Campers should aim for flat ground when camping, but it’s not always possible. Thus, I researched how you can camp comfortably on a hill or on a slope. During my research for this post, I searched forums and Facebook groups for information.
In case you are camping on a hill, make sure the opening of your tent is perpendicular to the hill. Your feet should be positioned downhill when sleeping, and your pack or a rock should be close to your feet. A camper on a slope can be leveled out using leveling blocks or strong plywood and a level tool if you are camping on a slope.
This article explains how you can level your tent or your camper and make sleeping more comfortable. There are also some tips I give you if you are camping on a hill or slope that you may not have considered before. Sleeping north side down keeps you cooler than sleeping south side down, for example.
How to Level a Tent on a Hill or Slope
In addition to logs, plywood, crates, or hammock straps, you can use other items to level out your tent. Lower ends of the tent would be propped up with these items.
Put at least two stakes into the ground on either side of the low end to begin. If you do this, the logs, or whatever you’re using, won’t roll down the hill. The length of the items that you are using will determine how you place a stake in the center.
After laying down the items, use as much as you feel necessary in accordance with the slope you have. Stack pine needles or blankets from home on top of the logs, plywood, or crates in your tent to soften the bottom.
It is easy to set up a hammock with straps instead of wood, plywood, or crates if you do not have any logs or plywood. On both sides of the tent’s lower half, you will place two stakes in the ground. After that, wrap hammock straps or rope from each stake along the bottom of the tent. This can be done as many times as necessary to achieve a level tent floor.
With this method, you can build a pretty solid foundation. Let your feet rest on this end of the tent as you sleep.
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How to Sleep on a Hill in a Tent
It is possible to make sleep on a hill more enjoyable by using a couple of methods. This can be done easily without spending any money and another way will require some money.
Having your feet downhill is the easiest and most cost-effective way to sleep. By doing this, you will prevent yourself from rolling away. If you need extra support, place something nearby your feet. It will work great with your travel bag or even a rock.
Taking care of the next item will cost some money. The best option is to buy a cot with legs that can be adjusted.
Adding a towel or plywood under a couple of legs of an existing cot will make it level if it’s not adjustable. Alternatively, you could only extend the lower legs of the cot and keep the legs near your head tucked away.
It’s great to have a cot because you can use it to sleep regardless of how steep the slope is. Additionally, they can assist with sleeping off the ground in cases where it is really hard or just bumpy or rocky.
How to Level a Camper or RV on a Hill or Slope
Level your Camper Side by Side
- The camper should be positioned perpendicular to the slope. Parking your camper on the hillside is a good idea. Do this while keeping your camper connected to your vehicle.
- Using a bubble level, estimate the height at which the trailer should be raised. First, you will see the bubble on the higher side of the hill when you set the level down.
- You can build a ramp by placing leveling blocks or wood in front of the tires that require raising. On the low side of the slope, you need to do this for the front and back wheels. It may be necessary to use wood that is a little wider than your wheels if necessary.
- Driving your trailer slowly on plastic or wood blocks will prevent it from tipping over. Assemble the tires by placing them on top of the blocks in the center.
- If the RV is not even, adjust the blocks as needed by pulling it off the blocks and using your level.
- You should put down wheel chocks behind and in front of your wheels when the wheels are even. Be sure to do this both on uphill and downhill wheels. The wheels will be prevented from moving accidentally if these are installed.
Level your Camper Front to Back
- Your tongue jack needs to be supported by a couple of pieces of solid wood. This is what keeps your camper stable when it’s connected to your vehicle.
- Next, place your tongue jack on the wood, so that it’s between it and the wood. Your camper should be detached from the car hitch at this point.
- To check your jack’s adjustment, place your bubble level on a flat surface in the camper so that it can be seen from outside.
- The jack should be adjusted to make your camper level. Check your fridge level once you’ve noticed it’s level. As a result, the refrigerator will continue to function, since an uneven surface could cause it to stop working.
- On all of the camper’s stabilizing jacks, lay down wooden, cement block, or plastic leveling blocks.
- Tongue jacks are removed by removing the jack.
Additional Tips to Camping on a Hill or Slope
- Set up camp on the levelest ground possible before erecting your tent or parking your camper. Level everything before removing brush, rocks, and other debris from your final location.
- When a hill or slope exists, a hammock makes an excellent alternative to sleeping on the ground if trees are nearby.
- You should not sleep or set up camp at the bottom of the hill if you know the weather is going to be bad. It’s best to camp near the bottom of the hill if it’s going to be dry and windy.
- You may be able to camp on the north side of the hill when it’s hot. If you stay on this side, you will stay cooler than if you stay on the south.
- Sleeping uphill rather than downhill will prevent headaches from arising from increased blood flow.
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Where Should you Not Pitch a Tent?
Tents should not be pitched near streams or at the bottom of hills when rain is forecast. Avoid contaminating the water supply by staying at least 100 feet away from water sources.
Make sure you keep a tent away from where you will have a fire. If possible, keep the tent far enough away from the heater so the fabric doesn’t melt.
