You arrive somewhere beautiful, park up, and as you lie down you notice the bed is on a slope and you "roll" to one side all night. Or you open the fridge and it's not cooling properly. The culprit is the same: the vehicle isn't level. Levelling a campervan is one of those simple things that make a big difference to comfort, and it takes two minutes with a set of chocks. Let's take a look.
Why levelling matters
- For sleeping: you don't rest well on a slope; levelling is the difference between a good night and a bad one.
- For the fridge: especially absorption fridges, which need to be level to work properly; on a slope they cool poorly and can be damaged.
- For water drainage and for living comfortably inside (so things don't roll around).
What levelling chocks are
They're ramps or wedges (usually tough plastic) that you drive one or more wheels onto to compensate for the slope and level the vehicle out. They're cheap, lightweight and take up little space. Essential in any camper.
How to level step by step
- Check the slope: a small bubble level (stick-on ones are available) tells you which way and by how much. You can also judge it by eye.
- Place the chock in front of the wheel on the lower side.
- Drive up slowly until the vehicle sits level on top of the chock (it's easier with someone guiding you, or using the handbrake in stages).
- Check the level again and adjust if needed.
- Chock the wheel so it can't move and put the handbrake on.
Tips
- Where possible, look for a spot that's already fairly flat: the less slope, the easier it is.
- A bubble level stuck inside (on the worktop, for example) helps you fine-tune without getting out.
- Carry at least two chocks; for big slopes you sometimes need several stacked.
In summary
Levelling a campervan with chocks is quick and essential for sleeping well and keeping the fridge working: check the slope, drive the low-side wheel up onto the chock and check with a level. The step you can take today: if you don't yet carry levelling chocks, they're some of the cheapest, most useful accessories you can buy; with a pair and a small level, every night of your trip improves.
