Tips & Tricks to Level Your RV (Almost) Anywhere

Finding the perfect campsite isn't always straightforward, as much as we wish it were! Campgrounds come in many shapes, sizes, and terrains. And since the campsites exist inside the grounds, some sites will be as level as a pool table, while others will be…less level, to put it mildly.

Even if you find yourself parked on a less-than-level campsite, your RV needs to be leveled for your comfort and the vehicle's safety. In this article, we'll walk you through how to level your RV and discuss safe and unsafe angles to help you maximize your camping experience.

Importance of leveling your RV

Before we get into the practical steps, let's discuss why you need to level your RV. Proper leveling offers several key benefits:

Comfort

Sleeping, cooking, and walking around in your RV are far more comfortable when it's level. No one wants to feel like they're constantly leaning or wobbling or hear sounds of instability from beneath the floorboards, especially while sleeping or trying to relax in the cabin.

Safety

Imagine yourself cooking with hot oil in your RV. Someone knocks on the door, so you put the pan down on the stovetop as you open the door. Can you imagine what might happen if your RV is not leveled? Leveling your RV enhances stability and reduces the risk of accidents, especially when cooking and using appliances.

Wear on your equipment

Many of your RV's systems, such as refrigerators, slide-outs, toilets, and water heaters, rely on being level to function correctly. They won't work as expected if you’re too far out of range. You may end up with unevenly distributed and heated water, a gas tank that reads as more full than it really is, or slides that get caught on their tracks.

Unleveled equipment can also cause additional wear on the mechanisms that measure and distribute heat/cooling and cost you in maintenance, repair, or replacement down the road.

Proper drainage

Leveling helps water drain away from your RV as intended, preventing potential leaks and damage. Proper drainage also prevents mold and mildew growth, which can prevent stinky situations down the line.

For Class A and Super C RV owners

Although most Class A and Super C RVs have built-in automatic hydraulic or other leveling systems, it’s still important to know how and why to use them. Your owner’s manual should cover this clearly, but remember, you can also call your RV dealer with questions.

When using built-in systems, one helpful piece of advice is to park with your front wheels toward the downhill side, if you’re parking on even a slight slope. This matters because the rear wheels lock while you are in “park,” but the front ones do not.

If the locked rear wheels are lifted off the ground while the unlocked front ones remain, the RV could lurch forward and off the jacks unexpectedly, which could lead to bigger problems than being off-level!

The other thing to consider when operating an auto-leveling system is whether your slide-outs should be extended before or after leveling. Check your owner’s manual or call your RV service center for more detailed instructions on your particular model. 

Equipment needed to level a motorhome

Class Bs, Class Cs, and towables often do not include automatic leveling systems, so leveling your RV is part of setting up your campsite. Before you start your trip, make sure you have the necessary equipment on hand to level your RV when you arrive. The basics include:

Leveling blocks

Leveling blocks are essential to raise the low side of your RV. It’s best to use specialized RV leveling blocks, but some manufacturers recognize that owners can and do use wood or cinder blocks at their own risk. They can be purchased in different sizes and weight capacities.

Bubble level

You'll need a reliable bubble level to check the level of your RV from side to side and front to back. 

Wheel chocks

These are important for preventing your RV from rolling when it's parked on an incline. Since towables don’t have their own built-in parking brake or transmission, you’ll definitely need wheel chocks for that class of RV. Wheel chocks are used to keep the trailer from rolling on its own.

Stabilizing jacks

Many models have built-in stabilizing jacks, and you should use them to stabilize your RV further once it's level. Remember that these aren’t intended for use as a proper jack, but they do provide additional leveling support. They should also always be used with a jack pad. 

How to level your RV: Step by step

1. Check your position: Park your RV with the entrance facing the most desirable view or the best side for your campsite setup.
2. Park your RV: Park your RV on the chosen campsite, considering the slope of the terrain. Try to park it as level as possible from the beginning. Sometimes it helps to move slightly forward or backward or left/right. Prepare to get a lot of practice handling your RV during your first few campsite parks!
3. Set up your bubble level: Place your bubble level on the floor of the RV, the rear bumper, or a countertop—whatever works best for you. Some RVs already have a level affixed inside, or you can attach it to the wall or counter location you prefer.
4. Check front-to-back level: Check the front-to-back and side-to-side level of your RV. The goal is to have the bubble centered on the level. If it's off-center, you'll need to raise one end of your RV. If you managed to level it one way on your initial park, you might only need to raise one end of your RV.
5. Use leveling blocks: Use your leveling blocks to build a platform, making sure that you don’t create a curb that’s too high for your RV’s wheels to roll onto safely. It may take practice to dial in the number of blocks you need from looking at your bubble level, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll have your RV leveled for future camps in no time.  
6. Recheck the bubble level: And make adjustments to your blocks and position accordingly.
7. Stabilizing jacks: If your RV is equipped with stabilizing jacks, you can engage them to stabilize your RV further. Remember to use jack pads under them, as these should not sit directly on the ground or site pad. You should also not lift your RV fully with stabilizing jacks, as they are meant for stabilizing, not leveling.

For towables:

To level a fifth wheel, toy hauler, or travel trailer side-to-side, you’ll adjust by pulling up or back onto your leveling blocks. Remember to chock your wheels on both sides of the tire (not the block!) opposite the side that’s raised onto blocks to prevent rolling. Don’t unhitch your towable until the wheel chocks are in place, as the travel trailer can still roll, especially if you’re on a slope.

After you’ve leveled your towable side-to-side, you’ll need to level it front-to-back. You won’t need RV leveling blocks to level this type of RV front-to-back: instead, you level it by lowering the a-frame or the landing jack. Some towables have power jacks, while others might have a hand-crank. Check your owner’s manual for more detailed instructions.

Once level, you may lower stabilizing jacks (if you have them) and check that there is equal pressure on all of them. If you have slide-outs, check your owner’s manual for instructions on when to extend them.

Common RV leveling mistakes

Our goal is to help you avoid common leveling pitfalls, so here are the RV leveling mistakes you're most likely to encounter:

Choosing too steep a slope

It’s generally considered safe to park on a site with a 3-5% grade. At 5-10%, you’ll need additional safety measures, like stabilizing jacks and wheel chocks. Anything higher than a 10% grade is not recommended because RVs can’t stay stable at such a high grade, which may compromise internal systems and safety.

Camping on soft ground

Soft or shifting ground, like mud or sand, causes the RV’s tires to sink, making it difficult to level the RV and adding strain to its systems.

Using stabilizing jacks to level

Remember that stabilizing jacks aren’t intended to lift the full weight of the RV but to make the unit more stable when you’re inside. If you use them to try to level the full weight of your RV, they may collapse under the weight.  

Extending the slides too soon

It’s almost always safest to level your RV with the slides in, extending only once the RV is level and stable. Some RVs with automatic level systems can balance themselves with the slides out, but definitely check your owner’s manual for advice on this before risking your RV.

Too many leveling blocks

Although RV leveling blocks are generally safe, there’s only so much distance between your RV and the ground that should be considered secure. As a good rule of thumb, if you need to go up more than three leveling blocks, that’s a sign that you may need to adjust the initial park of your RV or find a more level campsite (if possible).

Forgetting jack pads

Hydraulic and stabilizing jacks should not be in direct contact with the campsite pad or ground. The reason for this is that the ground/site pad can be pretty soft, and the weight of the RV can push the jacks into the ground. In hot weather, jacks can even sink into asphalt! So make sure to put jack pads under your stabilizing jacks to prevent damage to your RV.

Parting thoughts

Keeping your RV level is one of many ways to keep your camping experience safe and comfortable while minimizing wear and tear on your systems. Leveling your RV on a slope may seem like a small task, but it requires patience and understanding of the terrain. Even the most experienced RV full-timer may need a few tries to get their RV level in new locations, so don’t fret over the number of times you have to re-park to get it just right.

Want to level your very own RV?

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always available to help you choose from top manufacturers' highest quality RVs (and more). Find a Transwest location near you, or shop our online inventory and let our experts help you find the perfect new or used RV for you to level at the most perfect (or imperfect) campsite today.