www.iFourWinns.com

I use a locking cable that goes through the tire rims, around the axle, and back through the tire rim. This is a tamper proof system to prevent rolling that also provides some theft protection. If you are only using wheel chocks and the trailer is accessible from the street, then kids could kick out the chocks for some fun. If anyone gets hurt the jury may decide that chocks were not secure enough for an attractive nuisance. I can just see the lawyer waving around a wood block asking how this was suppose to stop a 3,000 lbs boat on a steep hill. However you secure the boat on the hill it must lock in place so that you can demonstrate that you took "reasonable precautions" to prevent injury.

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2006 Sundowner 255, 5.7 GXi, 320 hp
"Simply Irresistible"

Quite honestly if the trailer meets all US DOT safety standards, its hard to see how an attny is going be successful proving negligence if you use real wheel chocks which are designed for that purpose. If some neighbor hood ner'do wells kick out the chocks, thats vandalism not negligence. Back in the day when our cars did not lock in park, if that happened it was vandalism and was dealt with as such. Chocks are used to secure airplanes you know....
Having said that, there is no reason why a trailer should not have a parking brake. I prefer what they have on Euro spec trailers to our brake system. A simple mechanical/surge cable operated drum system, with no wheel cylinders or calipers to seize up and and a parking brake. If a such a system was made out of corrosion proof materials it would be much better than what we have. Brake calipers and wheel cylinders are not really designed to be water proof and thats 95% of the cause of trailer brake problems.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Here is my logic for securing the trailer with a locking device when parked on a slope. Take the following true situation. A construction site is surrounded by a six foot chain link fence with barbed wire on top. Kids climb the fence and attempt to steal fuel from a truck just for the fun of it. There is an accident and a kid gets badly burned. Guess who the jury blamed? The site owner; because kids are not old enough to understand the risks of their actions and the site posed "an attractive nuisance". Ask someone who owns a swimming pool what the liability risks require them to do.

The same logic applies to a boat trailer on a slope. Just because you used wheel chocks demonstrates that you knew there was a risk of the trailer rolling down slope and wanted to prevent it from doing so. Now you must demonstrate that you took "reasonable actions" that would prevent the chocks from being disturbed by any means; including ignorant malicious children (i.e., anyone under the age of 18). Is it "reasonable" for kids to throw rocks at abandoned cars and homes? Yes, it happens all the time. Is it "reasonable" that kids will push a shopping cart into a creek to see the splash? Of course, look into any ditch near a shopping center. Is it "reasonable" that kids seeing that the trailer will roll downhill if the chocks are removed will do it just for the excitement of seeing your boat roll onto the street? That question will be answered by a jury if anyone is injured or any other property (not counting yours) is damaged.

I know it is not fair, not logical, and not just. Your risks are whatever a smart trial lawyer can convince the strangers on the jury of what you are liable for. The easier it is for an accident to mechanically happen and the less you do to absolutely prevent it, the greater liability you take on. Locks are the cheapest liability insurance you can buy.

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2006 Sundowner 255, 5.7 GXi, 320 hp
"Simply Irresistible"

Well of course you make a good point, and we have an in ground pool so we have thought of these issues too (even adding an expensive loop lock cover that you can walk on, to reduce the risk of someone drowning). In the case of the pool, that is a precaution that is commonly taken by people. In the case of the trailer, chaining it to a fitting in the driveway, is not a commonly used precaution, that goes above and beyond normal cautiousness. Perhaps chocks could be designed that lock around the trailer rim in some way so they could not be removed. I bet you could adapt the safety cables used on some trailers to do the same thing.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

http://www.harborfreight.com/rubber-wheel-chock-with-eyebolt-69828.html

You could buy a couple of these, and because each side has the eye rings, you could chain them through the rim, or put one on each side and chain them together. These are solid and many guys who drive box trucks, etc. use them. My buddy works at a local marina and they use these. The whole marina has a slope towards the water, and they have some pretty big boats/trailers with these holding.

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

Can't believe none of you fools suggested this:



SIMPLE!!!!

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)