For 30amp Trailer, install 30 or 50amp service to pole?

Dumb, unless you plan on having a 50a trailer later on. Your 30a trailer's breaker is designed for 30.

When I installed a pedestal at my house, even though I only had a 30 amp RV, I installed a 50/30/20 pedestal and powered it with a 50amp 240v breaker. While going to the expense and trouble, I figured that if I ever decided to get a 50 amp RV, I would not need to re-do it. The extra cost was relatively small compared to a 30/20 pedestal, and was negligible compared to the cost of doing it twice. There was no extra trouble, since I merely pulled one extra wire (although I did run 6g wire instead of 10g wire).

While a 30 amp is sufficient for now, be prepared for the future. "Do it right, do it once."

50/30/20 surface mount

I would need to know what is available. If system where install is going is 120/240 four wire, I would install 50 amp and use the adapter. If system only has 120 volts available then, 30 amp three wire.

Regardless of whether the pedestal is 50 or 30 amp, you ONLY have 30 amps max for use in your trailer via the power cord.

If you install a 50 amp pedestal, you could use a 50 amp male to two 30 amp female splitter. Plug your trailer cord into one 30 amp female end and a 30-20 amp dogbone into the other and use that to plug in an electric heater, etc., separate from the trailer system.

Outside of that, the only benefit of adding a 50 amp instead of a 30 amp is if you decide to get a new RV at some point that has 50 amp.

Doing a combo pedestal like Bobbo indicates would provide for all three of those scenarios.

enblethen wrote:
I would need to know what is available. If system where install is going is 120/240 four wire, I would install 50 amp and use the adapter. If system only has 120 volts available then, 30 amp three wire.

Thank you.

I'm not sure. It's a pole we had put in with a large breaker box. My current 30amp outlet for my other trailer is a separate outlet my electrician/car pretender buddy put in.

I would think 120/240 but not 100%

toedtoes wrote:
Regardless of whether the pedestal is 50 or 30 amp, you ONLY have 30 amps max for use in your trailer via the power cord.

If you install a 50 amp pedestal, you could use a 50 amp male to two 30 amp female splitter. Plug your trailer cord into one 30 amp female end and a 30-20 amp dogbone into the other and use that to plug in an electric heater, etc., separate from the trailer system.

Outside of that, the only benefit of adding a 50 amp instead of a 30 amp is if you decide to get a new RV at some point that has 50 amp.

Doing a combo pedestal like Bobbo indicates would provide for all three of those scenarios.

Interesting idea. Right now I should be good with this 30amp trailer but I was looking at 50amp trailers as well and I could get one 5-10 years from now God willing.

Bobbo wrote:
When I installed a pedestal at my house, even though I only had a 30 amp RV, I installed a 50/30/20 pedestal and powered it with a 50amp 240v breaker. While going to the expense and trouble, I figured that if I ever decided to get a 50 amp RV, I would not need to re-do it. The extra cost was relatively small compared to a 30/20 pedestal, and was negligible compared to the cost of doing it twice. There was no extra trouble, since I merely pulled one extra wire (although I did run 6g wire instead of 10g wire).

While a 30 amp is sufficient for now, be prepared for the future. "Do it right, do it once."

50/30/20 surface mount

Smart! Unless you know you will NEVER upgrade to a 50 amp trailer, why risk having to do it all again at a much higher cost that it is to add the 50 amp now.

A friend of mine that camps a lot and says whenever he goes to a camp ground he'll hook up his 30amp camper to the 50amp outlet because the lights seem brighter and everything seems to just work better. Not sure if that is just a sign of lower quality 30amp electric from camp grounds or what.

I would not spend money to use an adapter. I would install a 30 amp connector. If you want to install a 50-30-20 box shown above that is fine. A box with just 30-20 is fine too.

kilboar wrote:
...he'll hook up his 30amp camper to the 50amp outlet because the lights seem brighter and everything seems to just work better. .

It's possible the voltage on the 50 is better, but without actually verifying that, I think that's a bit of wishful thinking. More 'available' amps doesn't mean a thing.