Best chocks for auto leveling system?

estesbubba wrote:
We just bought a Jayco Eagle with the Lippert Ground Control 3 4-point leveling system. Is it better to use basic yellow wedge chocks or can in-between tire chocks be used (and are the better)?

We have the same levelling system I just use the wedge chocks, quick and easy and don't take up much room and cheap to loose. My personal rule with chocks is first things in and last things out. I have heard that if the tighten up type are tightened up too much they can throw the axles out of alignment, whether thats true or not I don't know.

Standard wheel chocks here. Preventing tire rotation with between-the-wheel chocks is less effective as the leveling system can take weight off the tires and reduce traction between the locked tires and the ground. Regular old wheel chocks work by preventing movement of the wheel relative to the ground, so traction doesn't enter the equation.

Rusty

shepstone wrote:
I have heard that if the tighten up type are tightened up too much they can throw the axles out of alignment, whether thats true or not I don't know.

It's not.

plain old wheel chocks here also...

Last year was my first year with the 6 point system... The first time I used it I placed my BAL wheel crank chocks in between the wheels and tightened it up... Once it was done leveling , the chocks were so loose , I pulled them out by hand without releasing them...

The scissor type that go between the wheels are not actually for chocking. They are for stabilizing after your unit is level. If you install the scissor type before you level front to rear you can damage them. The way they work is they use friction from both tires to keep them from rolling. when you install them and then jack the nose up or down the wheels will rotate and overpower them. If you have to raise or lower a lot it can actually break them. I have a set that I used with my previous 5th wheel that didn't have auto level. The first time I used them I installed them before unhooking. While lifting the 5er off of the truck and raising to level (had to have the nose high at this site)I started hearing some weird noises so I stopped and went looking around. The jacks had almost rotated about 1/4 turn and the corners of them were buried into the tires.

They work great for stabilizing the unit front to rear but if you just are chocking the wheels to keep from rolling use the standard wheel chocks. I no longer use the in-between type I have because the auto level on my unit does a great job of stabilizing also.

I've been wondering this too. I've used Rotochoks for years on our bumper pull toy hauler. We're picking up a new fifth wheel this weekend and it has six point leveling. My street is on a bit of a hill and the Rotochoks worked great on the old trailer. I don't know if I'll have to use something different with the new rig.

I gave my rotochoks to my buddy after we got the self leveling. I just keep 2 yellow wedges for when I need them. Anything between the wheels is pretty useless, as the distance between wheels changes as the leveling system works. The first time a tried it I put the Rotochoks on first and they just fell out when it leveled. I decided not to put them in after level, or they could do some damage bringing it back down if they were spread too far.

It didn't make me sad to get rid of most of that hardware.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you placed regular old wheel chocks in front and behind the wheels, then auto level the rig, wouldn't it potentially loosen up the chocks as load is removed (potentially) from the wheels?

Then if you snugged them up after auto leveling, then got ready to leave, the chocks would be hopelessly jammed in place?

Just asking. Haven't been out with our New camper yet that has auto leveling.

That was my fear.

Cdash wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you placed regular old wheel chocks in front and behind the wheels, then auto level the rig, wouldn't it potentially loosen up the chocks as load is removed (potentially) from the wheels?

Then if you snugged them up after auto leveling, then got ready to leave, the chocks would be hopelessly jammed in place?

Just asking. Haven't been out with our New camper yet that has auto leveling.

Readjust after or as it levels up if needed, You may have to nudge the rig forward and or back to get them out if they get to tight when its back down, you will want to do a pull test before removing them anyway.