Scissor chocks?

[ferret30]

Some friends of ours just purchased a new Airstream and I saw photos on their blog of some cool wheel chocks they're using. They are similar in operation to a scissor jack and go between tandem wheels instead of on the ground. They're lockable, and can't accidentally be knocked out of the way if the trailer's on a gentle slope.

http://www.amazon.com/BAL-28010-X-Chock-Locking-Chock/dp/B001V8PRAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318133354&sr=8-1

I was about to get a pair but then I thought about the wheel wells on our King tandem. They'd interfere enough that we'd have to get rid of the plastic fenders to fit the chocks.

The reason I'm interested in getting some sturdy and foolproof chocks is that our boat is parked traversing a gentle grassy slope. We have chocks under the wheels and another preventing the tongue wheel from turning, but it could be a disaster if someone accidentally backed into the trailer and it started rolling downhill!

What do you recommend?

[ferret30]

I suppose I could look into removing the caster wheel from the tongue jack. As long as the jack without the wheel would still go high enough to get the trailer hitched.

Anyone try this? I doubt I'll be leaving the trailer/boat anywhere where the wheel would be that convenient.

[Notayot]

I routinely remove the caster wheel since my driveway is paved and a good push would send the boat and trailer off the level area and down to a STEEP and twisting demise! I use wheel chocks also but I have wondered about the scissor devices to guarantee a stationary rest! My trailer is also a King double axle trailer.

[Sea Wolf]

ferret30-

A few thoughts:

I think you wouldn't have to remove the trailer fenders, just add a hole in the center to allow tightening of, and perhaps protrusion of, the screw part of the jack, upward.

They do make tongue jacks w/o a wheel, so that's a standard practice & set-up. The bottom of the jack has a flat foot to distribute the load to the ground.

They also make a receiving device for the wheel that looks like a spill-proof dog bowl to fit the wheel into, to prevent it from rolling.

Any of these adaptations will help prevent accidental rolling, but the first probably the most positive. I guess it depends on how much of a slope you're on, how much security you need, and how much trouble you're willing to go to each storage event.

For your regular storage site, you could also drive a big, solid, stake with a welded loop on it into the ground and chain the trailer tongue to it. It would probably have to be fairly low to allow driving the tow vehicle over it. Instead of a loop, it could also have a hole drilled in it with a swaged cable through it to chain to.

Lots of choices...!

Joe.

[JamesTXSD]

We use one of the orange "dog bowl" chocks that Joe mentions - holds the boat trailer fine. KInda like this...

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=trailer+chocks&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=3571223809729626343&sa=X&ei=E5WRTojnL-mQsALV5rSZAQ&ved=0CIIBEPMCMAU

but, we bought ours at West Marine; it's orange, and wasn't this expensive.

On our 5th wheel, we use Rotocoks to make sure the RV doesn't move...

http://www.rotochok.com/

Probably overkill for the boat trailer, but they are the best thing out there for a 5th wheel or travel trailer.

[Captains Cat]

That's one time when a stern anchor might be in order! Or moor it to a friendly tree!

[NCPete]

Have you looked at Ultra-Tow? They offer a tandem wheel chock that has a ratchet fitting at the top of the scissors-no hole in fenders needed. I see them on Northern Tool and Equipment web site (NorthernTool.com). It is item #3650401-1106 and costs $39.99 a pair.

[journey on]

Here are the chocks I use for Journey On's trailer:




4 ea of these and that trailer, on the level, isn't going anywhere. The trailer and boat would have to rise 6" to roll over that block and that's a lot of lifting. Cheap too: $1.50 ea.

They also allow you to position the trailer accurately, cause they don't move when you back the trailer in, everything comes to a stop.

Boris

[ferret30]

The King tandem has plastic wheel wells that drop down between the wheels. I know some other trailers have wells that are flat between the wheels and would be better suited. I wouldn't mind taking the fenders off but I believe they have marker lights (not reflectors) on them so it's not ideal. The tongue jack chocks are interesting but in my case a car bumping the trailer could still end up setting the trailer loose.

I think my best bet is the replacement jack, but I'd like to find one that pivots up like our current wheeled one.

[Sea Wolf]

For some members, those that have had a boat, trailer, and motor combination stolen by being towed away from their home or storage area, a very through grounding of the trailer might be in order, though the thieves can almost always find a way to defeat something.

But if you make it really difficult, they may look elsewhere, a basic principle of theft prevention.

Then too, they can just remove your motor with a chainsaw, cutting torch, etc.!

Thank goodness, most of us don't have to deal with this possibility. Or at least think so....

Joe.

[rogerbum]

[ferret30]

I did look at the Rotochock but unfortunately I believe it has the same problem as the scissors. The problem isn't access to the tightening mechanism, it's that the chock itself won't fit where the wheel well cleaves down between the 2 tires:



By the way, that image is from my wife's blog about board games. Check out http://macho-head-games.com (the name is a Seinfeld reference) if you're interested in what my wife is in to (besides C-Dorys of course).

[rogerbum]

I'd hope she's into you also.

[ferret30]

[ferret30]

I think I might just find a tongue jack without a wheel, or cut the existing one at the wheel and mount a plate under it. On this grass I don't think it'll go anywhere without the wheel.