storing trailer in up position

sam sweetwater

New Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2012
Posts
5
i read somewhere to not store trailer in up position, and from what i know that makes sense. my question is what happens if you do. or in this case, i have sold my trailer to a family wanting a trailer for their mother who got burned out in L.A., to use for transitional housing. they were not swayed by my concerns.
 
Personally, I don't understand the concern with storing the trailer in the UP position, as long as it's not moved. Yes, there is tension/stress on the cables and pulleys, but it is static tension/stress and not dynamic tension/stress which could cause metal fatigue and possible failure over a very long period. So, my answer is nothing will happen, as long as you periodically (maybe once a week) activate the lift mechanism to raise the top off the safety bar which it MAY have settled down onto. I think prolonged weight on the safety bar can deform it and cause it to fail. I think the cables and pulleys are strong enough to support the top, especially since they are only supporting about 1/4 of the weight, each.

If there are concerns, simply cut 4-2x4s that are just long enough to insert between the outriggers and the top, so that the top is supported by them, rather than the cables/pulleys or safety bar.

But, if the trailer is moved, lower it first! Movement will cause large dynamic stress on the entire lift mechanism, as well as possible twisting forces on the guide blocks which could break them. The dynamic force changes on the cables could also cause damage to the points where the cables are attached to the top, possibly loosening the bolts there or causing the cables to "cut" into the lower edge of the top.

- Jack
 
Personally, I don't understand the concern with storing the trailer in the UP position, as long as it's not moved. Yes, there is tension/stress on the cables and pulleys, but it is static tension/stress and not dynamic tension/stress which could cause metal fatigue and possible failure over a very long period. So, my answer is nothing will happen, as long as you periodically (maybe once a week) activate the lift mechanism to raise the top off the safety bar which it MAY have settled down onto. I think prolonged weight on the safety bar can deform it and cause it to fail. I think the cables and pulleys are strong enough to support the top, especially since they are only supporting about 1/4 of the weight, each.

If there are concerns, simply cut 4-2x4s that are just long enough to insert between the outriggers and the top, so that the top is supported by them, rather than the cables/pulleys or safety bar.

But, if the trailer is moved, lower it first! Movement will cause large dynamic stress on the entire lift mechanism, as well as possible twisting forces on the guide blocks which could break them. The dynamic force changes on the cables could also cause damage to the points where the cables are attached to the top, possibly loosening the bolts there or causing the cables to "cut" into the lower edge of the top.

- Jack
thx, jack. i had also thought of 2x4's from when i did cable adjustment. kevin
 
i read somewhere to not store trailer in up position, and from what i know that makes sense. my question is what happens if you do. or in this case, i have sold my trailer to a family wanting a trailer for their mother who got burned out in L.A., to use for transitional housing. they were not swayed by my concerns.
Mine is stored up all the time when it's at home.
 

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top