RV Wheel Chocks: Decent, Better & Best
Every camping trip needs a great foundation upon which to build. And if you are setting up a campsite in anything other than a tent, chances are that your foundation starts with a set of wheels.
A good stationary base on a motor home or travel trailer needs to remain in place safely, and that can be established with RV wheel chocks.
Let’s dive in.
What are RV Wheel Chocks For?
No one wants to stay in a vehicle that has the tendency to move, and sometimes brakes aren’t enough to keep those tires from rolling.
Wheel chocks are the perfect piece of equipment to give your camping buddies the security in knowing they aren’t going anywhere (especially when boondocking)!
Usually made of wood, metal or hard plastic, chocks are placed snugly up against a tire to keep it from moving, when the terrain isn’t quite level.
Many chocks have a rubber coating on the bottom to help them grip the ground, creating more friction to hold them in place.
When Should RV Wheel Chocks Be Used?
Most camp aficionados utilize wheel chocks on travel trailers, especially when there are tandem axles, and many owners of motor homes may also place chocks in front of single tires on their vehicles.
If there is a slant to the campsite pad, a chock should be used to assure no movement of the camper chassis.
And if someone is working on the camper undercarriage, chocks should definitely be used, along with industrial jacks.
It’s a good idea to place chocks as soon as the camper is in place on the campsite, as unloading gear and setting up camp could cause some movement of the trailer or RV.
Where Should RV Wheel Chocks be Placed?
Since most parking brakes hold the rear wheels of a vehicle, it is always a good idea to set chocks on the front wheels, at the very least. The chocks placed on a single tire should be firmly placed in front of the downhill side of each tire.
On trailers with tandem axles, chocks fit between the two tires. The width adjusts usually by cranking with a ratchet wrench.
The Best RV Wheel Chocks
Decent: MaxxHaul Rubber Wheel Chock
The smallest and least expensive option for dependable chocks are the MaxxHaul Rubber Wheel Chocks.
Shaped like a triangle, these chocks can be easily kicked into place in front of a wheel. Their built-in make them easy to pack up camp.
They are simple to store and pretty much indestructible.
See the current price for MaxxHaul Rubber Wheel Chock.
Better: Fastaway Wheel Chock for Tandem RV Axles
The Fastaway Wheel Chock is designed for tandem axle vehicles, with adjustable sizing for variable lengths between tires.
It also allows the camp crew to set them up without spending time on the ground, saving backs the strain upon departure, too. Kick it under the tires upon arrival, then one pull on the steel cord and you are ready to roll.
The Fastaway is worth its weight, because of the frustration it saves you!
See the current price for Fastaway Wheel RV Chock.
Best: X Chock Wheel Stabilizer
The X Chock Wheel Stabilizer sets the standard when it comes to safety and strength. This chock never even touches the ground to do its work and can extend from a mere 1-3/8″ in width to 10″.
It comes with a heavy-duty ratchet wrench to crank the stabilizer into place. Keep in mind, it weighs 11 lbs.
See the current price for X Chock RV Wheel Chock.
Don’t Forget RV Wheel Chocks on Your Next Trip
Be prepared to keep your camper from rocking and rolling on that perfect camp trip by bringing along the chocks that best suit your needs and your RV.
You will be guaranteeing a safe and secure outdoor getaway.
We use RV wheel chocks at every boondocking site (aka free camping) we visit. These campsites are beautiful but often uneven. Wheel chocks give us the stability we need.
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I have X-Chocks for stabilizing the camper. Not as a wheel chock. They even say never to use them as a wheel chock. I’ve heard stories of rigs rolling these right out between the tires and damaging the x-chock, not to mention the rig rolling. Not a cheap replacement either for the x-chocks. So use x-chocks for stabilization of the rig, but also rubber wheel chocks to keep the rig from rolling away.
Hi Kyle, We started with Chocks because they had the best ratings and highly recommended by other campers. However, many of the new travel trailers have a greater space between the axles and X-Chocks simply do not work. In our situation the distance from one tire to the next is 20 inches. With that said, we purchased heavy duty truck chocks and while being larger, if is more comforting to know we are secured especially on a sloping site the may have a lake, river or canal behind us.
We use both the rubber sets, two for each set of tires if any slope, and when parked for overnight, the X-Chocks.
One thing I found out when I first started using the X-Chocks a couple of years ago.
Install them AFTER the tires have cooled. If installed right away as with first setting up, as the tires cool the X-Chocks will “loosen up” as the tires cool and shrink, or contract, as they expand when hot from rolling down the road. I just wait now instead of having the problem of trying to tighten the set up under the slide out when it’s open.
I found this fact out when on a trip and the X-Chocks were still new to me, a neighboring camper thought he would try to keep our X-Chock after it had fallen out from a set of tires while we were gone from the campground. When I noticed that one sides X-Chock was gone and asked around, he said “he’d found it” and “didn’t know” it was mine! Although it had to have been right next to my tires! Anyway, since it was locked he wouldn’t be able to use it unless he cut the lock, but he gave it back and I learned just let the tires cool while I’m setting up and put the chock on just before I open the slide out.