To block or not to block

[fulltimerv]

My coach will be parked on concrete so should I put anything under the tires ?

[Art-n-Marge]

I park and store my rig on my pretty level driveway with the tires on concrete most the time. I will chock the wheels using triangular chocks front and back, and drop the rear stabilizers. I also use a tripod at the pin for additional stability. I do put plywood under the landing gear pads since they hold up a lot of weight and don't want the metal pads on the concrete with that much weight. NOTE: I live in earthquake country in Southern California and don't want to risk the rig going into the street.

I don't use my metal X-chocks during long term storage (when removing them they make an uncomfortable unsticking noise as if they adhered to the rubber - that makes me nervous). I also use tire covers that are vinyl on the outside and some kind of fabric on the inside to reduce environmental damage.

What is your concern?

[Tom S.]

Unlike Art, my driveway isn't level, but nevertheless, I stored our trailer there w/o any special prep other than putting something under the jacks to spread the weight over the surface of the drive plus keep the metal off the concrete. I did find that earwigs seemed to like to live between the treads of the tires though! Each year when I did my annual break check/adjust, they would run out as soon as the tire left the pavement.

[bethandkevin]

I seem to remember someone saying in another thread that the lye in the concrete could deteriorate the rubber in the tire over time, or that could be my imagination running wild. Either way, if you want to park on plywood or blocks, what could it hurt?

[1retired06]

When parked for more than a couple of weeks, we use plywood under the tires.

[DQDick]

quote:Originally posted by BethandKevin

I seem to remember someone saying in another thread that the lye in the concrete could deteriorate the rubber in the tire over time, or that could be my imagination running wild. Either way, if you want to park on plywood or blocks, what could it hurt?

That was probably me. At an Escapee Boot Camp we went to a couple of years ago a retired Goodyear engineer suggested we put cheap plastic placemats (got mine at a garage sale) under the tires if you are going to park for extended periods on concrete. He said those black marks left when the rig, or vehicle for that matter, is moved after a long spell is the chemicals in the concrete leaching out the anti-aging chemicals in the tires.

[Gkerlin]

Cheap plastic placemats... what a great simple idea! I currently put some 1/2 plywood under the tires but the placemats is even easier.

[Art-n-Marge]

That is a good idea. I guess I'll have to add placing plastic placemats under the tires in my long term parking procedure. I always thought those black marks were dust, dirt, or asphalt from the roads.

But to answer the OP's first concern, I'd still block the wheels.

[bigred715]

Plastic place mats. A great idea for little money!!

[RJI47]

Never gave a thought to the black marks on the concrete. Just always thought they were residue from the blacktop road. Placemats sound like a simple solution.

[Hooker]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

When parked for more than a couple of weeks, we use plywood under the tires.

Same here.

[millerwr]

I bought a 3 foot by 3 foot rubber mat at Lowes for about $20. The mat is sectioned into 1 foot square sections, so I made two 1 foot by 4 foot mats out of it and put that on the concrete, then back up on top of it. I also have heard that it is not good to leave your tires on the concrete for long periods of time.