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RV Setup & Site Care · Commonly Done Wrong

Confusing Leveling With Stabilizing

Answers: What's the right way to level and stabilize an RV on a long-term site? · Updated

Stabilizer jacks stop wobble. Levelers carry weight. Using one for the other bends things that are expensive to straighten.

Quick answer

Level side to side with blocks under the tires, chock the wheels, then level front to back with the tongue jack or a leveling system, and only then lower stabilizers to touch — not to lift.

What people commonly do

Cranking down the rear stabilizer jacks until the rig stops rocking or until it looks level.

Why it can be a problem

Stabilizers are not rated to carry the coach. Using them to lift twists the frame, misaligns doors and slides, and can crack interior finishes. Poor leveling also affects absorption refrigerators and lets water sit in the wrong places.

What to do instead

  • Level side to side first with full-width blocks under the tires.
  • Chock the wheels before releasing the tow vehicle.
  • Level front to back with the tongue jack or leveling system.
  • Lower stabilizers only until they make firm contact.
  • Use pads under jacks so they do not sink into soil.

Signs the rig is not sitting right

  • Doors that swing open or will not latch.
  • A slide that binds or leaves a gap.
  • Water standing on one side of the roof.
  • Noticeable flex when you walk inside.

Frequently asked questions

Should I take weight off the tires long-term?

Only in ways your manufacturer specifies. Support points on an RV frame are specific, and lifting elsewhere causes damage.

Follow your manufacturer first. This guide is general information from a long-term RV park, not a substitute for the instructions that came with your RV, appliances, roof material, tires, or propane system. Those documents take priority. Use a qualified RV technician or licensed trade for propane, 120-volt electrical, refrigerant, structural, and suspension work.