First off, an un-levelled RV can cause permanent damage to your refrigerator. And let’s be honest, when you’re out on the road, you don’t want to have your food spoil! It’s not just size that’s different from the fridge in your house; RV fridges don’t use compressors, but stay cool using absorption – in other words, it creates a cooling effect by drawing heat out. The sodium chromate flowing through the pipes causes a chemical reaction which then cools through evaporation and condensation. When the fridge isn’t level, the chemical can gather, pool and settle, causing blockage in the cooling system which can permanently weaken the fridge’s efficiency. This settling effect can happen after sitting on an uneven surface for just half an hour!

Second, your RV’s tanks have sensors that indicate water levels, so it goes without saying that an uneven tank will give an incorrect reading. This one isn’t quite as crucial as the refrigerator, but it’s important to have an up-to-date reading of your tanks before you leave a campground and hit the road, at which point you may not be able to fill or dump your tanks right away.

Here are seven tips to keep in mind as you take your RV to a campsite.

1. Purchase a leveller. If you want to make sure your RV is level, you’re going to need a leveller. These inexpensive tools can easily be found at a local camping store.
2. Have a professional install hydraulic jacks. If your RV is able to absorb the added weight, hydraulic jacks are your easiest way to ensure a levelled stability when you’re parked – and it just takes the push of a button! However, these should only be installed by a skilled RV technician, as hydraulic fluid can cause blindness if any of it were to get in your eyes. As well, it requires an overhaul to your RV’s infrastructure, so be sure that it’s done by someone who fully understands the vehicle’s mechanics.
3. Be cautious about wood planks. Picture this: you’re parked at your campsite and have your RV levelled with the help of planks, but one of the planks slides out, and your RV . . . well, the scenario could go several different ways, and none are too favourable. Wood planks can be used to level your RV, but keep in mind that they can slide apart if the RV’s weight isn’t distributed evenly.
4. Buy products designed for levelling. There are plenty of options on the market that have been designed specifically for keeping your RV level. We recommend solutions from Camco and Lynx Levelers available in all of our RV Camping Stores. Simply stack these versatile pieces to the desired height, drive your RV on top of them and let them work their magic as they mold to the tires.
5. A little digging can finish the job. If the bubble on your level is about as close to the center as possible, you may not even need to use levellers. Try digging out a little dirt in front of the wheel that’s a little too high, drive forward and check the level again.
6. Use stabilizing jacks for extra support, not long-term levelling. Stabilizing jacks are great for keeping your rig stable, but only after the RV has been properly levelled; they’re not built to provide that level of weight support over time. Think of them as a support, not as a foundation.
7. Use wheel chocks as backup. The good times should always roll, but your RV should only roll when you want it to. Remember that even a level-sitting RV can roll. These inexpensive wheel chocks will help ensure your home-on-wheels stays right where you want it – especially helpful if it took several tries to get it level!

If you have any question or need to pick up your set of levellers contact your local Fraserway RV team team today!