Level up: Do you still chock the tires?

[klindgren]

Won't that drain your battery and damage the brakes?

I, basically, do the same thing. Only I pull the the break-away when unhooking and then reinstall it as soon as the 6-point level is complete. I figure I don't really need the chocks with all 6 level pads on the ground. If the site isn't fairly level I may pull the break-away when hooking up, but most of the time I don't bother because the 5th wheel hitch is already locked before I bring the level-up system up.

 

[danemayer]

Pulling the break-away switch to lock the wheels may not be doing what you think. When the magnets are energized, the wheels have to roll a bit before the shoes are moved into position against the drum.

It's been a while since I've played with the brake mechanism, but I also think the hold is in one direction only. If you change direction, I think the shoes will come away from the drum.

And as noted, continuously energizing the magnets is probably a bad practice. And who knows if the switch/plug is rated for frequent plugging/unplugging without getting loose.

 

[cookie]

Dan is right about the required movement in the correct direction for the braking to be active.
However, if you have disk brakes and pull the breakaway, although not a real good idea, the brakes would be applied in full with no movement required.

Peace
Dave

 

[jam20ster]

Great point about rv having potential to move/jar during unhooking of the hitch pin. I haven't been using my x chocks, but after reading I will start immediately. I never even thought about the jarring motion sometimes associated with the unhitching and the potential damage it could be doing to front legs.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[klindgren]

I guess I need to re-adjust my thinking. I've got disk brakes (as of this year's National Rally) but really didn't think of the other aspects of the "emergency" brake. I've got 4 plastic wheel chocks out in the shed. Guess i need to throw them in the truck with the pads for the landing gear.

See----all you have to do is read this forum and learn all kinds of good stuff. Thanks everyone.

 

[maddog]

if reasonably level no,,,if hilly or not level ,,yes..

 

[jmgratz]

We do have the x-chocks in the rv but seldom use them.. What I do is put the plastic chocks on one side to block the wheels before we unhook. Yes we have the 6 point leveling system and the RV should not move but it only takes a moment to put the chocks in place.

 

[avvidclif]

That 6 point leveling system is not on the ground when unhooking, only the 2 front legs.

 

[DWChris]

I do exactly what jjriker does. Put chocks front and back of wheel - level up - then put in x-chocks before I put slides out. Has always worked for me. My motto - better safe than sorry.


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