By Cheri Sicard
Jared Gillis of All About RVs, one of our readers’ favorite RV YouTube channels, is here to talk about something that every RVer has to do. Without a doubt, how to level your RV is one of the first skills you should master, as it’s important for comfort and for your RV’s functionality.
Why is it important to level your RV?
Your RV’s refrigerator likely works off absorption and in order for it to work properly, it should never be more than 2 degrees off from level.
When parking it’s important to level from side to side first. And always remember, your stabilizer jacks are there to provide stability. They should not be used to level the RV or to hold significant weight.
Jared says that over the years they have used many methods of leveling including wooden boards and various commercial levelers. The method he now uses is what they have found works best for them. The process is now quick and easy, thanks to two tools.
Jared likes Andersen wedge levelers, which he demos in the video. I, too, have recently become a fan of this style of leveler, although I like the Rophor brand as they needed no trimming to work with my double-axle trailer.
How to level an RV: There’s an app for that!
Jared also uses an electronic gadget and app called the LevelMatePROÂ that tells you to the degree how much you need to level side to side or front to back.
I can’t say I have ever gotten so high-tech about it, but if you like such gadgets I can certainly see how it would be helpful. Especially if you are a boondocker, as the app lets you drive around to choose the most level spots as it tracks the situation as you move.
Watch the video to see how it works and how easy it is to install.
Once you have installed and set up your baseline parameters, the app will help you level to those specifications each and every time, no matter where you park.
##RVDT2156
Thank you, .Cheri! 🙂
How does this work on a class c? I am guessing you have to level side to side and front to back at the same time.
Yep, I used to use Andersen levelers and the LevelMate Pro and they worked easier and faster than using a level, boards, etc., but now I just hit the Auto Level button on the Montana and boom, it’s done. The only times I don’t use Auto Level is during one nighters while traveling and I don’t unhitch, but still it’s just a matter of pushing a couple of buttons on the system to get it level enough.
The problem with where he mounted the leveler device is it’s not visible when you’re outside trying to level the rig. Personally I like the big level attached to the front of the RV in sight of my rear view mirror where I simply back onto my leveling blocks until the ball is centered. Now chock the wheels, unhitch and using the jack(s) level front to rear. Plus I’m not running in and out of the trailer letting mosquitoes to share our RV. Two problems solved very simply, now if you had a weather proof place to mount the leveler on the front it might be good.
Bob, it connects via Bluetooth to a phone app. He doesn’t need to stand in front of the mounted device. He can view his state of level from the phone app while in his vehicle or anywhere else. I have one myself and it works well!
Yes Jon is right. You simply just look at your phone to see how many inches off of level your rig is. It is well worth the money!
Well I see others have answered, you don’t need to see it, that is the point.
Turn on the Ground Control® 3.0 automatic electric leveling system by Lippert™
Hit: AutoLevel
After the confirmation beep that the 5th wheel is level, put out slides.
Now in all fairness, there have been a few times when the system fails. I have to pull out my handy level and use the left/right &/or front/rear functions to manually level. This has always been when the front end is downhill of the rear.
When I’m ready to hook the 5th wheel up to the truck, pull in slides, press the left/right buttons on the Ground Control system simultaneously to raise the hitch pin to the correct level.
I spent decades using leveling blocks and pads under the wheels my bumper pulls.
Down sides I’ve read about for to the Andersen wedges are they can collapse under heavy trailers or several years use and they can “squirt out” from under the tire when you’re trying to level.
Push a button!