Wheel Chocks Do they work
Discovered whilst away that I had left my 13 years old Al-ko wheel chocks somewhere. So I had a look at the chocks in my local caravan dealer. Several types including folding but they all had a steep angle, 45 degrees in some cases and a relatively thick
leading edge. This got me thinking that it would be difficult to get them underneath and into contact with the wheel being chocked and thus I wondered how effective they would be. My alkos had a shallower angle on a curve which tapered to a very thin edge.
I have always been able to kick them under the tyre. So I bought another set of Al-kos online.
What do others think ? I can't believe that many mainstream chocks don't work but struggle with the apparent design
Comments
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Does your handbrake not work?
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Hmmm,some E.U countries require larger motor homes to carry substantial wheel chocks!! Spain requests that " if parked
on a gradient,wheels must be turned into the kerb"0 -
Hmmm,some E.U countries require larger motor homes to carry substantial wheel chocks!! Spain requests that " if parked
on a gradient,wheels must be turned into the kerb"Write your comments here...Yes, if you look at most foreign lorries over here you may spot, somewhere on the unit or trailer, a couple of wheel chocks.
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Those black grippy type with a small handle work ok on grass but are useless on hard surfaces like concrete. I,m not sure if any sort are that secure on gravel hard standings. I,ve had levelling blocks fly out before now, once in the middle of the night.
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My goodness....what do you get up to?
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Those black grippy type with a small handle work ok on grass but are useless on hard surfaces like concrete. I,m not sure if any sort are that secure on gravel hard standings. I,ve had levelling blocks fly out before now, once in the middle of the night.
..What were you doing
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My goodness....what do you get up to?
A number of years ago (probably 7) the caravan was parked on the drive with steadies down and handbrake off. In a really heavy gale it moved over 9'' backwards. So now I always wedge the wheels when at home.
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I've never had a problem with the van moving. However, I am rather naughty and I leave the handbrake on. I know you are always advised to leave the handbrake off in case it sticks on, but in 27 years, I have never had a problem. Hope I'm not going to
regret writing that down!!!!David
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I've never had a problem with the van moving. However, I am rather naughty and I leave the handbrake on. I know you are always advised to leave the handbrake off in case it sticks on, but in 27 years, I have never had a problem. Hope I'm not going to
regret writing that down!!!!David
...I have always parked with handbrake on ,never had a problem
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I have known handbrakes to stick on cars. I have left mine on once by mistake on a previous caravan. The motor mover did manage to free it. However a neighbour used to leave his handbrake on and his seized on the break drums. I helped him to free them but
one side was only about 18'' at most from a wall and access to remove the wheel and free the drum by striking with a soft faced mallet was not easy!0 -
Brake shoes and pads can definitely stick if left on for long periods.They can also be a devils own job to shift. I have also known clutches to stick, too.
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Brake shoes and pads can definitely stick if left on for long periods.They can also be a devils own job to shift. I have also known clutches to stick, too.
Yep, I used to rotate cars after my wife's death. 1600 Nissan Bluebird hatch back in summer and 1.8 Nissan Buebird estate in Winter (6 months each). I had a clutch stick. Started car in neutral to give vacuum assistance to brakes a chance and then restart
in first gear and hit the brakes sorted it for me0 -
Chocks work very well, and I think anyone operating a trailer should carry a set. Not just for parking and keeping stress of the handbrake components, but for use in emergencies such as wheel changes (trailer and tow vehicle), forced stop on Sutton Bank's
relatives; "walking" the trailer when push isn't possible, and also for keeping wedged in place all the leveling blocks in their box!0 -
Does your handbrake not work?
Write your comments here...I use the chocks in two normal scenarios :-
1. Normally parked on site with levelling blocks, handbrake on (it does work if you pull it up tight) and in gear. Arguably the chocks on the back wheel are overkill more to do with keeping OH happy but there again sites are sometimes on windy cliff tops
2. On storage compound with handbrake left off to avoid sticking or freezing when chocks definitely a boon.
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