RV Leveling Jacks and Stabilizing Jacks: What’s the Difference?

Owning and living in your very own RV– no matter the size– can be an enriching and fulfilling experience, to say the very least. While this may be true, it is also true that in doing so, you have to consider all possible less-than-desirable situations as well– and be prepared for them.

Such situations can vary in severity, anywhere from keeping your RV stable while parked to handling leaks, flat tires, and even flooding. No matter what scenario arises, you need to be ready for it, which means you, therefore, need the right equipment on hand at all times.

Two examples of key pieces of equipment you need to satisfy both comfort and safety requirements are RV jacks, including leveling jacks and stabilizing jacks. While both of these items have the word “jack” within them, neither is a “jack of all trades” as these two are not interchangeable and cannot be used for every occasion that arises.

That being said, let’s take a look at both RV leveling jacks and stabilizing jacks, their uses, and other key specifications you need to know for both your safety and your rig’s!

What Are RV Leveling Jacks?
Leveling jacks are extremely important to any RV owner because they assist them in lifting and leveling their rig wherever it is parked, making them especially ideal when parked on uneven ground. Four leveling jacks are placed beneath your rig, one located at all four corners, and are meant to make your “mobile abode” level where you’d like it to be stationary.

These jacks are not only imperative for keeping your RV level but can even be necessary for ensuring some of your appliances continue operating.

Types of Leveling Jacks
Leveling jacks for RVs come in two types: manual and hydraulic. Hydraulic leveling jacks are the most convenient option among the two, especially for the much larger rigs. These work via an automatic system. Meanwhile, manual leveling jacks are the most cost-effective and reliable.

When Shouldn’t You Use a Leveling Jack?
Ultimately, these jacks should only be used for what their name suggests: to level your rig. These should not be used to stabilize your rig, as that is not what they are intended to do. However, it should be said that for the larger rigs particularly, their leveling jacks might also be stabilizers (if you have a larger rig, you should research and check if this is the case for you).

What Are RV Stabilizing Jacks?

RV stabilizing jacks are meant to reduce the amount of shaking and movement of your rig while you’re parked and walking around inside it. These are typically pre-installed into your RV’s frame and extend from there onto the ground. Most travel trailers are equipped with stabilizing jacks that have been installed in the frame.

Types of Stabilizing Jacks
Stabilizing jacks for your RV come in two configurations: manual (scissor) and electric. The manual or cross stabilizer jacks typically look similar to a scissor jack you’d use to change a tire on a car. These come with a manual handle that allows you to crank it up and down yourself.

Automatic stabilizing jacks work on their own to stabilize your RV for you. These are more convenient yet are typically slower than using a manual stabilizing jack.

When Shouldn’t You Use a Stabilizing Jack?
Your stabilizing jacks should only be used to stabilize your RV. They should absolutely never be used as levels! In fact, if you want to level your RV as you’re on uneven ground while also stabilizing it, you will need to use leveling jacks in tandem with your stabilizing jacks.

If you do use stabilizing jacks as levelers, be ready to cause severe damage to your RV’s frame and/or jacks.

You should also never use them in order to do mechanical work on your RV or to even change a tire. This is because these jacks are not made to lift your entire RV off the ground and that could, therefore, lead to dangerous outcomes.

A Final Note on Both Leveling and Stabilizing Jacks (and Chocking)
In certain scenarios, you may want to use the attributes of both RV leveling jacks and stabilizing jacks together. We recommend that you first level your rig, then stabilize it. If you can, we suggest adding a block of some kind beneath the footpads of either type of jack in order to disallow them from sinking into the ground (who wants to deal with mud and, ultimately, a shaky RV?).

When selecting either leveling or stabilizing jacks for your RV (which have not already been pre-installed), be sure to closely consider the weight of your RV as larger rigs require different jacks than smaller rigs.

You should also make sure to chock your wheels at any given opportunity when parked, regardless of if you use your leveling and/or stabilizing jacks. These are made to specifically keep your rig from (nightmarishly) rolling away. While stabilizing jacks can keep your RV stationary, too, who doesn’t love an extra layer of safety and peace of mind?

For all your RV accessories and needs, be sure to trust in us here at RV Upgrades. Give us a call or send us a text today at 866-332-7881 with any and all questions you may have!

Top 10 RV Accessories to Improve Your Next Road Trip

Your RV or motorhome is almost ready for your nearing road trip. You’ve checked the engine, it’s been inspected and registered, you’ve compiled all of your emergency supplies-- all is right as rain. However, there are specific pieces of equipment that your RV requires for seamless living and traveling that are missing.

Fortunately, we at RVupgrades have you covered. We happily supply all of our RV and motorhome-owning customers with the proper materials and equipment for high-quality living on the road. We have an endless supply of such materials that both you and your RV need and offer expert advice.

Some of our most popular items are our RV accessories. We have items to cater to both your every desire and need. Because we have so many options, it can be a bit daunting and overwhelming to decide on which are best for you and your RV on your next road trip. Let’s have a look at the top ten RV accessories for more comfortable living on your next road trip!

1.Water Filter
In order to get the most out of your RV’s water system, you should be able to use it for everything. Washing dishes, washing your hands, brushing your teeth, showering, using the toilet, and even drinking. However, you should have properly filtered water to take full advantage of your water safely.

To accomplish this, you should accessorize your RV with a water filter. Our water filters remove specific pollutants and chemicals while also improving the taste, clarity, and odor. Most water filters last a good while (usually 3-4 months, but could be longer depending on which you get), so you can attach it and forget about it!

2.Outdoor Games
Road trips are supposed to be fun, right? You can have fun both on the road and when you’re off. While you are parked and have some time to kick back and relax, indulge in a fun outdoor game either with friends or strangers who are soon-to-be friends!

There is a load of different outdoor games you could play in order to really amp up your outdoor area. Some options are cornhole, horseshoes, lawn frisbee game, tumble tower, giant dice set, and birdie set. These are some excellent options that don’t require too much space nor much learning. They are simple, yet fun games to play with anyone anywhere you go!

3.Refrigerator Brace Bar
We know that unforeseen things happen on the road. Sudden movements can be catastrophic to various items in your rig, so bracing them properly will put a stop to any unnecessary breakage. That’s where the refrigerator brace bar comes in. By placing this within the refrigerator right above the edge of a shelf, you can stop everything from that shelf from shifting, sliding, and potentially breaking.

4.Electric Fireplace

Is there anything more relaxing and comfortable than a fireplace on a chilly evening? If you intend on road-tripping during a time or in a place that has the potential of being cold and your home has the space, then adding an electric fireplace in your RV or mobile home can really improve your experience. You will truly be living in luxury at the end of every long travel day with a fireplace! It could even be enjoyable in your outdoor space along with your indoor space.

5.Camping Dish and Glassware
To get the most out of your RV’s kitchen and your camping experience, having appropriately themed dishware and glassware will only further improve your road trip and RV living. There are a plethora of options available for you, such as mugs, wine glasses, beer glasses, plates, and tumblers. Accessorizing your RV with these pieces will make your meals, snacks, and drinks easier to enjoy and relax with, whether you’re traveling or enjoying your campsite. You could also have a convenient and quaint dish set to properly celebrate your road trip!

6.Welcome Mat
If you want to spruce up the outdoor area of your campsite, then you should definitely consider adding a welcome mat on either the first step to go inside your RV or on the ground before the door. This welcome mat is ideal for achieving an at-home feeling for you while also being inviting guests. Not only that, but it deters others from dragging dirt into your clean and comfortable home.

7.Cabinet Knife Safe
As we mentioned earlier, it is very easy and common to have your items move around in your RV while you are driving. Some items that you certainly don’t want flying around behind you while you’re driving are your cooking knives! To stop that potentially dangerous scenario from happening, you should invest in a cabinet knife safe. This is a perfect place to store your knives in both a safe and convenient location on the door of one of your kitchen cabinets.

8.Laundry Bag
While you are road tripping, there will come a time when you will have to wash your clothes. Before that time comes, however, you should store your soiled clothes in one convenient location to keep your RV tidy: a laundry bag! That way, once it’s filled, you can easily lift the now filled bag and carry it to the laundry machine!

9.Sunshield Reflective Door Window Cover
When you are traveling during the warmer months, it can feel especially stifling and uncomfortable in your RV when the sun shines through your door’s window. In order to dodge that nuisance, you can use a sunshield reflective door window cover. This perfectly blocks the strong sun rays from entering your RV and keeping it cool, ultimately regulating the temperature inside.

10.USB Charger
In this modern era, we must keep all of our devices charged and ready to go. You can use this USB charger in your cigarette lighter to charge your phone or GPS device while you drive. You certainly never want to be without any of your modern devices if you can help it!

While these are ten important RV accessories to have on your next road trip, they certainly aren’t the only ten you should have available. Also consider other options, like outdoor carpets, decorative lights, flag poles, outdoor chairs, and plenty of others. No matter what accessories you require for your next road trip, be sure to browse our many options in order to find what you’re looking for so you can keep on truckin’!