Last Updated: 30 October 2024
Originally Posted: 30 March 2021
It's not often you find a campsite where you can play bowls. Not only are there far too many tents, campers, and caravans in the way, but the ground they occupy is never smooth or flat enough for a proper game.
Lumps, bumps, slopes and hills can leave your campervan parked at some pretty wild angles. Usually this is part of the fun of camping, but it can be a bit of a headache when you find yourself sleeping at a strange tilt.
On top of this, some camping products, like fridges, work best on level ground – or as close to level as you can get.
Thankfully, there's a whole range of tools to help you level out even the wonkiest of camping spots! Many of these are especially useful for wild camping, where you're rarely setting up on a perfectly prepared pitch.
Levelling Chocks
Levelling chocks are an affordable, easy-to-use solution for parking on uneven ground. These tough, brightly coloured plastic wedges allow you to drive up onto them to level out your vehicle.
If one wheel has ended up in a divot, or you're parked on a slope with one side of your camper sitting lower than the other, you can place the blocks on the ground, drive up the ramp until it levels out, and then park up as you usually would.
It's important to remember that levelling chocks should be used with care. They're designed only for levelling, not for lifting the vehicle for maintenance or other work, and you'll need to safely check that the tyres are securely placed in the middle of each chock to prevent any chance of the vehicle slipping off.
You can easily practice at home before setting off on your camping adventure, and you'll get the hang of it in no time!
Spirit levels
A quick and easy way to see just how off-centre your camper is, spirit levels for campers show tilt in both dimensions (forward, backward, left and right), giving you a full picture rather than just one direction at a time.
This is great for ensuring you're parked level enough so that your water tanks, fridge, gas bottles, and more aren't impacted by uneven ground.
They're just as easy to use as a regular spirit level you'd grab for some DIY - and far more accurate than simply winging it!
Grip Mats
They're not technically a product for levelling, but when it comes to camping, uneven ground and mud go together like wasps and BBQs.
Instead of risking getting stuck in mud, gravel, or sand - and ending up having to push your camper to safer ground (inevitably getting yourself filthy in the process) - stow a couple of anti-slip mats in your camper.
If you find your wheels spinning with no traction, you can slide these mats underneath and give your tyres something to grip so you can free yourself.
Parking up can be trickier during the off-season, as the typical weather conditions can make the ground even more uneven. However, these minor challenges are all part of the adventure and are easily managed with the right preparation. Plus, the perks of camping in the quieter months make it well worth the effort! Read our handy guide to delve into the joys of off-season camping.