Forum Discussion

waltfire's avatar
waltfire
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013

importance of wheel chocks

a brand new cedar creek was loading up to go home, the guy never chocked his wheels, so when he was backing in a little high the trailer should have rose up to hitch instead he pushed it off the blocks and dropped it on the bed of his new truck.
I was taught chocking your tires is the first thing and last thing you do even on level ground. If 15,000 pounds decides to move you can't stop it otherwise.

30 Replies

  • Stacking a bunch of blocks under the feet is an accident/disaster waiting to happen.

    I will never set my front end up on blocks.

    There is no reason for me to do that.

    if his feet were on the terra firma like mine, they would not have scooted off a stck of blocks or one big block or whatever.

    JMHO

    On second thought maybe this thread should be entitled something like, the pros and cons of stacking/ putting blocks that big under the front feet. :h
  • I would NEVER BACK IN HIGH!!!!!!!!

    I back up to the kingpin and adjust the height so there is very little resistance when I back under and couple the hitch.

    I know the manuals say to have it ramp up. Use common sense!
  • Alley Fox wrote:
    Curious as to why it was on blocks? I can't think of any reason why someone would stack blocks under the landing gear that were taller than the bedrail clearance distance, sounds like a shakey practice.

    I use blocks, the landing gear does not extend far enough. Plus it saves cranking time although I admit that is a poor excuse.;)I am anal about using chocks, I want to make sure that trailer stays put until I am ready to move it.
  • The very first fifth wheel and the very first time I unhitched I lost ours. Was on an incline and when I unhitched it rolled back off the blocks and the pin put a whoopee in my tail gate. No Chocks. Didnt and wont happen again.
  • I have seen the same thing. No Chocks and the front elevators blocked up on cinder blocks. Guy backs into the hitch...trailer rolls back...falls off of blocks...crunches bed rails on brand new Ram dually. Thing is...about 10 of his friends are standing around helping him get all lined up. Nobody thought of chocks?

    Then they were all kibitzing about how to get the trailer off the bed for re-hitching. I offered help, and two jacks. I was told to mind my own business. "Charlie has been towing for more than 30 years. He knows what he is doing. Doesn't need any help from you."

    I no longer felt any compassion for the guy. He deserved what he got. Seems he'd been doing it wrong for 30 years. Maybe he learned? No chocks is bad. Blocking the front struts is bad. Cinder Blocks is bad and just dumb. I hope I am not around when he rolls out of bed when his cinder blocks crumble.
  • Alley Fox wrote:
    Curious as to why it was on blocks? I can't think of any reason why someone would stack blocks under the landing gear that were taller than the bedrail clearance distance, sounds like a shakey practice.
    Exactly my thought. I have seen chocked equipment where the chocks did not hold it.
  • brirene wrote:
    Yup, you were taught right!


    x2
  • Curious as to why it was on blocks? I can't think of any reason why someone would stack blocks under the landing gear that were taller than the bedrail clearance distance, sounds like a shakey practice.