A Few Tips On How To Level A Travel Trailer

By Donovan Baldwin

Why worry whether your travel trailer is level or not?

Well, there's the comfort factor. It CAN be difficult to move around the somewhat enclosed area of a slanting trailer (ask my wife), but, also, it helps doors to open and shut properly, and, in some cases, appliances function properly.

First of all, let me make a distinction or two.

This article on how to level a travel trailer is about a "bumper pull" trailer, NOT class A's, class B's, Class C, or fifth wheel recreational vehicles. Today, most of these have their own leveling systems, and, what I'm about to tell you may or may not apply.

For the newcomer, or "not yet quite there" reader, RV is a collective term for pretty much any vehicle you travel with and live in.

Also, although your travel trailer may come with "stabilizers" these are usually NOT designed for leveling the trailer. Also, if you are going to level your travel trailer, do that BEFORE, setting down your stabilizers.

You might also want to consider being prepared to level your travel trailer a couple of different ways. Sometimes, a campsite may not lend itself to one method and it's handy to have a fall back.

Lastly, before we get to the action methods of leveling a travel trailer, let's consider a very important point... how do you know WHEN the travel trailer IS level?

This will be answered by use of an ordinary carpenter's level. It's best to place it on the floor inside to determine when the travel trailer is level front to back and side to side.

A LITTLE TRICK TO MAKE LEVELING A TRAVEL TRAILER EASIER

For about $10, you can purchase a pair of RV levels. These are small levels which can be attached to the outside of the travel trailer, so that you can tell at a glance if the trailer is level. You will want at least four of them. Of course, when you install them you will want to have the trailer already level. So, if you can, find a good, flat, stable area, and begin leveling.

Once your carpenter's level, placed at several points inside the travel trailer, assures you the RV is level, then attach your RV levels to the front, back, and each side. That way, once you have "calibrated" them, so to speak, you can just glance at the levels on the outside of the trailer without having to crawl around inside, moving the carpenter's level from spot to spot.

You will do the main part of front to back leveling with the tongue jack which will come with the trailer. However, you will probably want to level side-to-side first, then front to back. Also, using the RV levels you have placed on your travel trailer, you can use the two following methods to help level the back of the trailer, as having support in the front, but not the back, may cause the trailer frame to "bow".

TWO MAIN METHODS OF LEVELING A TRAVEL TRAILER

There are two main methods of leveling a travel trailer. I'm not going to go into every product, although at the end of this article I WILL share what I use. There are so many products on the market which do pretty much the same thing. If you're reading this, I assume you use the internet to find out about things. Do a little research to satisfy yourself with the quality of the product.

The two main ways of leveling a travel trailer are with jacks and leveling blocks.

RV LEVELING BLOCKS

In my experience, the easiest way. to level a travel trailer is with drive-on leveling blocks.

These come in two basic styles: stackable, interlocking blocks which can be stacked one on the other, and curved wedges which raise the wheels as you drive up on them. The latter are the ones I use, and are shown to the right. Click on the picture for more information.

The main drawbacks I have found with drive-on leveling blocks, is that on some surfaces they may tend to sink once you're on them, or slide as you're trying to drive onto them.

To use them is fairly simple. You probably will only need them on one side. Once you are almost in your camping spot, check your side-to-side RV levels to see which side you need to raise. Then it's simply a matter of driving onto the blocks or wedges, until you have raised the lower side so that the travel trailer is level.

Since there are so many brands and configurations, check the instructions that come with the ones you buy for actul use.

One thing to remember is that while these will level your travel trailer from side to side, you will still have to level it from front to back. Also, once the RV is level side to side, AND you have leveled the front, with the tongue jack, there still may be some dip in the back end. That's why it's a good idea to have RV levels front and back.

You can use RV leveling jacks to even that up.

RV LEVELING JACKS

If you choose not to use RV leveling blocks, you can use RV leveling jacks. Most people use scissor jacks, but, as you might expect, there are many other types as well.

Two things to remember when purchasing and using jacks of any kind.

1. weight limits
2. jack pads

Whatever type of jack you choose, make sure that it is rated for the load you intend to be lifting.

Also, your jacks will generally have a small foot print, so, for stability, you will probably want to put some sort of jack pad under them. Some RV owners simply have blocks of wood, but, many other jack pads are available.

You will want to position four jacks, on one or more jack pads, at or near, each corner of the travel trailer. Because of the work involved, and because the hight the jack rises the less stable it becomes, you may want to stack jack pads, blocks, or other support under the jack to decrease the vertical space it has to span.

Make sure the jack is firmly in contact with the main frame beams of the travel trailer. If not, it could slip and punch a hole in the floor or side of your RV. Also, make sure that the contact point allows the jack to extend and support without interfering with or endangering electrical lines or other systems.

Taking your time, extend the jacks on the side to be lifted until the travel trailer is level from side to side. This may require a little back and forth from front to back, as adjusting one may change the level of the other a bit.

Once you have the travel trailer level from side to side, then you can raise the jacks on the other side until they just provide support. Again, there may be a little back-and-forth, a little "fine tuning".

Once the travel trailer is level, you can put your stabilizers down.

One last point. Things may shift and settle, so check your setup after a couple of days. This should be pretty easy to do if you have installed the external RV levels. Just walk around and take a glance at them.

Copyright 2020 By Donovan Baldwin