Setting up and leveling your rig at each new campsite can be a real pain if you don’t have the right gear. But don’t sweat it! Believe it or not, there are some crazy smart apps out there that make RV leveling a total breeze. As someone who’s spent many a night cursing at bubble levels by flashlight, trust me when I say these apps are life savers.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of RV leveling apps and look at some of the top options out there today. Who couldn’t use a little help getting their home-on-wheels parked perfectly?
Why Leveling Matters in an RV
Before we get into the apps themselves, let’s quickly cover why leveling is so crucial for RVs. Unlike a regular stick-built house, an RV relies on a set of delicate systems that are highly sensitive to angle and orientation. The fridge, plumbing, slides – they all need the RV to be as close to perfectly level as possible to operate properly. Nothing spoils a weekend getaway faster than waking up in a crooked camper to find the fridge contents strewn about and questionable liquids leaking from pipes!
Proper leveling also ensures your tires have the right weight distribution and minimizes movement and vibrations as you walk around inside. Trust me, trying to cook dinner or sleep in a tilted RV is no fun at all. But you knew that already. That’s why you’re looking into apps to make leveling fast and foolproof!
How RV Leveling Apps Work
The basic premise behind RV leveling apps is simple. They use your phone’s internal accelerometer to provide precise real-time readings of the RV’s orientation. Many systems combine this with visual guides, verbal instructions, and reference points to walk you through the leveling process step-by-step.
It’s easy enough to place a basic bubble level at the door to get in the ballpark. But for true precision, having 360° visibility lets you make micro-adjustments to get that perfect zero-zero across multiple axes. And having an app do the math and spit out exact jack heights sure beats guessing!
Many apps also let you save profiles for your common campsites and parking spots. Come back to a site months later and you can re-level your rig in seconds based on your saved settings. Talk about a pro move! No more scrambling to get the RV perfectly dialed in from scratch each time.
Key Features of RV Leveling Apps
While each app has its own unique flair, most share some common features that improve the leveling experience:
- Simple / Auto Mode – For newbies, automatic and simple modes walk you through basic leveling with verbal prompts and visual guidance.
- Multiple Orientations – Level the RV from multiple sides and access points for maximum accuracy.
- Precision Leveling – Micro-adjust and dial in the exact levelness down to fractions of a degree.
- Jack Height Output – Apps calculate and display the precise jack height needed for front, rear, and side jacks to level.
- Gyro Calibration – Calibrate the internal gyroscope for maximum accuracy on the particular device.
- Profiles & Memory – Save leveling profiles for your frequent camping spots for quick 1-touch setup.
- Night Mode – Adjust brightness and colors for visibility in low light conditions.
- Offline Access – Apps still work without cell/data connection.
- Smart Reminders – Remind you to unhitch, chock tires, etc. for a foolproof sequence.
- Corded Block Use – Guide cord placement with virtual blocks to level without jacks.
- Troubleshooting – Provide tips for troubleshooting common leveling issues.
With the right app, all you need to do is follow the on-screen prompts while physically operating the jacks and stabilizers. It couldn’t be much easier!
Top RV Leveling Apps
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff! Here are some of my favorite RV leveling apps based on hands-on testing and user reviews:
Bigfoot Leveling System
One of the original RV leveling apps, Bigfoot has been a go-to for years. It offers all the essential features wrapped in a clean, intuitive interface. I particularly like the digital “carpenter’s level” display that makes it easy to identify high and low spots at a glance.
Bigfoot really shines thanks to its huge database of user-submitted leveling profiles. For popular campsites, you can often find your exact parking spot already dialed in and ready to load. At $10-25, it’s a fairly minimal investment for such a polished solution.
MyRV Level
If you want pro-level precision, it’s hard to beat MyRV Level. It uses your accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer data for incredible accuracy down to 0.1°. The signature feature is adjustable jack speed control for each jack – Slow, Medium, Fast. This lets you fine tune the responsiveness of each jack to perfectly nail your target.
Audible alerts plus color-coded labels help new users orient to the RV and stabilize each axis in the proper sequence. At $25, it’s on the pricier side but worth it for the hands-free operation and flawless technical execution.
Level Me Up
For a budget-friendly option, Level Me Up gets the job done. Setup is a breeze and the main interface clearly displays level status for each axis plus front-to-rear and side-to-side tilt.
Instead of exact jack heights, simple UP / DOWN arrows guide your stabilizing. A protractor tool provides additional visual support for dialing in angles. Bit spartan overall but very intuitive and user-friendly. And hey – can’t argue with the $3 price tag!
RV Life Level
Here’s one more great option especially tailored for new RVers. RV Life Level holds your hand through the complete process from setup through final tweaks. Clear instructions, voice guidance, and color-coding of high/low points makes it tough to mess up.
Once you have the basics down, switch to “Expert Retina” mode for sophisticated bubble levels, digital protractors, and 1/10th degree precision. At $9, it nicely balances automation and control. Plus the company is very responsive if you ever need support.
Considerations When Selecting an RV Leveling App
With so many great options, which one is right for you? Here are some key factors to consider:
- Your skill level – Beginners benefit from more guidance and automation. Advanced users may prefer greater data control.
- Phone specs – Sensor precision varies across devices. Check hardware compatibility.
- Jack type – Apps tailored for scissor jacks vs. landing gear vs. auto-leveling.
- Subscription or one-time – Subscriptions offer live support and updates but cost more over time.
- Special features – Think about your must-have convenience or troubleshooting features.
- OS support – Android vs iOS availability. Some support both platforms.
Don’t Forget Your Chocks!
Before wrapping up, I need to emphasize one last critical point about RV leveling. No app or gadget can replace proper chocks for safely stabilizing your rig! You must use quality wheel chocks religiously with any leveling method. This prevents potentially disastrous shifting and rolling that can damage your RV or campsite utilities.
Seriously, don’t skip the chocks. Ever.
Okay, safety lecture over!
Smooth Sailing Ahead!
Well dear reader, that covers the marvelous world of RV leveling apps in all their geeky glory. I don’t know about you, but after learning about these smart systems, I’m feeling ready to take on even the most uneven campsite with confidence. No more squinting at bubble levels or screaming at jacks in the rain – from now on, just chill out and let your phone do all the work.
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