Leveling your travel trailer is crucial for comfort, proper appliance function, and overall stability. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to achieving a perfectly level campsite, ensuring a relaxing and enjoyable outdoor experience.
Why Leveling Your Travel Trailer Matters
A level travel trailer isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about functionality and longevity. Failing to level can lead to several undesirable consequences:
- Appliance Malfunctions: Refrigerators, especially older models, rely on gravity for proper coolant flow. Being off-level can damage the cooling system, leading to expensive repairs.
- Uneven Wear and Tear: Continuous stress on one side of the trailer can cause structural damage over time, affecting tires, axles, and even the frame.
- Inconvenience and Discomfort: Imagine trying to sleep on a slanted bed, cook on an uneven stove, or shower in a tilting bathroom. It’s simply unpleasant.
- Door and Window Problems: Misaligned frames due to an unleveled trailer can make doors and windows difficult to open and close.
The Essential Tools for Leveling
Before you even think about positioning your trailer, you’ll need the right tools. These are essential for accuracy and efficiency:
- Leveling Blocks or Ramps: These are used to raise one or both sides of the trailer tires to achieve level. Various materials are available, including plastic, wood, and interlocking blocks.
- Bubble Level or Digital Level: A standard bubble level works fine, but a digital level offers greater precision and ease of use. There are also apps for smartphones that can utilize the device’s internal accelerometer.
- Wheel Chocks: Wheel chocks are absolutely essential for safety. They prevent the trailer from rolling once leveled and parked.
- Gloves: Protect your hands from dirt and grime, especially when handling leveling blocks or ramps.
- Optional: Jack Pads: These pads provide a stable base for your stabilizing jacks and help distribute weight, preventing them from sinking into soft ground.
- Optional: Tongue Jack: Your tongue jack will lift the trailer.
The Leveling Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s a detailed guide on how to level your travel trailer:
- Assess the Site: Before unhitching, use your level to determine which way the site slopes. Identify the lowest side of the trailer. This will be the side you need to raise.
- Position the Trailer: Aim to position the trailer as level as possible during your initial setup. This minimizes the amount of leveling you’ll need to do later.
- Place Leveling Blocks or Ramps: Position your leveling blocks or ramps in front of the tires on the low side of the trailer. If using ramps, ensure they are securely placed and aligned with the tires.
- Drive Onto the Blocks or Ramps: Slowly and carefully drive the trailer onto the leveling blocks or ramps. Have someone spot you to ensure you don’t overshoot or drive off the blocks.
- Re-Check the Level: Once the tires are on the blocks or ramps, re-check the level both side-to-side and front-to-back. Use the bubble level inside the trailer, placing it on the floor near the center.
- Adjust as Needed: If the trailer is still not level, adjust the blocks or ramps by adding or removing them until the trailer is level side-to-side.
- Level Front-to-Back: Use the tongue jack to adjust the height of the front of the trailer until it is level front-to-back. Use your level to confirm.
- Secure the Wheels with Chocks: Place wheel chocks behind and in front of the tires on both sides of the trailer. This is a critical safety step!
- Lower Stabilizer Jacks: Lower your stabilizer jacks to provide additional stability. These jacks are not designed for lifting; they are for preventing rocking and swaying.
- Final Check and Adjustments: Do a final walk-through to ensure everything is stable and level. Check the doors and windows to make sure they open and close smoothly. Make any necessary minor adjustments to the leveling blocks or tongue jack.
Mastering the Art of Leveling: Tips and Tricks
- Practice Makes Perfect: Leveling can take some practice, especially when you’re new to RVing. Don’t be afraid to experiment and learn from your mistakes.
- Use a Spotter: Having someone spot you while driving onto leveling blocks is invaluable. They can help you avoid overshooting or driving off the blocks.
- Consider Automatic Leveling Systems: For those who want to simplify the process, consider investing in an automatic leveling system. These systems use hydraulics or electric actuators to automatically level the trailer at the touch of a button. (These are typically quite costly)
- Carry Extra Wood Shims: Wood shims can be useful for fine-tuning the leveling or for providing extra support under leveling blocks on soft ground.
- Protect Your Stabilizer Jacks: Use jack pads to protect your stabilizer jacks and prevent them from sinking into the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
H3 What is the best type of leveling block to use?
The “best” type depends on your budget, storage space, and personal preference. Plastic leveling blocks are lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. Wooden blocks are more affordable but can rot over time. Interlocking blocks offer adjustability and stability.
H3 Can I use my stabilizer jacks to lift the trailer for leveling?
No! Stabilizer jacks are designed to stabilize, not lift. Using them to lift the trailer can damage the jacks and the trailer frame. Use the tongue jack for front-to-back leveling, and leveling blocks/ramps under the tires for side-to-side.
H3 How do I level on soft ground?
Soft ground can cause leveling blocks and jacks to sink. Use large jack pads or pieces of wood to distribute the weight and prevent sinking. You might also consider using specialized leveling blocks designed for soft surfaces.
H3 What if I don’t have leveling blocks?
In a pinch, you can use pieces of wood or even rocks to level your trailer, but these are not ideal. Leveling blocks are specifically designed for this purpose and provide a safer, more stable, and more reliable solution.
H3 How accurate does leveling need to be?
While perfection isn’t always attainable, strive for a level within a degree or two. Most appliances are tolerant of slight inclines, but exceeding that can cause problems. A good rule of thumb is if it feels noticeably unlevel inside, it’s probably too far off.
H3 Can I level my trailer without unhitching from my tow vehicle?
In some cases, you can level side-to-side without unhitching. However, you’ll still likely need to unhitch to level front-to-back using the tongue jack. Unhitching provides more freedom for leveling.
H3 Should I level my trailer before or after extending my slides?
Always level before extending your slides. Extending slides on an unleveled trailer can put undue stress on the slide mechanisms and potentially damage them.
H3 What do I do if my trailer is still rocking after leveling?
Ensure your stabilizer jacks are properly extended and making solid contact with the ground. You might also consider using stabilizer bars or X-chocks between the tires to further reduce rocking.
H3 How often should I check the level of my trailer?
It’s a good idea to check the level of your trailer whenever you set up at a new campsite. You should also re-check the level periodically, especially after heavy rain or wind, as the ground can shift.
H3 What are automatic leveling systems, and are they worth the investment?
Automatic leveling systems use hydraulics or electric actuators to automatically level your trailer at the touch of a button. They can significantly simplify the leveling process, especially for frequent travelers or those with mobility issues. Whether they’re “worth it” depends on your budget and priorities.
H3 Are there phone apps that can help me level my travel trailer?
Yes! There are several smartphone apps that utilize your device’s internal accelerometer to function as a digital level. While not always as accurate as a dedicated level, they can be helpful for quick assessments and fine-tuning.
H3 What happens if I completely forget to level my travel trailer?
If you completely forget to level your trailer, you may experience the issues mentioned earlier: appliance malfunctions, uneven wear and tear, discomfort, and potential damage to doors, windows, and the trailer frame. It’s always best to prioritize leveling before settling in for your stay. Ignoring the need for leveling is not recommended.
By following these steps and tips, you can confidently level your travel trailer and enjoy a comfortable and worry-free camping experience.