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Tire chocks are essential to keep any trailer from accidentally moving and causing damage to the trailer or possibly injuring someone. However, simply having tire chocks isn’t enough.
Not only do you have to use them, but you have to use them correctly. So, where should you place your tire chocks to keep a trailer in its place?
Today, we’re walking you through the importance of wheel chocks and how to use them to keep you and your trailer safe. Let’s get started!
What Are Tire Chocks?
Tire chocks typically consist of plastic, rubber, and occasionally metal. They go against tires to prevent them from moving.
They’re commonly used when unhitching a trailer to prevent it from rolling or moving. However, they can also provide additional safety for vehicles parking on an incline if the brakes fail.
Why Do You Use Tire Chocks?
When using wheel chocks, place them on the ground at the front and rear of a tire. This prevents tire movement in any direction and maximizes stability and safety.
In certain situations, primarily when parking in inclined spaces, an unchocked trailer or vehicle could gain enough momentum to roll away. Trust us.
We learned the hard way why you should use chocks. A trailer or vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds rolling when it’s not supposed to be scary and something everyone should avoid.
Do Wheel Chocks Actually Work?
When used correctly, wheel chocks are incredibly effective in keeping a trailer in place. They help reduce the potential for accidental movement of the tires. Even when parking on flat ground, using wheel chocks increases stability.
Feeling your RV move back and forth can be frustrating and annoying, but it can also cause damage to any jacks that are supporting your rig.
With the wheels properly chocked, the tires can’t move forwards or backward. That lets you relax, knowing your vehicle or trailer isn’t going anywhere.
Do I Need Two or Four Tire Chocks?
To properly chock your tires, you should always use four. You should place them on the front and back of your tires.
If you have multiple axles on your trailer, place them at the front of the first axle and the back of the last axle. If you prevent these tires from moving, the wheels between the chocks aren’t going anywhere.
Are Rubber Wheel Chocks Better than Plastic?
We see far too many people using cheap plastic wheel chocks with their trailers. When put to the test, they can’t put up much of a fight against a beefy trailer or vehicle.
As a result, we strongly recommend not buying plastic wheel chocks. Instead, we recommend getting a set of solid rubber wheel chocks. These sturdy and tough wheel chocks can keep just about any wheels from moving.
- Compact Size: Measuring approximately 8 inches in length, 4 inches in width, and 5 inches in height, these wheel chocks...
- All-Weather Construction: Built for durability in any climate, these wheel chocks feature all-weather construction,...
Where Should You Place Your Tire Chocks?
Place wheel chocks at the front and back of your wheels. However, if you don’t have enough chocks, place them downhill of the vehicle.
If you’re on an incline, put them behind the back tires. On the other hand, if you’re in a spot with a decline, place them in front of the front tires.
In addition to placing them in the front and back, make sure to place each chock in the center of the tire. This helps ensure the chocks get a firm connection with the tire and that it doesn’t slip out from under the vehicle’s weight.
Keep in Mind: If you want to give your tires the best chance at a long life, consider purchasing a set of RV tire covers.
Best Tires Chocks You Can Find
You don’t want to trust just any old tire chocks to keep your trailer or vehicle in place.
We’ve found several options if you’re shopping for the best tire chocks. Let’s take a look at some options worth considering.
Our Pick: Solid Rubber Heavy Duty Black Wheel Chock
Our favorite tire chocks are the MAXXHAUL 70472. These wheel chocks are 8 inches by 4 inches by 5 inches, which means they’re large enough for just about any wheels.
The built-in handle makes it easy to place and remove them at the end of your trip. Despite their sturdy rubber design, these chocks weigh only 3.85 pounds. They’re solid, sturdy, and sure to last for years.
- Compact Size: Measuring approximately 8 inches in length, 4 inches in width, and 5 inches in height, these wheel chocks...
- All-Weather Construction: Built for durability in any climate, these wheel chocks feature all-weather construction,...
Highest Rated: AFA Tooling – Heavy Duty Rubber Wheel Chocks
This four-pack of AFA Tooling’s heavy-duty rubber wheel chocks is all you need for even the largest and heaviest trailers and vehicles. The quick-grip ribbed design provides a textured bottom to help create the most possible grip as easily as possible, no matter what surface you’re parking on.
Each chock weighs 3.5 pounds but comes with a handle to make it easy to place and remove when using them.
- MEDIUM WHEEL CHOCKS: At 9.1 x 3.7 x 4.7 in and 3.4lbs these wheel chocks work best for vehicles, ATVs, trailers and RVs...
- DUAL WHEEL CHOCK SET: This 4-Pack of rugged wheel chocks let you quickly chock a full axle of tires - both front and...
Great For Larger Tires: MAXXHAUL Rubber Wheel Chock with Eyebolt
The larger the vehicle you have, the larger your wheel chocks need to be. These large rubber wheel chocks from MAXXHAUL measure 10 inches by 8 inches by 6 inches.
They consist of a non-slip oil-resistant rubber that maximizes their grip and keeps a vehicle or trailer in place. The eyebolt in the side of them makes it easy to attach a chain or rope to make carrying and removing them as easy as possible.
These chocks are an excellent choice if you have a big rig you need to hold in place.
- Generous Dimensions: With dimensions of approximately 10 inches in length, 8 inches in width, and 6 inches in height,...
- Heavy-Duty Rubber Construction: Crafted from durable rubber, these wheel chocks are engineered to withstand loads and...
Unique Design: Securityman Heavy Duty Wheel Chocks
While we mentioned that we prefer rubber chocks over plastic, the Securityman heavy-duty wheel chocks are some of the only plastic wheel chocks worth considering. Their solid design allows them to hold up to 20,000 pounds in place.
They’re great for all types of weather conditions and situations. They measure 8.15 inches by 7.17 inches by 6.77 inches and only weigh 4.11 pounds.
These are one of the only plastic chocks we’ve found that can actually deliver a similar experience and results compared to rubber chocks.
Pro Tip: Before you purchase your RV tires, you need to see our Ultimate RV Tires Buyers Guide!
- TOUGH AND DURABLE: Prevent up to 20,000lbs for trucks and trailers from unintentionally moving, rolling or overturning...
- WORKS IN ALL CONDITIONS: All-weather construction makes for reliable performance in any climate and treaded grips works...
Budget Friendly: FloTool Heavy Duty Wheel Chock
If you don’t need chocks that can hold several tons, the FloTool 11930MI chocks are an excellent option that won’t break the bank. These plastic wheel chocks are stackable, which makes for easy and convenient storage.
They measure 9 inches by 6 inches by 5 inches, and a set of two weighs only seven ounces. Their heavy-duty resin construction makes them long-lasting and durable.
- Ensure Safe Repairs: This heavy duty wheel chock is an essential safety tool to use when working on your vehicle with...
- Keep Your Vehicle in Place: The wheel chock's design prevents tires from rolling, giving you peace of mind while you...
Know Where to Place Your Tire Chocks
Using wheel chocks isn’t challenging. However, they’re something you should have readily available so you can park with confidence that your vehicle or trailer isn’t going anywhere.
This helps protect you and your vehicle from finding yourselves in a serious situation. So make sure you have wheel chocks on hand before your next big trip.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
