Outdoor winter storage for a Trailex car trailer

[lgb240]

Earlier this summer, I lucked out and found a great used Trailex CT-7541 aluminum car trailer. These rarely (never) come up for sale used in my area; I got a really great deal on it.

Now that winter is approaching, it's time to store it away. The garage is full, and given my limited city driveway space, it will live out the winter months outside at a friend's farm.

Any advice on what I should do to protect it over the winter months? I know it's aluminum and virtually indistructable, but there's still a lot of perishable bits on the trailer.

Unfortunately, it will be parked on grass - which I know I know isn't ideal. Should I put a tarp down? Should it be covered? Should the wheels be covered to protect from UV rays? Anything to be done to the electric brakes?

I've stored many cars indoors for the winter, but, this is my first trailer and my first out door winter storage exercise.

Any advice would be appreciated ... and thanks.

mandatory pic ...

[Z-man]

I store my open trailer (steel with a wood deck) in my backyard over gravel and dirt. Not ideal, but the gravel is better than grass. I don't have it covered, but I do have the wheels covered to protect it from UV exposure.

You can yank the battery out (for the emergency brakes) as well.

A tarp underneath may trap water, which isn't ideal.

If your friend has a shady spot, that may help.

-Z-man.

[Laneco]

I would suggest that you raise the trailer up (pull it up on blocks, wood timber, etc) just to put a little more clearance between the chassis and the grass.

Then hit up home depot for some tyvek wrap and tape. Make a ground length cover out of the tyvek. Tape pieces together as needed, fold and tape, etc., to get a good foot. It's an absolute budget way to build a surprisingly nice cover for outdoor storage. Not a good idea directly over a painted car as the tyvek will rub in the wind, but not an issue at all on your aluminum trailer.

I've got a couple of vehicles that are "projects" stored outside under tyvek. Two of them have been in tyvek for about 5 years and are still held secure with the original tyvek tape. Works great. I'd like to take credit for this idea, but I actually got it from the RV industry. I was going to buy a cover for my RV and found that many of them are made with tyvek.

angela

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Laneco

I would suggest that you raise the trailer up (pull it up on blocks, wood timber, etc) just to put a little more clearance between the chassis and the grass.

Good idea, but only do this if you are storing your trailer on flat ground.

I tried this trick on 'not-so-flat' ground -- in my case, it was not a good idea, and I was fortunate that I did not have a runaway trailer!

-Z

[GWN7]

Your in Guelph, the ground freezes so moisture will not be a problem. Throw a tarp over it to keep the dirt off or leave it exposed and power wash it in the spring. If it is being stored in a unsecured location jack it up and take the wheels off of it (including the spare) so the trailer and wheels will still be yours in the spring.

[porsche4life]

It's a trailer, and just a few months.... We store all of our trailers outside all the time, they don't rust away in a few months, and in your case never. . Just park it and make sure it's locked up. When you go to retrieve it take an air tank in case you've got a flat... Be sure to put a board or block under the jack so that doesn't sink in, but that's really all you need.

[johnsjmc]

Theft of the trailer is your biggest risk. I,d put plywood squares under the tires and the tongue so they don,t sink into the muddy grass in the spring. A garbage bag taped over each tire will reduce damage from UV. Use a good tongue lock and preferably block it in with another vehicle.

[ckelly78z]

Do everything that johnsjmc just suggested. I always store my camper in the yard and have cut and painted 2"x8" boards to go under the tongue jack, corner jacks, and a 5 foot long one on each side under the dual wheels. This keeps the tires from dry rotting so quickly while immersed in mud all Winter, and makes it easier to pull out in the Spring. You could always do the same boards with concrete blocks holding up the axles and pull the tires/wheels off the trailer to store in the basement or cool dry place.

[bell]

We used to spray our old aluminum trailer with an oil based spray (don't remember what it was called) and put it on blocks while we stored the tires inside......the stuff washed right off using a pressure washer with a boiler....never ever had any signs of weathering....

[Midlife930]

My Trailex has sat outside in Toronto for 4 or so winters. I lift the front with the tongue jack so that water runs off quickly and protect the hitch and electrical connector with a garbage bag and duct tape. And maybe some Rust Check oil in the electrical connector.

All has been well each spring,
Dave

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

Theft of the trailer is your biggest risk. I,d put plywood squares under the tires and the tongue so they don,t sink into the muddy grass in the spring. A garbage bag taped over each tire will reduce damage from UV. Use a good tongue lock and preferably block it in with another vehicle.

Also mow the grass down low before parking it, with enough room all around it to walk and kneel...

[speeder]

I'd find some good, cheap indoor storage where it won't get stolen. If you are in an area with farms, it can't be that hard to find. Also, make sure that it's insured for theft or you might wind up crying.

[Bill Douglas]

I leave my trailer outside. It gets a big dose of salt spray and sand blasted from storms but I do look after it. I hose it down once a year whether it needs it or not.

[fastfredracing]

I just so happened to be moving 200 feet of pipe this morning, so you get a pic.
Stored outside for the last 16 years, sometimes in my gravel parking lot at the shop, but most of its life, on the grass in my side yard. ( I think it spent one winter indoors with my blown up 911 on it). Still not showing any signifigant rust. I think for the most part, trailers sit higher up off the ground so they don't rust as fast as a car sitting in grass. Also, they are heavy gauge steel, not thin sheet metal like a car.
I have been putting a tarp loosely over the deck, just to hamper the leaves , and moss gathering on it , it turns green if I don't do this. I pressure wash it every spring, and every few years, it gets a quick and dirty spray can paint job.
I love those trailex trailers. Nice grab.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

It's a trailer, and just a few months.... We store all of our trailers outside all the time, they don't rust away in a few months, and in your case never. . Just park it and make sure it's locked up. When you go to retrieve it take an air tank in case you've got a flat... Be sure to put a board or block under the jack so that doesn't sink in, but that's really all you need.

I agree with Sid. its a trailer. It's designed to be outdoors. My boat and PWC trailers are not treated any differently winter or summer.

[lgb240]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice from those that chimed in.

I ended up doing a mix of a lot of things listed above ... wheels on wood, raised tongue to help run off, sprayed rust treatment oil on hitch / electrical items, pulled battery, bagged the hitch and the wheels with heavy garbage bags. Trailer is locked, insured to the hilt, and is parked in a very hidden, remote part of the property so theft shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks again everyone,
Cheers, lgb240