Harbor Freight Front Wheel Chock and lessons learned

[@davidmoyer7546]

I just ordered a similar wheel chock and am very happy to hear about the rubber mat/ pad idea. This seems best solution compared to drilling holes in my garage floor or making it bigger and bulkier… Thanks so much.

[@bikerbobcat]

That was kind of my limitation too. I didn't want to do any of that. I hope it helps!

[@daddydiesel5889]

Nice video, I appreciate you left the mistakes in.

[@bikerbobcat]

You're very kind, thank you. I wanted to leave them to save someone from having to deal with the same bad ideas. Also if I can laugh at my own mistakes, I'll always be entertained. Thanks for watching!

[@chrismiskimen4368]

I recently saw another video about this issue. The guy used a 1/2” piece of plywood that was cut to fit inside the actual area where you push the tire into the chock with a 30° bevel on the front edge. The weight of the bike held it in place and it didn’t slide at all. It was removable also. Think the KZbinr is ‘what’s up bob’.

[@bikerbobcat]

I've seen that mentioned a couple of times, and may put it to good use. Thanks for watching!

[@garryeuler9173]

Have two of these, work just fine .... but they do rest on latex coated rugs on my garage floor with some rubber glued on the rails !!!! Gave way less than 79 bucks !!!

[@bikerbobcat]

Having a hard time picturing your description, wish I could see it. It's funny, I think I've only used this once or twice since getting it. With the Valkyrie and the Ural I'm not sure I will even keep it. Thanks for watching!

[@1funcar]

Ought to be perfect for my ‘98 Valkyrie. Currently have a Pingle type chock and I want something more secure when I’m trailering my bike.

[@bikerbobcat]

Bolted down this would be an excellent chock for a trailer. If I buy/build a trailer that's where it's going.

[@popwatch905]

Thanks for the vid. I use them on my bike lifts but I never thought of using it without a couple of bolts to keep it in place. Good to know it wouldn't work. I'm ordering a Baxley, just to be safe.

[@bikerbobcat]

I've never heard of Baxley until now, and had to look it up. Thanks for the recommendation, it looks like quality work. You definitely get what you pay for with this. It does the job, but... Anyway, thanks for watching!

[@incredibleadventures1027]

You did not list your wheel settings in the description. Good luck on your new design career!

[@bikerbobcat]

My wheel settings? As in what notch I set the pivot in? At this point I don't recall, honestly. Thanks for watching anyway. And at this point my new career was in HVAC. I WISH I could survive off my designs.

[@1funcar]

Thanks for posting. Was it too long? Maybe a bit but much better than being too short. Other than permanent mounting in a trailer, I’d say the best way to keep it from sliding is mount it to a sheet of plywood. It doesn’t have to be a 4x8’ piece but long enough that you get the front wheel on it before you hit the ramp. The weight of the front wheel ought to hold it from sliding. And if permanent mounting isn’t for you, use bolts and wing nuts so you can disassemble it easily. Just be careful not to step or drive on to them.

[@srhintz]

I had one before. It's a great chock for the price and very strong. I have a Condor now. It's a great piece of kit but doesn't really do anything better other than release the front wheel easier. Some tires will stick to that smooth steel. I would have bought another but my brother gave me the Condor. Nice

[@bikerbobcat]

I've never heard of the Condor and just looked it up. It looks more adjustable and that ease of wheel release can make a huge difference! Thanks for watching and thanks for the product tip, if I've got some cash to spare I'll definitely try it. Happy New Year!

[@rezaarjmand7866]

my problem is not sliding the chock or loading the tire on, my problem is pulling my 900 LB. Road King out of the Chock. Impossible to pull back and lift up the same time unless having the neighbor helping to push or pull me out of it. it is the same model as the one in your video. any suggestions?

[@bikerbobcat]

So I have 3 answers. 1: consider a different style of wheel chock, one that doesn't have the "bump" to roll OVER, but you roll IN and clamp down on the wheel instead. You still probably want to bolt those down to a wider support like a piece of plywood, they tend to be narrower and a heavy bike like that may still tip easily. I only have experience with this rocker/cradle style. 2- Maybe a small piece of wood under the rocker so that it doesn't sit all the way down, decreasing the force needed to back it off. Be careful with this as you may be decreasing the stability of the bike because it can't sit fully down. 3 (and you probably won't like this) Get a different bike, your bike may just be "too much" for you. Part of sizing a bike is how well you're able to move it around, right? If you can't load it in/out of a wheel chock, it may be too big. I struggle with the Valkyrie on this because at 700lb it's about as big as I can handle by myself. Some day I probably won't be able to. Or just keep bugging your neighbor when you need help. Thanks for watching and for asking, this is a good question.

[@krisn8820]

900lb road king??? My electra glide with tour pack only weighs 850lbs.

[@stevenkostuch784]

The rubber mat trick works wonders haha looks like a nice chock for the price im working on getting an enclosed trailer and then i would get this chock and bolt it to the floor of trailer i already have a motorcycle jack i use when im doing some work on the bike 2016 Harley-Davidson Road glide special

[@bikerbobcat]

For the price it's really good. Just, y'know, needs a little tweaking. Bolted down in a trailer would be great for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@roybrazeau3486]

Ya get what ya pay for! I’ve had no issue(s) with the Condor wheel chock, I paid a lot more than $70.

[@bikerbobcat]

You are absolutely right! I love Harbor Freight generally but this was, uh, a lesson learned. I'm going to pay for a center stand for the Valkyrie next. XD Thanks for watching!

[@PainterD54]

After looking into purchasing one of these chocks, I decided they were too expensive for what you get. I just made my own and saved the $$. and it works just as well.

[@bikerbobcat]

I'm not sure I would buy this again, honestly. Thanks for watching!

[@timstraka7863]

I fide a Honda 1800 R and had to take the chock back,my front tire is 6 inches wide and would not fit in the chock all the way .

[@bikerbobcat]

That's good to know, thank you! I was looking at getting the 1800 R some day and nice to know it won't fit. Thanks for watching.

[@matt123231]

Same idea only I drilled holes in the garage floor and used 3/8 nipples as sleeves.

[@bikerbobcat]

Now that's a really good idea. My garage is a lot more studio and less workshop these days but I could consider that for the outside, and just keep some small plugs in them to keep dirt from filling them up.

[@nunaya4163]

how long is the front

[@bikerbobcat]

I'm not sure of the exact dimensions but you can find it on Harbor Freight here and it might have that info in the details: www.harborfreight.com/1800-lb-capacity-motorcycle-standwheel-chock-61670.html ...Thanks for watching!

[@nunaya4163]

@@bikerbobcat Thank you I am think of a way to install in my toy hauler.

[@Roadglide911]

I use one in my trailer and have hauled my bike thousands of miles without issue but of coyotes bolted down.

[@bikerbobcat]

I don't have a trailer yet, but in that case it would absolutely be bolted down. Not sure if I want a Harbor Freight special or one already designed to hold bikes. Choices choices. Thanks for watching!

[@mise1131]

How did you manage to talk about something almost 12 minutes that should take 60 seconds max.

[@bikerbobcat]

How did you manage to sit through almost 12 minutes when you had your conclusion in 60 seconds max? Looks like we're both pretty talented. Thanks for watching, superstar.

[@fixingrandomstuff]

Cause people have to ramble lol.

[@btsadventures4310]

@@bikerbobcatmonetization.

[@iandtexarkana4549]

I would just bolt it down to concrete with a couple of brackets; I did the same thing with Harbor Freight tire changer

[@bikerbobcat]

Hey thanks for watching. I thought about bolting it down, and someday might, but that would require dedicating a place for parking and work. Right now, the portability of the stand is its greatest asset. Cheers!

[@davidshaffer4649]

Sliding can be stopped by putting cardboard under it. Old trucking trick to keep freight from sliding in the box.

[@bikerbobcat]

Funny I've only ever used cardboard to make freight skid better. Thanks for the tip, I'll try it. Thanks for watching!

[@FWMCBigFoot]

Apparently your video attracted some trolls unable to keep their negative opinions to themselves. Whatever happened to "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything"? I thought your video was awesome, and I laughed my ass off. I appreciated you sharing the fails that many others omit. I have a Pingle chock in my trailer. Unfortunately, I positioned it such that the motorcycle tire is right on a seam on the floor. Compressing the suspension is causing the back OSB to sag, and I fear one day it's going to let loose. So I'm looking for a different chock. Condor is nice, just too pricey for my liking. I may just use a piece of aluminum channel under the tire to distribute the weight. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@bikerbobcat]

Thanks for the kindness, I tell haters "You get what you pay for!" It was frustrating but also fun to make since I'm just sharing my adventures. I'm going to be in the trailer market soon for hauling both my Valkyrie and my Ural and problems like what you describe are not far from mind. I may wind up scratch building some open frame thing myself. If you do wind up going that route, kindly send me a photo or video link, I'd love to see what you come up with. Thanks again.

[@FWMCBigFoot]

@bikerbobcat I just ordered two WheelDocks. Similar to a Condor and yours, but without the bump you have to scale going on and off. A little more than I wanted to spend, but like you said "You get what you pay for". Safe rides friend.

[@Todd66]

Valkyrie…nice!!!

[@bikerbobcat]

It's a boat, but it's a nice boat! Thanks for watching!

[@seanlee7276]

But are you able to get it back out by yourself? I can't get my Harley Ultra Limited out by myself.

[@bikerbobcat]

Yes. But! At 750ish pounds, the 2014 Valkyrie can be a real struggle. I'm about 180lbs and definitely need to go to the gym more (at all). Moving around my streamliner locomotive can sometimes be a real bear. Sometimes too much! That's on me. If/When I get another project bike like another 2003 Shadow 750, which is 522 lbs before I cut off about 10-20lbs of stuff will be much easier. Let alone something small and fun like the Honda Supercub at 240lbs! At 917ish pounds, I imagine your Harley Ultra Limited is even MORE of a struggle! I'm never getting a bike this heavy again that isn't the sidecar Ural GearUp. Ever. In a later video, I'm going to ask "How much bike do we really need? and also how much can we really handle?" Care and feeding of our machines is part of the cost of ownership and if we can't move our shit around, maybe that cost is too high for us.

[@seanlee7276]

@@bikerbobcat I have no problem handling my Ultra, @ 155 lbs and 5' 7" I just can't get it out of that chock which I have mounted on my lift. I love the comfort of the Ultra, I put 15-20k miles on it each season. Thanks for your reply. Have a wonderful day!

[@vqfive]

or extend a rail so the back wheels sit on it and keeps it from moving

[@bikerbobcat]

I thought about that, and it's a common solution. My only concern is that it makes it even bigger and more unwieldy than it already is. That said, if my foam skid solution doesn't pan out long term, I may do just that but with a clip on piece of sheet metal. All it needs to do is pin it down, right? Thanks for watching!

[@russkish8628]

Cut a piece of plywood in the center of the stand

[@bikerbobcat]

I might do something like that if I need it again. Thanks for watching!

[@barrypowell829]

Bolt it down to 3/4 inch plywood. Plywood should be 2ft w x 4ft long. As you drive on plywood, the weight of bike (on plywood) will hold the harbor freight motorcycle chock. And besides it’s bolted down to the plywood. Need to adjust wheel chock. Simply back bike off, readjust. Repeat.

[@bikerbobcat]

I thought about something like that but it makes for a bigger, heavier thing than it already is. The rubber pads grip and don't add any more weight, and that seems to work alright. Thanks for watching!

[@thomasgibson8025]

Its guys like you that give Harbor Freight a bad name. I bought this unit today and the instructions clearly state " anchor the unit". Which part of that did you not understand?

[@bikerbobcat]

I can't anchor the unit, nor have I seen anyone else do it. This is not about properly mounted chocks because sliding wouldn't be an issue. I understood it, and this one part I can't do. I absolutely LOVE Harbor Freight and recommend them to everyone. It'll be okay. Thanks for watching anyway.

[@thomasgibson8025]

Attach it to a 1/2 " thick sheet of Plywood 3' x 6' with 1/2 " x 1 1/2" bolts. I got angry listening to you stating you were going to return "junk" to Harbor Freight several times. I bought this today, attached it to Plywood and it works perfectly!

[@bikerbobcat]

When I get junk from HF, I return it. Same with Lowes or Home Depot. It happens. What I wanted was a solution for this issue that doesn't involve making a bigger footprint for the stand. The foam skid plate works, so does small plywood inserts another Bob commented. I wanted to be able to use this, then pick it up and put it away easily somewhere with very limited space. Attaching it to a sheet of plywood means I have to have a dedicated space to sit this mounted stand and plywood and I just don't.

[@gizzyguzzi]

Put a couple anchors in your slab. Bolt it down. Remove bolts when you want to store it. Easy.

[@terrydawkins9936]

Sir you seemed to be missing something in you assessment…have one and it worked fine. I’m sorry I wasted my time with a very wasted assessment

[@bikerbobcat]

I share my experiences as I have them, so nothing is wasted. Thanks for watching anyway.

[@herrschaftg35]

No, this wheel chock is a flawed design. It should not have to be modified in order to work properly.

[@captainthruster9484]

It literally has holes to bolt to something. Of course his lies when you slam into it with 500 pounds pushing rubber.

[@bikerbobcat]

It also has 2 adjustable rubber feet for when you don't have it bolted to something. Otherwise, why have them? Thanks for watching!

[@gizzyguzzi]

Wrong tool for the job.

[@bikerbobcat]

I welcome recommendations for the right one. Thanks for watching!