How Do I Level a Travel Trailer at a Campsite?

When you arrive at your campsite, one of the first tasks you’ll need to tackle is leveling your travel trailer. A properly leveled trailer is essential for comfort, safety, and the proper functioning of appliances. This guide will walk you through the steps on how to level a travel trailer, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable camping experience.

Why Leveling Your Travel Trailer Is Important

Before diving into the process of leveling, it’s important to understand why it’s necessary:

1. Comfort: A leveled trailer ensures that you won’t feel like you’re tilting while walking or sleeping. It provides stability, making your stay more comfortable.
2. Appliance Functionality: Many appliances, like refrigerators, are designed to operate on a level surface. An uneven trailer can cause them to malfunction, which could lead to spoilage of food or damage to the appliance.
3. Structural Integrity: Continuous stress on the trailer’s frame due to uneven positioning can lead to structural issues over time. Keeping your trailer level helps maintain its longevity.
4. Safety: A properly leveled trailer reduces the risk of accidents, such as tipping over, and ensures that the doors and windows function correctly.

Tools and Equipment You’ll Need

To level your travel trailer effectively, you’ll need a few tools:

• Bubble Level: This tool helps you determine the trailer’s level in both the front-to-back and side-to-side directions.
• Leveling Blocks: These are sturdy, stackable blocks used to raise the trailer’s low side to level it out.
• Wheel Chocks: Chocks are essential to prevent your trailer from rolling while you level it.
• Tongue Jack: This is used to raise or lower the front of the trailer.
• Stabilizer Jacks: Once the trailer is level, these jacks provide stability and reduce movement inside the trailer.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Level a Travel Trailer

Now that you have the necessary tools, follow these steps to level your travel trailer at a campsite:

Step 1: Select a Suitable Campsite

Before setting up, choose a campsite that appears relatively flat. While most campsites are designed with level surfaces, some may have slight inclines. A flatter surface will make the leveling process easier and require fewer adjustments.

Step 2: Position Your Travel Trailer

Once you’ve selected your site, back your trailer into the desired position. Ensure that your trailer is oriented to allow easy access to the hookups (if applicable) and provide a comfortable living space.

Step 3: Check the Side-to-Side Level

Before unhitching your trailer from the towing vehicle, place the bubble level on the trailer floor or a flat surface inside the trailer. Start by checking the side-to-side level. This is the most crucial step, as it needs to be done before unhooking.

If the bubble indicates that one side is lower, you’ll need to raise that side using leveling blocks:

1. Place the Leveling Blocks: Position the blocks in front of the wheels on the side that needs to be raised.
2. Drive Onto the Blocks: Slowly drive the trailer onto the blocks until the bubble level indicates that the trailer is level side-to-side.
3. Check the Level Again: Once positioned, recheck the bubble level to confirm that the trailer is level.

If it’s still not level, you may need to add or remove blocks and adjust as necessary.

Step 4: Secure the Trailer with Wheel Chocks

After achieving side-to-side leveling, place wheel chocks on both sides of the tires to prevent any movement. This is crucial for safety, as the trailer could roll or shift during the next steps.

Step 5: Unhitch the Trailer from the Tow Vehicle

Once the trailer is securely chocked, you can safely unhitch it from the tow vehicle. Lower the tongue jack to support the front of the trailer.

Step 6: Level the Trailer Front-to-Back

Now that the trailer is unhitched, use the bubble level to check the front-to-back level.

1. Adjust the Tongue Jack: Raise or lower the tongue jack to adjust the trailer’s front height. If the bubble indicates that the front is higher than the back, lower the tongue jack. If the back is higher, raise the tongue jack.
2. Fine-Tune the Level: Make small adjustments until the bubble level shows that the trailer is perfectly level front-to-back.

Step 7: Deploy the Stabilizer Jacks

With the trailer level, the next step is to deploy the stabilizer jacks. These are not intended to lift the trailer but to prevent it from swaying or rocking.

1. Lower the Stabilizer Jacks: Use a crank or electric controls (depending on your trailer) to lower the stabilizer jacks until they make firm contact with the ground.
2. Do Not Over-Tighten: The jacks should be snug against the ground, providing stability without lifting the trailer.

Step 8: Final Check

Once all the jacks are in place, perform a final check with your bubble level to ensure the trailer hasn’t shifted during the process. If everything looks good, you’re ready to set up camp!

Common Leveling Mistakes to Avoid

Leveling a travel trailer might seem straightforward, but there are common mistakes that can lead to problems:

1. Skipping the Side-to-Side Leveling: Some people try to level the trailer front-to-back first. However, side-to-side leveling must be done while the trailer is still attached to the vehicle.
2. Using Improper Materials: Avoid using random items like wood scraps to level your trailer. These can slip or break. Invest in proper leveling blocks designed for this purpose.
3. Not Using Wheel Chocks: Failing to secure the wheels before unhitching can lead to dangerous situations, as the trailer might roll.
4. Over-Tightening Stabilizer Jacks: The stabilizer jacks should be used for stability, not for leveling. Over-tightening them can damage the trailer frame.
5. Neglecting the Final Check: Always double-check the level after setting up the stabilizer jacks. The trailer can sometimes shift slightly, requiring minor adjustments.

Tips for Easier Leveling

• Practice Makes Perfect: The more you level your trailer, the easier and quicker the process will become.
• Consider an Automatic Leveling System: Some modern travel trailers come with automatic leveling systems. While these can be an expensive upgrade, they can save time and effort, especially if you camp frequently.
• Leveling Apps: Several smartphone apps are available that can assist with the leveling process. These apps use your phone’s sensors to act as a digital level, providing real-time feedback on your trailer’s positioning.

Conclusion

Learning how to level a travel trailer is a vital skill for any camper. While it might take a bit of practice initially, following these steps will soon make the process second nature. A properly leveled trailer ensures comfort, safety, and longevity, allowing you to fully enjoy your camping experience. So, next time you pull into a campsite, you’ll know exactly what to do to ensure your home on wheels is perfectly positioned. Happy camping!