What's The Proper Leveling Procedure For A Travel Trailer
by Rich Cohen
(Long Beach, Ca)
Hi,
I have a very basic question. I have a 19' travel trailer and I'm new to trailering/RVing.
I'm afraid I have bent the crap out of my "C" style jack stands. So before I replace them, I want to know the proper procedure for leveling the trailer.
So I put the front foot down, and then go to lower the back jack stands, then the front. Then I go inside and check my level in the fridge or freezer.
See that it’s not level go back outside and the frustration begins.
Please tell me what I should do.
Thanks,
Rich
ANSWER: Greetings Rich thanks for submitting your question on our Ask An RV Question Page.
First I would like to welcome you to the RVing lifestyle and let you know that I feel your frustration. The simple rule of leveling a Travel Trailer or 5th Wheel is to level side to side first and then level front to back.
I know it sounds easy, but I know how frustrating it can be when you first start doing it. I will tell you that it will become quite easy after you have done it a couple of times.
The first thing I would suggest you do to make it easier is to install some RV Level Indicators
on the outside of your trailer, so you can use them to get the trailer level rather than having to go in and out of the trailer to check the level.
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Depending on how level your campsite is you may have to pull the trailer up on some Leveling Blocks to get it as close to level as possible. By adding or removing blocks you should be able to get it real close to "Dead on Level".
Now that you have got it as close to level as possible use Tire Chocks to chock the trailer wheels.
Now you can unhook your trailer and use the Tongue Jack and Scissor Jacks to adjust Front and back level. Remember if your Tongue Jack and Scissor Jacks have to travel a long ways down it can stress them or damage them. To prevent damage you should pile up some RV Jack Pads to decrease the distance that your jacks have to travel. It is a good practice to always have at least one jack pad under each jack, so that the jacks do not sink into the ground or cause damage to the surface of the ground they are sitting on.
I hope this helps.
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