There's a specific kind of frustration that builds up over years of manual leveling. You've backed into a site a dozen times to get the angle right, stacked blocks until the configuration looks like abstract art, crawled around on gravel adjusting corner jacks by hand, and you're still not quite level. Your refrigerator is running slightly off-axis, the slideout isn't sealing right, and you spent forty-five minutes on setup instead of relaxing.
Sound familiar?
Automatic leveling systems exist specifically to eliminate that whole routine. Push a button, walk away, and come back to a coach that's sitting perfectly level on four motorized jack legs that did the math for you.
The two brands that dominate this aftermarket space are Lippert Components with their Ground Control 3.0 system and Equalizer Systems with their Smart-Level hydraulic platform. Both are proven, both are well-supported at RV Upgrade Store, and both will transform your campsite arrival process. But they're built around different technologies, designed for different RV types, and suited to different kinds of owners.
I've installed and serviced both systems across a wide range of coaches. Here's what you actually need to know before buying.
Lippert uses electric motors and Hall Effect technology to measure revolutions rather than amps, delivering more accurate and repeatable leveling results.
Equalizer's hydraulic system uses fluid pressure to extend and retract jacks, which many technicians prefer for consistent force delivery under heavy loads.
Both systems are bolt-on installs that require no welding or frame cutting, though each has specific fitment requirements for your RV type and chassis.
The right choice depends almost entirely on what you're driving — these systems are optimized for different RV platforms and aren't interchangeable.
Before getting into the specifics of each product, it's worth understanding why these two systems exist in parallel rather than one simply replacing the other. They're optimized for fundamentally different applications.
Lippert's Ground Control 3.0 is an electric leveling system. Each jack leg is driven by an electric motor, and the system uses Hall Effect technology — measuring motor revolutions rather than electrical draw — to determine how far each leg has extended. This approach delivers excellent precision and works well in the 5th wheel trailer environment, where the system is mounted to a towed vehicle and runs off the tow vehicle's electrical supply during setup.
Equalizer Systems' Smart-Level takes a hydraulic approach. A central pump pressurizes a fluid circuit that extends four jack legs, and the system's onboard sensors monitor levelness in real time and adjust pressure accordingly. Hydraulics have a long track record in heavy leveling applications because they deliver smooth, consistent force even under significant load — exactly what a Class C motorhome sitting on a Sprinter chassis demands.
The other key difference is the control interface. Lippert provides a physical touchpad and a wireless touchscreen remote you can operate from up to 50 feet away. Equalizer's Smart-Level adds Bluetooth connectivity so you can operate the system from a smartphone app, which is a genuine convenience when you're outside the coach guiding your setup from a distance.
Best for: 5th wheel owners who want a complete bolt-on electric auto-leveling system with wireless remote operation and proven Hall Effect precision
The Ground Control 3.0 is Lippert's flagship electric leveling system for 5th wheel trailers, and it's earned that status through a combination of installation accessibility and leveling accuracy that genuinely improved over its predecessor. The core upgrade from earlier Ground Control systems was the switch to Hall Effect technology — instead of measuring amperage draw to estimate how far a jack leg has moved, the 3.0 measures the actual revolutions of each motor. The practical result is more accurate leveling that's less susceptible to variation from motor condition, battery voltage, or temperature.
The system runs four motorized jack legs that can operate automatically via the one-touch auto-level function, or individually and in pairs through manual mode on the touchpad. The wireless touchscreen remote extends your operating range to 50 feet from the coach — useful when you want to watch the jacks from outside to confirm ground contact and proper extension without ducking back inside to work the touchpad. That remote operates the same auto-level function, so you can start the leveling sequence, step back from the coach, and watch the whole process complete from a comfortable vantage point.
The Hitch Recognition Memory function is one of those features that seems minor until you use it regularly. The system remembers the jack positions from when you last unhooked your tow vehicle, so when you're ready to leave camp and rehitch, you can automatically return the coach to that exact height without manual adjustment. For anyone who's gone through the back-and-forth of getting the kingpin height right for re-hitching, this is a meaningful time saver.
Installation is a complete bolt-on process — no welding, no frame cutting. The kit includes all mounting hardware, and the round rear jack feet are specifically designed to resist sinking in soft ground. Total lift capacity sits at 20,000 pounds, which covers the vast majority of 5th wheel coaches on the road. Manual override access on every jack means you're never completely stranded if there's an electrical issue.
Best for: Class B+ and Class C motorhome owners on 2018 and older Mercedes Sprinter 3500 chassis who want hydraulic auto-leveling with Bluetooth smartphone control
The Equalizer 8757UPS represents one of the more specialized leveling solutions you'll find on the market — it's engineered specifically for the Sprinter 3500 cutaway chassis, which underlies a large number of Class B+ and Class C motorhomes from manufacturers including Winnebago, Thor, and Leisure Travel Vans. That specificity is actually a significant advantage. Rather than a generic leveling kit that gets adapted to fit various platforms, this system comes with chassis-specific clamp-on brackets designed to mount the jack legs to the Sprinter's frame rails without any drilling, cutting, or welding required.
The hydraulic architecture is where this system differentiates itself from electric alternatives. A central hydraulic pump generates consistent fluid pressure that drives all four jack legs simultaneously and proportionally. When the system's sensors detect that one corner needs more extension to achieve level, it adjusts fluid flow to that leg independently — all managed automatically by the Smart-Level control unit. The result is smooth, precise leveling that handles the weight of a fully loaded Class C motorhome with a composure that electric motor systems can struggle to match at higher weights.
Bluetooth connectivity is the headline technology feature, and it works exactly as advertised. The Smart-Level app lets you monitor system status, initiate the auto-level sequence, and control individual jacks from your smartphone. For practical campsite use, this means you can pull into a site, open your phone, tap auto-level, and supervise the process while standing wherever gives you the best view — no wired remote, no having to be within visual range of a physical touchpad mounted inside a storage bay.
The chassis-specific fitment also means that installation, while not a ten-minute job, follows a defined process rather than requiring custom fabrication. The bracket kit is engineered for the Sprinter's frame geometry, which removes a major variable from what can otherwise be a complex aftermarket installation. Owners of Class C rigs on the Sprinter platform who've looked at generic leveling kits and wondered how the mounting would work will appreciate that the 8757UPS answers that question definitively.
The electric versus hydraulic debate in RV leveling comes down to a few practical differences that matter more in some situations than others.
Electric systems like the Lippert Ground Control 3.0 are simpler in terms of the components involved. Each jack has its own motor; there's no pump to maintain, and troubleshooting is relatively straightforward because each leg operates independently. Hall Effect technology has made electric leveling significantly more accurate than older amp-based systems — the motor revolution measurement is consistent and doesn't drift with component wear, the way amperage measurement can.
Hydraulic systems like the Equalizer Smart-Level deliver force more smoothly and consistently, particularly at higher loads. Fluid pressure doesn't fluctuate the way motor amperage does under varying conditions, which is one reason hydraulics remain the preferred technology for the heaviest leveling applications. For a Class C motorhome that might be carrying a full fresh water tank, bikes on the rear rack, and all the supplies for a month-long trip, that consistency under load is a genuine advantage.
From a maintenance standpoint, electric systems have fewer fluid-based components to inspect, but hydraulic systems from established manufacturers like Equalizer have proven extremely reliable in RV applications over decades of service. Both require periodic inspection of mechanical components — jack legs, mounting brackets, and electrical connections — but neither demands frequent intervention under normal use.
Lippert's dual-control approach gives you both a fixed touchpad mounted in an exterior storage compartment and a wireless handheld remote that operates from up to 50 feet away. The touchpad has an LCD screen with straightforward button navigation, and the remote gives you the auto-level function at range. This is a robust setup that works regardless of phone battery, cellular signal, or app availability.
Equalizer's Bluetooth smartphone integration represents a more modern approach that has real practical advantages for owners comfortable with app-based interfaces. You always have your phone on you, the display is larger and more information-rich than a dedicated remote, and the app can provide status feedback that a simple remote button press can't. The limitation is that you're dependent on your phone being charged and the Bluetooth connection being reliable — not typically a problem, but worth noting.
Neither approach is objectively superior. Owners who prefer purpose-built controls that work independently of consumer electronics will prefer Lippert's setup. Owners who are already managing their RV systems through apps and find smartphone integration intuitive will appreciate Equalizer's approach. It's a preference question more than a capability question.
This is where the comparison becomes less about preference and more about simple compatibility. The Lippert Ground Control 3.0 is designed for 5th wheel trailers. The Equalizer Systems 8757UPS is designed for Class B+ and Class C motorhomes on the Mercedes Sprinter 3500 chassis, specifically 2018 and older.
If you own a 5th wheel, the Lippert is your path. If you own a Class B+ or Class C on a Sprinter chassis, the Equalizer is engineered for your platform. Trying to use either system on a non-intended vehicle type would involve modifications that eliminate the bolt-on advantage and the warranty coverage that comes with proper fitment.
Both systems install without welding or frame cutting when used on their intended platforms, which is a significant advantage over older-generation leveling retrofits that often required fabrication work. The clamp-on bracket system on the Equalizer's Sprinter-specific kit is particularly well-engineered — Sprinter owners who've looked into leveling systems before and been deterred by the frame rail question will find this kit addresses that directly.
Choose the Lippert Ground Control 3.0 if you own a 5th wheel trailer and want a proven electric auto-leveling system with Hall Effect accuracy, wireless remote operation at range, and a Hitch Recognition Memory function that simplifies re-hitching after camp. It's a comprehensive kit that covers the installation needs of the overwhelming majority of 5th wheel owners and backs that up with Lippert's established parts network for long-term support.
Choose the Equalizer Systems 8757UPS Smart-Level if you own a Class B+ or Class C motorhome on a 2018 or older Mercedes Sprinter 3500 chassis and want hydraulic auto-leveling with Bluetooth smartphone control and a chassis-specific mounting kit that eliminates the fabrication uncertainty that plagues generic leveling installations on the Sprinter platform. The hydraulic system's performance under the weight of a fully loaded Class C is its key technical advantage, and the Bluetooth interface suits owners who prefer app-based control.
For owners who fall outside these specific vehicle categories — Class A motorhomes, travel trailers, or Sprinter owners on 2019 and newer chassis — Equalizer Systems produces additional leveling options designed for those platforms, and Lippert offers 6-point configurations for longer 5th wheels. Confirming exact fitment against your chassis year and type before ordering is the step that prevents the most common installation complications.
A customer I worked with last spring had been putting off the leveling system decision for two seasons on her Class C Winnebago View — a Sprinter chassis coach — because she couldn't figure out which aftermarket kit would actually work on the Sprinter frame without modification. When I showed her the Equalizer 8757UPS and walked her through the chassis-specific bracket system, the decision became straightforward. Six weeks after installation, she told me the combination of hydraulic smoothness and the Bluetooth app was the single best upgrade she'd made to the coach. She levels from her phone while standing outside to watch the process, and the setup goes from forty minutes of block-stacking to about four minutes of supervised automation.
The Lippert Ground Control 3.0 owner experience is different but equally positive — 5th wheel owners consistently report that the Hall Effect accuracy and the Hitch Recognition Memory together eliminate the two most tedious parts of their campsite arrival routine. The wireless remote operation from 50 feet away means you can watch the whole process from outside the coach rather than running back and forth to the touchpad.
Both systems represent mature, well-supported technology from manufacturers with deep roots in the RV industry. The decision isn't really about one being better — it's about which platform you own and which control interface suits your workflow. Get that match right, and either system will fundamentally change how you arrive at a campsite.
I’m Bill Rowell, the founder of RVupgrades.com. In 2002, I launched the business to help fellow RV enthusiasts find unique and hard-to-find products. Over the years, it’s grown to offer more than 15,000 items, with a warehouse in Eastlake, Ohio. Having owned and repaired nearly every type of RV, I bring over two decades of hands-on experience to the table. For me, this isn’t just a business – it’s a passion and a way of life that I love sharing with the RV community.
Follow me on LinkedIn