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Old 04-04-2016, 06:07 PM   #61
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Donna:
Unless I missing something here, by using two BAL Levelers, each one has to lift only half the weight (axle weight) of your 19. So unless your 19 is twice the weight of my 17B, your still lifting less weight per BAL Leveler than I am. Thus, your successful use of two Levelers for your 19 (tandem axles) is not inconsistent with my experience with my 17B (single axle).
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Old 04-04-2016, 06:12 PM   #62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rossue View Post
One of my new favorites which I didn't used to use all the time but now do for safety after my tongue jack slid sideways a few times is the Bal X-Chock Wheel Stabilizer for tandem axles.

We love ours. Use them every time we camp.
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Old 04-04-2016, 06:24 PM   #63
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave & Penny Smith View Post
... by using two BAL Levelers, each one has to lift only half the weight (axle weight) of your 19. So unless your 19 is twice the weight of my 17B, your still lifting less weight per BAL Leveler than I am.
Escape 17B
empty/dry axle weight: 1920 lb
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 3500 lb
assume at least 10% tongue weight
... so each tire is carrying between 960 and 1575 pounds

Escape 5.0TA (not a 19')
empty/dry axle weight: 3100 lb (total of two axles)
empty/dry pin weight: 600 lb
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 5500 lb
... so each tire is carrying between 925 and 1225 pounds, if the axles are equally loaded.

I agree. Although the possible load per wheel overlaps, the load on each wheel of a 17B is likely to be substantially higher than that of any of the Escape tandem-axle models, because the tandems are nowhere near twice as heavy as the single-axle 17B.
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Old 04-04-2016, 06:59 PM   #64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave & Penny Smith View Post
Donna:
Unless I missing something here, by using two BAL Levelers, each one has to lift only half the weight (axle weight) of your 19. So unless your 19 is twice the weight of my 17B, your still lifting less weight per BAL Leveler than I am. Thus, your successful use of two Levelers for your 19 (tandem axles) is not inconsistent with my experience with my 17B (single axle).
Dave
Yeah, my bad. I didn't think about that. BUT, I don't have a 19' I own a 5.0TA so it weighs a tad bit less than twice the weight of your 17B
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Old 04-04-2016, 10:15 PM   #65
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Perhaps a silly question, but for a single axle would I need just one of these? In other words, I would not need to level both wheels.
Got one at Camping World today. 😊
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Old 04-04-2016, 10:32 PM   #66
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I find that these home built wedge chocks work really well to stabilize the trailer, and they cost only a few bucks to make.
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Old 04-04-2016, 10:41 PM   #67
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Do you need just one x chock or do you use one on each side?
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Old 04-04-2016, 10:46 PM   #68
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Quote:
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Do you need just one x chock or do you use one on each side?


We use both of them. It immobilizes both sides and the trailer feels more stable. Be aware however that it's still a good idea to chock conventionally if your site has excessive slope back to front or front to back. I remember at Ainsworth SP in Oregon I got a bit of a scare during setup. The site had a pretty good slope back to front, and I hadn't adequately tightened the x-chocks (mistake number one). The site had virtually no slope side to side, so I hadn't used the Andersen levelers, which also act as a chock when the small triangle piece is wedged underneath (mistake number two). The trailer began to very slowly creep forward! I grabbed a block from the bed of the truck and hurriedly shoved it under the front tire. After my embarrassment wore off, I reminded myself to use a conventional chock or an Andersen leveler/wedge as a chock whenever there was a good amount of slope. At most sites however, all we need are the x-chocks.
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:08 PM   #69
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Originally Posted by ice-breaker View Post
I find that these home built wedge chocks work really well to stabilize the trailer, and they cost only a few bucks to make.
Very nice wedge chocks ! Pat
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:16 PM   #70
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I find that these home built wedge chocks work really well to stabilize the trailer, and they cost only a few bucks to make.
And they do look nicer than my X-chocks.
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Old 04-05-2016, 12:28 AM   #71
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Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
We love ours. Use them every time we camp.
Just curious why there are two wedgies when one would level the trailer and it would be locked after the X-Chocks are applied.
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Old 04-05-2016, 06:12 AM   #72
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Because the X-chocks are put on last, the second chock locks the first one in the andersen set up.
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Old 04-05-2016, 08:04 AM   #73
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Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
Just curious why there are two wedgies when one would level the trailer and it would be locked after the X-Chocks are applied.
The X-chocks and the Wedge Chocks both work really well at reducing movements of the trailer due to walking around inside while parked. They give the trailer a much more "solid" feel when you are in it. To me, that is the greatest benefit of using them. They also provide an added degree of security (to what your conventional wheel chocks provide) in that they help to prevent your trailer from rolling away while parked and unhitched from the tow vehicle.
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Old 04-05-2016, 08:41 AM   #74
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I meant why the two sets of red Anderson wedges, not the X-chocks. I use one Anderson with 2 X's myself.
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Old 04-05-2016, 08:55 AM   #75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
I meant why the two sets of red Anderson wedges, not the X-chocks. I use one Anderson with 2 X's myself.
With one Anderson wedge on each wheel, there would be a tendency for the trailer to want to roll. The X-chocks would help to stop that, but the system is then reliant on the x-chock to keep the trailer from rolling. Safest solution is to use Anderson wedges from both sides of the wheel so that there is no longer a tendency to roll, and then use the X-chocks to stabilize the trailer from small movements due to walking around inside.
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Old 04-05-2016, 09:24 AM   #76
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Donna:
Sorry for my confusion regarding your trailer (5.0TA v. 19). I'm glad the two BAL Levelers are working well for you. Being able to park the trailer and then level it (without requiring further moving of it) is one of the major advantages of the BAL (as compared to the Anderson). The BAL also has the advantange of a higher potential range of lift. We miss these advantages.
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Old 04-05-2016, 09:29 AM   #77
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Dave, as a single traveler my needs are often different from a couple. I don't have anyone to help me back up, drive up on blocks on other lifts. I just wanna get there, park safely and easily level up. The BAL levelers suit my travelin' style. Sorry they didn't work out for you.
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Old 04-05-2016, 11:03 AM   #78
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Donna:
As a single traveler, I can really see how the advantages of the BAL would be significant for you. We enjoyed the BAL for several years (using it with our T@B), and were disappointed that it wouldn't work with the 17B. However, given all the advantages of the 17B over the T@B, (bathroom primarily) giving up the BAL is a small price to pay!
Happy camping
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Old 04-05-2016, 11:19 AM   #79
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Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
Just curious why there are two wedgies when one would level the trailer and it would be locked after the X-Chocks are applied.
I have these as well, they work great.
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Old 04-05-2016, 04:23 PM   #80
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I meant why the two sets of red Anderson wedges, not the X-chocks. I use one Anderson with 2 X's myself.


I would only add to the answers already given Charlie, that I want both the front and rear axle leveled evenly - so I use both of the levelers.
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