Wheel chock/stops

[Cypherian]

Originally Posted by gharper

The Bal-X chocks offer another way to secure the trailer from theft by placing a lock through the holes at the top where the ratchet attaches - prevents them from being removed.

Let some air out knock the Bal-X chock out drive off or... Just drive off like it appears someone has... :}

Cypher

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Cypherian

Let some air out knock the Bal-X chock out drive off or... J
Cypher

Clever

Ron

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Cypherian

Let some air out knock the Bal-X chock out drive off or...

I agree - clever. None of our members would steal anyone's trailer, but it is good to think of ways that someone else might (so you don't depend on something that might not work). This technique would also be a good way to handle an X-Chock (or similar device) that jams and so cannot be removed by the normal method.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Cypherian

Let some air out knock the Bal-X chock out drive off or... Just drive off like it appears someone has... :}

Cypher

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

I agree - clever. None of our members would steal anyone's trailer, but it is good to think of ways that someone else might (so you don't depend on something that might not work). This technique would also be a good way to handle an X-Chock (or similar device) that jams and so cannot be removed by the normal method.

On a similar line of thinking, I have noticed, and have seen similar comments from others on other forums, that both the X-chocks and the wedge type chocks may loosen up if installed on your tires when they are still warm from driving. When the tires cool off, they contract, and your chocks loosen up and provide minimal restraint to the wheels. I have found that it is necessary to check them and re-tighten them an hour or two after arriving at a site.

[dbailey]

Yeah, what Jim said...

I was rather annoyed to discover that the "chock" in the name was quite misplaced... Don't trust them to keep your trailer from moving on unlevel ground, use real chocks. I will try Dave's suggestion of tightening them up after the wheel cools, though.

I like them, but if we're only staying one night we don't usually bother deploying them.

[azjack]

Last weekend we stopped at the Overguard AZ camp ground where the slope was bad enough that my rear legs on the trailer was way off the ground and the tongue was barely off. I used the X-chocks only when I disconnected the TV and only could use the front stab jacks all night. The trailer was very stable and I wasn't worried about it rolling down the hill. I'm still a fan of the bal-x chocks.
Jack

[cpaharley2008]

Jack,
I'm under the impression to use the B@L X chocks as well as wheel chocks BEFORE disconnecting the tow vehicle and safety chains.

[azjack]

Sorry, I meant to say I used the chocks to hold the trailer while I disconnected and then they held the trailer the rest of the time as well as I also had to raise one side with the anderson levelers. What a great camp ground (mostly large units for long term with wood decks) and they evidently had no use for the one bath at night as it was locked and yet the big book gave the bath a 9+. We should have went down the road to a forest service camp ground.
Jack

[LeonW]

Has anyone used the Fastway One-step Chocks? We currently have the BAL-X chocks. I like them and they are very stable, but DW thinks they are a bit of a pain to set up, especially when we are on level ground. Lindy has been learning how to set up the trailer on her own, and I want it to be as easy as possible for her.

Thanks.

Leon

[Jim Bennett]

Leon, what is it that she finds a pain in the set up? While I am readying the hitch and chains for disconnect, it is my wife who always installs the Bal-X chocks, and has no issue with them. She has it done in less than a minute. Granted, she has now done it many, many times.

[LeonW]

JIm, I think part of it is a familiarization issue, and part of it is that she has kneel down, hold them in the right spot, figure out which way to make the nut turn. Not all that big a deal, but more work than the chock blocks we used for the 17 which were just dropped on the ground and kicked under the tires. My sciatica has flared up, and Lindy is being a good help mate by saving me from as much bending as possible. She has been doing the trailer setup and takedown under my supervision for the last couple of days.

It looks like the fastway chocks are pretty simple to install. Just kick them between the wheels and step on the red bar to set them -- no bending involved. But on the other hand, the 21 is rock solid with the X-chocks installed, and I don't know if that would be the case with alternatives. One other plus for the X-chocks is that they wouldn't be frozen to the ground next January when we go to get our trailer out of storage.

[Donna D.]

Humm, I have four of the yellow chocks that match the yellow lego blocks. I just throw each under a tire and kick it to set. Worked on the Scamp, works on Ten Forward (unless I'm using the BAL levelers). Doesn't get much easier than that. Besides, when they get cruddy or muddy, I can hose them off at the site hose bib before storage. Works for me, YMMV

[gbaglo]

I'm suspect of anything that has lots of parts. That's why I'm not on the Andersen hitch band-wagon ( that and I already have a cheaper WDH that works ). Simple is best in my opinion.

[Patandlinda]

After we picked up our trailer last Nov . My daughter bought me the Fastaways at Camping World and I like them very much . Saves my back . But we live in California and trailer is parked at home on concrete . We were at my daughters in Oak Harbor , Washington though for 4 days before going home and it rained and rained and going home it rained and rained . So ?

[padlin]

I use just one Bal-X, I have no issue with them other then not getting the nut turning the right way 1st try. I only back it off as far as I need to when removing, it goes back on in just a few seconds. Suppose if it bothered me enough I could mark the wrench. I use one set of the blocks too but like the way the Bal-X locks the wheels together on the dual axle trailer.

[cpaharley2008]

The B@LX chocks work better than just chocking the wheels with 2 or 4 chocks as they prevent the torsion action while stationary, chocking the wheels will not.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by LeonW

My sciatica has flared up, and Lindy is being a good help mate by saving me from as much bending as possible.

I am bothered terribly by sciatica, and for me, squatting (or any action that puts a deep bend in my back), seems to relieve the pain. My wife is quite used to me squatting deeply when out and about to relieve the pain in my lower back and buttocks, when at first she was embarrassed by it.

Jim N's evaluation is correct, though using chocks does stop the trailer from rolling, it does not provide near the stability (shimmying and shaking) that a chock like the Bal-X provides. I too am a fan of simplicity, BUT it must work just as good for me. Next time around, if I was buying again, I would just make the ones that Beaumont Dave did. They do the same thing, and are much simpler.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

... Next time around, if I was buying again, I would just make the ones that Beaumont Dave did. They do the same thing, and are much simpler.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'm suspect of anything that has lots of parts. That's why I'm not on the Andersen hitch band-wagon ( that and I already have a cheaper WDH that works ). Simple is best in my opinion.

I am of a similar opinion. I also use the WDH supplied by Escape. It is a time tested design that works very well. It is very simple to hook up and has no real wear points. The conventional WDH with bars uses a highly effective lever arm for applying the weight distribution moment to the hitch (as opposed to tensioned chains). The action of the WDH is to increase the vertical rather than horizontal coupler to hitch ball forces, so there is very little wear and tear on your trailer coupler or hitch ball when using this system (tensioned chains increase the horizontal forces on your coupler, leading to greater and much faster wear). Biggest downside is that the WDH is a bit heavier than the Anderson system, but that is not typically noticeable unless you are carrying it around by hand while it is off the vehicle.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'm suspect of anything that has lots of parts. That's why I'm not on the Andersen hitch band-wagon ( that and I already have a cheaper WDH that works ). Simple is best in my opinion.

I've said that same thing and been informed that the Andersen is no more complex than our "regular" WDH. To me, the "magic" material it uses is suspect until proven in the long term....... ducking and hiding under my Escape now.....