To level an RV or camper with your phone, put a bubble level app on the interior floor, level the trailer side to side first (with leveling blocks under the low-side tires), then level it front to back with the tongue jack. Aim for 0 degrees in both directions, then recheck once the stabilizer jacks are down.
A level rig is more comfortable, helps doors and drawers behave, and matters for an absorption fridge. You do not need a dedicated RV level: a phone with a level app reads both directions at once. The steps below follow the standard procedure for towable RVs; always check your trailer’s manual and your leveling gear’s instructions.
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- Comfort. A tilted floor affects how you walk, sleep and cook.
- Your fridge. RV absorption refrigerators rely on gravity, so running them out of level can stop the cooling cycle and damage the unit. Dometic’s guidance, as reported by RV sites, is no more than about 3 degrees side to side and 6 degrees front to back. Check your fridge manual for the exact limits.
- Stability. A trailer that is level and well supported moves less when people walk around inside.
What You Need
- An Android phone with a level app. See our comparison of the best level apps for Android.
- Leveling blocks or levelers to put under the tires on the low side.
- Wheel chocks to secure the wheels before you unhitch.
- Your tongue jack or landing gear for front-to-back leveling.
Where to Put the Phone
- Use the interior floor, which is parallel to the trailer frame and is the surface you actually walk on. Countertops may not be parallel to the frame and can give a misleading reading.
- Check more than one spot, for example near the entrance door and near the fridge.
- Remove the phone case so the phone sits flat, and calibrate the app on a surface you know is level (see how to use your phone as a level).
- Use the flat-surface mode. In Bubble Level: Spirit Level Tool, Surface Mode shows both directions at once, so you can read side to side and front to back without turning the phone.
How to Level a Travel Trailer With Your Phone
- Park on the flattest, firmest spot you can find.
- Level side to side first, while the trailer is still hitched. Put the phone on the floor and read the side-to-side angle.
- Place leveling blocks under the tires on the low side, drive onto them, and recheck. On a tandem-axle trailer, support both tires on the low side according to the leveling block manufacturer’s instructions.
- When the side-to-side reading is 0 degrees, chock the wheels, then unhitch.
- Level front to back using the tongue jack or landing gear. Raise or lower the front until the front-to-back reading is 0 degrees.
- Lower the stabilizer jacks. They are not leveling jacks: they only reduce bounce and movement when people walk around inside.
- Do a final check of both readings and adjust if needed.
Safety Tips
- Chock the wheels before you unhitch.
- Do not use stabilizer jacks to lift or level the trailer.
- Do not rely on the breakaway switch as a parking brake. It is only for emergency separation.
- Follow your trailer’s and jack’s manuals for weight limits and the correct way to use the equipment.
Tips for an Accurate Reading
- Recheck after everyone settles in. People and cargo can shift the reading a little.
- Use the same spot each time so your readings are comparable.
- Note your best reference spot for the next trip.
- See also our guide on how to level a washing machine or fridge with your phone.
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Get Bubble Level by MaslonLabs →Back home, see how to hang pictures straight with your phone.
At home, see how to level a pool table with your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I level an RV with my phone?
Yes. Place a level app on the interior floor, check the side-to-side and front-to-back readings, and use leveling blocks and the tongue jack until both are 0 degrees. Take the phone case off first.
Which way do you level a travel trailer first?
Side to side first, usually while the trailer is still hitched, by driving the low-side tires onto leveling blocks. Then chock the wheels, unhitch and level front to back with the tongue jack or landing gear.
Where should I put the level in an RV?
On the interior floor, which is parallel to the trailer frame, ideally checking more than one spot such as near the entrance door and near the fridge. Countertops may not be parallel to the frame.
How level does an RV fridge need to be?
Absorption fridges must be close to level. Dometic’s guidance, as reported by RV sites, is no more than about 3 degrees side to side and 6 degrees front to back. Check your fridge manual for the exact limits.
Are stabilizer jacks used for leveling?
No. Stabilizer jacks reduce bounce and movement once the RV is level. Level the rig with blocks and the tongue jack or landing gear first.
How accurate is a phone as an RV level?
It depends on the phone sensor and the app, and calibration helps. A phone is accurate enough for most campsite leveling. For equipment with strict limits, follow the manufacturer’s manual.
