How To Level Your RV Or Motorhome

It may not come as a surprise, but one of the biggest challenges of setting up a motorhome is getting your RV or motorhome level. Making sure your RV is level is important for both comfort and safety. Having a level motorhome will ensure no rogue items come sliding off benches and out of cupboards, and that you will sleep soundly in a cosy flat bed. 

 

But how do you actually level a motorhome? How do you level a motorhome on a slope? And how the level should an RV be? There are several ways to go about making your RV level, such as wheel chocks, corner stabilisers and stacking blocks. And while it can take a little practice and know-how, once you’ve levelled your RV a few times, it will be another part of the routine of life on the road. In the guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to flatten things out. Let’s get into it

 

Why do you want your RV or Motorhome to be level

 

Does an RV have to be perfectly level? Short answer: no. But there are plenty of reasons why it’s worthwhile levelling your motorhome as much as possible, including:

 

• Your doors and cupboards open and close properly
• The water in your pipes flows freely
• The frame of your RV or motorhome is evenly supporting its weight
• Your tank fluid readings are correct
• The fridge is will work efficiently and safely, and contents won’t spill when you open the door
• You won’t roll out of bed - sleep is always better when flat

 

We think these are all big motivators to keeping things flat!

 

How to tell if your RV or Motorhome is level 

 

 

Some newer RVs and motorhomes come with an auto RV-levelling system. If your motorhome doesn’t have one of these - don’t worry! The next best way to check you are level is with a bubble level. Sometimes known as a spirit level, levels are easy to use and relatively cheap to buy from most hardware stores. If you want to minimise the number of items you pack on your trip, there are even spirit level apps for your smartphone you can use to test if your motorhome is level.

 

The importance of choosing the right parking spot

 

It may seem like a no-brainer, but the first way to ensure a level motorhome is to park somewhere flat with even terrain. It can be worthwhile to look at reviews of the camping spot or caravan park you’re considering before booking to ensure the sites are level. 

 

Choosing a good place to park is also important when using an RV level system. Try to pick a parking spot that has hard ground so that you don’t sink and where there is a lot of room to manoeuver. This will make it much easier to use levellers. 

 

How to level your RV or Motorhome

 

How you level your motorhome will depend on what kind of levelling system you have. Some levellers are rated to different weights and sizes of RV, so it’s important to buy the correct product for your RV. Check out what levelling items are available for your motorhome at RV Sales Centre. 

 

Try a wheel chock

 

 

Wheel chocks or wedges are a common and cost-effective way to level your RV or motorhome. It’s good to have a wheel chock on both sides of the wheel to make sure your RV doesn’t roll forwards or backwards. There are a few simple steps to follow to ensure you set up the wheel chocks correctly:

 

• Park your motorhome and engage your break
• Grab the chocks and place them under the appropriate wheels - if the motorhome is facing a downhill slope, position the chocks in front of the front wheels and if it’s facing an uphill slope, position the chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Ensure the chock is centred and squared with the tire and position it snugly against the tire tread. 
• Repeat on both sides

 

Following these steps will ensure you use your wheel chocks safely.

 

Use a corner stabiliser

 

 

Some newer RVs and motorhomes have built-in corner stabilisers which can also help to level a motorhome. These metal arms are installed into the frame of the motorhome and are designed to extend onto the ground to help with any sway or bounce of the vehicle. These can be electric and operated by the press of a button or manually extended using a hand crank to lower them to the ground.

 

Build with stacking blocks

 

Stacking blocks can be a great travel-friendly option as they stack up for easy storage. Stacking blocks can also be used in conjunction with other stabilisers and chocks, and are particularly helpful if the ground underneath is a bit soft. There are a few simple steps to follow to ensure you set up the stacking blocks correctly:

 

• Park your motorhome and engage your break
• Check how level your RV is and identify which side or wheels need lifting
• Grab your stacking blocks and place them directly behind the wheel of the corner that needs lifting. That way you will be able to drive up them like a ramp. 
• Get back in the car and drive your motorhome onto the stacking blocks until the wheel of the motorhome is on the stacking block completely
• Re-engage the handbrake and check your level readings again to ensure you are level
• Repeat if necessary 

 

Safety considerations when levelling your RV or Motorhome 

 

When moving objects around heavy machinery there are a few safety considerations to be aware of, including: 

 

• Never use a leveller on a steep incline
• Always use a leveller on hard ground
• Make sure your tyres are pumped up as your RV manual specifies
• Use a spotter to help guide you
• Always follow manufacturer instructions
• Never have someone securing a leveller with their hands as you drive your RV forward or backwards
• Be patient with the process

 

Being extra cautious when levelling your motorhome will ensure there are no injuries while you’re on holiday.

 

Common RV levelling questions answered

 

As with most things to do with setting up your motorhome, levellers can take a little bit of time to get used to and operate effectively. These are some of the most common questions we get about levelling a motorhome: 

 

How do I stop my RV from rocking when parked?

 

As your motorhome has suspension to help it absorb the impact of driving, you may notice that it will move a bit when you are inside while parked up.  Even when your vehicle appears to be level when you are standing still, it may still rock slightly as you move about the vehicle. You can reduce this by levelling your vehicle using blocks or stabilisers. This can also be due to parking on soft ground, so be sure to check to see if you need to move your vehicle to a drier spot or try parking again. 

 

Do you need levelling blocks for a motorhome?

 

This depends heavily on where you like to travel. If you are staying at caravan parks, they will be less essential. But if you like getting a little further out into nature, where the ground may be a little less flat, they may be a worthwhile investment. Overall you don’t need them, but they are very handy to have.

 

How do you level an RV without jacks? 

 

If you are hoping to avoid using hydraulic jacks to level your motorhome, there are plenty of options. A great alternative is to use stacking blocks, but you can always level your RV with any sturdy material like a 2x4 piece of wood in a pinch. 

 

Time to level up your next Australian adventure?

 

If you’re looking to refurbish or modify your motorhome with a new levelling system, stop by a KEA certified dealership to chat with one of our RV campervan sales teams. They have a wealth of knowledge on motorhome levelling appliances and can help check that you are properly set up. They will also happily answer any questions you may have regarding RV maintenance or how to service your motorhome.

 

If you’re still searching or looking to upgrade to the perfect motorhome for your adventures, check out the KEA website. Here you’ll see the range of motorhomes for sale including KEA ex-rental campervans. 

 

You can also stop by a KEA certified dealer. Our RV campervan sales teams will happily answer any questions you have about campervan ownership, as well as give you a walkthrough of the motorhomes for sale and the different options for levelling a campervan on-site.