The Art Of Being Level Part 2

In Part 1 of The Art of Being Level (go here) – I start out looking at the “Why You Need To Level Your Trailer When You Arrive At Your Campsite“. In this part let’s talk about the –

“Tools To Level Your Trailer When You Arrive At Your Campsite”:

Trailer Levels
In order to level a travel trailer properly you will require some sort of device to determine if your are level (sorry, it may look level to your eye – but I can assure you it’s not).

On Blue Streak we have several measuring tools which we use. Our primary levelling tool is a digital system called RV Level 4. This is an electronic inclinometer using a bluetooth APP on my smart phone (there are several different systems available).

Also, attached to Blue Streak are two bubble type inclinometer. One measures the trailer incline right/left the other front/back. I use these as a secondary check.

As a fail safe I still carry my old Hopkins Battery Powered Smart-Level which we used for several years effectively. I still like it for it’s simplicity. When we had the T@B, I was very old school and used a 9″ Torpedo Level that I still carry in my tool box.

Levelling Blocks
There are many different type of “blocks” campers use to adjust the trailer (let me stress before I talk about this that the stabilisers on the trailer are NOT designed to level your trailer – more about this later). You’ll also need levelling blocks. We carry several different type which have specific function. First is our “BeechLane” curved ramps system which we place under our tandem axle trailer wheels – quick and easy . We use the “plastic lego type” blocks under our stabiliser so they don’t sink in soft ground and also to assist in lengthening their reach. We also carry several 1x12x12 usually as a jack pads and 2 piece 4x4x12 (just some old school stuff).

Stabilising Jacks
Most travel trailers come with pre-installed stabilising jacks that make it much easier to stabilise your trailer once levelled. As I mentioned, stabilising jacks are not meant to be used to level your trailer, and anybody who tells you otherwise doesn’t know what they’re talking about. A stabilising jack is designed to keep your trailer steady when you walk around inside of it, after levelling it. While most of these get the job done, this bring us to Wheel Chocks.

Wheel Chocks
The purpose of wheel chocks is to keep your trailer from moving once you have levelled and unhitched your trailer. If your whole site is uneven, you may need more than a single chock for the safest setup. The BeechLane system adds specific chocks as part of the system. At the same time we use heavy duty rubber chocks on the opposite side, on both sides of a single wheel. I have a detailed Blog Post on “What Are Chocks For” (Go Here).  Even so, because the last thing I want is my trailer to move about when walking inside, I lock the tandem wheels with X-Chocks on both sides of Blue Streak. This way I know that Blue Streak will stay level and fixed where we put it until we leave.

In Part 3 we will discuss “The Process Of Levelling Your Trailer When You Arrive At Your Campsite” (Go Here to Read) ?