- Why Wheel Chocks are Important

Now you’ve probably seen wheel chocks around loading docks or trucking yards, and they’re there for a good reason. Wheel chocks, often referred to as wheel stops or wheel blocks, prevent your vehicle from rolling when parked.

This is critical if you happen to be unloading or loading the bed, or underneath the vehicle doing repairs. These Procore wheel chocks will keep you safe, no matter the vehicle type.

How to Choose the Correct Wheel Chock?

Selecting the right wheel chock may seem easy, but if you have a chock that’s the wrong size you’re essentially rendering it useless. There are three pieces of information you need in order to find the right chock for the job.

Vehicle Weight: You need to know how much the vehicle you’re going to chock will weigh while carrying a load because each chock is rated to a specific weight capacity. The heavier the vehicle, the stronger the chock needs to be.
Tire Diameter: Each size of chock has a maximum tire diameter listed, from 26 inches to 59 inches. If your tire is greater in size than the maximum diameter listed, you may find the vehicle rolling away on you when you least expect it.
Number of Chocks: Determining the number of wheel chocks you’ll need is going to depend on the situation. For example, let’s say your work truck has blown a rear tire on the side of the road. You pull out the spare tire and get ready to swap the tire – this is where you need chocks. Most trucks are rear-wheel drive so your truck is going to be at risk for rolling forward or backward once the vehicle is jacked. So, in this situation, you would need four-wheel chocks. Even if you don’t have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, it’s always better to choose the safe option by chocking your wheels.

How to Place a Wheel Chock?

The proper placement is another critical part of the effectiveness of a wheel chock. Make sure to place the chock squarely and firmly in the middle of the tire tread, with little to no gap between the surface of the chock and the surface of the tire. If your vehicle is parked on a level surface, you’ll want to check the rear tires in both the front and the back. This ensures that your vehicle can’t roll either forward or backward. If you’re parked uphill, chock the rear tires on both sides of the vehicle. Finally, if you’re parked downhill, chock the front tire on both sides of the vehicle. So, if you want to be safe, having four chocks on hand will ensure you’re always covered, no matter the situation!

Wheel Chock Options:

Chocks are typically made out of rubber or urethane, and each material type has its pros and cons. Rubber wheel chocks are the most cost-effective option and are reinforced for multi-surface gripping and reliable performance in all climates. Here at ohcanadasupply.ca, we have Procore chocks available for tire diameters from 26 inches to 37 inches. They’re available in a range of styles such as a standard design, a metal eye bolt model for attaching a rope, or a carrying handle option for easy transportation.

Now, urethane chocks, aren’t nearly as heavy as rubber, and since urethane is so light, the chocks are easier to position quickly and correctly. The difference in weight becomes apparent the bigger the chocks, and the vehicles get! Urethane chocks are super resistant to impact, wear, water, and oil. They also will not rot, rust, or crack in the presence of heat, cold, or moisture. Over time, rubber chocks can begin to degrade, so a urethane option is definitely a long-term solution. They are also bright orange for enhanced visibility, which makes it easy for someone to see whether or not a vehicle has been chocked. Procore urethane chocks are available for tire diameters from 29 inches all the way up to 59 inches, so no matter what your wheel size, you can rest easy knowing your vehicle is secure.

Here at ohcanadasupply.ca we also carry aircraft-style chocks, which are designed for smaller vehicles with tires no larger than 27 inches in diameter. The rubber chocks are connected with a 36-inch rope, making removal quick and easy!

Making sure you have the correct wheel chock might seem like a daunting task, but we can make it easy here at ohcanadasupply.ca. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us we would be more than happy to help you out. And make sure to subscribe to our email list so you can keep up to date with our latest offers, flyers, new products, and giveaways here at ohcanadasupply.ca!