Forum Discussion

mkirsch's avatar
mkirsch
Nomad II
Aug 29, 2016

Bulk trailer wire

I want to run 10ga wire to the brakes on one of my trailers.

The only place I can find any sort of vehicle wire locally is at the auto parts stores, and white 10ga only comes in 10' rolls. That isn't even enough to get from the tongue to the front axle, so I'll have splices all over the place.

The stuff they sell in larger rolls at the big box home improvement stores (THNN?) is real stiff with thin insulation, tough to work with and probably won't hold up to the vibration from the road.

So where's a good place to get this stuff from?
  • This little Napa here in this little town sells all wire off the big rolls.
    I would think all the Napas do.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Seems like a couple OP's have your wire sourced, so I'll just add that Marine wire has the copper strands protected by Tinning, useful in that exposed are of your RV chassis.

    And, let me mention something a good RV parts & repair shop (Karen's in Anchorage) told me: Don't use the axles as conduit for the wire. They rust inside and the rust abrades the insulation. Better to band the wire TO the outside of the axles. From my experience on boat trailers, Black Plastic Electrical Tape holds up longer than ZIP Ties.

    Marine wire has the copper strands protected by Tinning, useful in that exposed are of your RV chassis...

    My family used Karen's. I have used Mobile Trailer (also in ANC) and been very pleased with them. Both are on the North end of town, near the rail yards.
  • I ordered a 50' roll from Amazon last summer when I rewired our ATV trailer. Good price and shipped two day
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    definitely go with marine grade wiring... Made for trailers and boats and will survive undertrailer road spray...

    You should be able to find what you need from AMAZON in any lengths you need...

    Roy Ken
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Radio Shack has it in long rolls. So does Home Depot, Lowes, Most hardware stores.. You may even have your choice of Stranded (Radio Shack) or Solid (most hardware/Home Improvement places) Many may have both (not Radio Shack)

    I also have a host of sites I can send you to. Let me check a favorite.

    Alas they had only smaller sizes. But I did find it at Radio Shack, red or black, 20 bucks for 35 Feet. Stranded too (What you need).
  • I bought a 25' roll of light blue #10 wire at ACE hardware.