Expiration dates on Chocks

[3'senough]

Okay so I was moving my unit today. While cleaning out the holes on the side of my Camco chocks I noticed a molded casting of an expiration date. Really, plastic expires and fatigues that much and I need to buy new ones next year or is it a marketing ploy?

My X chocks do most of the chocking and these are only wedged in for added security.

Thoughts?

[Threebutchers]

It's legit. They are a thin-walled plastic that draws strength from webbed design. Being thin, they are especially susceptible to UV exposure - becoming brittle and at risk to shatter / crush. The manufacturer is assuming the product will be exposed to UV continuously after purchased... whether camping or stored.

Where store my TT, I see shattered chocks everywhere. I don't use my Camco Blocks when I store my TT to avoid UV exposure.

[Iraqvet05]

We use the rubber chock blocks in our motor pools (Army) and they seem to last for years outside. I may ditch the Camco blocks when mine start to break or expire in favor of the rubber ones.

[RVhiker]

I bought some solid rubber chocks at Tractor Supply; they were fairly cheap, though I don't remember exactly how much.

[slabat]

that is amazing, you would think they would last forever. I am wondering if the plastic leveling blocks will do the same thing?

[FPM III]

I have four solid rubber chocks- they weigh a ton, but are extremely durable. However, I use different wheel chock arrangements depending on the situation. When I park where it's nearly level, I simply use four house bricks. If I have to raise a side of the TT, then I use the BAL chock between the tandems on the raised side. If the site is sloped front/back, then I use the solid rubber chocks. If parked somewhere (like a self-store) where the TT is going to be unattended for a long period of time, I always use house bricks because the solid rubber ones would most likely be gone when I returned (and possibly replaced with someone's yellow plastic, expired wheel chocks).

I have Lynx Levelers that are well over ten years old. I've never noticed any expiration date on them and they look just fine. However, I don't use them very often. Most of the time I use wood.

[VicS1950]

As to chock or block expiration dates....

A friend of mine taught me that when in doubt, follow the money. In this case the money to follow is liability/lawsuit avoidance. That would be the biggest reason for a manufacturer to include such information whether applicable for general consumer use or not. Well, that and assuring possible future product replacement to increase sales.

As a practical matter, a simple visual inspection will reveal any deterioration long before it is critical for your use. The chocks and leveling blocks are not being used for overhead lifting use. They are for stabilization and leveling. If a chock (of likely four or more) were to distort from original shape, or a leveling block distort the consequences are not going to be serious. Just do regular inspections of the parts and all will be fine.

Just my 2 cents. vic

[edatlanta]

I'm thinking the expiration date was included by the legal department just to cover another potential avenue for a lawsuit.