What Is A Level Trailer?

GatorEgg

We we're playing with the trailer yesterday in the driveway and wondering what exactly is a "level trailer".  We've never really worried about level much before.  If everything works, a/c drains, and we don't roll out of bed, we call it good.  But, being bored I got out my carpenters levels.  Level floor doesn't mean level anything else.  Level refrigerator means unlevel floor.  Level a/c won't drain.  It was a fun excercise, and I guess "learning experience.  It brought back memories of when my wife was hanging pictures in our sailboat and brought out a level.  What do you call "level"?

ChanW

Ha!

Since we seldom use the AC, we call 'level' the floor of the fridge. I'm pretty sure the countertop corresponds with it (or 'close enough for Union work'....)

Michigan_Mike

The “level” exercise as you note is a learning experience and for first time newbie trailer owners can be a mystery as there is a method to the madness if you will.  

Before unhooking the key is to check for “level” side to side on the trailer and use leveling pads under one side of the trailer as needed.  Once the side to side level is attained I can place my wheel chocks and unhook from the truck, then adjust the tongue jack to attain level from front to rear of the trailer.  That in a nutshell is it....  For those of us with showers it impacts water flow as it drains and may be the difference in water collecting on one side or properly draining into the gray tank.  And not to forget sleeping comfortably and the other issues you noted.

There is definitely a process to learn here and a method to the madness in attaining “level.”  But once you unhook, realize you messed up (trailer is leaning honey!), re-hook up and strain that side to side level, etc. then things finally sink in, you get it and move on to the next chore. 🤣👍🏻

ScottG

Ha, you noticed that too, @GatorEgg?  :-)

I use a short torpedo level and level side-to-side using the top edge of the fridge. Not only is the fridge apparently fussy about such things, it's a convenient eye-level location when standing outside the door.

For front-to-back I stick the level on the frame where I can see it while I crank the tongue up or down.

Michigan_Mike

I use a small level too, but also have the adhesive stick on levels on the front of the trailer.  One is inside the tub at the front and the other on the side of the front of the trailer frame.  Makes this task fast and easy.  👍🏻

DigitalSorceress

I place my small level right on the triangular flat bit of the trailer tongue.. just aft of the hitch where it's flat...

I do as @Michigan_Mike stated.. put down some leveling "lego" blocks and drive one wheel up on it to get mostly level left to right.. if there's a teeny bit of tilt, I prefer it to tilt back toward the driver side as the AC drain does best with that

Then I disconnect and turn the level so it reads back to front and use the tongue jack to level it.. and then pitch ever so slightly forward because again the AC drain is biased toward forward and driver side and that's the biggest potential source of issues for me as I rarely use the shower and the toilet seems to drain fine.. the fridge has never had an issue with the slight tilts I've had.. so long as I'm not feeling like I'm about to roll out of bed I'm happy.

Only after I've gotten that done will I lower the stabilizer jacks to kind of firm it up and keep it from rocking on the suspension as I move around in there

MuttonChops

@GatorEgg

Your original method of 'was is level' is most likely fine.  My method is to get level enough for Fridge to operate and then to confirm trailer tongue is slightly lower then level so A/C drip pan will drain.

Fridge Manual:

VictoriaP

Huh. I use my phone to level (with an app that shows degrees and direction off level), placed on the floor about a foot inside the door and midway between the cabinets. If that’s level, so is the fridge in my case. 

Bayliss

@GatorEgg, very good point re what does "Ievel" actually mean?

I initially checked the level of my T@B 320S (side-to-side and front-to-rear) using a carpenter's level on the inside floor and a smaller level at other locations to double-check the level status (e.g., inside the refrigerator [most critical], kitchen counter, front frame, etc..)  Once I was satisfied, I mounted small bubble gauges on the driver's side of my Boondock frame so I can see the settings while unhitching.  I followed up by checking the level visually by parking on what appeared to be a very level parking lot.  All looked good and the levels make it very easy to check the camper's level status while unhitching.

I agree with @Michigan_Mike's comment about leveling side-to-side first, using some form of leveling block(s) or other type leveler on the low side wheel to raise the camper.  Then, unhitch and level front-to-rear by raising/lowering the front jack stand as needed.  Also, I agree that if you are going to be using the air conditioner, it is a good idea to slightly lower the front end for proper drainage of the A/C drip pan.  (NOTE: in the photo below, my 320S was still connected to my truck, but leveled side-to-side, so the front-to-back level is up a couple inches.  Once unhitched,  it is very easy to crank down the front end of the camper to get it to an (albeit unscientifically achieved) level position.) 

  

GatorEgg

Bayliss  All your explanation is the way I do it.  We even have same levels.  I agree the dominant factor is the refrigerator.  I was really just musing about what the Owners Manual calls level.

BrianZ

We are using this electronic level sensor via bluetooth with android app to tell us how to adjust left-right and front-rear axes (see page 2 here)..
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/109938#Comment_109938

klenger

From everything I have ever read about leveling the fridge, it would have to so far out of level to affect the fridge performance that you would feel like you were walking drunk roaming around the camper (hard to do in  a T@B).   My point is don't overthink the fridge leveling.  Level the floor, the stove-top, the bed, or whatever trips your trigger.  

Mouseketab

Because I use a power mover and a BAL Leveler, I unhook first in the front of the campsite, drive the camper into an exact spot (with two fingers), then back the truck in out of the road. Then level front to back, then put the BAL on the low side and crank it up. I have a 12V fridge so not worried about level too bad there, but initially set  level on the CoolCat so that it drains properly, then put stick on bubble levels on the top of the wheel wells, and on the front handles.

Marceline

I level at the cooktop because that's what bothers me the most when it's not level.

DigitalSorceress

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-wbWGwZ7_k