The average RVer usually only takes three to five trips a year in their travel trailer, which means that most RVs spend the bulk of their time sitting in long-term storage.
Because of this, it’s important to ensure that the travel trailer is properly stored.
As this will go a long way in caring for the RV and ensuring that it’s in tip-top shape for your next trip.
A question that’s often debated though, when storing a travel trailer is the importance of storing the RV level.
As some RVers feel that storing an RV slightly out of level allows for better drainage, especially if the RV has a flat roof.
However, it’s our contention, as you’ll see below, that an RV should always be stored level, for a variety of reasons.
Why Should a Travel Trailer Be Stored Level?
There are several reasons why you should always store your travel trailer level when not in use.
So let’s take a look at some of the top reasons below.
1. Decreases Stress on the Frame and Structure of the RV
One of the most important reasons to store your travel trailer level is to decrease stress on the frame and structure of the RV.
As storing an RV unlevel can place unnecessary stress on the RV frame as well as its structure, walls, and roof.
Which can weaken the RV and cause warping, separation, and cracking over time, leading to expensive repairs down the road.
Additionally, if you live in an area with extreme temperature changes, storing your travel trailer level will also help to prevent cracking or other damage that can occur from the expansion and contraction of the RV’s materials.
2. Distributes the Trailer’s Weight Evenly and Prevents Tire Overloading
When you store your travel trailer level, it helps to evenly distribute the weight of the trailer and prevent tire overloading.
Which can cause premature tire wear and lead to early tire replacement, if the imbalance and tire overload are great enough.
3. Reduces the Likelihood of Water Leaks
If you store your travel trailer unlevel, it can increase the likelihood of leaks developing in the roof, windows, doors, and seams.
Due to the fact that unlevel RVs allow water to pool, rather than drain properly, which can cause leaks to develop over time.
In addition, RV trim pieces, weather stripping, and gutters are designed to work best on a level RV.
So if your travel trailer is stored unlevel, it can cause these trim pieces and gutters to not function properly.
Preventing them from moving and channeling water away from the RV and more importantly its seams and openings, which are always the most vulnerable points for water intrusion on an RV.
Plus, if water is allowed to sit on caulking and weather stripping for extended periods of time, due to an unlevel RV, it can cause these materials to prematurely break down.
Which can lead to costly repairs and early maintenance issues.
4. Provides Accurate Tank Level Readings
If you have holding tanks on your travel trailer, which just about every camper does, with the exception of a few teardrop campers, it’s important to store the RV level.
As not properly leveling your RV will give inaccurate tank level readings, on your fresh, grey, and black water tanks.
Due to the fact that RV tank level sensors, which are typically attached to the exterior of the holding tanks and connected to a control panel to display the levels, are only as accurate as the RV is level.
As an unlevel RV will cause the liquids inside the holding tanks to also be unlevel, which will cause inaccurate tank level readings.
Showing the RV tank levels either more or less full than they actually are.
Which can not only be an issue when figuring out when to dump the grey or black water tank but can also lead to overfilling the freshwater tank as well.
5. Minimizes Stress on Slide-Outs and Allows them to Function Properly
If your RV has slide-outs, it’s important to park and store the RV level.
As storing an RV unlevel can place unnecessary stress on the slide-out mechanisms and seals when bringing them in and out.
Which can cause a slide-out to break or fail.
Additionally, RV slide-outs are designed to work best when the RV is level.
So storing an RV unlevel can cause the slide-outs to not open or close properly, as well as not seal correctly when they’re retracted.
Which can cause issues with both using and enjoying the RV as well as leaks developing over time, leading to expensive repairs down the road.
6. Allows Appliances to Function Properly, Especially the Refrigerator
All RV appliances should only be operated while the RV is level for best operation.
As RV appliances, just like home appliances, are designed to work best when they’re level.
This is especially true, however, for RV propane/electric refrigerators, which are one of the most popular types of RV fridges.
As RV propane/electric refrigerators need to be level, in order to maintain proper cooling and to prevent fire risk.
As propane refrigerators are absorption-style fridges, which means they use a chemical absorption process for their cooling, as opposed to compression like a standard kitchen refrigerator.
But why does using a propane fridge unlevel lead to a risk of fire?
Well, it has to do with the above-mentioned absorption process.
As RV absorption fridges that aren’t level can cause the ammonia/water solution in the fridge to not flow properly and accumulate at low points in the system.
Which can interfere with the boiling/condensing process of the fridge, causing an increase in heat.
Ultimately leading to a potential fire risk if the heat is allowed to go unchecked.
Because of this, it’s important to make sure the RV is level if you plan to use the refrigerator while the RV is parked or stored.
7. Allows RV Entry, Baggage, and Cabinet Doors to Function Properly
Another area where being level helps is with RV entry, baggage, and cabinet doors and drawers.
As an unlevel RV can cause RV doors as well as cabinet doors and drawers to not close or seal properly, which can be quite frustrating.
More important than this though is that an unlevel RV can also lead to problems with pests and leaks.
As it can be more challenging to properly close entry and baggage doors when an RV is unlevel.
Which can cause the exterior doors to not seat properly.
Leading to pest issues inside the RV as well as water intrusion issues around the doors
So if you want your RV doors and drawers to function properly and your exterior doors to have a tight seal, it’s important to make sure the RV is level when parked or stored.
8. Improves Walkability and Comfort Inside the RV
The final main reason to level an RV when stored or parked is that it helps to improve both walkability and comfort inside the RV.
As an unlevel RV can cause you to feel off-balance and unsteady when walking around inside and even lead to trips and falls.
In addition, an unlevel RV can also cause items inside cabinets to move around or shift, causing them to fall out when cabinets are opened.
Which can be quite annoying and potentially lead to broken items and messy clean-ups.
Additionally, an unlevel RV can also make it more challenging to use the various features and amenities inside the RV as well.
So if you want to be able to comfortably move around inside the RV, avoid accidents, and use the features and amenities of the RV without issue, it’s important to make sure the RV is stored and parked level.
FAQs
While you should always look for the levelest ground to store an RV, you can store a travel trailer on a slope.
In fact, on most occasions, you’ll be storing a travel trailer on a slight slope or incline, as the ground will rarely be completely level.
However, as is always the case, when storing an RV on a slope, it’s important to level the RV and make sure the wheels are chocked.
To prevent damage to the RV and to ensure it’s stable and secure.
You should ideally always level an RV first before putting its slides out, as this helps to protect the slide-out mechanisms, reduces stress on slide-out motors, and helps to prevent damage to the slide-outs.
As slide-outs are designed to work best when the RV is level.
Jacks or stabilizer jacks on travel trailers are designed to stabilize the RV to prevent it from shaking or rocking while in use.
Because of this, stabilizer jacks serve no real purpose while the RV is stored.
So it’s generally best not to store your travel trailer with the jacks down, as there’s no real benefit to it unless you’re planning to regularly use the RV while it’s stored.
While there is some debate in the RV community about where to place an RV level to get the most accurate reading.
In general, the best place to put a level on a travel trailer is centered on the rear and side walls.
Wrap Up
As you can see, there are several important reasons why you should always store your travel trailer level when it’s not in use.
So, be sure to keep this in mind the next time you go to store your RV, as it could save you a lot of money and headaches down the road.
Thanks for reading!
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