After pulling into the campsite after a long day of travel, you’ll probably be ready to kick back with a cold beverage. But smart campers know that before you get to relax, it’s important to take some time to set your camp up right at the beginning, and one of the most important steps is leveling your travel trailer.
Leveling your trailer will make your RV more stable and having an even base is important. Below, we’ve spelled out the easy and correct way to level your travel trailer.
Follow these steps and you’ll have your travel trailer flat and steady in a matter of moments. For any other RVing needs, come talk to the pros at Athens RV. We’re located near Nacogdoches, Texas, and we proudly serve the areas of Lufkin, Longview, Tyler, Fort Worth, Houston, and Dallas, Texas.
Choose the Right Spot
Finding a good spot will make leveling your trailer much easier. Flat, even ground is the ideal location. You’ll also want to find a spot with solid ground to park your RV. Having some cover is helpful for keeping your RV from getting too hot in the sun, but falling branches can cause serious damage. If you see any loose branches or objects might fall in a brisk wind, consider finding a different location.
Level from Side to Side
The first step to leveling your travel trailer is to level it out from side to side. The best way to do this is by raising and lowering the tire heights. To accomplish this, park the trailer about two feet in front of where you plan on parking (assuming this area has a similar pitch to the area where the trailer will eventually end up). Then, use a level at the hitch to determine the level of the chassis. Raise the lower side of the level off the hitch until the bubble is centered. The distance from the hitch is approximately how much you’ll need to raise the tires on that side of the chassis to achieve level. Put leveling blocks behind the tires to raise them up to this height, then back the trailer onto the blocks and check the level again. Repeat this process, adding or subtracting blocks under the tires, until you achieve the desired height.
Chock the Tires, Unhook the Hitch
Once the trailer is level from side to side, chock the wheels and unhitch the trailer from the tow vehicle. Make sure to undo the safety chains and disconnect the wiring harness that controls the brakes and turn signals. Pull your tow vehicle away because you’ll need a little bit of space to move around the hitch.
Level Front to Back
To level from front to back, simply use the jack on the front of the trailer. Place the level on the hitch so that it’s running lengthwise in the same direction as the RV. Raise or lower the jack until the hitch is level. After you achieve level, step inside and measure the levels in the countertops and on the floor. There might be some discrepancy between these features and the chassis, so adjust it until you feel the inside is close to level.
Deploy Stabilizers
Once your trailer is level, deploy the stabilizers. These generally feature a hand crank design that’s similar to a car jack. Simply crank them down until they’re applying a bit of pressure to the ground, but not so much that they throw the level off.
Some people try to level the trailer from the beginning using the stabilizers. This isn’t a particularly effective technique. It takes much longer and it’s also much more difficult to find a true level. Plus, it can put an inordinate amount of stress on each jack and on the corners of the RV chassis.
Try this technique on your next RV trip! It’s quick and effective. If you need parts or maintenance on your trailer, stop by Athens RV. We’re located near Nacogdoches and Lufkin, Texas, and we proudly serve the areas of Longview, Tyler, Fort Worth, and Dallas, Texas.
