Proper use of Roto-chocks

[DaveK98]

My rotochocks came in the mail from Geno's last night but there were no instructions.



Looks like I just use the handle part to snych it down tight and then stick the key part in the hole. If I wanted to lock it I would put the lock through the loop in the key and through the main part of the rotochock? I'm guessing this is more so somone doesn't steal $130 worth of rotochock although it would make stealing the trailer more difficult as well.



I readsomewhere that the correct procedure is to put the rotochocks on first thing but I disagree with this. Here is my procedure (before rotochocks)



1. Drop front landing gear, motor up front till I see a gap between pin and hitch, with e-brake on in truck I release my trailer from the truck, both units seem to usually move about 1/2 inch or so.



2. Drive away from trailer and level front to back with the landing gear.



3. Put down the rear stabalizers



4. Put on rotochocks: My reason for this is if I put them on before step 1 I feel they would cause a bind in the wheels/suspension and this bind would be there the entire time I'm parked. I see the wheels slightly moving and the suspension adjusting slightly when I'm doing 1-2.



Sorry for the long post, maybe I'm being parinoid and you can shed some light on the matter.

 

[RColston]

If I had them i'd be doin it like you describe.

 

[rweis]

That's the way I use mine.



As a word of cautionAD LOCK the release handle on the hitch. One of the members of our camping group was at a rest area and "someone thought it would be funny to release the release handle" and watch the 5er drop into the truck bed doing many many thousands of $ worth of damage.



My particular hitch will not allow the release handle to be released unless backing (moving the box pin forward) is the last positioning movement. BUT I lock my handle all the time. 5er or no 5er.



Bob Weis

 

[DaveK98]

Dependion on the situation I put a padlock through the hitch so it can't be "accidentally" released as well.....

 

[Bob Cochran]

I agree with all the above except the part about not putting in the chocks first. It is less likely to happen with a 5er than a tt but you really don't want the 5er rolling away on you. I dry camp a lot on uneven ground so it can happen. How about this put truck in neutral and let 5er hitch and 5er relieve the stress then set e-brake. Install Roto-cocks and do the rest. Works for me after a lot of years RVing with both TT and 5Er's.