Storage and Lockdown
I would just like to pass on a word of warning to those of us unfortunate enough to be 'locked out' of our storage facility on a club site. I store my van at Chapel Lane, Wythall. Normally during the winter when I am not using the van I put the mover on and carefully roll the van back and forth to let the air through the tyres, and of put it back in a different spot so it is not resting in the same place. This was recommended by my service man, the dealer and tyre dealers.
I changed my tyres 2 years ago when they were 5 years old and beginning to crack. Obviously during 'lockdown 1' in the summer entry was refused to the storage compound (even though the site was being used by so called key workers. When I had my van serviced low and behold the tyres were cracked. Cost £120.
My guess is that it will happen all over again because I can well see another lockdown after Christmas.
Moderator Edit:
This would appear to be a duplicate thread although the original seems to have disappeared.
Comments
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As I said before, DJ, you should have access to your van soon so that's the time to put it up on axle stands to take the weight off the tyres.
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I'm sorry you had a problem. I'm just too lazy. I put the caravan in the shed in October and leave it alone until Easter without moving it at all - no tyre problems.
Others are even lazier and store caravans overseas for even longer spells - untouched and unmoved till they go back the following year - and they never mention tyre problems either.
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From experience the biggest factor with tyre wall deterioration is direct sunlight and or ambient conditions. Most caravans that I've had the tyres are out of direct sunlight and protected from weather by a wall or another vehicle. The only time I've experienced cracked tyres was strangely enough with original fit Michelin on a Peugeot which sidewalls cracked before the tread expired at about 20k miles this was however parked in the open subject to sunlight and direct weather. The car was regularly used so it wasn't a rotation issue.
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Just to let you know that all Club Site storage locations for the Caravan and Motorhome Club are allowing access for essential maintenance only via appointment. Please call the site to arrange an appointment.
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Evening
I'm sorry but if your van stood still for the first lockdown, which was around 3 months your tyres would never deteriorate and crack in that short period. It needs to be in prolonged sunlight to get uv degradation and that occurs over time. Rowena has stated above that you can gain access to your van in storage, you just have to contact the site to make an appointment.
You could always invest in a set of tyre covers, they turn out around a tenner a pair.
JK
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Agree with JK, popular brand radial tyres properly inflated will come to no harm over winter in the UK without flat spotting or cracking. Raising on axle stands is unnecessary and puts unnecessary stress on suspension bushes and torsion links. I’ve stored many classic cars (ditto MH) over the years and have not experienced tyre problems due to storage periods. Old tyres (Michelin definition = 5+ years) are potentially a different matter whether worn or not. Delamination of the tyre can occur as the rubber degrades leading to side wall blow out.
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Raising on axle stands is unnecessary and puts unnecessary stress on suspension bushes and torsion links
When a caravans axle is on axle stands, are you saying the weight of a wheel is more than a standing caravan on the axle bushing? and where are these torsion links?
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I obviously need to pay more attention - thought we were discussing motorhomes. Still think it’s overkill tho’.
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No, not overkill at all. Did it every winter when we had a caravan but not with the MH as that's better off being driven.
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I've always covered my tyres and when I had a caravan, I blocked it up in the winter.
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It’ll also decreases the theft possibilities unless the BFG likes CVans, then he wouldn’t be called friendly he’d be called BUG👍🏻
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