The odds are that you have spent some nights in a campground with your travel trailer and never had to use leveling jacks on the level cement pads of the campsite. However, if level ground is not possible in the place where you have decided to stop and stay with your travel trailer, you need to use leveling jacks. If your rig doesn’t have them, you will need to add leveling jacks for trips off the beaten path.
Can leveling jacks be added to travel trailers or rv? Yes, it is possible to add leveling jacks to travel trailers or rv. Adding leveling jacks to your travel trailer requires that you choose a leveling jack system that fits your skill level. Either you will need to weld or bolt the jacks onto the underside of your trailer. After that you will need to:
- Measure and mark the locations for jacks
- Install bolted or welded jacks
- Wire motorized jacks (if applicable)
- Determine if more leveling support is needed
Having your travel trailer on an unlevel surface could damage your RV systems and even your health. Level ground is essential for maintaining consistent blood circulation and sinus pressure, as well as the integrity of the wastewater storage and the refrigeration systems. You could even fall because of unstable footing in your travel trailer. Read on to learn the steps of how to add leveling jacks to a travel trailer.
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How to Add Leveling Jacks to a Travel Trailer: Step-by-Step
Adding leveling jacks to your travel trailer takes a bit of measuring, patience, and precision. You may even need to add additional leveling support. There are two types of leveling jacks systems that you can add to your travel trailer:
- Leveling jacks that need to be bolted to the underside of the trailer
- Leveling jacks that need to be welded to the bottom of the trailer
Most novices should choose the option of bolting the leveling jacks to the underside of their travel trailer. However, if you have the skill to weld the jacks, there is an additional step mentioned below.
The steps for adding leveling jacks to a travel trailer are listed below:
- Measure and mark the locations for jacks
- Install bolted or welded jacks
- Wire motorized jacks (if applicable)
- Determine if more leveling support is needed
Installing Leveling Jacks or Stabilizer Jacks on a Travel Trailer >> Check out the video below
Measure and Mark the Locations for Jacks
The measurements for your leveling jacks need to be precise, so follow the golden rule and make all of your measurements twice. The jacks’ location should not be at the furthest corners at the edge of the travel trailer body. Instead, you need jacks installed at the RV frame near the center of the RV, where the axle attaches to the frame.
Measure an equal distance from where the axle attaches to the frame away for all of your leveling jacks. Make sure to mark the closest point to the center of the trailer for reference when mounting the jacks and drilling your bolt holes.
Install Bolted or Welded Jacks
For the bolted leveling jacks, you will need to drill holes into the frame of the travel trailer. Creating or using the paper bolt hole template and holding it up to the mark that you measured will help you to drill precise and accurate holes. These holes are what the bolt will go through and keep the leveling jack mounting bracket to the trailer.
Hold or tape the paper mounting bracket bolt template to the edge of the mark on the frame. Make sure to orient the mounting bracket by eye before drilling to make sure that you complete the holes accurately.
Once you drill the holes, place the mounting bracket up to the frame and tighten it with a handheld torque wrench and the bolt and not provided by the leveling jack kit. The leveling jack leg should slide into the mounting bracket and be fastened with another bolt or a pin to the bracket.
Wire Motorized Jacks (if applicable)
Wiring the motorized part of an electrical leveling jack can be a little more technical. You may want to look for wiring or plumbing of the travel trailer and travel the wire up through holes that have already made or drills your own.
Once you feed the wiring through the floor of the trailer, attach it to the motor switchboard and mount the switchboard in a place on the wall or in a cabinet where you can use screws.
Determine if More Leveling Support is Needed
Most jack leveling systems are great if you are on the semi-level ground and need some final touches to make the leveling perfect. However, if you are in rocky or very uneven terrain, you may need to consider some other forms of leveling to provide safety and support for your travel trailer.
Some of the best additional leveling support items are listed below:
Wheel Blocks: Wheel blocks are leveled spacers that you can drive your wheels up onto. These blocks or pads not only help to level out the wheels of your travel trailer, but they can also prevent roll-aways and accidents.
Some of the best wheel block products are listed below:
- Camco Heavy Duty Leveling Blocks: These leveling wheel blocks are made of connecting pieces that can be locked on top of one another and customize the height of the block. They also have solid bases so that they will not sink into softer ground.
- Yosager 10 Pack Heavy Duty Leveling Blocks: These interlocking level blocks are made of durable material that will last for years of travel trailer adventures. These blocks can be used for many different wheel types and configurations, including single and dual wheels, tongue jacks, fifth wheel jacks, and hydraulic jacks.
- Hopkins 08200 Endurance RV Leveling System with Wheel Chock: This leveling block also comes with a chock that not only keeps the trailer level but keeps the wheels locked in place. The unique wood and durable plastic design make the quality and strength of this leveling block system one of the best.
Wheel Chocks: Chocks are braces for the wheel and axle that work with a leveling system to keep the wheels in place.
Some of the best wheel chocks are listed below:
- Ultra-Fab Products 21-001094 Super Grip Chock: This scissor chock is made of incredibly durable steel and has an easy to open design that is simple to use. The chock stops the back and forth movement that comes just from walking around the trailer.
- BAL RV Products BAL 28024 X-Tended Fit X-Chock – Double: X-chocks are dependable and easy to install on your wheels. This product is durable steel and comes with its ratchet for the setup process.
- Cynder Heavy Duty Wheel Stop Chock-N-Lock with Ratchet Wrench Stabilizes Truck: These chock stabilizers also come with a ratchet to open and tighten them to your travel trailer wheels. The lock on this design creates a very safe position that needs to be manually released.
In Conclusion
Adding a jack leveling system to your travel trailer is needed if you are going to be camping in terrain other than the level cement pads of industrial campsites. The more stability you can provide the wheels and axles during your camp trip with a travel trailer, the safer and more comfortable your stay will be.
Installing your leveling jacks can be relatively easy. By following the instructions in this guide, you should be able to park your travel trailer virtually anywhere with the aid of some leveling. If you feel like you would like added security and leveling options, you should consider getting some of the blocks or chocks listed in this article to reinforce your travel trailer’s stability.
Sources:
It Still Runs
For more helpful articles about travel trailers please check out our articles below:
Setting Up a Travel Trailer to Live In: 20 Essential Steps
How to Prevent Travel Trailer Theft – 13 Steps that Work
Does your Travel Trailer need a Sway Bar? A Simple Guide
4 Essential Reasons Travel Trailers Have Batteries [Must-read]
Does Your Travel Trailer Have an Inverter? Here’s How to Check
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