QORVAN

RV Safety Checklist for Parking and Leveling

A practical safety checklist for leveling an RV — chocking, slope limits, stabilizer use and the order of operations that keeps you out of trouble.

Updated · 2 min read · By QORVAN Editorial Team · Reviewed by QORVAN Product Team

A travel trailer parked on a gravel campsite pad

Leveling is the point where an RV is least stable. Wheels are on blocks, the brakes may be off, and people are walking around the vehicle. A short checklist prevents most incidents.

Before you unhitch

  1. Choose the flattest pitch available, and note which way it slopes.
  2. Chock the wheels on the downhill side — and on both sides if the surface is loose.
  3. Apply the parking brake and confirm the vehicle is not going anywhere.
  4. Keep people clear of the wheels while you place blocks or ramps.

While leveling

  • Place blocks or ramps squarely in line with the tyre, not offset where they can slide out.
  • Move slowly onto the blocks, with a spotter if you have one.
  • Take your hand off the wheel and stop immediately if anything shifts.
  • Never put any part of your body under an unsupported vehicle.

After you are level

  • Lower stabilizers only until they contact the ground — enough to reduce movement.
  • Connect utilities after the RV is level and chocked, not before.
  • Lower steps last, and check that compartment doors clear the ground.

Know what your equipment does

DeviceJobNot for
Leveling blocks / rampsRaise a wheel to level the RVCarrying load without full tyre contact
Stabilizer jacksReduce rockingLifting or leveling
Tongue jack / landing gearLevel front-to-back, support the hitchSupporting the whole vehicle unsafely
Wheel chocksStop the vehicle rollingLeveling

If the pitch is too steep for your equipment, the safe answer is to move. No app, block stack or ramp makes an unsuitable site safe.

Frequently asked questions

Do I chock before or after leveling?
Chock before you unhitch and before you raise or move the RV. The chocks hold the vehicle if the brakes or surface let go.
Can stabilizer jacks level my RV?
No. Stabilizer jacks are designed to reduce rocking once the RV is level. Using them to lift can bend them and damage the frame.
How steep is too steep?
If the slope makes you uncomfortable or the wheels would need very high stacking, move to another pitch. Follow your manufacturer’s guidance rather than a general rule from the internet.

Sources

  1. Travel Trailer / Fifth Wheel Owner's Manual (Leveling and stabilizer jacks, p. 16) — Forest River, Inc.
  2. Qorvan RoamLevel App User Manual — QORVAN