Survey: How often do you chock your wheels?

[RRinNFla]

I was in a campground in Kansas that was as flat as a billiard table, and my neighbor had all four trailer wheels chocked front and back. I thought this was overkill and it prompted my to ask this question: When do you chock your wheels?

a) Every time without fail
b) Only if I am parked on a noticeable slope
c) Never

Personally, my answer is b.

[Sport45]

A few have said they don't chock when it's flat. Please keep in mind there's a difference between flat and level. That "flat" sight may surprise you one day.

Visit one of those "crazy" houses sometime. The way they arrange the visual references you'll swear you're seeing water flow uphill.

[Irish2]

Always the first thing I do before unhooking.

[Old-Biscuit]

Wheel chocks

FIRST thing ON

LAST thing OFF

[Cummins12V98]

To clarify my never statement. In the year I have owned this RV I have not chocked. If I some day end up on much of a slope I will. But I don't chock for no reason.

[qtla9111]

To take the trailer off the ball you have to have something supporting the hitch. It has to be either ground or a block of something. You wouldn't undo your safety chains until the hitch plate hits something solid.

I guess it would be interesting to see how many times someone has seen a trailer roll away. I've never seen that happen.

I only do it on a slope.

[RustyJC]

bpounds wrote:
Some are overstating the issue a bit, in my opinion. Which is fine, great in fact, always better to be safe.

Fivers are not easily rolled though. After all, you've got about 25 percent of the weight on dead skids. And the heavier they are, the more difficult to get one rolling. I chock, as I said above. Just adding a little reason to the discussion.

You'd be surprised how easily the front jacks move on rain-soaked boards or on mud. Been there, done that and got the t-shirt. That's why I ALWAYS chock.

Rusty

[avvidclif1]

I chock every time I unhook. Although the landing gear will support the front end it's not made for front to back motion or side to side. Plus when hooking up sometimes the hitch is cantankerous and takes a harder nudge than normal. Guess what is keeping it from moving if it's not chocked. I don't use the yellow plastic junk. I bought some of the commercial grade rubber ones from Northern Tool. Same as I used on my big rig.

[Walaby]

Everytime I unhook. Without fail. Site could be perfectly level, and I still chock. Even in my driveway.

Mike

[bpounds]

Some are overstating the issue a bit, in my opinion. Which is fine, great in fact, always better to be safe.

Fivers are not easily rolled though. After all, you've got about 25 percent of the weight on dead skids. And the heavier they are, the more difficult to get one rolling. I chock, as I said above. Just adding a little reason to the discussion.

[KCFDCapt]

As a retired Fire Captain, I defer to my years of preaching to the firemen. If it is not in the engine house, chock the wheels front and back of at least one wheel. On a steep hill, we would chock two wheels. My men would ask why. I told them it is a good habit to always chock. That way you get uses to doing things right and have no accidents involving chocks. Always set 'em and you never forget 'em. If an engineer left a chock unset or on the ground, it was ice cream for the crew.

[cbshoestring]

My trailer sits perfectly level on the 2x2 concrete patio stones, backed tighly up against the 4x4 "stop" that is pinned behind the rear patio stones.

There is a wheel chock in front of both wheels, essentially chocking the front and back of each wheel. :B

When "travelling" I typically chock front and back of the wheel that did NOT require a leveling device placed under it.

I don't know about you "never" crowd....but I sleep in that free wheeling box. If this was posted in the class A forum, I could see setting the brakes and climbing in to bed. It was NOT, so why would you not chock a box that has the potential to roll :h

[dave17352]

If on a any slope yes. If its flat no.

[RustyJC]

Group A for me. If you've ever had a 5th wheel start rolling backwards while hitching or unhitching, you'll understand why. That happened to me on our first long trip with a 5th wheel back in 1996. Lesson learned!

Rusty

[laknox]

RRinNFla wrote:
I was in a campground in Kansas that was as flat as a billiard table, and my neighbor had all four trailer wheels chocked front and back. I thought this was overkill and it prompted my to ask this question: When do you chock your wheels?

a) Every time without fail
b) Only if I am parked on a noticeable slope
c) Never

Personally, my answer is b.

Every time, though I use only 2 pair and chock between the wheels. Any thing else is overkill, IMO.

Lyle

[rhagfo]

greende wrote:
I always chock. Especially after a memorable incident where I thought the 5er was level enough and when I pulled the lever, it rolled back.....

Yep, it is amazing the effect of visual reference has on ones perception of LEVEL! Unless you have a 8' level to double check, I would chock.
To those of you in the "B" group wait until you have one of those WTF moments!