Getting parked and set-up

[peterh]

When Lynne looked out our trailer window at breakfast time on Monday (Aug 27th) she thought something looked a little odd.





The guy had done some setup work behind his camper van for about 20 minutes that morning, went to walk the dog . . . and came back to this.





The good news is that the camper van came to rest on a sturdy tree, and did not go skating down the 45' embankment into the Namaimo River.

The bad news is that his wife was in the van.

So the REALLY good news is that the camper van came to rest on a really sturdy tree, and no one was hurt.

So it came up the hill:





The only visible damage was to the back doors. (And perhaps the propane tank, which carved a ditch underneath the van as it was pulled up the bank.)





They seemed like a really nice couple. She joked that he must have released the brake and given the van a push. He joked that he'll have to do better next time. I said "but it's her turn next." She gave him a really meaningful look and laughed.

It was an (inevitable) pity that they left. I would have invited them to join us around our campfire that night if they had stayed.

I will always chock my wheels . . . . . . . . .
. . . I will always chock my wheels . . . . . .
. . . . . . I will always chock my wheels . . .
. . . . . . . . . I will always chock my wheels

Lynne will always trust me to chock my wheels . . .

--Peter

[Gina D.]

oopsey!!!!

[Donna D.]

Thank goodness for sturdy trees.

Peter, I've met Lynne, she'll sic Lex on you if you don't CHOCK THE WHEELS.

[Anne H]

Ah yes, chaulking the tires!!

Last week I forgot my regular chaulks! Just drove off and left them in the driveway.

But not to worry, always prepared, I had a set of leveling chaulks ( )

. . . . . but forgot to chaulk the front of the tire after I was up on the levelers - result: I unhooked from my car and the trailer promptly rolled forward and hit my car

So, in 90F heat (), I hooked up the trailer again, got back on the leveler chaulks, found some firewood in the trailer (fortunately big enough and kind of triangular) and chaulked up the front of the tires.

Oh well, it was too hot for a campfire anyway - and fortunately the trailer hitch just hit my bumper so there was no damage - except to my pride.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Ah yes, chaulking the tires!!

Last week I forgot my regular chaulks! Just drove off and left them in the driveway.

But not to worry, always prepared, I had a set of leveling chaulks ( )

. . . . . but forgot to chaulk the front of the tire after I was up on the levelers - result: I unhooked from my car and the trailer promptly rolled forward and hit my car

So, in 90F heat (), I hooked up the trailer again, got back on the leveler chaulks, found some firewood in the trailer (fortunately big enough and kind of triangular) and chaulked up the front of the tires.

Oh well, it was too hot for a campfire anyway - and fortunately the trailer hitch just hit my bumper so there was no damage - except to my pride.

Anne,

You might look at using a BAL leveler instead of leveling blocks. Works as a chock as well as leveling.

[Roger H]

So, when I chalk the wheels, should I use colored chalk? Can someone please explain how using chalk on the tires causes them not to move? Is it sort of like the chalk the parking enforcement people do that ensures that the wheels don't move before they write the tickets?



Going to my room now... No need for the flying monkeys, Ms. Gina!

Roger

[Bonnie]

BAL Leveler

Had to Google it. Didn't have any idea such a critter existed.

Bonnie

[Anne H]

Hi Byron!

. . . . . . and here's the REST of the story. I actually have a BAL leveler - got it 2 weeks ago and used it once already. But, at this particular campsite, I was on grass. Apparently, lumpy grass. But grass that I didn't think the campground would appreciate me digging out. No way, no how was I going to get that BAL leveler under that tire (and I tried squeezing it under there every which way, in the aforementioned 90F heat!!).

My Escape tires are, I believe, Goodyear ST205-75R- 14's (BAL should fit most 13-15" tires) and on concrete I haven't had a problem. Is it a common problem on uneven ground to have to do some 'modifications' on the ground? I had meant to post to the forum or email you about this since I know you have one and have used it with great success. It seems to me that with my tires, it's just not always very easy to use.

[Byron Kinnaman]

If modification of the ground (leveling) is necessary I usually to that. I force the leveler under the tire, which at times has dug up a bit of dirt, sod, etc. up. I would be very tempted to get out a shovel if necessary and only enough to make the leveler work. Another option is move the trailer a bit, usually you can find a 2' relative flat spot to put the tire in.

[Terrance]

We carry the Bal Leveler and when we need it we are glad we have it. We have found a easy way to use it with getting it under the tire. We place a bubble block under the tire first. This slight lift off the ground will gived room for the two ends of the bal leveler to slide into place and under the tire.

Hope this helps.

[Frederick L. Simson]

BAL Leveler

Designed for single axle trailers only

[Roy in TO]

Though it may be designed for single axle trailers, I'm wondering why one could not use 2 on a tandem axle. Crank each one up a bit at a time. The only thng I can think of is that there might not be enough room between the two tires for the arms.

[Brian B-P]

Great story, Peter

So, has no one heard of parking brakes? Chocks are for axles which do not have parking brakes. I'm sure the van would stay put with just the rear tires braked; do we chock the front tires of rear-wheel-drive vehicles when we park them? I'm not bitter about needing to chock tires every time I park the trailer just because someone didn't include the obvious parking brake in the trailer's equipment...

Ah, the famous BAL Light Trailer Tire Leveler... see the following topics for more more in-depth discussion:
Leveling and stabilizing
Will you Level with me?, In Campgrounds, Is one side more often lower?
The previously linked site says it is 20 3/8" wide, so two of them side-by-side would work with tandem axles at least that far apart. The Fiber Stream must have just about that spacing - based on Frederick's 5.30x12 tire size - so maybe Roy's idea would work. Would the small tires jam down into the leveler?

[Anne H]

GREAT idea!!! Thanks! (where was I when the creativity genes were passed out?!)

We place a bubble block under the tire first. This slight lift off the ground will gived room for the two ends of the bal leveler to slide into place and under the tire.