert thing. If I was to store I would leave the stabilizers up. I would be concerned that the additional weight (you call it snow) on the trailer added to the fact that the tires will loose air could cause damage to the jack or maybe even the frame.

cosmotini · 10-22-2008, 04:48 PM

I don't store with the stabilizers down.

I'd be afraid of losing tire pressure and then having too much force being put on the stabilizer(s).

InsideOut · 10-22-2008, 05:24 PM

I concur...leave 'em up. They really are intended only to keep the trailer from rocking when in use, never actually lifting the trailer.

Oh and Richard...in case you haven't noticed, the top of Airstreams are round...the snow (it's a mountain thing) just slides right off ~

Shari

**azflycaster** · 10-22-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Oh and Richard...in case you haven't noticed, the top of Airstreams are round...the snow (it's a mountain thing) just slides right off ~

Shari

Really?

overlander63 · 10-22-2008, 06:26 PM

We never had the potential problem with snow, plus we used our trailer off-and-on all year. We have (or had) more concern with hurricane winds, so the stabilizers would be down when stored. Now our concern is about earthquakes, but the stabilizers would still be down.

DEITZ645 · 10-22-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsideOut

I concur...leave 'em up. They really are intended only to keep the trailer from rocking when in use, never actually lifting the trailer.

Oh and Richard...in case you haven't noticed, the top of Airstreams are round...the snow (it's a mountain thing) just slides right off ~

Shari

But Ice Sticks Really Well!!!

Diesel1 · 10-22-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

We do not store ours over the winter months, we use ours. It's a desert thing. If I was to store I would leave the stabilizers up. I would be concerned that the additional weight (you call it snow) on the trailer added to the fact that the tires will loose air could cause damage to the jack or maybe even the frame.

You gotta LOVE the desert. We are headed to Burro Creek,Az in a week. I always leave the jacks down cause I am always playing outside. Man its great to get old!! John

Tim A. · 10-22-2008, 06:36 PM

Not having the snow and ice problem, we have "stored" our 2002 19' Bambi with the jacks down since it was new. The quotes are because the trailer is right next to the house and often serves as a spare bedroom, so it really is not stored and it is nice that it does not rock-n-roll for guests. The jacks have never jammed nor has the short frame of the trailer twisted in any noticeable fashion, such as the door not opening and closing properly.

How nice, this post just got me my fourth rivet.

Redcobra · 10-22-2008, 07:17 PM

This is my first Winter to store my Airstream. I have the stabilizers down to help take some weight off the suspension and tires. I store it inside on concrete. After reading everyone's comments, maybe I should leave them up?

overlander63 · 10-22-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redcobra

This is my first Winter to store my Airstream. I have the stabilizers down to help take some weight off the suspension and tires. I store it inside on concrete. After reading everyone's comments, maybe I should leave them up?

My advice, which is worth at least what you are paying for it, is to put the tires on either those plastic leveling blocks, or pieces of lumber, and put the stabilizers down. The stuff under the tires will help keep the concrete from drying the tires out where they contact the concrete.

purman · 10-22-2008, 07:22 PM

leave em up, plus if it snows and it really cold like our place... They could, well would, freeze to the ground... and be Stuck...

overlander63 · 10-22-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purman

leave em up, plus if it snows and it really cold like our place... They could, well would, freeze to the ground... and be Stuck...

Generally speaking, if it is cold enough for the stabilizers to freeze to the ground, we're too far North...

DEITZ645 · 10-22-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

Generally speaking, if it is cold enough for the stabilizers to freeze to the ground, we're too far North...

Overlander63,
That's it...go ahead and rub it in

.

JerryMcMunn · 10-22-2008, 07:36 PM

We are in Chicagoland. Not to be confused with what may be right, I will store our 19' Bambi outside this year, leveled and with stabilizers down. If you are still interested, ask me in the spring how it went.

Regards,

Jerry

purman · 10-22-2008, 07:49 PM

Well we aren't that far north, we are about the latitude as Sacramento. It's just living at 7000 ft on a mountain that gets you....

**moosetags** · 10-22-2008, 08:10 PM

When we store Lucy, we leave the stabilizers up. Why? Because it's too much trouble to put them down and back up again. The longest that Lucy has ever been stored is about 30 days, so, I guess it's not a big deal either way.

Brian