Travel Trailer Leveling Blocks
Travel trailer leveling blocks are indispensable accessories for any RV owner, ensuring your home-on-wheels is perfectly stable and level at the campsite. They are crucial not just for comfort, but also for the proper functioning of appliances like your refrigerator and for maintaining the structural integrity of your trailer. Understanding their types and proper usage makes for a safer, more enjoyable camping experience wherever your travels take you.
Ah, the open road! The freedom of traveling with your home-on-wheels, exploring new places, and waking up to different views every day. It’s a dream for many, and with a travel trailer, that dream becomes a reality. But before you kick back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the serenity of your campsite, there’s one crucial step that often gets overlooked by beginners: leveling your rig. And that’s where the humble but mighty travel trailer leveling blocks come into play.
Imagine this: you’ve just arrived at a picturesque spot, parked your travel trailer, and are ready to unwind. But as you step inside, you feel a slight tilt. Your coffee slides across the counter, the shower water pools in a corner, and the refrigerator isn’t cooling as efficiently as it should. Worse, you feel a bit dizzy from the uneven floor. This isn’t the relaxing escape you envisioned, is it? This common scenario highlights precisely why understanding and using travel trailer leveling blocks effectively is not just about comfort, but about protecting your investment and ensuring a safe, enjoyable experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about travel trailer leveling blocks. We’ll explore why they’re so important, the different types available, a step-by-step process for using them like a pro, and some essential tips and tricks to make leveling a breeze. So, grab a drink, settle in (on a perfectly level surface, of course!), and let’s get your travel trailer ready for its next adventure!
Key Takeaways
- Essential for Comfort and Safety: Travel trailer leveling blocks are vital for creating a stable, comfortable living space, preventing discomfort and potential hazards.
- Protects Appliances and Structure: Proper leveling ensures your refrigerator operates efficiently, shower drains properly, and the trailer’s frame and slides aren’t subjected to undue stress.
- Multiple Types Available: From stackable interlocking blocks to ramps and wedges, various types of leveling blocks cater to different needs and terrains.
- Correct Usage is Key: Always level your trailer side-to-side first using blocks under the wheels, then front-to-back with the tongue jack, before deploying stabilizer jacks.
- Never Level with Stabilizer Jacks: Stabilizer jacks are designed to prevent movement, not to lift or level the trailer; using them for leveling can cause damage.
- Carry a Reliable Level: A good bubble level or digital level is indispensable for accurate leveling, ensuring a truly flat surface inside your travel trailer.
- Consider Durability and Storage: Choose leveling blocks made from durable materials like UV-resistant plastic, and ensure they are easy to store and transport.
Quick Answers to Common Questions
What are travel trailer leveling blocks made of?
Most common travel trailer leveling blocks are made from durable, UV-resistant plastic, designed to withstand heavy weights and varying weather conditions without cracking or breaking.
Can I use wood for leveling my travel trailer?
While wood blocks can be used, commercial plastic travel trailer leveling blocks are generally recommended as they are lighter, more durable, resistant to rot, and designed to interlock for better stability.
Do I need leveling blocks for my stabilizer jacks?
It’s a good practice to place a travel trailer leveling block or a small pad under your stabilizer jacks, especially on soft ground, to prevent them from sinking and to provide added stability to your already-level trailer.
How many leveling blocks do I typically need?
A set of 10-15 interlocking travel trailer leveling blocks is usually sufficient for most travel trailers, allowing you to stack them to various heights for different slopes and to use some under stabilizer jacks.
Should I level side-to-side or front-to-back first?
Always level your travel trailer side-to-side first using travel trailer leveling blocks under the wheels, and then level front-to-back using your tongue jack.
📑 Table of Contents
Why Leveling Matters: Beyond Just Comfort
When you first hear about leveling a travel trailer, comfort might be the first thing that comes to mind. And while it’s certainly a huge factor, the importance of proper leveling extends far beyond simply preventing your eggs from rolling off the pan. It’s about safety, the longevity of your appliances, and even the structural integrity of your RV.
The Comfort Factor
Let’s start with the obvious: comfort. Nobody wants to sleep on a slope, walk around an angled floor, or cook in a kitchen where everything feels off-kilter. A level travel trailer provides a stable and natural living environment. This means a better night’s sleep, no more feeling like you’re walking uphill inside, and a generally more pleasant atmosphere. For families, especially those with small children, a stable environment is even more crucial to prevent falls and discomfort. Proper leveling also reduces the creaks and groans that an unlevel trailer can make as people move around inside.
Protecting Your Appliances
Many of your travel trailer’s vital appliances rely on being level to function correctly. The most critical example is your absorption refrigerator. These fridges use a chemical process that requires gravity to work properly. If your travel trailer is not level, even by a small degree, the ammonia solution inside the cooling unit can pool up, crystallize, and block the flow, leading to permanent damage and a very expensive repair or replacement. Similarly, shower drains and sinks need gravity to direct water away efficiently. If your trailer is tilted, water can pool in the shower pan or sink, leading to stagnant water, odors, and potential mold issues. Other systems, like your slide-outs, also benefit from being level, as operating them on uneven ground can put undue stress on the mechanisms.
Ensuring Safety and Stability
An unlevel travel trailer can be unstable. While your stabilizer jacks are there to prevent rocking, they can only do their job effectively if the trailer is initially level and well-supported by its tires and tongue jack. If your travel trailer is significantly off-level, there’s a greater risk of it shifting or rocking excessively, especially on softer ground. This could be particularly dangerous if someone is inside, or if you’re trying to perform maintenance. Furthermore, operating slide-outs on an unlevel surface can twist the trailer’s frame, potentially leading to costly repairs and structural damage over time. Travel trailer leveling blocks provide the foundational support needed to mitigate these risks.
Types of Travel Trailer Leveling Blocks
Just like there are different types of campers, there are also various types of travel trailer leveling blocks, each with its own advantages. Understanding the options will help you choose the best set for your adventures.
Stackable Interlocking Blocks
These are arguably the most popular and recognizable type of travel trailer leveling blocks. Often made from durable, UV-resistant plastic, they resemble large, brightly colored LEGO bricks. They come in sets, typically four to ten blocks, and can be stacked and interlocked to achieve the desired height.
Pros:
Visual guide about Travel Trailer Leveling Blocks
Image source: boyisen.com
- Versatile: Can be stacked to various heights.
- Durable: Made from tough plastic, designed to withstand weight and weather.
- Easy to Store: Many come with a convenient storage bag or handle.
- Interlocking Design: Prevents them from slipping or shifting once stacked.
Cons:
- Can be tedious to stack multiple blocks.
- May not be ideal for very soft ground without additional support underneath.
Ramps and Wedges
Ramp-style travel trailer leveling blocks are often single, solid pieces that you drive your trailer wheel onto until it reaches the desired height. Some have a stepped design, allowing for multiple height adjustments, while others are more of a gradual slope.
Pros:
- Quick to Deploy: Just drive onto them, often quicker than stacking multiple blocks.
- Solid Support: Provide a continuous, even surface for the tire.
- Less Fiddly: No need to stack individual pieces.
Cons:
- Less precise than stackable blocks for fine adjustments.
- Can be bulky to store depending on the design.
- Requires precise driving to hit the right spot.
DIY and Wood Blocks (with Caveats)
Some campers opt for DIY solutions, often using treated lumber cut into various sizes. These can be effective but come with some important considerations.
Pros:
- Cost-Effective: Can be cheaper than buying commercial blocks.
- Customizable: You can cut them to specific sizes.
Cons:
- Heavy and Bulky: Wood is denser than plastic, making them heavier to lift and store.
- Prone to Rot and Splinters: Wood can absorb moisture, leading to rot, mold, and splintering over time.
- Slippery: Can be more prone to slipping on certain surfaces, especially if wet.
- Environmental Impact: Pressure-treated wood contains chemicals you might not want to leave on the ground.
While wood blocks can work, commercial plastic travel trailer leveling blocks are generally safer, more durable, and more convenient in the long run.
Automatic Leveling Systems (Brief Mention)
For the sake of completeness, it’s worth noting that some high-end travel trailers come equipped with automatic leveling systems. These hydraulic or electric systems level the trailer at the push of a button. While incredibly convenient, they are a significant upgrade and not what most campers refer to when talking about travel trailer leveling blocks. They are the ultimate in leveling convenience, but for most, manual blocks are the go-to solution.
How to Properly Level Your Travel Trailer with Blocks
Mastering the art of leveling your travel trailer might seem daunting at first, but with a good set of travel trailer leveling blocks and a few simple steps, you’ll be a pro in no time. Remember, the goal is always to get the trailer level side-to-side first, then front-to-back.
Pre-Arrival Assessment
Before you even pull into your campsite, take a moment to eyeball the spot. Look for the most level section. If there’s a slope, try to position your travel trailer so that the low side is on the side that requires less lifting. This means less stacking of travel trailer leveling blocks.
The Leveling Dance: Side-to-Side
This is the most critical step and usually requires the travel trailer leveling blocks.
- Park Your Trailer: Pull your travel trailer into the campsite. Don’t unhitch yet!
- Check Side-to-Side Level: Place a bubble level (or use your phone’s level app) on the floor inside your trailer, usually near the door or in the center. Note which side is low.
- Determine Block Height: Estimate how many travel trailer leveling blocks you’ll need under the wheels on the low side to get it level. A good rule of thumb is that each block adds about an inch or so of height.
- Position the Blocks: Pull your trailer forward a bit, enough to place the determined number of travel trailer leveling blocks directly in front of (or behind) the low-side tires. For dual-axle trailers, you’ll place blocks under both tires on the low side.
- Drive On: Slowly back your travel trailer onto the blocks (or pull forward, depending on placement). Have a spotter guide you, or keep checking your level. Stop when the trailer is level side-to-side.
- Chock Your Wheels: Once level side-to-side, immediately place wheel chocks on both sides of *all* wheels (both those on and off the blocks) to prevent any movement. This is a crucial safety step.
- Unhitch and Set Up Tongue Jack: Now you can safely unhitch your travel trailer from your tow vehicle. Lower your tongue jack until it takes the weight.
Front-to-Back Leveling
Once you’re level side-to-side, front-to-back leveling is typically handled by your trailer’s tongue jack.
- Check Front-to-Back Level: Place your level front-to-back inside the trailer.
- Adjust Tongue Jack: Use your tongue jack to raise or lower the front of the trailer until it’s perfectly level.
With both side-to-side and front-to-back adjustments complete, your travel trailer should now be perfectly level!
Stabilizer Jacks vs. Leveling
It’s very important to understand that your stabilizer jacks are NOT for leveling. They are designed to prevent the trailer from rocking and swaying once it’s already level and supported by its wheels and tongue jack. Using stabilizer jacks to lift or level the trailer can bend them, damage your trailer’s frame, and lead to very expensive repairs. Once your travel trailer is level, extend your stabilizer jacks until they make firm contact with the ground, then give them a slight additional turn for snugness. You can use travel trailer leveling blocks or wood pads under the stabilizer jacks to prevent them from sinking into soft ground.
Tips for Choosing and Using Your Leveling Blocks
To make your leveling process even smoother, here are some practical tips to keep in mind.
Material Matters
Always opt for travel trailer leveling blocks made from durable, UV-resistant plastic. These materials are designed to withstand the weight of your trailer, resist cracking, and hold up against various weather conditions. Avoid flimsy, cheap options that might crack under pressure.
Quantity and Storage
Most people find a set of 10-15 interlocking travel trailer leveling blocks to be sufficient for most scenarios. Remember, you might need to stack several high for significant slopes, and you’ll want extras for under your stabilizer jacks. Look for sets that come with a convenient storage bag or strap to keep them organized and easy to transport in your RV’s storage compartments.
Always Carry a Level
While you might get good at eyeballing it, a reliable level is your best friend. A simple bubble level is great, but many RVers also use digital levels or even smartphone apps for more precise readings. Some even install permanent levels on the exterior of their travel trailer.
Safety First
Always chock your wheels immediately after achieving side-to-side level, and especially before unhitching. If you’re using stackable travel trailer leveling blocks, make sure they are properly interlocked to prevent slipping. Never work under an unchocked or unstable trailer.
Don’t Forget Under Stabilizers
Even if your trailer is level, placing a single travel trailer leveling block or a small wooden pad under each stabilizer jack can prevent them from sinking into soft soil, especially after rain, and provide added stability.
Maintenance and Longevity of Your Leveling Blocks
Travel trailer leveling blocks are pretty low-maintenance, but a little care goes a long way in ensuring they last for many seasons. After each use, give them a quick rinse to remove any dirt, mud, or gravel. Store them in a mesh bag or container that allows air circulation to prevent mold and mildew if they are damp. Periodically inspect them for cracks or damage, and replace any blocks that show signs of significant wear or compromise. Taking these simple steps will ensure your travel trailer leveling blocks are always ready for your next adventure.
Conclusion
Travel trailer leveling blocks might not be the most glamorous RV accessory, but they are undeniably one of the most essential. They are the unsung heroes that ensure your travel trailer is a true home away from home – stable, comfortable, and fully functional. From protecting your valuable appliances to ensuring a good night’s sleep, the benefits of proper leveling are immense.
By understanding the different types of travel trailer leveling blocks, mastering the simple leveling process, and following a few practical tips, you’ll be able to set up your campsite with confidence and ease. So, the next time you pull into a new spot, remember to grab your trusty travel trailer leveling blocks. Your comfort, your appliances, and your overall camping experience will thank you for it! Happy trails, and here’s to many level and enjoyable adventures!
Frequently Asked Questions
How crucial are leveling blocks for my RV refrigerator?
They are extremely crucial. Absorption refrigerators, commonly found in RVs, require the travel trailer to be level for their internal cooling process to work efficiently and prevent permanent damage. An unlevel fridge can lead to expensive repairs or replacement.
Can I use my stabilizer jacks to level my travel trailer?
No, you should never use your stabilizer jacks to level your travel trailer. Stabilizer jacks are designed to prevent rocking and swaying once the trailer is already level and supported by its wheels and tongue jack; using them for leveling can bend the jacks or damage the trailer’s frame.
What is the easiest way to tell if my travel trailer is level?
The easiest way is to use a bubble level placed on the floor or countertop inside your travel trailer. Many RVers also use digital levels or smartphone apps, and some even install permanent levels on the exterior of their trailer for quick checks.
Are there different sizes of travel trailer leveling blocks?
Yes, while many stackable interlocking blocks are a standard size (often around 8.5 x 8.5 inches), some brands offer larger or smaller options, and ramp-style blocks come in various lengths and heights to accommodate different leveling needs.
How do I know how many leveling blocks to use under my wheels?
After parking your travel trailer and checking your side-to-side level, estimate the height needed. You can place one block and check again, adding more travel trailer leveling blocks as needed until the side-to-side bubble is centered, then drive onto the stack.
What if I forget my leveling blocks?
Forgetting your travel trailer leveling blocks can be a real problem. If you find yourself in a bind, you might be able to temporarily use sturdy pieces of wood (like 2×10 lumber) if available, but always prioritize obtaining proper leveling blocks as soon as possible for safety and long-term use.
