Wheel chocks (or chocks) are wedges of sturdy material placed closely against a vehicle’s wheels to prevent accidental movement. Chocks are placed for safety in addition to setting the brakes. The bottom surface is sometimes coated in rubber to enhance grip with the ground.
When should you chock the wheels?
Wheel chocks are used for safety and accident prevention. Chocking, also known as blocking, is done to prevent trucks and trailers from unintentionally moving, like rolling or overturning, while workers are loading, unloading, hitching, unhitching or servicing the vehicle.
Do I need to chock both wheels?
Always use pairs of chocks in tandem along the rear tires. If you place a chock behind the rear left tire, for example, you’ll want to place another chock behind the rear right tire as well.
How many wheels should be chocked?
The standard notes that chocks should be placed under the rear wheels, which means two chocks should be used – chocking just one wheel isn’t enough. If operators are chocking both sides of the wheels, then you must have a total of four chocks – two for each side.
Is it necessary to chock the tires of a small trailer?
Wheel chocks are necessary for your RV or travel trailer to keep them from rolling away. Parking brakes work well to keep your rig stable, but they are not reliable on their own. Instead, they are much less likely to fail when used in combination with chocks.
Do wheel chocks expire?
Our chocks have an expiration date due to the UV inhibitors they contain. We are required to put a date on them during the manufacture process. However, if they are stored in a dry environment and out of constant sunlight they will last much longer than the date on the chock.
Do wheel chocks work on Hill?
They’re one of the most effective and affordable ways to protect your vehicle. These wheel chocks will prevent your car from rolling away when parked on a steep incline or hill. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to use. Simply slide a wedge behind each of the back tires, and that’s it!
Are plastic wheel chocks safe?
Wheel chocks, also called wheel immobilizers or chock blocks, are wedges made out of a sturdy material that you place against a vehicle’s wheels to stop any accidental movement or rolling. They’re typically made of rubber or plastic, but I wouldn’t recommend buying plastic ones because they’re just not as sturdy.
Why are they called wheel chocks?
Wheel chocks (or chocks) are wedges of sturdy material placed closely against a vehicle’s wheels to prevent accidental movement. Chocks are placed for safety in addition to setting the brakes.
What can I use instead of wheel chocks?
Bricks would be safe enough as wheel chocks because the rubber tyre spreads the load. (Imagine trying to chock a railway wagon with a brick however, and it would be another matter.) But all the same, the proper wedge-shaped blocks are probably best.
How do you block a tire?
Use bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks to block the wheels at the end of the car that isn’t being raised. If you’re changing a tire and you have nothing to block the wheels with, park near the curb with the wheels turned in.
Why should you use chocks when parking a trailer?
If the trailer does not have spring brakes, use wheel chocks to keep the trailer from moving. The tractor protection valve keeps air in the tractor or truck brake system should the trailer break away or develop a bad leak. The tractor protection valve is controlled by the “trailer air supply” control valve in the cab.
How do trucks choke wheels?
Chock tires in both front and rear position on each side of truck. Chock the four rear tires (both duals) on both sides of truck. Chock rear outer tires first then the front on both sides. Chock tires in both front and rear posi- tion on each side of truck.
How do you size a wheel chock?
The size of the tires on your equipment or vehicle will also have an impact on the size and slope of the chock; chocks should be one fourth the diameter of your tire. So, if your truck has 40” diameter tires, the chocks you need will be roughly 10” high.
Do you need to chock both sides of travel trailer?
Just always make sure that you place the chock or rock in front of the tire where the incline is (sometimes this may be on the back side of the tire if the incline is leaning towards the rear end of your trailer). To be extra safe, I recommend you chock both sides of each trailer.
Why do campers shake?
Besides, the RVs need springs and flexible wheels for you to travel around smoothly and easily. Since it has springs in the suspensions, it is bound to shake and waggle. Among other reasons, there can be a lack of air in tires and damage in some parts of the RV.
Does OSHA require wheel chocks?
OSHA requires drivers to set the brakes, and workers to chock the rear tires of trucks before they are loaded or unloaded. If a driver detaches a trailer from his truck, he (or site workers who receive the trailer) must stabilize the trailer with jacks and chock the rear wheels.
How long do plastic wheel chocks last?
The plastic lasts 4 year and then you need to replace them. This is not only due to UV exposure but due to plastic aging. The expiration date (not mfg date) which is stamped on the chock is often wrong since the factory does not bother to make sure it is set to 4 years later.
How do you level a camper on a sloped driveway?
So how do you level a travel trailer on a slope? Begin by leveling the travel trailer from side to side, chock the wheels and then level it from front to back by adjusting the tongue jack. When done properly your travel trailer will be stable and ready for you to safely enjoy.
What is a tire chalk?
Tire chalking is a more manual way to enforce parking whereby an enforcement officer will use chalk to mark the tires of each vehicle within a specific parking area. After the indicated time allowance, the officer will then visit the lot to see if any marked vehicles remain to determine which vehicles are in violation.
Are bricks good wheel chocks?
This isn’t a good idea. Don’t take chances with your own safety—only manufactured chocks that have been approved for use on vehicles the make and size of your own should trusted for blocking. Despite seeming solid, bricks, cinder blocks, and other composite materials are easily crushed when put under enough pressure.
