The signature characteristic of any gearhead worth their 5W30 is their ability to wrench on a vehicle or hitch up a trailer. Either of these activities generally necessitates the chocking of one or more wheel, lest the whole thing get out of control faster than a Vegas after-party.
As you’ll learn, there are more to wheel chocks than simple wedges of rubber or plastic that go jammed between a tire’s tread and terra firma. While this type of accessory isn’t generally thought of until it is needed, the level of innovation and array of products suggest that there are plenty of designers and engineers giving wheel chocks plenty of thought indeed, even if they don’t rank too high on our personal top 40. Garage Mirror
Your author freely admits he was the type of kid who needed to have his mittens tied to his jacket lest they wind up in the dark recesses of school’s Lost & Found. This may have infuriated his parents but has taught him as an adult to keep track of his things. It’s also one of the reasons I chose these chocks as my pick for this post.
Made from durable and robust rubber that should be far stronger than plastic chocks, they are tethered together with a stout length of rope. Slip, weather, and oil resistant, these chocks are built to put up with heavy usage. Their 4.2 lb weight means they are more likely to stay in place than lighter units and measure about 8 inches long by 4 inches high.
Here’s a set of four wheel chocks made of reinforced nylon that’s ribbed for her pleasure to provide extra grip. Double reinforced eyebolts allow them to be staked into surfaces such as dirt and gravel roads in a bid to make doubly sure your car or RV isn’t going anywhere. Or, y’know, you could use the eyelets and a bit of rope to tie the things together.
At 5 Inches wide, 8 Inches long, and 4 Inches high, these wheel chocks provides a strong force that - according to the seller - “beats gravity” and stops potential dangerous rolling accidents. Hey, betcha didn’t think you’d be able to defy the laws of physics for just forty bucks, did you?
Here’s an interesting solution, proving that bright minds inhabit every single part of the automotive spectrum. Instead of jamming a rubber or plastic triangle wedge between your tires and the ground, use this x-wing of a device to apply opposing forces to tandem tire applications. Science!
The seller asserts this design is better because it works with the tires’ natural movement instead of against them. Sold in pairs, they weigh 5 pounds each and have a rust inhibitive coating applied from the factory. A plated ratchet wrench is included so you can deploy these things without having to bring along your entire toolbox.
Anyone who’s been on a plane has seen these things on the ground, generally flung around by harried ground crew while corralling an Airbus A220. It is entertaining that these things are available for purchase by the general public. Hey - if they’re trusted to hold a Boeing in place, they’ll surely anchor your Super Duty.
Abrasion-resistant polyurethane construction is designed for longevity and durability. This is a fair assertion, as that type of stuff can withstand chemicals and will not rot or deteriorate outdoors like rubber or plastic. Three widths are available, up to a massive 45 inches, and these suckers also glow in the dark.
Ever wonder how they keep those enormous pieces of mining equipment from rolling away and crashing into a tour bus full of disabled schoolchildren? Sticking with the silly and extreme, we present this safety chock for construction gear. It has an 800,000 lb maximum weight capacity, or about the same payload as your author’s lunchbox.
Despite this level of stout, the seller alleges the whole thing only weighs 41 pounds, meaning burly workers can grab onto its handle and fling it in the bed of a service truck on their way to a call. It is said that this chock can work with tires up to 165 inches, a size just smaller than the wheels offered on the new SilverRam-150 Argon Diamond Uranium pickup truck planned for 2020.
Back in the real world, it seems the makers of those metal x-wings above aren’t the only ones using gravity to their advantage. These large wheel stops also go wedged between tandem wheels, preventing movement while parked or during re-hitching. This example includes a padlock for a measure of security but, really, if someone wants to defeat them they could do so with a well-placed sledgehammer strike.
Still, it’s an innovative solution to a common problem. Its design incorporates an easy grip handle so users aren’t fumbling the units because you just know it’ll be raining and dark when it comes time to deploy these or any other wheel chocks. Lightweight and compact, these things are easily tossed in a glovebox or in underseat storage.
Made of 100% recycled rubber, these chocks are definitely not of the cheap plastic variety found on the shelves of some major retailers. Their dimensions of 10”x 6”x 7.3” mean they’re a great size for arresting the movement of a vehicle or trailer while it is parked in a driveway or parking lot.
Their black and yellow high-vis styling choice amuses your author as it reminds him of a bumble bee (I’m actually 9 years old, not 39, folks). Robust grippers mean you can be sure the non-slip rubber traction pad on the bottom side will keep the chock in place. Handles are baked in to the anterior side as well.
You know the cheap plastic chocks I was making fun of just one selection ago? Yeah, these are the ones. Look, I get that there may be an occasion when a quick fix is need but these things definitely aren’t made for long term use. Priced less than a burger and fries, these hard plastic chocks are at least sold in pairs.
It’s important to note that the seller says these items are designed to work with tires up to 26 inches in diameter, which excludes almost everything bigger than a 15-inch wheel. A tire measuring just 205/65R15, for example, has a total diameter of 25.5 inches. Still, most utility trailers have very small tires and that is the market to which this product is targeted.
Best Wheel Chocks: (Don’t) Let ’em Roll
Which wheel chock is the best?
Wheel chocks are sometimes also referred to as wheel blocks or wheel stops.
Depending on your vehicle type, road, climate, and parking locations, your definition of ‘the best’ may vary. Nevertheless, the following is a list of some wheel chocks that have been appreciated by a majority of professionals:
Available in a pack of 2, these wheel chocks have received a 4.8-star rating from more than 10,000 users on Amazon which makes the blocks highly reliable. Furthermore, these rubber stops are quite durable and still don’t cost much. However, some consumers have complained about the bad odor that these chocks release.
MLTOOLS Wheel Chocks ( Buy here!)
These rubber wheel chocks also come in a pack of 2. Because of the bright color, the blocks offer clear visibility from a distance even at night. Although these stops are durable and don’t release a bad odor, they are not meant for heavy-duty uses.
These wheel blocks have a side handle to prevent the vehicle from unintended and sudden movements. Because the rubber is laminated, the chocks are resistant to abrasion, unfavorable weather conditions, slipping, tearing, or any other such damaging causes. The stops are designed for heavy-duty purposes and are not suitable for smaller vehicles.
Are rubber or plastic wheel chocks better?
Each material has its significance and uses. Therefore, many professionals prefer wheel chocks of one type over the other because of the following few reasons:
Available in 26” to 37” Sizes
Available in 29” to 59” Sizes
Can Withstand All Climates and Weather Conditions
Resistant to Air, Oil, Water, Impact, Moisture, and Heat
Can be Positioned Easily and with Precision
Poor Visibility Due to Darker Color (In Most Cases)
Clear Visibility Due to the Brighter Color
Need to Be Replaced After Using for a Couple of Years
Comparatively More Durable than Rubber Chocks
Can Rot, Rust, or Crack Over Time
Immune to Rot, Rust, and Cracks
In addition to the above two, aircraft-style chocks are also manufactured by some brands. These blocks are suitable for small offroad vehicles such as ATVs with tires that are 27” in diameter.
What kind of wheel chocks do I need?
Your selection of wheel chocks depends on the attributes and usage of your vehicle. Some important factors that need to be considered while choosing the right wheel blocks include:
Wheel chocks come in different sizes that range from 26” to 59”. While buying, you must check the diameter of the tires of your vehicle, and pick the blocks of the correct size. Using smaller chocks wouldn’t be able to serve their purpose and may make your vehicle prone to accidents.
Assess the weight of the vehicle both with and without the cargo, and make sure to buy the chocks that are strong enough to hold the heft.
The number of chocks that you need majorly depends on the purpose of your vehicle, and where and how you plan to park it.
For instance, if you wish to keep your automotive parked on a flat road, locking the front tires by placing the chocks on both sides would prevent the vehicle from moving forward or backward. On the other hand, when parking uphill, placing these blocks behind both the rear wheels would prevent the vehicle from rolling back. Similarly, if you’re parking downhill, blocking both the front tires would keep automotive from going forward.
Having four pieces of wheel chocks of the correct size and capacity would equip you pretty well for all types of situations and road types.
Do wheel chock locks work?
Yes, they do work as long you choose the correct size from a reputed brand and ensure that they are firmly placed at the center of the tires leaving extremely less or no gap in between.
From time to time, TTAC will highlight automotive products we think may be of interest to our community. Plus, posts like this help to keep the lights on around here. Learn more about how this works.
(Editor’s note: This post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our ‘90s sedan shopping habits operating expenses. Some of you don’t find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Piston Slaps, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)
[Product images provided by the manufacturer.]
А) There are daisies on the sidewall of that tire - you expect me to take you seriously now? Б) The official instructions for my latest floor jack [I wanted one more - you have a problem with that?] say not to use it on more than a 3% grade. (That's a 1.72 degree slope - I might have to move.)
Safety Bollard The only time I really need to chock wheels is when doing a brake job or rotating tires. Because I have to go one wheel at a time, I just use the spare tire or the wheel I've taken off the car.