There’s nothing like a travel trailer to elevate your camping trip into a camping experience, but first there’s some setup to do. One of the most important steps is leveling the trailer out once you park. We here at Maple Grove RV know that sounds complicated, so we’ve put together some easy steps to get your travel trailer leveled out. To learn more, or to see the travel trailers we have for sale, contact our store in Everett, Washington, today!
1: Location
Your first step is to try and find an area that will make this as easy as possible. That means a relatively flat space that your travel trailer will fit and that you can easily park it in. You also want firm ground, avoiding sand and gravel that will shift under pressure. Your options may be limited, but this is the best way to get the process off on the right foot.
2: Side-To-Side
Get your trailer into position on your chosen spot and, while it’s still attached to your tow vehicle, place a level on the tongue to see how much you’ll need to raise one side to match the other. Move the whole unit forward a bit and place leveling blocks or boards on the side that needs to be lifted, just where the tires will rest. Reverse the trailer back into position and check the level again. You may need to do this a few times and adjust as needed.
3: Secure And Disconnect
Now that the sides are leveled, secure the wheels in place with chocks or blocks in front and behind each wheel. Disconnect the tow vehicle and move it so you can finish leveling.
4: Front-To-Back
Adjust the hitch using a leveling jack until your level says the trailer is level from front to back. Make sure to lock the hitch, too!
5: Stabilize
Finally, stabilize the travel trailer. The natural movement of the rig as you walk around it or as the wind shifts it can undo a lot of that work, so it’s time to use the stabilizer jacks built into your trailer’s corners. Most models come with a tool for raising and lowering the stabilizers, and many attach to powertools to simplify the process.
Make sure the stabilizer jacks press firmly into the ground, but don’t push them too hard—you don’t want to break them!
As tempting as it may be to use these stabilizing jacks for the leveling process, we don’t recommend it. They’re built to hold weight in place, not to adjust it, and they’ll be under too much strain to stay functional for long. They’re also just not good at it!
We hope this guide helps get your trip off on the right foot! For more information, or to see the travel trailers we have available, contact us at Maple Grove RV. We proudly serve the people of Bellevue and Seattle, Washington—let us serve you today!
