LEVELING YOUR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Proper leveling of your RV at your campsite is critical to the safe and efficient operation of your unit and its appliances. It is recommended that owners carry leveling blocks for those places where finding a level spot is difficult. These are available in most camping supply stores or can be ordered online. As an alternative, you can use varying lengths of 2” X 8” wood blocks for leveling. Ensure the ground is not soft and will support the weight of the trailer and its jacks.
MANUAL LEVELING
- Before beginning the leveling process, choose an area of the site that is as level as possible. With smaller units, it’s usually easy to move back and forth in your campsite until you are reasonably level.
- Using a carpenter’s bubble level, the ideal place to measure the level of your RV is on a countertop, in the refrigerator or on the main floor.
If your campsite requires a leveling procedure:
- Keep the RV hitched to the tow vehicle.
- Level the RV from side-to-side utilizing the leveling blocks stacked on top of each other to achieve the appropriate leveling height. Place them in front of the RV tires and pull the RV up on top of the blocks.
- Once it is level side-to-side, lower the tongue jack onto wood blocks.
- Place wheel chocks or wood blocks in front and behind the wheels so the RV can’t move.
- Uncouple the RV from the tow vehicle and move the tow vehicle clear of the RV.
- Level the RV from front to back utilizing the tongue jack.
STABILIZING YOUR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
- Many recreational vehicles are equipped with stabilizing jacks. These jacks can be a manual crank-type jack or a 12VDC electric-powered jack.
- They are designed to reduce vehicle motion due to movement inside the RV after the unit is leveled and ready for use. These are NOT designed to lift the RV or bear excessive weight, only help stabilize the RV from movement.
- To operate, lower the stabilizing jacks onto a 2” X 8” wood block placed directly under the stabilizer jack foot pad until the jack is firmly engaged. Be sure all of the stabilizing jacks have the same amount of
- pressure on them so that you do not put the RV into a twisted position. Doing so, could cause the unit and its components to not function correctly.
NOTICE
- Stabilizing jacks are NOT designed or intended to be used to level a recreational vehicle.
- Be sure the stabilizing jacks are retracted in the up (travel) position before moving your RV.