Trucks & Trailers - Storage - Level/Angle of Boat Trailer

I am keeping my boat in my driveway. It is a very very slight incline from my street to the house. Do you suggest having the trailer tongue high so that the stern of the boat is slightly below the bow? Thanks, John

Chock your wheels as needed and try to keep the bow slightly higher than the stern, if possible. Remove the garboard plug.

Bow down is a easy way to break an axel or kill your battery if you leave it on to run your automatic pumps.

Chock your wheels as needed and try to keep the bow slightly higher than the stern, if possible. Remove the garboard plug.

Bow down is a easy way to break an axel or kill your battery if you leave it on to run your automatic pumps.

Thanks...makes sense.

I've wondered about this on a dual axle trailer. It seems to me it would put more stress on the rear axle/tires, which over time would reduce the life of the tire. I had my suspicions when on a trip last year, and blew both rear axle tires - brakes on the front axles, all bearings and tires replaced at the same time. Could the stress during storage have caused the tires to blow?

I know the OP may not have a choice in the matter, but I've looked for a more level storage space for this reason.

Just to be clear, I have a very very slight incline. I would estimate that from the bow to stern of the boat, the difference is under 3 inches of incline.

Just shim the tires with scrap plywood or such to keep level. I keep my bow raised really high which causes the third axle to have a lot of weight- shims really help keep my tires uniformly loaded.

If it's a tandem axle trailer, I always try to store the trailer so the axles are level. If you put too much weight for a long period on either springs or torsion axles, it can cause damage over time as they age. I have a level concrete pad my trailer sits on, but the tongue jacks extends past it. I put a block under the tongue jack and jack it up until the trailer is about level.

Jack the bow up high enough water will drain from the hull, and don't worry about stressing the axles / tires.
Sitting on a pad is nothing compared to traveling down a rough interstate hi-ways at the speed limit

Jack the bow up high enough water will drain from the hull, and don't worry about stressing the axles / tires.
Sitting on a pad is nothing compared to traveling down a rough interstate hi-ways at the speed limit

I agree. Keep the bow higher so that water goes out the rear. I winded mine down a few days ago and a heavy downpour had to roll in. I didn't think it was a big deal but when I winded it back up today I heard a splash and a lot of water coming out from somewhere. Turned out to be the automatic bilge pump, removed the plug and, of course, additional water came out. So yeah.. for now, I worry about water in the boat during storage. I always check the tire pressures before I tow... just a habit.

Moderate differential loads will equalize with leaf springs but you have to be a bit more fussy with a torsion setup as it will load up one axle if not close to level.