What is a 5th Wheel RV Leveling System?

If you are a newcomer to the RV camping world, and perhaps just bought a 5th wheel trailer, then you'll want to know why all the fuss about leveling your RV, why it's important, and what options are available to you in today's market.

Even if you're an "old pro" with your RV trailer, you may never have realized there is an option to help you accomplish this time-consuming yet critical leveling task.

Benefits of Leveling Your Fifth Wheel RV

For anyone who owns a 5th wheel RV, you know every vacation begins and ends with positioning, disconnecting and reconnecting your trailer. Disconnecting is traditionally the first thing you must do before any other task. Some people enjoy the challenge, because it's a precise task and requires attention to every detail.

For most, it's a necessary evil. Once disconnected from your hitch, you must now level your 5th wheel.

Basically there are three main reasons for leveling your fifth wheel recreational vehicle:

1. Comfortable Living:
   
   Without your RV resting at the proper level (i.e. without tilt or slope) you'll feel uncomfortable during your entire stay in your RV. One of the beauties of camping is that it can feel like a home away from home. However, all homes are level and if your RV isn't at a level position your internal sense of balance will be off.
   
   Even if your RV trailer is only a fraction of an inch off level you'll feel out of balance. Studies prove surfaces that are not level affect your overall well-being and mood. When your RV is at rest, in the correct position, and leveled, everything feels normal…especially sleeping. Last thing you want to do is try to catch some rest when it feels like your head is lower than your feet.
   
   
2. Proper Refrigerator Operation:
   
   Today's modern RV's always include the latest gadgets and devices. The refrigerator is one of the few items people feel they cannot live without when camping. But a refrigerator is made to operate on a level surface. It is a requirement for proper operation, mainly as the refrigerant must cycle through the device to ensure your food stays fresh and cool.
   
   Improper leveling means problems; proper leveling with our RV system eliminates the problem.
   
   
3. Prevent Chassis Damage:
   
   A 5th wheel RV or any recreational vehicle must withstand a certain amount of chassis stress and twist. This flexibility is part of the engineering to allow you to travel over various types of roads you might encounter.
   
   However, if your trailer sits in an unlevel position for long periods of time, it may put damaging stress on the frame. A RV leveling system like IntelliJacks helps alleviate potentially expensive long-term problems, by leveling and eliminating chassis stress

How to Properly Level Your 5th Wheel RV

The cycle of life for RV leveling can be summed into 4 basic steps:

1. Side-to-Side RV Leveling
   
   If you’re a typical RV camper this first step is something you will rarely have to consider, however, in the event you do, we a nifty set of (2) curved progressive RV leveling blocks that make side to side leveling very easy. This is the perfect, inexpensive solution for leveling side to side. 
   
   The majority of camp sites in and around the US and abroad usually have pads or slots that are already level from side-to-side. If a pad can be built level from side to side for one RV then is will be level for any and all other RV trailers, motor homes and 5th wheels. This is the main reason you’ll rarely encounter the need for this type of leveling. Additionally, side-to-side leveling is also the most expensive to accomplish due solely to the fact that in order to lift your RV trailer’s side requires lifting the entire RV.
   
   Hydraulic jacks and lifts are usually installed for this type of leveling but are also prohibitively expensive. These devices can typically start as high as $3,500 and go up from there.
   
   In the event you do have the requirement for side-to-side leveling, the average RV camper will simply use either wood planks or interlocking block levelers.
   
   
2. Detaching the RV trailer Fifth Wheel hitch
   
   Once you’ve parked your fifth wheel you’re now ready to detach your trailer from your trailer hitch. This is the first step where the IntelliJacks RV Leveling System can make a difference. For those of you who do not have our IntelliJacks leveling system you’ll need to first extend the legs/jacks of your fifth wheel trailer.
   
   Without the IntelliJacks, the problem becomes in getting the exact position necessary to detach from your 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch; and you’ll quickly realize it’s also a challenge to try NOT to become annoyed with this process. Your trailer hitch needs the 5th Wheel to be at the same exact position for disconnecting and reconnecting every time.
   
   Typically what most RV’ers will do is extend the RV legs by pressing a button on their built-in leg extension system. Unfortunately grass grows faster than your RV leg moves and, of course, if you happen to not extend far enough or too far you’ll have to readjust until your 5th wheel hitch is at that exact position.
   
   After a simple one-time calibration with the IntelliJacks all you’ll have to do is simply push the disconnect button and you will have a perfect trailer hitch detach position every time…no matter the incline or decline of the RV surface you’re on.
   
   
3. Front-to-Back RV Leveling
   
   

   After you’ve detached your fifth wheel hitch from your RV you can pull your truck away and park. Before enjoying your vacation you must level your trailer from front to back. Just because you disconnected your trailer hitch doesn’t mean your RV is level.

   Again, you’ll be back at your button either raising or lowering your fifth wheel trailer, trying to get to that exact level spot. Even though trucks come in all shapes and sizes the one universal constant is that the RV resting pad you’ve parked on will not be the right grade for your RV.

   However, with the IntelliJacks you’ll never have to worry about it because with a single push of a button the IntelliJacks will determine and move your RV to the exact level position. Nobody has to watch a bubble level or waste their time when you can be doing other things.

   And we all have better things to do than this mundane task, right?!

4. Reattaching the 5th wheel trailer to your truck hitch
   
   

   Unfortunately all good things must come to an end including your vacation. Time to reverse the above two steps and pack up your 5th Wheel RV and head home.

   If you have the IntelliJacks then life just got a lot simpler. All you will need to do is press the connect button and it will automatically raise your fifth wheel to the precise position to reconnect your truck trailer hitch. You will operate with confidence that you can back up your truck and the fifth wheel hitch (or gooseneck hitch) will seamlessly fit with no adjustments necessary and no damages to worry about.

   Of course, if you don’t have a IntelliJacks you can still push your leg extender button and while you’re going back and forth between your truck and trailer you can contemplate why you’re not a IntelliJacks owner.