RV Leveling Blocks
If you’ve ever parked your RV on uneven ground, only to open your refrigerator door and have everything fall out, then you already know the importance of RV leveling blocks. For those of you yet to discover why an RV leveling system is important, don’t fret — we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about leveling blocks for RVs (especially before you purchase some)!
What Are Trailer Leveling Blocks?
While some RVs have electric or hydraulic levelers, many do not. Thankfully, manually leveling your RV is a common solution to this issue. Leveling blocks work by ‘propping’ up your camper to ensure it is in an even position. After all, who wants to fall out of bed due to their RV leaning dangerously to one side?
RV leveling blocks can often be stacked to the perfect height and they sit underneath your tires to adjust your trailer’s position. Having an RV leveling system in place is particularly helpful when staying at national parks or older campgrounds which haven’t been pre-leveled.
Even if your rig is equipped with an automatic leveling system you may need a block or two on occasion. Many campers carry a variety of shapes and sizes of blocks in case of emergency.
How to Manually Level Your RV
Ok, so your RV doesn’t have electric or hydraulic levelers. That’s ok. This article will help you learn to level your RV the quick and easy way. It will also help you pick the perfect RV leveling blocks for your travels. Believe it or not, there is a lot of confusion online about which RV leveling blocks are best. Together we will look at your best options.
First, let’s discover a simple way to manually level your RV.
The goal of this process is to lift a few of your tires up on RV leveling blocks. If you do not have an automatic leveling system this is a good way get your trailer into an even position. Remember, you will always want to keep at least one tire on the ground.
The other tires will be adjusted to level your overall unit. If you plan to camp in modern RV parks most spaces have been pre-leveled and you won’t have to do much to get comfortable. State and national parks are a whole different story. These spaces can be uneven and you will want to have RV leveling blocks with you.
Steps:
Step #1 Turn the engine off and set your parking brake. You don’t need to roll around during this process. Make sure you are about 2 or 3 feet from where you want to end up parked for the night.
Step #2 Step outside and examine the ground. How many blocks do you think you will need? Which side needs to be lifted? It might take a few tries to get it right, so make the time to think through the entire process.
Step #3 Put your RV leveling blocks up against the tires you intend to raise. If you are stacking blocks make sure to put them together like stepping legos. You want to be able to drive up them, ramp style.
Step #4 Start your engine and release the brake. Slowly accelerate up the blocks. You may want to keep a foot on the brake to stop when you reach the center of the RV leveling blocks. If you have someone to help guide you the process will be a whole lot easier.
Step #5 Evaluate your situation. Are you level? Does something need to go up or down? If so, you may need to back down, adjust and try again.
Step #6 Once settled you can set your parking brake with your transmission in park. Turn off the engine. You are set!
Now that you know how to level, it’s time to choose the right RV levelers for you.
Types of RV Levelers
If you’re thinking of purchasing some RV levelers, there are plenty of popular styles on the market, including the following:
RV leveling blocks: There’s no doubt you’ve seen these blocks sitting under RV tires throughout most campgrounds. Leveling blocks are easy to use, light, stackable, and very affordable (under $20 dollars for a 4-pack). Although it can take a few tries to get your desired height just right, they’re a great option for many types of RVs – just be sure to check your product’s maximum load capacity. Keep in mind that over time, they can become fragile and crack, but replacement is simple.
RV leveling ramps: In terms of convenience, you just can’t beat an RV leveling ramp. With leveling blocks, you have to go through a range of motions if you didn’t get the level right the first time (like getting back in your RV, reversing off the blocks, removing a block, and trying all over again). With leveling ramps, however, simply put the wedge in front of or behind your wheel(s), get in and move until your partner tells you that you are level. There’s a wide range of RV leveling ramps available on Amazon for great prices too.
RV leveling tire lock: Although less common than blocks or ramps, this RV leveling tire lock is still a great option – but only for light trailers. It’s easy to set up and eliminates the trial and error involved in using RV leveling blocks. Just keep in mind that this option is more expensive than both blocks and ramps, and it has a tendency to sink into the soil underneath your RV tire.
Homemade RV Leveling Blocks:
Some RVers will avoid buying trailer leveling blocks, instead choosing to opt for their own, ‘DIY’ version. All they require is a shovel and a lot of hard work, as they manually dig holes for their tires to sit in, therefore adjusting the position of their parked RV. Not only is there a lot of trial and error involved with this method, but it also isn’t always possible, especially when parking on cement RV spots.
If you’re on the thrifty side, you can also create your own handmade RV leveling blocks using easy-to-find materials and just an hour or two of your time. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube to get you started.
Wooden Blocks- Grab a few wooden blocks out of your garage and toss them into your rig. Presto you have a one of a kind leveling system. Many campers choose to forgo RV leveling blocks and just use wood. While this is a simple answer, it’s not ideal. Here’s why: Wooden blocks are water sensitive, prone to splitting and heavy. They are also bulky and difficult to pack away. Most full timers avoid wood blocks, but in a pinch they provide an easy leveling tool. Remember: wooden blocks should be long and wide enough for the tire to easily stand on it. Pressure treated wood is best, since it will hold up over time.
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Why You Can’t Just Use Your Trailer Stabilizer Jacks
Here’s a mistake some RV owners make, only to find out the hard way: stabilizer jacks are not meant to be used for leveling your RV on uneven ground. Instead, their purpose is to stabilize an RV that is already level. Using RV leveling blocks or ramps under the wheels to level before lowering the stabilizer jacks provides maximum stability and avoids damaging your vehicle.
Where to Buy RV Stabilizer Jacks
Many RVs will come with a stabilizer jack in place, but if you find yourself without one, there are plenty of places you can purchase one. Our favorite site for trailer stabilizer jacks is Amazon, as there’s a wide variety available for some of the best prices you’ll find. Just make sure you check the product’s maximum load capacity to ensure it’s the right one for your model.
Now that you know everything about RV leveling blocks (including where to buy them and why they’re so important), you’ll hopefully never suffer with an uneven RV again!
The Bottom Line
The quality of these leveling blocks varies greatly so it’s important to check each type out and read the reviews. When considering an RV leveling block be sure to look at size, weight, strength, and cost. Are the bricks big enough to provide a solid surface and a stable pad for your jacks? Are they thick enough? Are they heavy? Do they stack? Will they stow away with ease? Cost should also be considered when comparing one style of RV leveling block against another. Remember if you have to buy several sets over the life of the RV then you haven’t saved any money!
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