Wheel Chocks

7 Reasons Urethane Makes a Better Wheel Chock

Wheel Chocks are typically made from 4 materials:

  1. Plastic
  2. Rubber
  3. Aluminum
  4. Urethane / Polyurethane

All wheel chocks are not created equal and the material makes ALL the difference.

Urethane wheel chocks are by far the best choice in every situation.

Reasons why Urethane makes the best wheel chock:

  1. Urethane is the most durable
  2. Urethane has the highest load bearing capacity
  3. Urethane is light making even large chocks easy to handle and transport
  4. Urethane can be made in high visibility colors such as yellow, orange or red.
  5. Glow in the Dark strips can be moulded into the urethane such as these Elasco Wheel Chocks further increasing the visibility and safety of the chocks.
  6. Urethane as a material is more weather-resistant than the others and will not rot, rust or crack in the presence of heat, cold or moisture.
  7. Total cost of ownership is the lowest given the exceptional long useful life.

Aluminum and Steel Wheel Chocks

The primary issue with metal wheel chocks is that when damaged, they can develop sharp edges, potentially damaging tires or injuring employees. This problem is found with both aluminum and steel chocks. Aluminum chocks are lighter than steel options; however, they are less durable. Another problem is the scrap value of the material. Aluminum and steel chocks are both susceptible to theft as they can be scrapped, a problem that isn’t present with rubber, wood or urethane. Metal is also conductive, making metal chocks a poor choice for transmission projects. They are also prone to rusting when exposed to wet conditions

Wood Wheel Chocks

Wood wheel chocks are often used for aviation applications. However, urethane or rubber is much better option for this industry. Wood will quickly become waterlogged, which drastically increases its weight and makes it much more difficult to handle. Wood also rots in the presence of water, which greatly reduces its lifespan. Another problem with wood chocks, particularly in the aviation industry, is the presence of foreign object damage. When wood chocks splinter and break apart, as the inevitably do, they can cause costly FOD to aircraft. Painting and repainting is required with wood as well.

Rubber Wheel Chocks

Rubber is the most common wheel chock material because it’s incredibly durable and inexpensive. However, rubber isn’t very resistant to damage from outdoor elements like wind and water. That’s why rubber wheel chocks are mainly used indoors, like in storage warehouses or garages. Rubber has a natural grip that helps protect the tire and pavement, and because they can be placed with either side against the tire, rubber wheel chocks are relatively easy to install. Like urethane, they are durable and weather-resistant, but may need to be replaced more frequently.

Urethane Wheel Chocks

Urethane isn’t heavy, but it boasts more strength than the other chock material options. Urethane proves the most durable with the highest load-bearing capacity. But since urethane is so light, these wheel chocks are easy to transport and cost less to ship. Urethane wheel chocks are easier to position correctly, reducing the chances of chocking failures. This material is also much more weather-resistant than many others and will not rot, rust or crack in the presence of heat, cold or moisture. In addition, urethane wheel chocks are available in high visibility colors, unlike their counterparts. The price point for urethane chocks is typically higher, but with a much longer lifespan, urethane wheel chocks create savings over long periods of time.

To view the Urethane Wheel Chocks that we offer on CableProtectorWorks.com click here.