As a camper who loves boondocking in all sorts of remote locations, I’ve certainly found myself trying to level my rig on some questionable terrain. Sloping sites, muddy patches, soft sand – you name it, I’ve parked there!
In trickier situations, I used to eye up my RV’s wheels and wonder – could I just get these things off the ground and level things out? Seems like that would solve my tilting trailer troubles!
After a few hair-raising attempts at amateur RV wheel lifts, it quickly became clear this is not recommended procedure. But questions persisted in my mind:
- Is it actually possible to level a rig with the wheels dangling?
- Under what circumstances might this approach work?
- And how exactly does proper RV leveling normally function?
Let’s dive into the details and discuss whether lifting those wheels sky-high is wise. Here’s my take as an experienced off-grid adventurer.
Lifting The Wheels: Possible But NOT Recommended!
First things first: yes, you can technically lift your RV’s wheels off the ground entirely to get a tilted rig sitting straight. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should!
Jacking up the wheels to level is possible using powerful bottle jacks or hi-lift jacks. Place these under the frame near the suspension, then crank those babies skyward until your rig floats free.
Voila! Tilting trailer no more, as the lifted wheels eliminate the angled contact with the ground.
But the cons definitely outweigh the pros with this dicey approach. Removing the wheel-to-ground stability creates a tippy, precarious scenario. The narrow contact points of small bottle jacks are far less secure than a wheel’s broad tire surface. And placing jacks near moving parts like suspension and axles risks damage.
For quick, occasional level tweaks, this method might work. But don’t rely on it as a long-term solution – the risk of catastrophe is real!
Follow Standard Leveling Procedure:
Instead of panicking and lifting those wheels prematurely, follow the standard RV leveling procedures:
- Use leveling blocks – Stack interlocking blocks under the low-side tires to add incremental lift until centered side-to-side.
- Adjust with jacks – Place heavy-duty jacks under frame components (not suspension) to fine-tune angles end-to-end and lift remaining corner.
- Check aesthetics – Visually inspect RV exterior to ensure it sits squarely centered without corner hanging.
- Deploy stabilizers – Once level, extend stabilizing jacks at the 4 corners to prevent rocking motion.
This process keeps your RV’s wheels firmly on the ground while safely elevating and stabilizing the frame. The broad tire surface maintains stability, with jacks adding precise tweaks.
Remember: Wheels Down = Safety Up!
So can you get your RV sitting straight as an arrow by hoisting those wheels skyward? You sure can.
But will it be secure, safe, and risk-free overnight? Absolutely not.
Trust me – I learned this lesson the panicked pry-bar way so you don’t have to! Keep those wheels down for maximum stability. Follow proper jack and block placement protocol. Stabilize the frame rather than relying on lifted axles.
So drive on in confidence, knowing sound RV practices have your back (and your rig’s). You’ve got this leveling thing mastered!
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