Chocking Fifth Wheels

[Artemus Gordon]

I feel I might have asked this before, *but here it goes. *My wife conveyed to me recently that she noticed many FW owners, *did not Chock their wheels. *I know better than questioning her, *so I did my own research around the last three parks we stayed at this month. *Sure enough, I observed a small minority that were in fact "not chocked" on any wheel. *I learned fast with our TT to chock first and last. *I do the same with fiver and will continue. *I asked two guys who replied in similar fashion. *Both implied they believed front landing gear holds the trailer until all gear is down.. *As diplomatically as I could conger up, I asked each if they felt the pin weight on legs could defy gravity, especially under non-ideal ground, or uneven pavement. *I further added additional danger (IMHO) having legs on wood or plastic supports. *Both seemed to understood my logic, but neither indicated they would change method. * So... Am I missing something, crazy, anal or just plain nuts, believing this practice is flawed?

[ols1932]

The ones who don't chock are just the next ones who will have trouble and will be wondering why. My advice: Always chock the wheels before disconnecting from the tow vehicle.

Orv

[billc1949]

Almost everything I have read-----Always chock..

Bill C

[bob n pam]

Ditto.

[Fire5er]

We always chock.

[patbarton]

Can you see the news stories and forum posts with photos of a Mountaineer after it rolled down a hill into a river (or worse yet, canyon) because its blonde owner didn't chock the tires?

Oh... my... goodness. Yes, I can. Pattie always chocks X2.

[Art-n-Marge]

Owners should do the following, but don't:

1. Chock their wheels.
2. Check their tire inflation and wheel torque regularly.
3. Drive under the stated speed rating on the tire's sidewall.
4. Drive at the stated speed limits in each state for towed vehicles (California is 55mph, period)
5. Do a pull test after hitching.
6. Maintain weights under each rating for their TV, and RV.
7. Check their suspension, U-bolts, etc. for wear and tear and torque.
8. And many, many more.

For those that do not do these things we can only hope the owner understands the risks and ramifications - I've been known to ignore some of these at some consequence but mostly I don't. The chances are very high the user manual recommends chocking and (bad) experience tells me to do so! The landing gear is only designed to support the weight over the top of them, they are not designed for lateral support like what happens if the trailer starts to roll back or forth which is what chocks are designed for, i.e. they are NOT chocks.

Next time you might point out that while they are not chocked using what she might know as conventional chocks like a Level Up or Bigfoot system or the rig is hitched to the truck, there might be something else. If there's nothing, the owner has decided they are financially responsible for any mishap that chocks would prevent. I have seen this too, out where we RV, but the next big earthquake and these rigs are gonna go somewhere, flat land or not. They are just being lazy and taking a risk. That doesn't make it right.

I've also learned that trying to explain anything when they aren't asking and you will get ignored most of the time. Only if they ask your opinion or you can show them evidence in their ways or you might be directly affected will you get them to change.

If you use chocks, I will be happy to camp anywhere near you. If you don't chock, I'll be happier to camp a lot further away.

[bigskyjimmy]

GOOTA CHOCK MAN! before I unhitch AND make sure their tight after I get everything hooked up slides out etc.... I use to be a semi driver and it was a cardinal sin if you did not chock

[Bill-N-Donna]

I will chock both wheels even if it’s on level ground!

[bncinwv]

Ditto Bill, chock everytime, regardless!
Bingo

[racerjoe]

you would learn to chock your wheels when at some point,you back into your pin to hitch up,the latch doesn't lock,and you raise your legs,only to see your trailer slowly roll backwards off the hitch and bang the top of the bed. As they say,don't ask me how I know!! the cost of wheel chocks,"priceless"

[DQDick]

Even if you don't raise the legs that much, let's say it's on wet grass or loose gravel and just slightly down hill. That bump when you hit the pin, particularly if you miss the opening and just hit it with the hitch could be enough to start the whole thing down hill. Saw it here last year.

[denandannie]

My 2011 3150RL does not have a leveling system. Oh, wait, it does. Its me. I use a graduated ramp I built from 2x6. I always pull the Monty UP the ramp, thus causing the rig to want to roll backwards, rather than forward. I then chock all four wheels before unhitching. In 30 yrs of rving, I've never had a rig move after this proceedure.

Once I have the rig unhitched and level, I put down the back stabilizers. When they are secure, I slightly raise the front jacks to put a slight bit of pressure on the back stabilizers--not enough to lift anything, but just enough to put some pressure on them. This helps keep the rig a bit more secure from rocking.

[1retired06]

It is also important to chock because trailers have a tendency to creep when raising up to hitch, and that puts wear and tear on the front legs.

[Glenn the fifth]

I have always chocked. I learned the hard way with my first travel trailer (18 foot "Ranier") years ago when I jacked it up to get it off of the hitch ball and it started rolling backwards. I wish I had a video of me holding on to the trailer, sitting on my butt and dragging my heels trying (more hoping) that trailer would stop. It did stop after about 3 feet, but it seemed like two miles. I always chocked back then too, but someone came over and was talking with me and it kind of threw me off my game plan. The only thing I do different now with the Level-Up system is that instead of the "X-Chocks" I used to use, I only use the simple "ramp style" chocks both in front and behind the tires. Don't really need the added stability the X-Chocks provided anymore. -Glenn

[ranch560]

As with most of you, I have learned the hard way to always use chocks. Most of the time I would chock the passenger side of my last trailer as it was easier to get to from my storage. Recently I was on a side sloping lot with our new 3582 with the six point system. I chocked up, un-hitched, then hit auto level. My passenger side wheels (where my chocks are) came completely air borne making my chocks virtually worthless. Luckily the lot was mostly level front to back, but this sure opened my eyes. Now I assess my parking spot and chock accordingly.

[DonandJudy_12]

I guess I'm old fashioned- I pull the fiver up onto wooden ramps I built to place equal strain on the suspension- Then I CHOCK both sides before I unhook- I, too, learned the hard way- As an old timer in this game, I try diplomatically to help out the obvious newcomers among us- You never know when a greenhorn will park adjacent to your site and endanger you and yours- JMHO- Don

[jackandh2o]

I always chock before I unhook, (rotochoks) and I always do a tug test after I have hooked up and then the chocks come off.

Ray

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by jackandh2o

I always chock before I unhook, (rotochoks) and I always do a tug test after I have hooked up and then the chocks come off.

Ray

Smart man!

Orv

[maximo]

On my old trailer I always used the X-Chocks. With my new 2011 Big Sky and the 6 point leveling with the X-Chocks some times on one side the X-Chock would get supper tight on the tires and on the other side the X-Chock would fall off. Now use wedge blocks.

Frank