Wheel chock using brakes?

[scubieman]

I have wondered. Thought and hoped this would work.

Is it possible instead of using wheel chocks just pull the break away cable which would lock up all 4 tires?

[prof_fate]

I assume you mean when parking?
Chock the wheels, unhitch, level frt to back.
You can get x-chocks Amazon.com: BAL 28010 X-Chock Tire Locking Chock: Automotive to put between the wheels to 'lock' as in steady the trailer.

I've never heard of anyone using their brakes for that and I"m not sure it's as reliable or safe.

[bikendan]

the problem is that the brakes are electric and will drain the battery. not sure if you've got the shore line hooked up, if the converter will have to recharge the battery as it's being drained.
some people who've pulled the cable out by accident, have done some damage to the trailer's braking system.
i think it's due to the constant flow of electricity to the brakes without letting up.

remember, it's a "emergency" braking system.

[rick_h]

That also puts the brakes on at full power. Could potentially burn out your brake coils.

[hoffkm]

This will not work due to how the electric trailer brakes function. They work by an electro magnet activating when the brake controller sends a voltage signal to the brakes. The magnet "sticks" to the inside of the brake drum. As the drum rotates this pulls on a lever which in turn actuates the brake pads out towards the drum, thus stopping rotation. If the wheel/drum is not turning to start with the brake pads will not actuate.

[tentcamper1]

on my last trailer the pin got pulled out and burned up the box it goes into (excuse the technical talk!). found out when I went to hook up the trailer to the truck. I would advise against it.

[jackhartjr]

Once I forgot to chock when getting home after a lloonngg trip. When I went to unhook the trailer it rolled back off the leveling blocks and back about a foot...at the same time my wife was taking another load back into the house...it almost hit her.
The first thing out the door is to now put the chocks in front of and behind each wheel on the side the leveling blocks don't go on.

[scubieman]

Well it was a crazy idea... LOL sounds like everyone thinks I would be silly to even consider it...


Well I got actually wheel chocks ordered

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by hoffkm

This will not work due to how the electric trailer brakes function. They work by an electro magnet activating when the brake controller sends a voltage signal to the brakes. The magnet "sticks" to the inside of the brake drum. As the drum rotates this pulls on a lever which in turn actuates the brake pads out towards the drum, thus stopping rotation. If the wheel/drum is not turning to start with the brake pads will not actuate.

To emphasize what Hoffkm said.

Your camper would have to roll to actually get braking action. The system is designed to STOP a MOVING trailer. Once it is stopped you have to chock it. Running the magnets at full power for longer than several minutes will burn them out.

So Triple Ditto.

[murrayflagstaff]

I use these that I made from some stuff that I had laying around.

[scubieman]

That looks slick.

[sherdep]

Camping world had the X Chocks on sale for $32.95 each (camping club member) - I bought two of them for $65.98 and saved a bunch - if they were not on sale it would have cost me $111.10
now is the time to look into it - if you are not a camping club member might wabt to pay the $20 and save $ 20 - it would have already paid for itself here

[sherdep]

just looked and they are not on sale any more - I just got them last week so I must have gotten them just before they went off sale - bummer

[scubieman]

I bight mine from dyros rv, they were 72 I believe with no membership. I don't want a membership then I know I will spend more.

[bikendan]

i built some similar to murrayflagstaff's, only i used threaded stock, nuts and washers and a ratcheting box wrench.
cost me about $16 total, including the wrench.

[bill and theresa]

I use these I made myself . Probably similar to bikedan chocks.jpg

[jimh]

on my cardnal, the wheels are too close; the ready made units don't fit. i like those chain locks.

[onetonford]

Dexter sells a kit that you can put cable pull system on your brakes in europe on travel trailers they are required equipment. They work like your parking brake in the truck don't know how much they cost or if you would need to put on both axels but it is a idea.

[cheese53073]

I like the idea there murray.
I also considered making my own but wen I priced out things I discovered the $25 price for the plastic ones was a fair deal.

[ken0042]

Just got an email from Camping World; apparently they have these ones on a 2 day sale.

Does anybody have any suggestions for us single axle people? Or is just a couple of pieces of wood good enough?