We are full-timers who spend 2-3 months at a time parked in different places and on different terrain. Gravel, dirt, asphalt. Is it necessary to put something under the tires?  Even for short periods should there be something under the tires? I do see other people doing it for just a few days.  We have a Class A MH. Also, we do have 2 water filters and usually drink from the holding tank but when we are parked should we not use the holding tank?
Thanks, Brenda

I don't know if it's necessary to put something under the tires, but it couldn't hurt. We don't, but usually we don't stay anyplace longer than a month.

As for using the fresh water out of your tank, why not? We usually use our tank and that keeps the water in it fresh. If you let it stand for a long time, you'll probably have to sanitize it when you start using it again. If you don't want to use it all the time, just use it and refill it a couple of times a month, or maybe even once a week. 

Jim

-- Edited by Jim01 on Monday 1st of June 2009 03:43:32 PM

We never put anything under the tires and haven't had a problem in 3+ years. We spend most of our time in commercial campgrounds with water, so we use theirs. The pressure is generally better than the internal pump and we wouldn't have to keep filling our tank. We only fill our tank when we are going to a CG without water supply. We've never had a problem with the internal water going bad.

We have never put anything under our tires, but never have parked on cement for a long period.  Our winter, long term site is gravel.  We have never used any "products" on our tires, and do keep them covered when parked for more than a month. (per our truck/RV tire salesman best friend's direction).  We've never had a problem but are replacing 6 yr old tires this week after 52,000 miles.

As for water....we always drink/use water from our tank...wouldn't want to spend $$ on bottled water or find a place to store it.  We have 2 outside filters, 1 under the sink, and use a Brita pitcher for the fridge.

Mary
fulltiming 8.5 years

I once read a study by an RV tire manufacturer that concluded some RV tire failure can be attributed to using too small of blocks under the tires to level an RV. The suggestion was to used boards that are at least two inches wider than the tire tread. It seems using too narrow of boards help break town the internals of the tire leading to early failure. Since I read that report, I try not to put anything under the tires unless I'm in a very unlevel spot. To prevent tire decay, it's more improtant to maintain proper air pressure and prevent exposure to UV rays by covering the tires when in storage or using a tire dressing. Fresh water tank, our RV is stored for months at a time with about 1/4 full fresh water tank. In the 30 years we have been doing this, we have never had bad tasting water or found it neccessary to treat the tank. It is my understanding exposure to light or extreme heat will cause water to go bad in a tank or jug. Our tank is completely covered and surrounded by insulation so no exposure to light. I remember seeing a documentary on uncovering a pharaoh's tomb and the workers discovered sealed earthen jugs, some contained wine and some contained water. Both the wine and the water were still good. The jugs were underground where the temperature stayed constant and it was dark.

thebearII wrote:

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To prevent tire decay, it's more improtant to maintain proper air pressure and prevent exposure to UV rays by covering the tires when in storage or using a tire dressing.

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The tire companies (at least Goodyear and Michelin) strongly advise against tire dressing.  The dressings are mostly to make the tires shine black and contain petroleum distillates, which are actually harmful to the tires.  Plus they interfere with the chemicals the tire manufacturers put in the tires to make them last, which often cause a reddish color that people think is dirt.  Covers are what is recommended, but tire dressing is snake oil. 

We cover our tires on the sunny side when we park for longer than two weeks.  Maybe we should do so on shorter stays, but over two weeks sounded reasonable to one tire manufacturer representative  I talked to. 

 

I'll just reiterate what has already been posted and add some comments. Then I'll point you to a direct source to further reinforce what you have read here, Michelin, not just some random personal web page.

"The suggestion was to used boards that are at least two inches wider than the tire tread" This is not a suggestion, it is an absolute. Anything under the tires MUST be as wide or wider than the tire contact patch itself in both directions and for duallys, both tires of the same dually blocked at the same thickness.

"The tire companies (at least Goodyear and Michelin) strongly advise against tire dressing. " Yep, NO dressings, at least those with petroleum distillates, and yes silicone IS a petroleum distillate. If you have to, I have found only one tire dressing explicitly stating NO petroleum distillates and that is a tire dressing product by DuPont. I think I found it at a Menard's (believe it or not) and have not found it since.

"To prevent tire decay, it's more important to maintain proper air pressure and prevent exposure to UV rays by covering the tires when in storage" Absolutely again. Proper pressure and just cover them. KISS. Cover the sunny side tires whether in storage or a CG. Pick a duration like bjoyce did and stick with it. KISS tends to work best. Get or make covers.

I will add that it is also best not to let tires stand in pools of water when stored. Put those wide boards underneath to keep them out of pools.

Here's a handy guide from the horses mouth, Michelin, probably a rather reputable manufacturer of tires. I'd suggest reading the RV tire guide under "reference materials" and also note the videos , they are very much worth a viewing - you might be very surprised what you learn in one of those videos.
http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrv/toolbox/toolbox-landing.jsp

Sorry I should have said water based tire dressings designed to block UV rays, not the kind to make the tires shiney.

Using boards wider than the tires and longer than their contact area with the surface is a must if you use them. I would add that putting something under your tires is probably not a big deal unless the surface they are sitting on is a petroleum based surface like asphalt. Asphalt can deteriorate the petroleum based compounds in the rubber of the tires but probably not in a short term (2 to 3 days) stay. It is more important to keep those tires rolling. Flexing of the rubber keeps chemicals in the rubber moving a little. In RV tires these chemicals have been added to the rubber to help relegate damage for ultraviolet radiation and help keep the rubber flexible and "alive." These have been my rules of thumb since we started RVing in 1971 and I have yet to have had a tire failure. Just lucky I guess! (2 pull trailers, 2 fifth wheel trailers, 4 motorcoaches)

All good advice. I'll provide one additional comment. I don't use tire covers. Why? Because as a fulltimer I will replace the tires before there is any breakdown due to UV. I replace tires at 5 years. I never have any degradation that is apparent. My slides also shade my tires (for the most part) from direct sun. That said, it certainly does not hurt to cover them - especially if you intend to push the age limits of the tire.