Leveling & Stabilizing

Leveling is one of the most important steps when setting up camp. An unlevel camper causes problems with the refrigerator, slide-out, sleep comfort, and plumbing.

Level side-to-side first

Always level side-to-side before front-to-back. The tongue jack handles front-to-back; leveling blocks handle side-to-side.

Tools you need

• Bubble level (built into the camper, or a small torpedo level)
• Leveling blocks (Lynx blocks, Camco leveling ramps, or wood boards)
• Wheel chocks
• Stabilizer jack wrench or drill with socket adapter

Step 1 — Check the level

1. Pull into the site and stop.
2. Check the bubble level inside the camper (usually above the entry door or on the counter).
3. Note which side is low.

Step 2 — Level side-to-side

1. Place leveling blocks on the ground next to the low-side tires.
2. Drive the camper slowly onto the blocks.
3. Check the level again.
4. Add or remove blocks until the bubble is centered side-to-side.
5. Chock the wheels — place chocks on both sides of the tires to prevent rolling.

Caution

Don’t try to level more than 4–6 inches with blocks. If the site is severely unlevel, ask the campground for a different site.

Step 3 — Level front-to-back

1. Once level side-to-side, check front-to-back.
2. Use the tongue jack to raise or lower the front of the trailer.
3. Crank the tongue jack until the bubble is centered front-to-back.

Step 4 — Stabilize

Stabilizer jacks prevent the camper from rocking — they do not bear the weight of the trailer (that’s the tires and tongue jack).

1. Lower each stabilizer jack (4 corners) until it makes firm contact with the ground.
2. Snug them up — don’t crank hard enough to lift the tires off the ground.
3. Use stabilizer pads under the jacks on soft ground to prevent sinking.

Tip

A drill with a 3/4” socket makes lowering stabilizer jacks much faster than the hand crank.

Step 5 — Verify

• Bubble level is centered side-to-side
• Bubble level is centered front-to-back
• Wheel chocks are in place
• All 4 stabilizer jacks are down and snug
• Camper doesn’t rock when you walk inside

Why leveling matters

System	Effect of being unlevel
Refrigerator	Absorption fridge loses efficiency or stops cooling
Slide-out	Can bind or damage the mechanism
Plumbing	Tanks may not drain fully
Sleep	You’ll roll to one side all night
Doors	May swing open or not latch properly

Leveling on soft ground

• Use stabilizer pads (plastic squares) under each jack foot.
• Use tire pads under leveling blocks to prevent sinking.
• If the ground is very soft, consider a different site.

Leveling on a slope

For steep slopes, use a leveling ramp (like Camco’s) rather than stacking many blocks. Stacked blocks can shift.

Maximum recommended off-level: 3° side-to-side, 6° front-to-back (for refrigerator operation).