One item that many people tend to forget that they should use when working under their vehicle is a decent set of wheel chocks. These are very cheap to buy and give that extra stability that is needed to prevent any movement that might make things “unsafe”.
A wheel chock is an essential safety item – cars can’t go against the force of gravity, and the slope of a chock lets the vehicle stay in place while work is carried out. Working without a chock could mean the vehicle ends up rolling over your head – a less than satisfactory outcome for a day of tinkering.
Ok, ok, so a wheel chock may be an incredibly boring tool to explain, but they are absolutely essential. So if you don’t own a set then their low cost makes them unmissable.
Using a Wheel Chock
Which way is the ground in your garage sloping? Most people will have a flat surface, so installing a chock on each side of the wheel is the best bet. The slope of the chock should curve around with the wheel almost perfectly. Kick it in to place till it’s nice and snug, and then proceed to working on your vehicle in safety. Once you have used the chock just remove it in the opposite fashion. Some models have a pull handle that helps you to remove it easily.
Wheel chocks – Boring but Essential!
