On the Level

Enlisting high-quality Andersen Hitches Camper Levelers will allow you to chuck the boards when compensating for uneven ground

Leveling your RV is part of the routine when setting up in camp, and more and more models are equipped with electric or hydraulic jacks to streamline the process. However, those without a leveling system — and there are many owners without this convenience—must rely on the old fallback, blocks, whether homemade or commercial, to level properly. This is not only important to provide comfortable living quarters, but to ensure that the refrigerator won’t run amok. Parking more than a few degrees off level can damage an absorption refrigerator cooling unit and even create potential problems with a compressor-driven counterpart.

Power leveling systems also don’t always preclude the need for blocks to provide a little more lift when the terrain is seriously uneven, and at times the jacks may not have enough travel to get the job done without some sort of support to enhance the lifting capability.

For me the issue is two-fold: I prefer not to extend my leveling jacks to their maximum travel point and when pulling into a parking place for the night, I typically stay hitched up for a quick morning getaway. Most times, the ground is not level enough, so I turn to my Andersen Hitches Camper Levelers to “level the playing field.”

I tossed my wood ramps years back and made the investment in a 2-pack of Andersen levelers, packaged in a sturdy storage duffle, which I now never travel without. These plastic levelers are solid and well built in the U.S.A., which means if you want the real thing, plan on paying a bit more. I bought mine at an RV dealership parts store for $120, but at the time of this writing I found the 2-pack in the duffle bag on Amazon for $94.99. The kit includes two levelers and two chocks. Andersen Hitches backs the levelers with a lifetime warranty.

The kit comes with a durable duffle bag that is used to store the ramps and chocks. All the components fit in the bag without struggling, which is unique when it comes to reusable bags these days.

These levelers are capable of lifting trailers up to 30,000 pounds, which is much more than just about all recreational trailers and fifth wheels. They can handle tires up to 32 inches in diameter and can lift in ½-inch increments up to 4 inches. Unless you’re in a ditch, the levelers should be sufficient for just about all RV sites, developed or not, and are incredibly easy to use.

There’s quite a bit of heft to these levelers, meaning they are stout enough to take plenty of abuse — after all, you do drive over these plastic devices, most of the time on rough ground. The real beauty of the design, though, is how easy they function. All you do is settle on a spot that allows the trailer to move forward or backward a few feet without altering your desired final “landing.” Place a leveler in front or behind each tire, with the smaller end of the curve between the ground and tire tread. Slowly drive the trailer onto the leveler until you reach the desired height and position the chock.

When it comes time to position the ramps, the thin end is tucked in between the ground and the tire tread. The ramps can be placed in front or behind the tires and they cover the tread width. When you pull or back the trailer slowly, the tires will climb the ramps and raise the trailer up to 4 inches, which is usually enough for most campground sites. That’s all there is to it.

Once the trailer is where you want it, the chocks are placed under the thin end of the ramps. Now all you have to do is remember to pick them up when ready to leave camp.

That’s all there is to it. Just reverse the process to remove the levers before leaving the site. The Andersen Hitches Camper Leveler is one of my favorite accessories, especially when spending a lot of time on the road.

And guess what? The ramps and chocks actually fit back in the durable duffle without struggling. How novel is that?