Do you cover your trailer ?

[bambam31]

I just bought a brand new 20" trailer. I don't have a barn to keep it in and hate the idea of it being out in the rain. I was going to put a trap over it and buy some wheel covers.

 

[redmaher]

That's actually a good idea. You could even build a couple of 2x4 supports to "tent" the tarp so rain will run off it. Just keep in mind rodents will love the cover so I would put some mothballs under the tarp or other rodent repellent. They would love to eat your wiring as a little snack.

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[100 td]

Once you use it a few times, get it dirty and scratched up, it'll sit out in the rain no worries. YMMV

 

[bearskinner]

I keep my car hauler trailer under a carport, the wood on the deck stays looking better longer and the tires don't see sun. Nothing wrong with keeping your equipment nice.

 

[rjcorazza]

I don't like equipment sitting outside either, but my landscape trailer has lived outside for 15 years. The wood deck is still serviceable, and I keep the metal painted as necessary to prevent rust. In addition to being a pain in the butt, tarps can also trap moisture making things worse. jmho.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I have to agree with covering it,will trap moisture and accellerate the breakdown of wood.
My trailer lives outside,decking is 8 or 10 years old and still serviceable. I put rough sawn poplar on it, tough wood.

 

[bearskinner]

B

Here's my old car hauler trailer, it's been towed all over the country with cars and lumber on it since 1990. I replaced the wood once, only because my brother had a VW sand rail seeping oil parked on it for two years, and it wicked into the wood. It's been repainted 2 times, with many touch ups.
When not under a carport, it has been covered with a large tarp,( an old vinyl billboard sign) most of its life. The key is airflow. It's never been tarped down tight with no airflow. It has usually had a vehicle on it covered but able to breath! If that makes sense. Basically under an umbrella, not in a ziplock bag.

 

[bambam31]

Thanks for the replies. I have some old saw horses that I'll throw on the deck. That should allow enough room for the air to move.

 

[Ridger]

I recently bought a new 20 foot trailer myself and do not have place to keep it under cover. The dealer told me to prolong the wood life by spraying a water repellent on it a couple of times a year or I could paint it. I decided to paint it with a "fence coat" type of paint from my local TSC store.

 

[cerlawson]

Covering tires is the main need, since the sun will work on he rubber and they won't last as long as when protected from sun. Covering the trailer invites animals to nest there. Any wires exposed are more likely to have mice chewing the insulation covering (plastics contain veg. oil to keep them soft). Squirrels also like that insulation.

 

[skeets]

Bambam where yoube from, I would be more worried about the salt air.
Yes covered is good and bad.
Good in that it keeps the weather off and bad as critters and moisture will do some naughty things unless you have a tent set up so the air can get in and out..
If you have the room, one of those 300 dollar car ports would work well, out of the sun and weather but still let air in and out. To be honest and I dont know what you have, letting it set out uncovered wont do to much harm as long as you make sure things are greased and chips have a coat of paint and the tires are filled though it also depends how often you use it.
Tires will over a period of time for lack of a better word, dry rot, get hard and just come apart on you.
SO you need to keep an eye on them covered or not.
Just take care of it, and covered or not, it will serve you well