A leveling system is the term given to whatever combination of levers, lifts, or blocks you use in order to make your RV stand as level or as flat as possible. This is essential for proper use of appliances such as refrigerators, which have to be level, and it’s also useful to ensure a comfortable living experience. Therefore, it’s important to consider getting an RV leveling system, and if you want to get the best, it’s just as important to know how to shop for them.
Size
The first step is knowing how big your RV or camper is going to be. Propping up a corner or two with wooden or specially formed plastic RV blocks can often level the smallest models out. Midsize or larger RVs usually need a stabilizing jack or hydraulic lift, built in or attached to the RV, in order to lift the back or corner appropriately. The biggest difference between jacks and lifts are that jacks are hand cranked, and lifts are controlled with a control center inside the RV.
Maintenance
Using the block method to level your RV doesn’t usually require a lot of maintenance. So long as the wood stays firm and isn’t going soft or rotting, and is kept from any fire hazards, the block leveling system is fairly effective and straightforward. Stabilizing or leveling jacks are usually cranked into place by hand, and therefore need to be kept clean and lubricated in order to function well. Maintaining a hydraulic lift is moderately easy, however, as the main concern is having sufficient hydraulic fluid in the mechanism at all times.
Durability
The block system is fairly simple and forgiving should you start to pull away without removing them, though they may scrape along the bottom of the RV. Leveling jacks can be damaged easily if the RV is moved with them still extended, so care should be taken to always fully collapse the jacks before moving. The same goes for hydraulic lifts, though the chance that an extended lift damages the pavement is almost as high as damaging the RV or the lift itself.
