Had an oh **** moment!

I use the X chocks, but only after getting the camper chocked front and back of wheels and have leveled the camper. I then install the X chocks then proceed with setting everything else up then after a couple hours I recheck the tightness of the X chocks along with the stabilizing jacks. One thing I have started doing even if the site is completly level I put a 2x8 board under the tires to get them off of the ground seems to help better in the settling part of the ground.

When you arrive, the tires are hot and somewhat expanded. You should install the chocks and after a few hours go back and tighten them as the tires have cooled and air pressure has dropped a few pounds.

RooDude09 wrote:
We were stacked up pretty high with levelers and I went on the roof to get a foam piece I used on the top of the slide and the trailer proceeded to roll forward about a foot with my wife hanging out the door and me on top with a wet roof.

Thanks for the laugh this morning and glad no one was injured :B

SoundGuy wrote:
Hey, I have no dog in this race and could really care less what someone else does. I am however consistently mystified why anyone would ignore sage advice from those who designed and built the X-Chock, advice that is offered for good reason, level campsite or not, that reason being that tires shrink noticeably as they cool so X-Chocks installed when the trailer is first park will noticeably loosen. It's physics, not magic, and has nothing to do with legal CYA. :S

I seriously doubt that the manufacturers statement was not written by anyone who either designed or built the X-chock. More likely it was someone with a law degree that wrote it in his glass tower.

jasoncw wrote:
Oh geez SoundGuy, that is a bit far-fetched, especially if on level ground. The OP clearly was not on level ground. They put that in there just like other companies, to save their butt from getting sued should anyone happen to do something stupid, or doesn't put them on tight enough, or their product fails.

korbe wrote:
Oh that's okay, sound guy is taking this topic a little more personally than some of the others. :)

Hey, I have no dog in this race and could really care less what someone else does. I am however consistently mystified why anyone would ignore sage advice from those who designed and built the X-Chock, advice that is offered for good reason, level campsite or not, that reason being that tires shrink noticeably as they cool so X-Chocks installed when the trailer is first park will noticeably loosen. It's physics, not magic, and has nothing to do with legal CYA. :S

3oaks wrote:

downtheroad wrote:
Any "between the tires" chocks like x-chocks, Rotochocks, etc will loosen as the tires cool down and contract.

After setting them when you first park, it's a good idea go go back after the tires have cooled and then adjust them tighter.

X2

I think Rotochocs are the best. The trailer tires would skid along rather than turn if you tried to pull the trailer without removing them.

Best chocks ever made, in my opinion. Unfortunately, the company went out of business a few years ago after the original owners passed on.

Have actually forgot to remove the X chocks before trying to pull away. NO they will NOT stop the tires from rolling. And yes they WILL damager the tire side wall if you run over them in the wrong way. After a new tire. I have learned the hard way, To take them out before pulling hooking up. Then remove the chocks

jasoncw wrote:
Oh geez SoundGuy, that is a bit far-fetched, especially if on level ground. The OP clearly was not on level ground. They put that in there just like other companies, to save their butt from getting sued should anyone happen to do something stupid, or doesn't put them on tight enough, or their product fails.

Oh that's okay, sound guy is taking this topic a little more personally than some of the others. :)

Oh geez SoundGuy, that is a bit far-fetched, especially if on level ground. The OP clearly was not on level ground. They put that in there just like other companies, to save their butt from getting sued should anyone happen to do something stupid, or doesn't put them on tight enough, or their product fails.

$30 or so is very cheap insurance. Why in the world not do it? Chocks are the first things out of the truck once leveled regardless of how flat the site is.

korbe wrote:
I will use my x-chocks exclusively and will re-tighten them after the tires have cooled and contracted.

But on nearly level ground, the x-chocks alone are fine for me.

Apparently you choose to ignore Norco's first bit of advice ...

"Be sure to level your 5th wheel or travel trailer before installing the BAL Chock between your trailer tires.

Remove the BAL Chock from your tires before connecting the trailer to the tow vehicle."

You can't do both ... either you ignore Norco's advice and take your chances or you do what they say and unhitch before installing the X-Chocks and remove them before re-hitching. That by definition means you have to use some other method of chocking the trailer so it doesn't inadvertently shift. :E

But hey, what would Norco know - they only design and build the X-Chocks :W ... and clearly, the OP's scary experience should be proof enough that X-Chocks alone should not be relied upon solely for actually chocking the trailer. :S