6 Best Trailer Wheel Chocks For Sloped Campsites That Nomads Swear By

You’ve finally found it—the perfect campsite with a million-dollar view. The only catch? It’s on a slope that makes you question the laws of physics. That little whisper of doubt as you unhitch is exactly why your choice of wheel chock is one of the most critical safety decisions you’ll make. Standard chocks are fine for flat ground, but on a grade, they can be a recipe for disaster.

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Why Standard Chocks Fail on Steep Grades

Those cheap, hollow plastic chocks that came with your trailer are designed for liability, not reality. They rely on a simple wedge effect and a bit of friction. On a level surface, that’s usually enough to keep a trailer from rolling a few inches.

But introduce a steep grade, and the game changes completely. The force of gravity trying to pull thousands of pounds of trailer downhill increases dramatically. This immense pressure can cause a hollow plastic chock to crush, deform, or simply slide out from under the tire, especially on loose gravel or wet asphalt.

They lack the two things you need most on a slope: mass and grip. A lightweight chock has no inertia of its own to resist movement. And without a high-friction material like solid rubber, it can’t create the bond with the ground surface needed to hold fast against the relentless pull of gravity. This is where specialized chocks prove their worth.

BAL X-Chock: The Ultimate Tandem Axle Stabilizer

The BAL X-Chock doesn’t work like a traditional chock. Instead of sitting on the ground, it fits between the tires of a tandem or triple-axle trailer. Using a supplied ratchet, you expand the X-Chock until it applies firm pressure to both tires, effectively locking them together.

This action prevents the wheels from rotating in either direction. It’s this anti-rotational force that makes it so effective on slopes. More than just a chock, it’s a stabilizer that dramatically reduces the fore-and-aft motion you feel when walking around inside your rig. That side benefit alone is worth the price of admission for many full-timers.

However, let’s be crystal clear: the X-Chock is a secondary chocking system. You must always use primary ground chocks first. The X-Chock is the ultimate belt to your ground-chock suspenders. It adds an incredible layer of security and stability, but it should never be the only thing holding your trailer on a hill.

Andersen Leveler: The All-in-One Leveling Chock

The Andersen Leveler is a brilliant piece of engineering that solves two problems at once. It’s a curved ramp you drive onto for precise, incremental leveling, paired with a matching chock that wedges underneath. The system is elegant, fast, and remarkably effective.

On a slope, its strength lies in the perfect marriage between the leveler and the chock. The weight of the trailer presses the tire down onto the curved ramp, which in turn locks the form-fitted chock in place. This creates a huge contact area and a secure hold that’s far superior to a small, independent chock trying to grip the ground.

The main consideration is that you’re only chocking the side you’re leveling. For moderate slopes, this is often sufficient. But for truly steep grades, you’ll want to add a heavy-duty traditional chock, like a solid rubber block, to the downhill side of the non-leveled wheel for total peace of mind. Think of the Andersen as your primary leveling tool and an excellent primary chock, with a backup chock on the other side for maximum security.

Fastway ONEstep: Secure Your Tandem Wheels Fast

Similar in concept to the BAL X-Chock, the Fastway ONEstep is another between-the-wheel chock designed for tandem axles. Its main claim to fame is speed and simplicity. You place it between the tires and step on the arm to lock it in place, making it one of the fastest stabilizing chocks to deploy.

The ONEstep provides the same core benefit as other between-the-wheel models: it locks the tires together, preventing rotation and adding significant stability to the trailer. Made of heavy-gauge steel, it’s built to withstand the immense forces at play on a sloped campsite. For nomads who move frequently, that quick setup and removal is a major quality-of-life improvement.

Just like the X-Chock, the ONEstep is a powerful addition to your safety system, not a replacement for ground chocks. It’s an exceptional stabilizer and secondary chock, perfect for minimizing movement and adding a robust layer of protection. But always set your primary ground chocks first, especially before unhitching from your tow vehicle.

ROBLOCK Heavy-Duty Rubber Chock: Simple Security

Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best one. The ROBLOCK is a classic example of this principle: it’s a solid block of heavy, high-traction rubber. There are no moving parts to fail, no complex mechanisms to set up. Its effectiveness comes from pure physics.

Its sheer weight gives it inertia, making it resistant to being pushed or skittering out of place. The soft, grippy rubber compound conforms to the ground surface, whether it’s pavement, dirt, or gravel, maximizing friction where you need it most. The ribbed bottom is designed to bite into the ground, providing an extra measure of security against slippage.

This is your workhorse chock. For a single-axle trailer on a steep grade, two of these are your best bet. For a tandem axle, they are the ideal primary ground chocks to use in combination with a between-the-wheel stabilizer. Their only downside is their weight and bulk, but that’s precisely what makes them so trustworthy.

Camco Super Wheel Chock: A Reliable Classic Grip

If you’re looking for a lightweight option that still punches above its weight, the Camco Super Wheel Chock is the answer. It takes the familiar design of a standard plastic chock but improves it in every way. It’s constructed from a much more durable, UV-resistant polymer that won’t crack under pressure or degrade in the sun.

The key difference is the aggressive tread on the face and a better design on the bottom. This provides a significantly better grip on both the tire and the ground compared to cheap, hollow alternatives. They are lightweight, stackable for easy storage, and provide reliable performance for moderate slopes.

While a solid rubber chock will always outperform it on steep, hard surfaces, the Camco Super is a fantastic, versatile choice. It’s a significant safety upgrade from basic models and offers a great balance of performance, weight, and storability for the weekend warrior or part-time nomad.

MaxxHaul Solid Rubber Chock: Maximum Grip Power

The MaxxHaul Solid Rubber Chock is another top contender in the "brute force" category. Like the ROBLOCK, it’s all about mass and friction. Made from solid, industrial-grade rubber, this chock is designed to stay exactly where you put it, no matter the conditions.

What sets it apart is often an extremely aggressive surface texture and a slightly larger footprint, maximizing the contact patch with the ground. This design is perfect for situations where slippage is the primary concern, such as a steep, rain-slicked asphalt driveway or a paved campsite with a significant grade. The integrated handle or rope also makes it easier to place and retrieve without getting your hands dirty.

This is the kind of chock you buy for ultimate confidence. The tradeoff is, once again, weight and space. These are not small or light. But when your home is on a 10% grade, you won’t be thinking about the few extra pounds in your storage bay; you’ll be thankful for the unyielding grip holding it steady.

Key Factors for Chocking on Sloped Terrain

Getting the right gear is only half the battle. Using it correctly is what truly ensures your safety. When parked on any kind of grade, these principles are non-negotiable.

• Chock the Downhill Side First. Always place chocks on the downhill side of the tires to prevent rolling. For maximum security, chock both the front and back of the tires on both sides of the trailer.
• Layer Your Security. Redundancy is your friend. On a steep slope with a tandem axle, use both heavy-duty ground chocks and a between-the-wheel stabilizer like an X-Chock. This creates two independent systems working to keep you safe.
• Seat the Chocks Firmly. Don’t just place the chocks; seat them. Wedge them tightly against the tire tread and give them a solid kick with your boot to make sure they are snug.
• Test Before You Unhitch. After placing your chocks, allow the trailer to slowly roll an inch to settle its weight against them while still hitched to your tow vehicle. You should see and feel the chocks take the load. Only then is it safe to unhitch. This simple step verifies that your chocks are holding before you remove your final safety net.

On a slope, your chocking system graduates from a simple accessory to a critical piece of life-safety equipment. Don’t cut corners. Invest in a robust, layered system that matches your trailer and the challenging terrain you love to explore, because true freedom is knowing your home is safe and secure, no matter the view.