power cords and options to carry

I have about 35' of 4/6 SO cord nicely coiled in a 5 gallon bucket only cuz I didn't have a 3 gallon hanging around the place. I converted the twist lock inlet to on the trailer to the Smart Plug after converting our trailer from 30-50 amp and needing an inlet. Smart Plug is one solid unit, a bit spendy, but worth it. I've thought of getting a bit more of the SO cord to make up another but shorter cord as many places I don't need 30 feet. The only adapter I carry is a dog bone so I can connect with a 30 amp service if that is my only choice. It goes in the bucket as well.

GPG

I like your idea of coating the power cord with silicone spray to let it slide easier.

I also wipe mine down a couple of times a year or asa needed, and use a bit of di-electric grease on the contacts.

Our power chord manual reel works for us and doesn't take up much space.

Along with the standard 50 amp cord, I also carry a 40 ft 30 amp extension that I inherited from my dad. Have never considered purchasing a 50 amp extension as I didn't want to have to muscle it around. I've only run into one instance during the summer where I needed the 30 amp extension, and dealt with that by practicing power management... one air conditioner at a time and ran the HW heater on propane. As for storage, I have a MorRyde cord reel that mounts in the basement on the utility side. It's a bit pricey at something north of $150, but I wouldn't be without it, especially on those cold days when the cords stiffen up. I store the 30 amp extension on a hook mounted next to the reel. Works well for me.

Like most I carry the various adaptor and two extension (50 & 30). The only reason I carry the 30 is because I already owned it through previous RV we owned, I would not have made a special purchase (Keep it simple...)
Here are a few little tricks I found works great for us:

I)we use a square plastic milk crate to wind our 50 amp cord, it gives us access to both ends without having to take the whole cord out. Easy carry handles, square saves storage space.
ii) every season I coat the outer rubber casing of the cords with silicone spray & wipe down with a rag(do not use oil base spray), this does not make the cord anymore supple but rather allows the cord to slide easier against itself when coiling up. A sticky cord can be a pain to handle.

As to the op's original inquiry with respect to length, much of that depends on your RV's configuration. In our case the electrical plug is at the left rear of the trailer, typically very close to the parks supply post.
On the other hand our waste water drain connections are in front of the wheels requiring us to carry 30+ feet of sanitary hose in order to reach some parks dumping facilities.

Trial and error normally works.
GPG :C

I have 2 50 amp incase you want to park different direction. 3 -30 amp and a lot of different connectors 30-50 ,50-30. 30-110,never no

blofgren wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

RainbowsEnd wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
That is why I switched out from the standard RV supplied cable to my SO cable. The outer jacket is far more flexible , and so are the wires that carry the juice.

I think I've seen your post on this before somewhere. This is something you made?

Well you can buy ready made for $$$$, but if you search around the cable can found for a reasonable price I got mine for about $2.50 a ft from another member. Then buy the ends took less than 30 minutes to assemble.
We winter camp and even at freezing the cable coils in the bucket easily.

I'm convinced. On our last trip out it was cool and rainy and I had to use both the stock 25' 50 amp cord and 50 amp extension cord. What a PITA it was to roll them up and get into the storage compartment. I need to search around to see where I can get the wire without giving up my first born, however.

This is about 40' of 4/6 SO cable in a 3 gallon bucket.

50 amp extension, which I have used due to inconvenient shore power placement, and an assortment of adapters.

rhagfo wrote:

RainbowsEnd wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
That is why I switched out from the standard RV supplied cable to my SO cable. The outer jacket is far more flexible , and so are the wires that carry the juice.

I think I've seen your post on this before somewhere. This is something you made?

Well you can buy ready made for $$$$, but if you search around the cable can found for a reasonable price I got mine for about $2.50 a ft from another member. Then buy the ends took less than 30 minutes to assemble.
We winter camp and even at freezing the cable coils in the bucket easily.

I'm convinced. On our last trip out it was cool and rainy and I had to use both the stock 25' 50 amp cord and 50 amp extension cord. What a PITA it was to roll them up and get into the storage compartment. I need to search around to see where I can get the wire without giving up my first born, however.

I hope to get to use my OEM 50 cord with Marinco end some day but alas we have never been to a provincial or federal park with 50A. I bought a replacement 30A cord that attaches to the 50A marinco female plug on the rv and then carry 2 x 25 foot cords for those sites requiring miles of cord.