Parking on a slope

(crazy4two) · (crazy4two) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 08-29-2005, 1:26 PM

Hey there,
What is the rule of thumb for parking the trailer/boat on a slope. My driveway has a slight slope to it and I am wondering if I can block the tires with a piece of 4X4 block and disconnect the trailer.

I would hate to try it and have the boat run smack into the back of my truck. Please help.

(ladythump) · (ladythump) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 08-29-2005, 1:36 PM

I think you'll be fine with something chauled up agaist the tires. Unfortunately for me, my driveway is the same way, and because of the incline, we can't get the wheel on the trailer to come down because it sits so low with the incline.

(noti_dad) · (noti_dad) **Join Date: Jul 2003** 08-29-2005, 1:43 PM

Make sure you block a wheel on each side. If you only block one side the trailer may turn/ move.

(just_board) · (just_board) **Join Date: Jul 2005** 08-29-2005, 4:25 PM

We use 4x4 blocks and they work fine.

(jonm) · (jonm) **Join Date: Jan 2002** 08-29-2005, 4:36 PM

I throw a sand bag under each tire. I have these in the boat for ballast anyways.

robertt 08-29-2005, 5:27 PM

Walmart or any RV store will have yellow plastic thingies made just for that...much better than a 4x4. They are cheap.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-jacks/wheel-stop-heavy-duty.htm

I know walmart has something close for under five bucks...thats what I use.

(peter_c) · (peter_c) **Join Date: Sep 2001** 08-29-2005, 5:54 PM

Too keep the boat from rolling forward you can block the wheels then move the truck forward a hair. One thing that always worried me (paraniod I know) is some kids pulling the blocks out and watching the boat roll. Can be easily prevented along with theft by locking the wheels together.

zudema 08-30-2005, 7:50 AM

I use a retaining wall stone from home depot between the tires on each side.

(surfnfury65) · (surfnfury65) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 08-30-2005, 8:59 AM

My driveway is a little steeper than that. I use a miter cut 4x4 between the two wheels. I also but a piece of flagstone in front of one of the wheels just to be safe.
Board More/Work Less
J$

(rodmcinnis) · (rodmcinnis) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 08-30-2005, 10:29 AM

Like Peter said: Back the trailer in the driveway, put the blocks in place (both sides, like notidad said), then ease forward to make sure that the trailer is resting against the blocks.

It the trailer wheels are resting against the blocks then it won't be easy to kick the blocks out, so I wouldn't worry too much about kids taking the blocks out.

(hsmunoz) · (hsmunoz) **Join Date: Nov 2004** 08-30-2005, 11:12 AM

yellow trailer choks from walmart, cheap and work great. I have even jacked up the rear axle, while parked in my sloped drive way. I use them to mark how far I back up the trailer, then move them to the front tires and crank the trailer of the ball.

peice of cake

(bughunter) · (bughunter) **Join Date: Nov 2001** 09-05-2005, 2:10 AM

Depends on what slope the boat sits on. I had my own boat ramp and used a full 12 foot 4x4, plus two of the yellow wheelstops to park the trailer on the ramp. One day the 4x4 was not close enough to the back wheels of the trailer. The yellow stops are always behind the front wheels of the trailer. When I released the brake of the truck to let the trailer settle against the 4x4, I heard a loud crask and the trailer had simply run over and smashed the plastic blocks.
This was a pretty steep slope and we always kept the fatsacks full (empty the standard ballast). From the picture in this thread it does not look steep at all.