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07-23-2019, 01:30 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
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Chocking
Just for fun I rode the bike around the CG where we’re currently parked overlooking the Admiralty Inlet in the Salish Sea, and I counted up the number of trailers that are chocked correctly vs incorrectly. I consider correct chocking to consist of both sides being chocked in both direction, with the possible exception of not chocking the uphill side on an incline.
This small and certainly not scientific sample was shocking. Out of 40 trailers, 4 were chocked correctly, 34 incorrectly or not at all, and 2 were indeterminate without invading someone else’s campsite.
One of the incorrect trailers was the camp host. Wow.
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
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07-23-2019, 01:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,277
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Many campers are very lucky and do not realize how close they are to a tense situation with their chocking practices. Changing wind conditions, internal movement by people inside the trailer, action around the trailer by kids etc. are all possible factors. Once set up with chocks, stabilizers, ball X Choks and a good front jack base I usually go around and Thump my chocks in with a rubber hammer a piece of firewood or a club. Nothing gets a look like an axe handle. The scariest thing is watching folks unhook from the tow rig before chocking in. Second scariest is camping without putting in chocks on purpose.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
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07-23-2019, 02:20 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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I don't chock both sides so I'm in the incorrect camp.
I do add the X-chock if on a hill.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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07-23-2019, 02:23 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Port Hardy, British Columbia
Trailer: 2019 5 TA
Posts: 121
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I once set up on a slope and blocked all 4 wheels on my old trailer. On the down hill side since I figured it could not roll uphill. Came back a few hours later and the wind had moved my trailer with the toung jack and stabilizers down to the point where the chocks that I put behind the front tires stopped the rear tires before my toung jack flipped off the pads. So now I chock in front and behind.
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07-23-2019, 02:25 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Graysville, Tennessee
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 79
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X chock both sets all the time. First time out I did forget to chock and trailer backed up six inches as my heart stopped.
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07-23-2019, 02:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,562
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We always use X-Chocks as they not only are chocks but they also stabilize a lot of shimmying in the trailer. If there is a slope at all we do use wedge chocks on the downhill side. I have never had an issue with a moving parked trailer.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-23-2019, 02:28 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,107
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Lightweight plastic chocks + shifting winds = trouble.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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07-23-2019, 02:28 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Port Hardy, British Columbia
Trailer: 2019 5 TA
Posts: 121
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I have heard of x chalks popping out when least expected so rubber is the way I go
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07-23-2019, 02:32 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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I find that if the wheels are not properly secured, that inside the trailer it feels like walking on Jello, not that I have ever walked on Jello.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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07-23-2019, 02:32 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,562
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg and Kathy
I have heard of x chalks popping out when least expected so rubber is the way I go
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I have used X-Chocks for about 8 years now and have never had one pop out, it would be almost impossible. Plus, if you ever try them and see how much stability you get to your trailer, you will love them.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-23-2019, 02:46 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,107
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I've had an X-Chock pop out twice with little effort. Perhaps I'm doing it wrong.
They are good for stability, but as with the trailer's jacks I just don't use them. Since I'm traveling alone the trailer's movements are my movements, so they don't bother me. I can see using the jacks or X-chocks when you have two more more people, or when high winds are rocking the trailer.
Heavy rubber chocks are the way to go imo.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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07-23-2019, 02:46 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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They pop out if you forget about them and try to drive away.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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07-23-2019, 03:03 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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"X-Chocks" and similar products are not chocks; they are brakes. That's okay, because in most cases where real chocks are used brakes are an acceptable or even preferable alternative. The only reason that this style of brake is used is that North American trailers typically don't come with parking brakes.
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07-23-2019, 03:24 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
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The best chocks I have used are the Fastway ONEstep. The trailer is not going to move with these in place and they will not pop out.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
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07-23-2019, 03:27 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas
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Tom when we first got our trailer , daughter purchased those for us . Love them and can put a lock on them too . Pat
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07-23-2019, 03:34 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
They pop out if you forget about them and try to drive away.
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Yes, that's what happened to me the first time. Afterward I tied a bright orange ribbon on the X-Chock to help me remember. But the second time the trailer was on a slight slope, unhitched, and that was enough to pop the X-Chock out. Apparently I had not properly chocked the wheels. Lesson learned.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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07-23-2019, 03:35 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,562
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
They pop out if you forget about them and try to drive away.
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I'm going to have to agree with you, I'm just not going to say how I know. [emoji849]
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-23-2019, 03:42 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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When I had a single axle trailer I would chock both sides, front and rear of the tires. with the tandem I do the same, but on one side it is the leading tire and on the opposite, the trailing tire. I do not chock all 4 wheels. I then install the X-Chocks to lock the tandem set up and then let the stabilizers down.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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07-23-2019, 04:00 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
Yes, that's what happened to me the first time. Afterward I tied a bright orange ribbon on the X-Chock to help me remember. But the second time the trailer was on a slight slope, unhitched, and that was enough to pop the X-Chock out. Apparently I had not properly chocked the wheels. Lesson learned.
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I leave the ratchet on the folding table we use under the awning, reminds me when I break camp.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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07-23-2019, 04:16 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,277
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The first year I went to Alf’s Wine Escape we had the 19 and opened it for trailer tours. A lady came by and looked the trailer over. When she stepped out of the trailer she noticed the Bal X Chocks. She asked what they were and what was their purpose. I told her they were to keep the trailer from rocking. “ what’s the fun in that? She asked. I wondered what kind of a rally Alf was running for a few moments. And never forgot the question.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
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