to level or not to level

[urnmor]

How important is it to have the AS level?

Thanks

[dznf0g]

Absolutely level? Not too important.

Pretty level? yes, it is important, for proper fridge function, comfort, etc.

If mine is within 1" from side to side, I call it good.

[azflycaster]

Trailers with vintage refrigerators are much more efficient when level...

[Bk Yd Safari]

pretty level sure makes it easier to stay in bed

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by Bk Yd Safari

pretty level sure makes it easier to stay in bed

But harder to get out in the morning.

[Friday]

If you are too far out of whack, your fridge might not work... your shower might not drain... your water tank levels will be out and your fresh water intake might not get all the water. You won't break anything though.

With all the curves inside an Airstream, I find it annoying if the floor isn't level. It's the only easy reference point.

[xo1rider]

I don't get too carried away, primarily I want fore and aft level and side to side only if it's way off. I use a carpenters level in conjunction with the electric jack. If the shower door, for example, swings open or shut by itself I'll go back and do it again.

As far as side to side I find it a total PIA putting blocks under the tires etc but before unhooking if it really looks off I will. Once I unhook it takes a major tilt for me to go back and re-level.

[Mike Leary]

Having had three coaches with older fridges, I got into the habit (to my wife's dismay) of being real anal about leveling. With the new Dometics, "comfortable" is about all they say. That being said, I can't help it, we have wood ramps I built and a four foot level to do front to back and side to side. After you've cruised for a while, your eye will tell you if an "adjustment" is needed. We have pulled out of campsites and asked for another one, since even-close was not possible.

[Orlop]

when you lived six years on a sailboat level has a different meaning ..... Cheerz

[dkottum]

I would think it should be level when stored so the axles' torsion bars carry equal weight, front-to-back and side-to-side, as possible.

doug k

[Olie]

Pretty level is good enough.

When parked at the curb, loading for a trip, our frig is about 3" lower on the curb side. The frig freezer cools down to about 26 F overnite. Thats with a 75 F over nite temp That is cold enough to keep things frozen.
When traveling the freezer warms up to ?, but things are still frozen after a 300 mi drive the next day at 90 to 95 F.

While parked I don't think an inch or two one way or the other makes any difference except for shower drainage and door closer issues.

[MrUKToad]

Can't get too excited about absolute level. We used to use a builder's spirit level but now tend to rely on the swinging shower and bathroom door method. Side to side is usually just by eye and only once have we been on a noticeable slant, and that was our maiden trip.

[Goal15]

I use a 10 inch carpenter's torpedo level and check it on the counter next to the refrigerator. Have only had to use leveling legos on one occasion in our first eight outings that included more than a dozen state parks and Corps campgrounds.

Am I the only one who cheats and uses bottle jack to jack up the side that needs leveling instead of pulling forward and backing on to the lego levelers? Just make sure that I jack up on the steel frame beam between the tires.

When we are packing for trip, our refrigerator on the street side is about 3 inches higher than the curb side but i find that its level enough for the frig to cool well over night and the freezer top definitely freeze.

[NevadaGeo]

The level you need is to a metal plate in the freezer. A good friend of mine (full time airstreamer artist) has numbers quantifying what temperature his refrig-freezer does per degrees out of level. He doesn't bother with putting down stabilizers, even for a month stay but he does work for the level. He can see level on the ground to less than a 2X6 difference before backing Lucy onto the pad.

[Michigander]

Originally Posted by NevadaGeo

The level you need is to a metal plate in the freezer.

This sounds like a nice way to do it, except that our freezer is usually so packed when we go out that it wouldn't be practical to remove enough frozen food to get to the bottom to place the plate.


We use a 10" level side to side and fore 'n aft at the doorway. This seems to correlate well for our unit.


I have noticed on some previous trips, that the fridge didn't cool as well as other times. After reading this thread I wonder if it was because we weren't level enough.


On the other hand, when at a campground we always power the fridge with electric, so does being level count as much when you're on AC vs propane?

[Michigander]

Another note on leveling: I try hard to be within half a bubble on my level fore 'n aft because I don't want the slide to be skewed when going out.

[SuperTrouper]

I bought 4 stick on Hopkins graduated levels for 15 bucks and stuck them fore and aft on the curb side, curb side on the front and center just below the license plate on the rear. Now I park, check side level, pull onto appropriate number of blocks and then set front/back with the jack and put down stabilizers before I even open the door.

[SuperTrouper]

Here's a link to a review with pictures.
http://www.armadillotimes.com/page/4/

[Ahab]

We level using the stick on indicators from WM. It's simple and part of our set up routine. One division = 1". Takes a minute or two.

[purman]

I pack my builders level and tri pod, this takes a little longer and requires two people. ( one to look through the level and one to hold the measurement stick.). But when I'm done I'm within a 1/32 of being totally level

My trailer came with a small level on the front ( screwed to the skin ) for side to side. And I use a small 12 level on the floor inside the door to get the front to back level. As long as its within the lines I'm good to go.