Stabilizers and X-chocks

[clschreifels]

I have a few questions for anyone interested in helping me. I had the plastic x-chocks on my tires at one time. One of my neighbors told me the use of x-chocks would ruin the tread on my tires? Is this true? When we moved the RV recently, I didn't put them back on. The trailer does have an awful wiggle that you can see when you stand outside and watch when someone is walking in the house. I have noticed no less wiggle when the chocks were on the tires, so I ordered some stabilizers shaped like a trapezoid. Has anyone ever used them? They say to put one near rear bumper and one near entry door. We don't have a fifth wheel stabilizer on the hitch yet either but will have this week. Our house is older and pretty heavy. We are parked in a permanent location with a concrete, almost perfectly level pad. Any advice would be welcome.

[jimcumminsw]

I use the "X-chocks" all of the time to stabilize my trailer and I have never had an issue with the treads on my tires.
I have also included a YouTube video from PPL Motor Homes on why and the use for X-chocks.

[clschreifels]

Thanks for the video. I really appreciate it. That explained what I needed to know about them. I am tossing the plastic ones, though, and getting these nicer metal ones.

[Joe-Camper]

I have the ones in the video and they work really well. Makes a big difference helping to eliminate the "rock and roll" when we move around and go in and out.

[clschreifels]

When I watched the video, I ran across another video by the same dealer that explained a little further. I didn't know there was a progression of stabilizers to try on the market. If there is a wiggle you can't live with once the house is on it's scissor jacks and landing gear, you are supposed to try x-chocks. If that doesn't work, you are supposed to try locking arm stabilizers, I think they were called. I decided to give the plastic x-chocks one more try since we are on concrete and nearly perfectly level. I didn't feel much wiggle in the rear of the RV, but the front of the RV still had quite a bit of shimmy. I put the trapezoid stabilizers on the frame as explained in the directions, and there is no more wiggle at all. Now, I feel much safer. I wish I had done this sooner, but my husband and I are new to RVing and just didn't even know enough to know what to ask. When we first started full-timing, I had a problem with a swimming head if someone walked across the floor. Even our two little dogs would make the house shake. No more of that now. Thanks for all the help, everybody.

[Dunner]

Ask you neighbor what happens to the tire tread when it sits on the ground.