After a dozen years of 5th wheeling in a 30 AMP rig, I got spoiled with the ease of handling a 30 AMP power cord. It was permanently attached to the back of the trailer and the wife could easily coil it back into it's compartment after each use. Our new rig has a detached 50 AMP cord that is HEAVY to handle and resists coiling when the temperatures are low. So far my procedure is to stretch the entire cord straight then coil into a two foot circle (hopefully) and then apply a couple of bolo bunge's to hold it together while I toss it into the basement. I do appreciate the extra electrical load capacity but there is a price.How do you handle your power cords?

I roll it up on he reel you see on the left side of compartment. Works pretty good, still hard to roll up when its cold.

Use a plastic bucket from Home Depot. Cheap.

The cord that comes standard with most RV's is the cheapest they can get away with and are extremely difficult to coil when cold (and not so easy when warm either).I bought a flexible cord a few years ago that solved the problem. It was pricey, over $200 if memory serves me, but IMO it was worth it.Google: 50 amp rv cord flexible and go to some of the links that come up. Or call a reputable retailer like Tweety's or PPL and ask them for a very flexible cord.

I do the same as the OP. I put all my cords in a plastic bin. That's 2 50 amp cords and 2 30 amp cords, plus adapters. I hire 2 men and a boy to roll mine up, :).

I use a laundry basket to coil mine in. It lets you have a larger diameter coil and keeps it contained. JT

Handling 50 Amp Cord? | Good Sam Community

Kenc_AL
Explorer
Apr 11, 2014
ChopperBill wrote:
You gotta be power hungry to even need 50 amps.

Come on down south in July or August in a 32'+ triple slide 1 AC unit, find you a good full sun spot, sit a few days and let us know your new opinion of 50 amp.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014
I would not cut my cord in half. I would do it 1/3 and 2/3 or some such.
bumpy
oh_boy
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014
I cut mine in half or close to it. Added 2 new appropriate connectors (bayonet style from CW).
A lot of times the power post is beside my plug which is 2/3 toward the front and if it is at the back I connect the 2nd cord to the first. I have a flip up storage compartment in the front basement so I coil it in a big loop and store the unused one there. If needed it is easy to get at.
I also carry 2-30 amp cords and a 50/30 Marinco connector and every other damn type of connector there is (lol)and a 50 ft 12ga. 120 cord and have had to use them all at one time or another.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
Be prepared and keep at least 2 RV extension cords on board.

Sometimes there are just days at a CG that you need 'several' extra lengths
of RV electrical cords to just reach that shore station! :B

---
glazier
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2014
Us out West wrote:
All I can say...again..our Mor Ryde manual reel is a ton better than wrestling with our 50amp chord not only in cold temps but just for overall storage.

It is mounted in our front storage and not in the bed of of our truck where other things are stored when on the road....and we are on the road.

X2
Us_out_West
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
All I can say...again..our Mor Ryde manual reel is a ton better than wrestling with our 50amp chord not only in cold temps but just for overall storage.

It is mounted in our front storage and not in the bed of of our truck where other things are stored when on the road....and we are on the road.
FlatBroke
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2014
Can't remember the last time I needed or had access to 50 amp. I have one of those fancy 50-30 amp adapters that I bought from an rv dealer close out for $20. Then I plug in my 30 amp cable. Have them in 5-10-20 foot lengths that I acquired over the years. You gotta be power hungry to even need 50 amps.
On edit: our prior trailer had one of those power electric reels with a 50 amp cord attached. I HATED IT! Had to reel out that cumbersome POS when I never needed it.
john_bet
Explorer II
Apr 08, 2014
ol Bombero-JC wrote:
john&bet wrote:
AdirondackJack wrote:
I take both ends of the cord together and put them in the front of the truck bed and then just pull and weave the remainder back to front in the truck. Simple to reverse the process taking it back out of the truck and reattaching. Not sure if I could lift a basket after I coiled a 50A cord in it!?!?
X-2. I see no reason to put it in the basement while traveling. I park next to house plugged in when home. No body has tried to steel it.

"Nobody has tried to steel (steal) it"

Does that mean....
even the copper wire thieves figure it's too heavy to bother with??.:@

~
Glad you noticed my fat finger typing skills.:B Copper thieves have to know it is there first. :W
dapperdan
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
dapperdan wrote:
I just ordered a 35' length of 6/4 "SOOW 600V" flexible cable from Wire and Cable to go. It's pricey for sure, $3.25 a foot but from my research on here (on another RV Net thread) "6/4 SOOW" is supposed to be very flexible down to minus ten degrees or something like that. I already know "cheap" wire is stiff so I'm going to try this stuff. I'm a believer in "you get what you pay for". We'll see. The 50 amp cable that came with our rig is stiffer than a board even in the summer, up until this season I've been using a 30 amp cord with an adapter for the same reasons most everybody else is

I'll try to remember to update on how and what this stuff is really like. It doesn't come with ends but I'll get my own and attach them myself. Should be here in a few days.

Dan

Well just an update, I received my 50amp (flex)cable this morning. It is EVERYTHING I was expecting! Very flexible and it has the rubber jacket instead of the thermoplastic that came with the one for the Montana. Now all I have to do is get the ends and install, I didn't expect the cable to arrive this soon! I just ordered the other day.

I'm a "happy camper", no more struggling with the stiff fifty!

Dan
RVcrazy
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
When using a cord reel, manual or push button, do you have to uncoil the entire hose to get at both ends to plug it in, or can one end be permanently installed in the understorage area? What brand is your hose reel? Did you purchase the flexible, expensive hose to use with it, or the standard, heavy version. In short, more info please! Thanks.

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Handling 50 Amp Cord?

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