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The campsite slopes toward the creek, the fridge door swings open on its own, and the coffee slides to one side of the table. The question is leveling blocks vs leveling jacks, and the short answer is that blocks raise the low wheels on a stack, jacks lift and steady the RV from the frame, and the listings here say to use both together. This guide compares the 4 block sets below and explains where each one fits.
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The quick answer: leveling blocks vs leveling jacks
Blocks and jacks do different jobs, and the listings here treat them as a pair. Blocks go under the low wheels: drive onto a stack of interlocking blocks and the low side rises. Jacks work from the frame: tongue jacks, stabilizer jacks, hydraulic jacks and fifth wheel jacks lift and steady the RV once the wheels sit level. The RVMATE and Camco listings both state their blocks work with single wheels, dual wheels, hydraulic jacks, tongue jacks, stabilizer jacks and fifth wheel jacks, so the blocks are part of the same kit as the jacks, not a replacement for them.
Leveling blocks: how they work
A leveling block is a flat interlocking pad that stacks to a height. Each block in the RVMATE and OULEME sets adds 1 inch of height, and the blocks stack in various shapes and heights to suit the slope. The blocks measure 8.5 by 8.5 inches, with a 1.5-inch block height, and each set includes top blocks that sit on the stack so the tire rests on a smooth cap instead of the block body. The Tri-Lynx set adds a Lynx Cap that adds just 0.25 inches to the stack when interlocked, and the Camco set uses a T-handle to carry the blocks and lock them together.
Leveling jacks: how they work
Jacks lift and hold, rather than raise the wheels. A tongue jack lifts the front of a trailer, stabilizer jacks at the corners stop the RV from rocking, and hydraulic and fifth wheel jacks lift heavier rigs from the frame. Blocks also sit under jacks: the OULEME listing states its blocks can be used for trailer jacks and stabilizers, and the RVMATE and Camco listings state their blocks work with hydraulic, tongue, stabilizer and fifth wheel jacks. So a block set serves 2 roles at a site: a ramp for the low wheels, and a pad under the jacks.
The 4 block sets side by side
All 4 sets use the same 8.5 by 8.5 inch block, so the differences are the pack, the cap, the stated weight figure and the warranty.
| Set | Pack | Block size | Height per block | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RVMATE | 12 pack: 10 blocks, 2 top blocks, bag | 8.5 by 8.5 by 1.5 inches | 1 inch | 1 Year |
| OULEME | 12 pack: 10 blocks, 2 top blocks, bag | 8.5 by 8.5 by 1.5 inches | 1 inch | 2 Year |
| Tri-Lynx | 11 pack: 10 blocks, 1 cap, bag | 8.5 by 8.5 by 1.5 inches, 1 inch interlocked | 1 inch interlocked | 10 year |
| Camco FasTen | 10 pack, T-handle | 8.5 by 8.5 inches, 1 inch in the title, 1 1/2 inches in the bullets | Stack no higher than 4 1/2 inches | 1 year |
2 figures in the listings need a note. The Camco title gives a block thickness of 1 inch while its bullets give 1 1/2 inches; the stack limit of 4 1/2 inches is the figure to follow. The Tri-Lynx spec table lists 0.03 pounds, which does not match 11 blocks; the title and bullets are the reliable figures there.
How to choose between blocks and jacks
Match the set to the site: stack height, weight figure, and warranty.
Match the stack to the slope
Each block adds 1 inch, so count the blocks against the slope before you drive on. The RVMATE and OULEME sets give 10 blocks plus 2 top blocks each, and the Tri-Lynx set gives 10 blocks plus 1 cap. The Camco listing states the blocks should not be stacked higher than 4 1/2 inches, so a taller lift needs a different approach than a taller stack.
Check the weight figure
Only one listing here states a weight figure: Tri-Lynx states its blocks can withstand weights of up to 40,000 lbs. The RVMATE, OULEME and Camco listings state no weight figure, so compare them on pack, cap and warranty instead. The Camco listing does state a weight of 8.0 pounds for its 10-pack, which is the weight of the set, not a load figure.
Check the warranty and the origin
Warranties run from 1 year on the RVMATE and Camco sets, to 2 years on the OULEME set, to 10 years on the Tri-Lynx set. Tri-Lynx states its blocks have been manufactured in the USA since 1992, and Camco states its set is made in the USA. The OULEME listing states its blocks use polypropylene with anti-UV aging additives, and the RVMATE listing states high-density reinforced material with an interlocking design.
FAQ: power away from the grid
Can leveling blocks replace leveling jacks?
No. Blocks raise the low wheels for side-to-side leveling, while jacks lift and steady from the frame. The RVMATE and Camco listings state their blocks work with hydraulic, tongue, stabilizer and fifth wheel jacks, so both are used together.
How high can you stack leveling blocks?
Each block adds 1 inch in the RVMATE and OULEME listings. The Camco listing states its blocks should not be stacked higher than 4 1/2 inches, so follow the stack limit on the set you own.
How much weight can leveling blocks hold?
Tri-Lynx states its blocks can withstand weights of up to 40,000 lbs. The other listings here state no weight figure, so there is no stated load figure to compare them on.
Do leveling blocks work with dual wheels?
Yes. The RVMATE listing states its blocks work with single wheels and dual wheels, and the Camco listing states its blocks can be used with single wheels, double wheels and tandem axles.
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