My neighbor is moving and their trailer is parked pretty sketchy. Should I say something?

Kbobabob@lemmy.world to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 261 points –

I really want to just go put something under the wheels but I've never talked to these people.

Update edit: thank you for all the replies. I went over and knocked but no answer. It's definitely not chocked. If I see them come home I'll go back over. I'm worried as soon as the weight shifts loading it that it will just go down the hill.

91

Or be neighborly and go over with a couple big blocks and tell them you noticed that's sketchy and wanted to help out!

This is usually my go to. Come over, friendly and with a solution in hand.

Main point is don't make them feel less than or dumb for forgetting the blocks lol

Edit: Also, if you can pull off casually welcoming as they're new.

They said they're moving and they've never talked to them, which I interpreted to mean they're moving out rather than in.

I posted an update. I don't like the idea of messing with the trailer myself at all. The last thing I need is to get shot or something because someone thought I was breaking into their trailer.

I know OP said they would go talk to their neighbor but I just wanted to add an anecdote. I worked at a place that had a bunch of trailers, and it wasn't uncommon for someone to need a vehicle and just leave the trailer in the parking lot. One time someone didn't secure it and it started to roll. A new guy who was trying to be the hero went to stop it and got his thumb crushed between the trailer and a steel beam of a pavilion. He ended up loosing his thumb. So yeah, chock your trailers and don't try to catch a run away one.

Once tried to stop a small aircraft from rolling against a car. Upon impact the vibration in the wing knocked me over.

Next time I'll let it crash and enjoy the show.

If someone didn’t prevent their aircraft from moving they kind of deserve the expensive lesson. Aviation is about following procedures, and anyone who doesn’t follow procedures either needs a wake-up call or to leave the hobby/career. Those checklists are written in blood.

losing a thumb is so bad, they do so much to help hold objects. RIP to that guys thumb

Not only does it need blocking on the wheels, but that thing's also apt to be stolen with the hitch just sitting there like that. They might consider parking a car in front of it too.

For real. That's a nice trailer. Any dingus with a truck could run off with it in 5 minutes.

Probably more like 1 minute. Sorta related...

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ea_xZ9GRqFw

Remember to teach your cows not to accept hay from strangers in white vans hatchbacks

My family had a trailer growing up and ours was stolen from in front of our house. It was never found.

I asked my friend if he wanted to lock the wheels of his new trailer w a chain and he said na it’s fine. Then a week later it had been stolen

If I owned a trailer I'd be so worried about this. There was a local story around here of someone who had their race car on a trailer hooked up to their truck at a hotel. When they woke up the trailer and car were gone. Idk if they ever found it... the race car was not registered.

Unless there's room to back the trailer further in, I don't think parking a car in front of it is an option. You'd be blocking the footpath.

Absolutely. It's a public safety issue. Just don't come off as rude and they should appreciate it too

My mom got run into by a trailer that was rolling down a hill. Luckily my mom decided she was a superhero that day and was able to push the trailer to the curb to stop it from rolling down any further (it was a pretty steep hill). She got away with only a broken ankle.

So I say yeah. Tell them.

Yeah. There are plenty of kids around here. I decided I needed to at least try to say something when I noticed some kids rollerblading in the street.

It's easy enough to throw a block of wood or something under the tire. They probably just aren't thinking about it.

I work on my own car and I'm always paranoid about it shifting or rolling while I'm under it, so I double up on jack stands / wheel chocks / floor jack wherever I can.

Chock the wheels and leave a friendly note on the hitch if nobody is home IMO, I seriously doubt they would take offense.

Somebody chocked our wheels.

That basterd chokked er whels.

Dat basterred chokkederwheels!

Chokkederwheels!

Get im!

[and they all grab shotguns]

Go for it, use a personal anecdote if you have one about how you or someone you know was bit by not putting blocks in front of the wheels.

If you don't have one... make up a white lie about how your now deceased great uncle Johnny told you he left a trailer out without blocks on a little slope like that and it rolled into the street.

The anecdotes / a story can be a ... easier path to selling the truth that can feel a bit more humbled vs "I know better than you, so do what I say."

If you were my neighbour I would love it if you notified my of the danger. I'd also say that if they give you a negative response they will move soon so there's no risk really

Maybe something like "Hey neighbor, I noticed your trailer isn't fully secured, I've got some wedges to block the tires if you don't have anything"

They will never get those wedges back

At least it's not like they're particularly expensive. And who knows, if they feel embarrassed enough, they might go out of their way ASAP to get their own to save face.

Why wouldn't you? I suppose they would be thankful because you show considerations about their stuff and wellbeing. Some wooden blocks in front of the weels should probably be enough.

You suppose they'll be thankful for pointing out they're incompetent at blocking their trailer?

A kind suggestion would go miles

I'm not sure I understand that

People don't like being told they're wrong. Especially on their own stuff. Kind suggestions to a neighbor will go better than just unsolicited blocking their trailer. Imagine them hitching up within hours of this picture being taken, start to drive off and then damage their trailer coming off makeshift blocks that you so graciously put there without their consent.

I did not recommend to block the trailer for them but to have the suggestion of using blocks in front of the wheels to be enough in the conversation about that trailer being in danger of rolling away.

Oh. OP suggested blocking the wheels and you said why wouldn't you.

I guess you meant why wouldn't you to him talking to his neighbors. To that I agree. I miss the days where neighbors all knew each other and regularly talked.

Yes, that's what I meant. Looks like my response was not very comprehensible, sorry about that.

If I saw them I'd say something. But I wouldn't go out of my way. You have to learn the hard way sometimes. But I would definitely point my security camera over just incase.

Never hurts to be a good neighbor, and u don't want it rolling when ur trying drive down the street.

Two questions: do you like these people, and is anything anywhere near where it could go if it starts rolling?

I think a more important question is do you actively hate these people?

That’s the only variable that matters. Unless there’s active hatred, there’s no question about whether OP should intervene. Obviously OP should intervene.

This is a trolley problem with zero people on one of the tracks.

Even if you hate these people, that's an accident waiting to happen and could potentially injure someone completely innocent.

Personally, I'd just buy some chocks and put them there.

No! Don’t fuck with people’s stuff. Just go talk with them.

Chock them if the people are unreachable.

The only reason to make this anything other than a knock on the neighbor’s door is massive social anxiety, and one shouldn’t let that run their life.

How is putting blocks "fucking with peoples stuff" when this is parked so unsafely?

I feel like people in this thread are being so absurd. OP specifically said they knocked and there was no answer.

This is an accident waiting to happen and people have died because of this kinda thing.

So knock on their door.

Read OP's post. I swear to god like 50% of people in this thread are chopped.

I did read the post. “I’ve never talked to these people” is not a good reason to not knock on their door. In fact it is an excellent reason to knock on their door.

Maybe go back and ready my comment ya knob

Lol. I don't know them. Just never had any interaction.

Nope. Let them dipshits learn the hard way.

The neighbors across the street would learn the hard way that other people need to chock the wheels on their unattended trailers

Yours is the obvious correct answer, yet people like OP still have to ask?

No. Never. Not once in life.

Their yard. Their house. Their shit.

Mind your own business.

When that thing rolls and hit your house and make you a disabled homeless person..

So dramatic. People don't like being told they're doing something wrong. You can suggest but yes. Their stuff their mistakes.

Mind your own business fails when it starts to affect you. Thats what i was telling

This isn't affecting you. 9/10 that trailer isn't going anywhere.

I think the way your commenting is wrong.

Sure bud. I can tell most people here like to huddle around their favorite apps browsing lemmy and have strong opinions on things that honestly have no bearings on them.

What? This is some stone age mentality to have. Glad you're not my neighbour.

It's all our world. If your house were on fire I'd hope you wouldn't want me to have the same mindset as yours and not call 911.