almost ruined my brand new tires

[ER17453361]

Unless you're on a slight incline I see no reason to use any kind of chock. With the jacks or stabilizers down it's sure not going anyplace. I carried them for 60 years and rarely used them. It's just one more thing to do. X-chocks are worthless no matter what they tell you. It's only another way to get your money. If it makes you feel better by all means use them.

 

[thudd3r]

U... X-chocks are worthless no matter what they tell you. It's only another way to get your money. If it makes you feel better by all means use them.

sounds like they are great for scrubbing in new tires

 

[65MAX]

Pre-drive walkaround

I have a cell phone checklist but painting bright colors is a great idea. My only thing left behind was a gallon meter on the park's water hydrant - it wasn't on my checklist' it is now!

 

[Richy R]

There's nothing comparable to a pre-trip inspection .

When flying a plane, I'd never consider taking a flight without going through the checklists, before, during and after. When "piloting" an RV I think it makes sense to apply the same care.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

When flying a plane, I'd never consider taking a flight without going through the checklists, before, during and after. When "piloting" an RV I think it makes sense to apply the same care.

I agree and when piloting a craft, a checklist is MANDATORY! Likewise for the travel trailer and tow vehicle.

Bob

 

[ER17453361]

Actually Bob I think most people do even if it's only a mental checklist. The rest get in and drive and hire someone to deal with problems when they occur. They have no clue how things work. They're also the ones that like to give advice, mostly incorrect. 73

 

[reidfo]

Unless you're on a slight incline I see no reason to use any kind of chock. With the jacks or stabilizers down it's sure not going anyplace. I carried them for 60 years and rarely used them. It's just one more thing to do. X-chocks are worthless no matter what they tell you. It's only another way to get your money. If it makes you feel better by all means use them.

I disagree, and from recent experience. I just got back from a 1000+ mile trip, and I hadn't gotten around to creating my checklist. Just going through things in my head. The second site I went to was pretty level. I forgot to chock the tires before unhitching. I had the tongue jack on some leveling blocks. Well, when I unhitched and was raising the jack the trailer fell off the blocks and slid a few inches. No damage done fortunately, and I thought well, I'll never forget that again.

Went on to another campsite where I remembered to chock and had no issues. I came home Sunday and guess what. I forgot to chock before I unhitched even though I thought I was being careful and reviewing my checklist in my head. The trailer slid again, but fortunately didn't fall this time. I had to chock, rehitch, and adjust the blocks. My driveway is completely level.

Bottom line, chock every time no matter how level you are. Things shift.

 

[ER17453361]

After 60 years RVing and guessing 500,000 miles pulling all kinds of trailers I find that hard to believe. If it moved you weren't level!!! If in doubt use chocks!!! Beats me why you had to rehitch unless it rolled a long way. Common sense goes a long way!! My 40 foot 5th wheel hung over a canal in Texas for 10 winters and I never chocked.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

It seems that some folks never learn.

Setting up or tearing down, someone walks by and offers a simple greeting. You return the greeting. Now let's see, what was I doing?

If you've ever seen a 7000 lb run-a-way trailer going through the campground under its own power and out of control, you'll think twice.

Nope, sorry, a written checklist is required, and must be followed every time.

Bob

 

[reidfo]

After 60 years RVing and guessing 500,000 miles pulling all kinds of trailers I find that hard to believe. If it moved you weren't level!!! If in doubt use chocks!!! Beats me why you had to rehitch unless it rolled a long way. Common sense goes a long way!! My 40 foot 5th wheel hung over a canal in Texas for 10 winters and I never chocked.

Guess I'm just stupid then. I shouldn't have rehitched, chocked, and made things right I guess. Glad your unchocked 5er didn't end up in the canal. You were lucky.

 

[reidfo]

It seems that some folks never learn.

Setting up or tearing down, someone walks by and offers a simple greeting. You return the greeting. Now let's see, what was I doing?

If you've ever seen a 7000 lb run-a-way trailer going through the campground under its own power and out of control, you'll think twice.

Nope, sorry, a written checklist is required, and must be followed every time.

Bob

Before my next trip I will have all checklists written down, and they will include chocks! Such an easy thing to do, and yet such an easy thing to forget without a checklist. Mea Culpa. I'm guilty of not following my own advice this past trip.

 

[NXR]

Before my next trip I will have all checklists written down, and they will include chocks! Such an easy thing to do, and yet such an easy thing to forget without a checklist. Mea Culpa. I'm guilty of not following my own advice this past trip.

I've got a background in aviation maintenance and checklists were a way of life. I use a phone app because it's very easy to modify and to add new checklists.

I create a checklist for all infrequently done tasks, such as hooking up the car to the motorhome and unhooking it, how to sanitize the water system, how to winterize and dewinterize, how to prep the house for a trip in above freezing weather and below freezing weather and several others.

When I mentioned to one person that my checklist to hook up the car was about 28 steps he was flabbergasted. He said "I have one step. HOOK IT UP!"

That works until it doesn't and then it becomes very expensive.

My wife and I double check each other and we both do our own full walkaround before moving the motorhome an inch.

Ray

 

[NXR]

So my funny/not funny paint story. We use Valterra sewer hoses. Unlike other brands, their caps are small plugs that insert INSIDE the hose fitting, a black cap in a black hose.

Yes, I did.

I hooked up and forgot to remove the plug in the hose on the RV side. I pulled the handle for a test dump, fortunately I always did the gray, and nothing came out.

Rut roh...

So I closed the valve, disconnected, made a slight mess, and pulled that cap. When I got home I hit every one of those hose plugs with a liberal coat of white paint and I also put the removed caps in a specific place in the hose tub. And I count them now.

Ray