Can You Raise/Lower TT With Bal Chocks On?

[LongIslandCamper]

We've always used the orange plastic chocks but I recently bought a set of Bal x chocks that really make it stable inside the TT. Should I still use the plastic chocks when hooking/unhooking from the truck and then install the Bal chocks once I'm level?

Can I simply use the Bal chocks before unhooking from the truck and then take them off once I'm hooked back up when leaving?

[Power247]

[QUOTE=cm11599ps;136110] ........ Should I still use the plastic chocks when hooking/unhooking from the truck and then install the Bal chocks once I'm level? ...... /QUOTE]

I read somewhere that was the correct way to install them. Something about putting too much pressure on the tires/axles if you install them before unhooking and levelling.... I will try to find the article...

[tslarson]

I completly unhitch and chock the wheels using the orange plastic style chocks. I then level the trailer with the tongue jack, then install my BAL X chocks. This method assures that the X chocks have no rotational stress on them. Then I put down the stabilizers.

[dieselmann35]

Originally Posted by tslarson

I completly unhitch and chock the wheels using the orange plastic style chocks. I then level the trailer with the tongue jack, then install my BAL X chocks. This method assures that the X chocks have no rotational stress on them. Then I put down the stabilizers.

X2- x chocks are my final step when setting up and first step when leaving.

[jdorant]

Originally Posted by dieselmann35

X2- x chocks are my final step when setting up and first step when leaving.

X3... the x chocks are not to keep your trailer from rolling and need to be put on after leveling is complete as to new damage the x chocks or your axles and tires.

[clutch]

X4

[tinlizzie23]

X5. Never use the X chocks before unhitching and leveling. Even the manufacturers instructions say that. They WILL be damaged if the trailer tries to roll with them in place.

[jmactootall]

Sunday- I forgot to take mine off until I was hooked and ready to go. Went back to pull chock blocks and noticed it. There was about a 4 -5 in drop from camping level to hitched position and X was FIRMLY in place so I had to adjust to narrowest setting and still had a little twist pressure from tires even though only 2 pads on opposite corners of X were touching. Tapped it with rubber hammer because I did not think to lift the tongue hitch again to release the pressure. I was really surprised at how the x-block was being held by the pressure created from the seemingly small tire rotation caused by dropping the hitch.
Tuesday - I did it correctly and I was a happy camper.
Still in training - surprised at all the things a camper needs to know/do to be safe traveling and set up and break down procedures. Having a blast.

[LongIslandCamper]

It's funny, I posted this question in the other forum and many people raise/lower with them installed.

[Denise]

We learned the hard way a few years back not to rely on the x-chocks (instead of ground chocks first) to prevent rolling of the tt when unhooked.

We had just pulled into a cg after a 7 hour drive through summer heat with our new tt. DH put X-chocks on both sides right after parking the tt (instead of using the ground chalks). A few minutes later, we were unhooked and heading in for a cold beverage. All of a sudden, a half hour later we hear a "pop" and the tt lurched forward just a tiny bit (we were parked on a slightly slanted site). We ran outside to see there was pressure pushing on the tongue jack. Took a look at the x-chocks and saw they were loose. DH hadn't considered that the tires were swollen from being on the road. Lesson learned. Chock the tires first with ground chalks and place x-chocks after unhooking, then tighten down x-chocks again after at least half an hour. The only reason we use the x-chalks now are for:
-reducing movement in tt while parked
-as a deterrent to slow someone down who may want to hitch up and steal the tt (we use the little pad lock thingies to lock them).