Can You Guess the One Thing I Hate Most About RVing?
Believe it or not, it's not backing up the trailer.
When I first considered RVing, two main things worried me: towing and backing up a trailer.
My car before Samson was a little Hyundai hatchback I called Seth. It was a tiny city car that I could fling into any parallel parking spot and squeeze into traffic when big pickup trucks wouldn’t let me in.
The thought of towing something that weighed thousands of pounds? Of being tens of feet long on the highway (38 to be exact!)? That scared the crap out of me. I read all about “trailer sway” and how people’s RV roofs often collided with overpasses. I worried about taking sharp turns on narrow roads and getting the trailer into gas stations.
Backing up a trailer also looked like an absolute nightmare. What do you mean by the trailer goes in the opposite direction of the vehicle?? And that it doesn’t start to turn immediately? My head hurt just thinking about it, but I was determined.
Somehow, none of these turned out to be the thing I hate most about RVing. So, what is it that still irks my soul four years later?
Leveling is the absolute worst part of RVing.
If you see RVers or overlanders moving their rigs back and forth and on and off blocks, we’re leveling. Don’t be surprised if you see us sigh in relief, give it a thumbs up, and head inside—only to come out again hours later or the next day, fiddling with the leveling jacks again.
When parked on sand and other soft surfaces, we often have to re-level several times because the RV “settles.” This is especially likely after rain because the ground gets wet and may sink a little, but not equally on all four sides.
Why is leveling the RV such a big deal?
Back in the day, not leveling the RV could mean your specialized RV fridge worth thousands of dollars would stop working. The fridges used in newer RVs can now withstand being a few degrees off—but can you?
Here are some of the complaints I’ve heard from people when their RVs aren’t level:
If the head of the bed is lower than the foot, they can get migraines or wake up dizzy and nauseous.
Doors will stay half-closed in the direction the RV leans, which can block hallways in an already small space.
Water might not drain properly from the sink, shower, tub, or RV tanks.
The RV is more likely to move around or bounce when walking inside because it’s unstable.
Wind storms will shake the RV more easily when it’s unstable.
Some rigs make it easier than others.
Motorhomes often have an auto-leveling feature. You press one button, and the RV extends heavy-duty levelers to the ground. The RV may bounce around a little before it balances on all four corners. And just like that, you’re done.
Travel trailers are far less likely to have this feature—especially budget trailers like mine. We also have fewer leveling points, so you can only level via the tires (left and right) and the jack on the front. Compare this to 4 to 6 tires on motorhomes and 4 leveling jacks that double as stabilizers.
It can take a while to get it right, and I know many RVers who would rather just walk sideways in their RVs and bump into half-open doors than be bothered with it. I don’t blame them, especially if they’re only camping for a weekend. But as a full-timer, I definitely need a level rig.
Over the past four years on the road, I’ve learned a few tricks for leveling my RV. It’s still a pain in the you-know-where, but it’s a lot easier now than it was when I first started in 2020.
I’ll share these tips with paid subscribers next week. If you have suggestions for me to include, feel free to message me.
See you next time!
I would never have suspected!