How To Level A Travel Trailer? Tips & Tricks

Welcome to our guide on how to level a travel trailer! In this guide, we will provide you with all the information you require to level your camper and keep everything well-balanced inside the trailer. For those of you who don’t know about the importance of this leveling procedure, you should not ignore it. The procedure of leveling a travel trailer is not that complicated.

Leveling your travel trailer is crucial if you want to keep your different appliances inside working in an adequate manner. The primary reason for leveling your camper is to keep the refrigerator working properly. A gas absorption unit requires leveling to function adequately. There is liquid ammonia inside the cooling unit of your fridge and this fluid is for the use of evaporator coils.

Therefore, this leveling process does make sense and you should not ignore it. This way you will be able to avoid any inconveniences on your trip. So let’s find out how to level a travel trailer!

What’s The Proper Leveling Procedure for a Travel Trailer safely?

You can use different techniques to level your travel trailer. We will have a look at each of these techniques in the content below. To begin with, you must have all the tools listed here at your disposal:

• Leveling wedges or blocks
• A stand or a few blocks for your front or tongue jack
• All bubble levels on your travel trailer
• Chocks for tires

Finding the right spot

If you are in a campground, then you will not have much to choose from. Most of the campgrounds are adequately leveled in usual cases. Here, leveling your travel trailer isn’t going to be fuzzy at all. However, if you are not very comfortable backing your brand new travel trailer then you can go for a pull-through parking spot. It will cost you a lot more but you will find it very fruitful during the times of tight quarters and high stress.

However, the situation will be very much in your control when it comes to finding the right spot when you are boondocking. Some of the factors involved here are:

• You should look for a spot that is as level as possible, to begin with.
• If you have rooftop solar, then make sure that you position your camper in the direction where you can get most of the sun right on your panels. 
• If you are looking to go to a place with a hot climate then you should park your rig in a way that your refrigerator falls in shade. Gas absorption fridges are the most common types of RV fridges and these have to work very hard to maintain their cool while facing the sun. 
• Most importantly, you should park your rig in such a manner that your window-side provides you with the best views. After all, this is the biggest reason why you are boondocking.
• Don’t forget to consider your neighbors when you are parking. If you are boondocking and someone is already at the sight then don’t park right in front of them. This is an unwritten rule that you must follow to avoid any inconveniences.

Don’t unhitch as soon as you park

So you have found your favorite spot to park and have fulfilled all the requirements above. Now it’s time to find out how to level your travel trailer! First of all, don’t unhitch as soon as you park your rig. You have to level it from side to side. Then you will unhitch your trailer and look to level it from front to back.

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Look for the pre-installed bubble levels that your rig has. They will be somewhere on the outside of your trailer or maybe on the inside. If you don’t have them pre-installed then you can purchase them from the market and stick them on your trailer. The one that we recommend is from Hopkins.

RV Bubble Level

The bubble level from Hopkins comes at a very good price and they are very famous among most RV users. They are designed to take the guesswork out of the equation. The markings are mentioned in inches and you will easily find your way when using them. There are optional screw holes as well if you want to permanently install them on your RV.

However, before you stick the bubble level on your RV, use the level on the tongue jack. You can also use the level of your trailer’s tongue paralleling to your bumper. You can also use this with a leveling app on your phone. Another way to check the level is by checking the bubble level of your fridge (as it is the most important thing in the whole leveling process). But running in and out of your trailer will be more of a pain in the neck.

Now, have a look at the bubble level and figure out which side you want to raise to level it all out. Keep in mind that the low side will receive the blocks to rise up and level. Now, it’s time to get your side to side leveling system out.

Side to side trailer leveling system

There are two kinds of side to side leveling systems for trailers. One is wedge style and another one is blocked style. In most cases, the wedged leveling systems are more fruitful as compared to the blocked leveling systems.

♦ Wedged leveling systems (Andersen levelers)

The Andersen levelers or wedged leveling systems are extremely useful. These levelers make the whole process very easy. This technique eliminates the hassle of driving over the blocks. If you find out that you need more blocks then you will have to drive off, make the necessary addition and then start all over again.

With the wedged systems, you just have to place your wedge right in front of the tires that require lifting. You can continue to drive until your rig looks leveled or until the other person tells you that you are all good. If you are alone, then you have to step out of the vehicle and see the level.

Best Camper Leveler by Andersen Hitches

One of the best options that you can find on the market when it comes to Andersen levelers is from Andersen Hitches. Your purchase includes a pack of two along with a chock kit.

With this kit you will only have to drive on, then chock and you are all done. There is no complication involved in it. You can conveniently level your trailer within 5 minutes or less. It can easily lift up to 4 inches right under the driver. This leveler works on any camper and can lift up to 35000 lbs with ease. Your tires need to be up to 32 inches in diameter to use this kit.

Then make the necessary adjustments to the wedge by pulling it backward or forward. There is no hassle of figuring out how many blocks you should place or redo all the blocks. Once you are done with the leveling, then chock these levels.

♦ Blocked leveling system (Lynx levelers)

If you have blocks at your disposal for leveling your RV trailer, then you can place them in front of your tires. Make sure that you place them on the side that needs lifting. You can also place these blocks behind the tires if you want to. One hassle here is that you have to deal with frequently estimating the number of blocks that you will need for leveling.

Camco Leveling Blocks

When it comes to leveling blocks, there is no better product than Camco. Your purchase also includes a chock kit. There are ten stacks of interlocking blocks that you can arrange to your desired height.

This kit provides you with a nice and safe way of leveling your travel trailer. The secured construction delivers a power-packed performance and can bear a significant amount of weight. Your purchase also includes a zipper bag where you can safely place your blocks when not in use.

Just get into your towing vehicle and pull backward or forward until you see that your tires are right on the blocks. Now you have to check and see if your trailer is leveled. Then you have to make a guess about how many blocks do you need to add or subtract under the tire to keep it all leveled. If you are not leveled, then just back off from the blocks and readjust. Once you know that you are leveled, make sure to chock the wheels on the other side and then disconnect your rig.

Front to back leveling system

Now you are all set to level your trailer from front to back with the help of a tongue jack. You must make sure that your jack comes with a foot. Or there is a stand or some kind of a block that prevents it from sinking into soft ground.

Electric Tongue Jack

This electric tongue jack comes from CS shop and it has a capacity of 3500 lbs. This jack runs with a 12V outlet and it features a hand crank which you can easily detach.

It comes with a highly durable powder-coated finishing which keeps the rust and corrosion away. Furthermore, there is a water seal switch too along with a dual LED light on the side. For emergencies, you can also use the override rank handle too.

Bingo! Now you can start camping and have all the fun you want at the site.

How to level a travel trailer on a permanent site?

If you are looking for permanently boondocking somewhere, it is important to know how to level a travel trailer for good. 

♦ Consider everything before you start

First of all, you need to make sure that no local codes need any kind of inspection of the area or support pads or tie-downs or any kind of provision for permanent utility. If you are looking for boondocking off the grid, then the same things apply here as well.

At the site, you also have to check for any adherence to regulations for minimum or maximum square footage. In some cases, the insurers also require that the trailers that they are covering must be elevated by professionals.

Now make sure to chock your trailer’s wheels in a way that it can’t move. In some cases, the old models of trailers do come with levers for handbrakes. These levers are connected with the tongue jacks. If you have a similar device, then deploy it.

If you are blocking a trailer with electric brakes, then connect its circuit directly with the poles of a fully charged car battery. It will enable the electric brakes to deploy at their full capacity. Check all the interiors of your trailer and see if all those cabinets and doors are securely locked. Also, make sure that everything is intact and nothing will move when the trailer tilts to one angle.

You also need to check that the ground is permanent enough to take the weight of this entire project when it goes through the pilings. Additionally, You can lay support slabs here. Now measure the height of the chassis from the ground below. Furthermore, you also need to calculate the height requires by the block pilings for lifting the wheels without any obstacle.

♦ Using the seesaw technique

If you lower the tongue, then it will raise the rear end of your trailer. You should drop the tongue as much as possible to create the gap needed to place the concrete blocks. If this doesn’t create enough gap, then you need to dig a trench to descend the tongue further temporarily.

You must build the block pilings close to the axles under the chassis. This region is designed to take the load. Don’t place the piling near the external corners. The piling on the corners will only stabilize the trailer. The pilings must have panels made of hardwood. This panel will conveniently slot between the chassis metal and the blocks.

♦ Building the pilings

Build a couple of pilings, for each side of axles. You should arrange these blocks in a way that their central membrane and sides are horizontal with a 90-degree ground angle. There should be a couple of blocks laying side by side in each course.

You should lay the first course in a direction that one long side of the block is visible while two short sides of the second one are visible. The edges should remain square with the chassis. Ensure that you build the block pilings to a predetermined height and then insert the panels of hardwood.

♦ Rest your trailer on first block pilings

Now raise the tongue with the help of a heavy-duty 20-ton jack with a piston (not scissors). Don’t use an integral jack, instead go for an automotive jack. Now, start raising the tongue until the rear end of the trailer settles on the pilings. After that, continue raising it until the front end is above horizontal to the rear end. It will lift the wheels from the ground.

Now repeat the above process for the front end. After completing the whole process, if you think that the trailer is not leveled, then using the tongue jack slightly raise or lower the trailer and insert the shims made of hardwood either on the front or the back end according to the leveling requirements.

♦ Build pilings for the corners

Now insert pilings under all outside corners in patterns just like you did previously. If you don’t find enough room under the chassis then dig a trench to accommodate them. If they are a bit short then you can fill the space by inserting shims of hardwood.

♦ Finishing touches

Make sure to cover the void underneath the trailer with something breathable such as chicken wire or latticework. If temperatures tend to rise or drop very quickly then you can also seal this void with insulation. After a few weeks recheck your levels and make adjustments accordingly.

How to level a travel trailer with blocks?

As mentioned above, block leveling or lynx leveling is slightly more time consuming as compared to wedged leveling. You can start by placing your blocks either on the front or back of the tires. You will place these blocks on the side of the trailer that needs lifting. The only estimation that you have to make here is how many blocks you should use to level both sides.

You can get in your towing vehicle and start pulling either backward or forwards until the blocks are right under the tires. After that, you have to check and see if both sides are leveled and whether you need to take out or add more blocks. If the trailer is not leveled, just get the trailer off the blocks and start again. Once you are done with leveling, then chock your tires on the other side and disconnect your rig.

Tri-Lynx Block Levelers

Another option that you can choose comes from Tri-Lynx. This pack of 10 leveling blocks can fit any leveling function that you need. In addition to that, they can also withstand a phenomenal amount of weight too. You can set them into a shape of a pyramid with the desired height and then drive your trailer onto it.

What’s the proper way to block up a trailer with concrete blocksocks?

Most of the people get scared of the idea of using concrete Blocksocks to block up a trailer. However, what they don’t know is these concrete blocks have plenty of compressions strength. The important point here is to put a weight on them that distributes evenly across the whole block.

To get this right, you need to place them in a vertical position. Most people place them in a horizontal fashion and expect good results. By placing these blocks horizontally they are trying to get more surface area to place their trailer on but they don’t realize that this large surface area lacks strength. The vertical orientation of these blocks provides them with a lot of strength. Blocksocks are designed to take a load in a vertical orientation. Make sure that you are placing it on solid ground and in a vertical orientation. Moreover, you can also place a 2×8 wooden plank right on top of the block to distribute the weight evenly.

You can stack up to the blocks in a vertical position and place a wooden plank on it. This way you will be able to get maximum and enduring strength from the pile and can block up your trailer with it. One great advantage of Blocksocks is that they are not as heavy as concrete blocks and for this reason, you can easily maneuver them without any issue. But their vertical position is very critical here.

How to level a travel trailer on uneven ground?

The answer to the question of how to level a travel trailer on uneven ground is similar to above. First of all, you need to find a parking place that is as even as possible. If that is not possible then you need to use your RV leveling kit to solve the problem. You can either use a wedged travel trailer leveling system or a blocked leveling system.

Both of these are top quality products. However, we would recommend that you should go for the wedged travel trailer leveling system if the ground is too uneven. The wedged system will keep your trialed properly balanced without losing the ground.

The blocked travel trailer leveling system is more useful in case of flat surfaces because their bottom is flat and your trailer will not be in a strong enough position to remain still with block moving under them. Therefore, in this scenario, the best way to level a travel trailer is by using the wedged system.

How to level a travel trailer on a slope?

We would advise you to park your trailer somewhere else. However, if the steep slope is the only place you can find to park your travel trailer then you can do so by adding extra blocks under the low side of the trailer. But this is going to be a massive challenge because you don’t have an even ground to build upon. So the big question is how to level a travel trailer on a slope!

Your best option here is to dig down for a few inches and level the ground yourself. For this, you will require a shovel along with a small bubble level. It will not take a lot of your time but you will be able to create a safe base level for your trailer to rest upon.

Keep in mind not to place boards or rocks for leveling purposes because it is not safe at all. They do not keep your trailer in a stable position for long no matter how hard you try. If you are able to make a solid base you will be able to ramp up your trailer and level it using the procedures described in detail above.

How to level a travel trailer with a slide out?

After going through all the information above we can easily handle the question of how to level a travel trailer with a slide-out. After parking your camper the most important thing for you to do is to level your RV and do anything thing else after that. In addition, you have to consult your trailer’s manual for this one.

You have to understand that with slide out position the center of gravity of your trailer changes. With slides out, the weight at the center is exerted a lot more pressure. For this reason, it is important for you to place some additional block pilings close to the axles for extra support. These pilings will provide support right at the center and will keep everything in balance.

How to level a single axle travel trailer?

There isn’t much difference between the leveling of a single axle traveling trailer or one with double-axle. The difference comes when it comes to chocking the wheels. In case of a double-axle trailer, you can easily place the blocks under the wheel on one side and chock the second wheel on the same side.

As there is no second set of wheels in a single axle trailer, therefore, you can easily place the blocks under the wheels on one side and place the chocks with the wheels on the other side. Even aviation mechanics do the same with their planes and jets. The rest of the process is very similar and you can use all the instructions mentioned above to level out your single axle trailer.

Dos and don’ts of travel trailer leveling!

The answer to the question of how to level a travel trailer remains incomplete if you are not familiar with the Dos and Don’ts. Leveling your travel trailer can be very easy if you know what you are doing and if you have done it before.

Some trailers come with automated leveling feature. You just have to push a small button and forget about all the hassle and guesswork. If your camper doesn’t come with this feature then you have to rely on yourself. But you must know certain dos and don’ts associated with the process of leveling your RV to avoid any mishaps.

Dos

• You should always opt for leveling blocks or wedges to level your campers. Leveling blocks and wedges keep things simple and safe for you and your loved ones. They are not very difficult to use. They are designed to take plenty of weight and will not crack under pressure.
• Make sure to level your trailer first and then unhitch or slide out. Doing this before leveling can put your trailer under huge amounts of stress and it will not level out properly which will damage your interiors and appliances.
• Always place your blocks and lumber under the wheels of the side that you want to raise for adequate leveling.
• Always look for top-quality travel trailer leveling jacks, blocks, and wedges for leveling purposes because they will have to bear plenty of weight.
• It is good to have an extra chock kit with you in case the old one breaks apart.
• Start the leveling process from side to side and then go to the front to back.

Don’ts

• Do not unhitch your trailer as soon as you park it for camping.
• Make sure not to use your scissor jacks for leveling purposes. These jacks are designed for stabilizing not leveling jobs. They are not designed in a way to support the weight of a trailer and you should not use them for leveling. Furthermore, using a scissor jack can also damage your trailer’s frame.
• When leveling on the slope don’t use rocks or boards for this purpose. This is very unsafe for the residents of the trailer.

Conclusion

Most of the first time RVers don’t know how to level a travel trailer because they are not familiar with the process. Once they get to know which tools to use and how to use them, leveling of the travel trailer becomes a whole lot easier. However, learning all the tricks of the trade doesn’t mean that you have earned the license to experiment whatever you want when it comes to leveling of your camper. A lot of people use rocks and boards to level on slopes and uneven grounds. That is not a safe thing to do and you should avoid it.

We hope you have found the guide informative. If you have any queries or suggestions for us then leave a comment below.

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