Wheel chocks Materials

In addition, they are acid-resistant, weather-resistant and easy to handle, as they usually weigh only around 1.6 kg. The disadvantages, if you want to call them that, are that they are not heat-resistant, i.e. they are flammable and can produce toxic gases, and if they are used constantly, they slowly become brittle and are difficult to dispose of as they are not biodegradable. However, they are significantly cheaper than the metal wheel chocks, which we will now turn to. The use of a metal wheel chock is, of course, based on the same principle as a plastic wheel chock. However, metal wheel chocks pose a higher risk of damage and injury than plastic ones, as metal is less flexible. However, the load capacity can be higher than that of a plastic wheel chock and the durability of a metal wheel chock is higher, as it is protected by a zinc coating and is therefore corrosion-resistant, i.e. rust-proof. However, a metal wheel chock can cost twice as much as a plastic wheel chock. Before purchasing either type of wheel chock, it is best to consider how often you will need it, what you want to use it for and how much you want to spend, and then decide which one to buy. Both types are good, recommended and definitely fulfil their purpose for load security, just like a tension belt or an anti-slip mat.

Vehicle wheel chocks – materials and uses

A vehicle wheel chock is used to prevent parked vehicles from rolling away. They are usually made of metal or plastic. In any case, they must be very sturdy, as they sometimes have to withstand enormous forces.

Certain vehicles are even required to carry wheel chocks. According to the STVZO (German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations), all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 4 tonnes or more must carry one or even two wheel chocks. Trailers with a gross vehicle weight of over 750 kg must also carry a wheel chock. Single-axle trailers must even have two wheel chocks. This is checked during police checks. If no wheel chocks are available, the driver will be fined. The purpose of carrying a wheel chock is to park vehicles safely. Of course, every vehicle has a parking brake. However, as soon as a vehicle is parked on a slope, these parking brakes can quickly become overloaded. This is especially true for heavy vehicles. To prevent the vehicle from moving uncontrollably in such cases and possibly endangering other people, it must be secured with a wheel chock. The wheel chocks must, of course, be the right size for the wheels. For example, securing a tractor with wheel chocks designed for a car trailer would offer no protection at all, as the large wheels could easily roll over the small chocks. There are also collapsible wheel chocks available for tractors. Otherwise, their size would cause problems during transport. Every vehicle that is required to carry wheel chocks also has a special holder for the chocks. This is necessary to prevent them from being lost during transport and thereby endangering other road users. The wheel chocks must be easily accessible in all cases. It must always be ensured that they can be removed from the holder easily and without the use of force or tools. Defective wheel chocks that no longer offer sufficient safety must be replaced immediately.