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Old 03-04-2018, 07:53 PM   #1
Afrnd2all
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Leveling Question from newbie

When you use auto leveling system on a 5er do you need to chuck the wheels?
Thanks in advance.
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Old 03-04-2018, 07:58 PM   #2
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Absolutely!! Damned 5th wheels are hard to catch if they start rollin'
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Old 03-04-2018, 08:06 PM   #3
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Good one Cannonman. I warned you it was from a newbie. Both sides or is one side enough? Also are the scissor type the safest?
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Old 03-04-2018, 08:26 PM   #4
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Don’t throw me under the trailer!!!

You mean chock the wheels. X chocks between the tires on both sides would be the best.
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Old 03-05-2018, 12:29 AM   #5
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I don't see the need to chock the wheels, unless I m on a decent out of level grade when unhooking. If the trailer moves with the 6 jacks down then the chocks would not have helped anyway.
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Old 03-05-2018, 02:35 AM   #6
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You always want to chock you wheels before unhitching...safety first. Once set up it helps with stabilizing by stopping any movement not to mention what strong winds can do.
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Old 03-05-2018, 02:49 AM   #7
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We always chock both sides!
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Old 03-05-2018, 03:46 AM   #8
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Just a good habit to add your routine.
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Old 03-05-2018, 04:22 AM   #9
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I had my trailer roll a little bit one time when I thought I didn't need to chock the wheels. Scared me enough to chock the wheels every time.
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Old 03-05-2018, 05:13 AM   #10
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After seeing a situation where a fellow's 5er slipped as he was unlocking his hitch I'm a believer in chocking the wheels. The beast only moved a few inches but somehow came down hard on his tailgate. "An ounce of prevention...."
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Old 03-05-2018, 06:54 AM   #11
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always, Always, ALWAYS chock any trailer before unhitching !!!!! It only takes one time of having a fifth wheel hitch "not uncouple" and drag the trailer a foot or so, with DW inside getting ready to deploy the slides as she bangs her head on the refrigerator or uncouple the travel trailer and as the jack lifts the coupler off the ball, watch "helplessly" as the trailer rolls backwards (worse yet, rolls forward) until it meets something to stop the roll.

Trust me when I say that a "meager human" ain't gonna stop a rolling 10,000 pound trailer once it starts its journey.... ALWAYS CHOCK BEFORE UNHITCHING !!!!!
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Old 03-05-2018, 06:56 AM   #12
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Friend of mine, same thing. Hooking up, got interrupted and did not visually check the fifth pin connection. Lifted the jacks and she rolled back, a bit of damage to the truck box and his pride.
So yes, chocks, first and last.
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Old 03-05-2018, 07:05 AM   #13
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No you don't need to chock, but if you go this route, you are required to individully invite all in the campground to come watch the show!

If you haven't guessed, that we tongue in cheek. CHOCK EACH AND EVERY TIME. The potential outcome is not worth the potential ti.e savings.

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Old 03-05-2018, 08:00 AM   #14
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There are many things about towing trailers/campers that many of us have varied opinions about, but this topic, chocking the wheels, is probably one that there is ALMOST universal agreement on. If you don't chock them, to me it's kind of like the old saying about riding motorcycles and having an "off"......"It's not a matter of if it's going to happen, but when!"
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Old 03-05-2018, 08:35 AM   #15
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Yes chock the wheels. If using X-chocks re-tighten them again after tires have cooled down. Surprising how much tires contract when they get cold.

EDIT: This should have been a reply post on the thread "Leveling Question from newbie". Sorry for the confusion.
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Old 03-05-2018, 09:45 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ken56 View Post
I had my trailer roll a little bit one time when I thought I didn't need to chock the wheels. Scared me enough to chock the wheels every time.
We have a regular TT, but something similar happened to us once (and, now that I chock both sides every time, hopefully never again). We were on what I thought was a perfectly level street; chocked one side and lowered the tongue jack to raise the trailer off the hitch, and as soon as it cleared the trailer took about a 3" movement back and swiveled a bit - not enough to tighten the safety chains which were still hooked up - but enough to spook me. So yes, we always chock both sides now.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
always, Always, ALWAYS chock any trailer before unhitching !!!!! It only takes one time of having a fifth wheel hitch "not uncouple" and drag the trailer a foot or so, with DW inside getting ready to deploy the slides as she bangs her head on the refrigerator or uncouple the travel trailer and as the jack lifts the coupler off the ball, watch "helplessly" as the trailer rolls backwards (worse yet, rolls forward) until it meets something to stop the roll.

Trust me when I say that a "meager human" ain't gonna stop a rolling 10,000 pound trailer once it starts its journey.... ALWAYS CHOCK BEFORE UNHITCHING !!!!!
We've even gotten to the point that the DW doesn't enter the trailer after unhitching until I have the stabilizers down - just to be sure. This might be overkill, but we figure it's better to be safe than sorry.
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Old 03-05-2018, 01:57 PM   #17
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If you use the x-chocks make sure to recheck them after leveling. I've noticed they will loosen up when the jacks raise the trailer.
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Old 03-05-2018, 03:02 PM   #18
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Definitely chock, even while on the level... and if you backed in... pull straight forward, and back in again. This will relieve any sidewall torque (twist) from maneuvering.

Welcome, and Good Luck!
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Old 03-05-2018, 03:32 PM   #19
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CHOCK, CHOCK, CHOCK - first and unchock last. Scary story;

Our next door neighbors (and wife's best friend) bought a new trailer (first RV) and decided to take a trip to AK. They were gone many weeks. About the 2nd day they were back we went to see them and hear about the trip.....wrong thing to do. Seems at some point they parked the trailer; she got out to go in and set things up I guess and he went to unhitch. Unhitched, no chocks, she's standing in the door on the top step....the trailer just rolls right over the edge of an embankment that was THOUSANDS of feet deep (to hear her tell it). Thankfully, there was a large pine right behind them so the trailer only went about 3', but, it tore a big hole in the back and knocked her off the step causing her to hit the ground on her head. Got the trailer jury rigged repaired and came home.

He was so embarrassed he didn't want to talk about it. She was so livid that she couldn't say a good word about much of anything. They took the trailer in, had it repaired and sold it within a month. She said she would never get in an RV again...............

So, CHOCK first; really bad things could happen if you don't. And, I will echo another's comment on chocking both sides. Chock BOTH sides. I learned that years ago thinking I would just chock the side not up on levelers. Unhooked and watched the tongue jack just skitter to the right, swiveling as the unchocked tires rolled. It stopped after maybe 3-4" but it was far enough to put my stomach in my throat.
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Old 03-06-2018, 09:38 AM   #20
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From a previous poster: "If the trailer moves with the 6 jacks down then the chocks would not have helped anyway" One does not level an RV while hooked to the hitch. That statement is way, way off. At the risk of being repetitious, always, ALWAYS chock both sides before unhooking.
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