Potentially dangerous mistake in March RV Magazine
I received the March issue of RV Magazine yesterday and feel the need to point
out a potentially dangerous statement, probably made in error, by long
time contributor Mike Wendland. On the top of page 51 under the
heading "Chock Time" it states:
"If you have a trailer, unhitch it and
then chock the wheels."
This statement is backwards and can be very dangerous if done that
way. You should ALWAYS chock the wheels, on both sides of the RV,
FIRST before you unhook from the tow vehicle. If not done in that
order, you risk the trailer rolling away from you with no way to stop
it if you are parked on a slight rearward slope. If it were to roll forward, it could pin the person between the truck and trailer or put a serious dent in the tow vehicle.
Another even more catastrophic thing that can happen is that the
trailer will pivot on one set of wheels and the tongue will suddenly
move sideways when released from the ball. This can be a bit
difficult on a persons legs and could even knock them down and be run
over with the trailers tongue.
I have personally witnessed both situations but fortunately no damage
was done. All this can be avoided if you always chock the wheels
first thing upon backing into a site when arriving and before you
uncouple from the tow vehicle. This should also be the last thing you
pack up when leaving a site.
Hope this helps someone to not make a serious mistake.:)
Barney
out a potentially dangerous statement, probably made in error, by long
time contributor Mike Wendland. On the top of page 51 under the
heading "Chock Time" it states:
"If you have a trailer, unhitch it and
then chock the wheels."
This statement is backwards and can be very dangerous if done that
way. You should ALWAYS chock the wheels, on both sides of the RV,
FIRST before you unhook from the tow vehicle. If not done in that
order, you risk the trailer rolling away from you with no way to stop
it if you are parked on a slight rearward slope. If it were to roll forward, it could pin the person between the truck and trailer or put a serious dent in the tow vehicle.
Another even more catastrophic thing that can happen is that the
trailer will pivot on one set of wheels and the tongue will suddenly
move sideways when released from the ball. This can be a bit
difficult on a persons legs and could even knock them down and be run
over with the trailers tongue.
I have personally witnessed both situations but fortunately no damage
was done. All this can be avoided if you always chock the wheels
first thing upon backing into a site when arriving and before you
uncouple from the tow vehicle. This should also be the last thing you
pack up when leaving a site.
Hope this helps someone to not make a serious mistake.:)
Barney
