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03-04-2018, 07:53 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Tucson
Posts: 26
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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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03-04-2018, 07:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,221
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Absolutely!! Damned 5th wheels are hard to catch if they start rollin'
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
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03-04-2018, 08:06 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Tucson
Posts: 26
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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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03-04-2018, 08:26 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,236
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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.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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03-05-2018, 12:29 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern Shore of MD
Posts: 133
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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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03-05-2018, 02:35 AM
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#6
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Gone Traveling
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Ajax
Posts: 431
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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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03-05-2018, 02:49 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 590
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We always chock both sides!
__________________
Mike & Barb
2015 Keystone Bullet Premier 26RBPR
2018 Cedar Creek 36CK2
2017 Chevy Silverado LT Z71
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03-05-2018, 03:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Winterset, Ia
Posts: 280
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Just a good habit to add your routine.
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03-05-2018, 04:22 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Dandridge TN
Posts: 260
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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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03-05-2018, 05:13 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,221
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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...."
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
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03-05-2018, 06:54 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
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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 !!!!!
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-05-2018, 06:56 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Chetwynd, BC
Posts: 378
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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.
__________________
Brent W
2019 Duramax dually
2015 Fuzion 325
2008 Goldwing
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03-05-2018, 07:05 AM
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#13
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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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.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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03-05-2018, 08:00 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,198
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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!"
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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03-05-2018, 08:35 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
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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.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
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03-05-2018, 09:45 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northeast Florida/Southeast Maine
Posts: 784
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ken56
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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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
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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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.
__________________
Now: 2019 Winnebago 2500FL w/e2 WDH;Sold: 2015 Bullet Premier 19FBPR (shown)
2012 Ford F-250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab (gas 6.2 L, 3.73 gear ratio 2WD, 172" WB)
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03-05-2018, 01:57 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Checotah
Posts: 52
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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.
__________________
2016 Keystone Laredo 5th wheel, 297SRE Andersen Ultimate
2002 Silverado Crew Cab, Duramax, Allison, 4x4
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03-05-2018, 03:02 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Southeastern Connectiut
Posts: 1,305
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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!
__________________
Pull Toy
Steve & Jan, Ava & Emma (Mini Schnauzers):
2016 F350 Lariat 4X4 Powerstroke CC/SB "PULLTOY V"
2013 Alpine 3535RE "MAGIC CARPET IV"
Proud Navy Vet!
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03-05-2018, 03:32 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,600
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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.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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03-06-2018, 09:38 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,308
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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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Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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