Wheel Chocks
What are Wheel Chocks?
"Wheel chocks are used on a car, truck or other vehicle to prevent it from accidentally moving. They are wedges of sturdy material, such as rubber intended for this purpose and they can be placed either under a front tire or back tire of a vehicle. These devices should always be used whenever the vehicle is raised off the ground using a jack. A car is an easily movable object and it is way too easy to leave a vehicle parked on a slope or on a strange angle that can lead to a slip and fall accident for those working under the hood.
A set of wheel chocks typically consists of two wedges which are placed on both sides of the tire so as to prevent it from rolling. They are inexpensive and practically indispensable for a mechanic."
How to use Wheel Chocks?
Wheel chocks should always be placed behind the tires of the car that will be on some sort of an incline, whether if it's on jack stands or on your ramps. If you do not use them, the car could slip off of the ramps or out from under your car lift.
They are so cheap and so essential to have, its really a no brainer to always use them.
Benefits of Wheel Chocks:
- Prevents the car from rolling
- Keeps car on ramps while car is raised
- Best used while engine is out of the vehicle
- Keeps the vehicle in place while on jack stands
- Prevents accidents from occurring
- Can be used in place of jack stands when it comes to raising the car from the ground
Tire size is important when using wheel chocks. You cannot use a smaller tire, such as a motorcycle wheel for a big truck. The largest acceptable size is typically around 20 inches with an outside diameter of up to 10" wide. You can also use a rubber wheel chock for cars which are much easier to remove when needed.
They are cheap, easy to install and pretty essential when working with your car. Knowing how to use wheel chocks is important in order to prevent accidents from occurring.
Types of Wheel Chocks:
Rubber wheel chock:
These are typically used for smaller vehicles such as motorcycles. They can be attached to the tires using a rubber strap or they can be placed under the tire at an angle. It is fairly easy to install and remove from your vehicle, making them a great choice if you need a wheel chock that is easily removable.
Aluminum wheel chock:
This type of wheel chock is typically made out of aluminum or steel. It has an open slot at the bottom that fits underneath the tire and allows it to be raised off the ground while you are working on your vehicle. The material these wheel chocks are made from makes them sturdy yet lightweight, making it easier to handle them with one hand.
Plastic wheel chock:
These types of wheel chocks are typically made out of heavy duty plastic and is an excellent choice for those who work on smaller vehicles such as motorcycles, ATVs or even dirt bikes. They tend to be more lightweight than the aluminum type and they are not easily damaged by heavy equipment such as a car lift.
In other words, wheel chocks are super affordable and highly essential on your workbench. Its an object that would benefit every single mechanic, DIYer or car enthusiast out there. They are very easy to install and pretty sturdy as well, which is why you don't see shops that work on cars not using wheel chocks ever!
Wheel chocks might be the cheapest auto equipment you can buy, yet they are the most important when it comes to preventing your car from rolling away or potentially falling off of ramps.