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Old 05-10-2016, 03:05 PM   #1
Bill-N-Donna
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Word of Caution!


I have the “BAL X-CHOCK” wheel stabilizers. These will fit between the tires to help with stabilizing the shaking. That is all they are intended for. When we purchased these a few years ago there was a dis-claimer that came with them which explained they are not to be used for wheel chocks.

I know firsthand they will not hold the camper back under load! When I test pulled the camper the other day for the first time with the new truck, I had forgotten about them being between the wheels and they popped out as we left. I didn’t think about them until I seen them lying on the ground after we got back home. No tire punctures or anything like that. I’m telling this because I know that some campgrounds can have steep hills that one might be required to park on where safe chocking is a must. I stayed in a campground once in a Airstream that if we hadn’t had proper chocking it could have rolled down the hill on either end of the camper. We had a different type back then that we chocked the wheels with that was made for that purpose.

I'm not bashing the product but just wanted to convey a word of caution. It's very easy to become complacent and forget these are not chocks. Be careful and make sure that if you use something like this for a chock that it’s rated for that purpose.
Happy Camping & Safe Travels!

 
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Old 05-10-2016, 03:34 PM   #2
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Thanks for the warning.

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Old 05-11-2016, 03:31 AM   #3
1retired06
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Thanks for the good advice. Not paying attention, I have pulled fivers over chocks more than once. The plastic ones just collapse.
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Old 05-11-2016, 03:56 AM   #4
richfaa
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You are correct.The manufacturer tells us they should not be used as chocks and they should not.We do have a sturdy set of chocks and they are the first thing that we do when unhooking.
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Old 05-11-2016, 09:38 AM   #5
CWSWine
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You shouldn't raise or lower the RV with them installed either. If you read the instructions on how to install them it ways to chalk the tires - level RV and then install X-Chalks...
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Old 05-11-2016, 10:39 AM   #6
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With up to 3000 pounds on the landing gear you haft to be on pretty steep ground for one of these units to move. My HC has 1860 pounds on the hitch but that is 6 feet from the landing gear so ther is much more weight on the landing gear.
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Old 05-15-2016, 06:12 PM   #7
Art-n-Marge
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I found another problem is that after you first set up the X-chock, you MUST go and check a few times that they are still sturdy. I'm guessing that when you use them on both sides they fight each other until you tighten them down a few times on either side, then as your tires cool down the X-chocks loosen once again. After I use these things I check them at least a couple of times over the next couple of hours, which is a real nuisance since one set of tires is under my kitchen slideout.

I learned about this when I was in Yosemite and the campgrounds had a slight slant and DW kept mentioning she was feeling like the rig was slowly sliding backwards. Yup, she was right for the reasons mentioned above. I had to use triangular ground chocks on both sides, too, to eliminate the sliding backwards. It could have been worse. At least I didn't have to set up on leveling pads where one side of the tires could have been raised and ground chocks would be worthless.

Needless to say, I look for the most level campsites possible and have been fortunate to find mostly level ones. Also, I think calling them chocks is a bad idea.
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Old 05-27-2016, 10:10 AM   #8
treadaway
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Forgive the new guy, but if they're not intended as chocks, what the heck ARE they for?
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Old 05-27-2016, 11:32 AM   #9
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They reduce back and forth movement of the 5'er. Didn't believe how much our unit moved just from walking in the unit until we started using X-chocks.
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Old 05-27-2016, 05:51 PM   #10
pkbridges77
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Thanks for this caution. We love the X Chocks as they have greatly reduced the movement in the Monty when parked.
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