Here's a project I did about 2 weeks ago.It's the same style inlet that I have on my truck camper.Here's the other thread of mine which has the details.I'm sharing it here since this is a popular mod for travel trailer owners.

deltabravo wrote:Here's a project I did about 2 weeks ago.It's the same style inlet that I have on my truck camper.Here's the other thread of mine which has the details.I'm sharing it here since this is a popular mod for travel trailer owners.Good job on this mod, I'm just not sure on the practicality of it though. I've never had an issue storing the power cord in a rv, is this the only reason for it?

Westcoasting wrote:deltabravo wrote:Here's a project I did about 2 weeks ago.It's the same style inlet that I have on my truck camper.Here's the other thread of mine which has the details.I'm sharing it here since this is a popular mod for travel trailer owners.Good job on this mod, I'm just not sure on the practicality of it though. I've never had an issue storing the power cord in a rv, is this the only reason for it?I can't speak about the electric cord mod shown above. It has a rather sizable door opening to replace the cord. However, my trailer had the more common "mouse hole" style power cord holder. That is a pain in the rear when trying to put a cold power cord back in the trailer. Also, especially when cold, it could get in a huge tangle, and be next to impossible to get out the next time it was needed.On my first trailer, I had to take out the mouse hole so I could stick my hand down in the storage compartment and untangle the cord.One of the first mods I did to my current Jayco 23RB was install a Marinco detachable power cord. It works great.

I replaced the pullout mouse hole cord several months ago with a marine type. Too much of a pain . The mouse hole cut out was was too large for the bulkhead mount marine plug so I cut a piece of hdpe plastic to go over it with a proper sized hole for the new receptacle

Due to a poor factory installation, loose wires, troublesome plastic ring, poor connection, possible fire hazard, storage space and the need to get out the entire cord, I got rid of the stupid detachable setup. Since I didn't produce a YouTube video to make money, here are Photos

I too have installed a Marinco kit on several trailers we've owned but a no cost solution that I've also employed is to cut the main service cable back so it's just long enough to reach the trailer's rear bumper where the connection to an extension cable can be made yet kept up off the ground where water could pool. This works particularly well with popups and hybrids which offer the additional protection from rain with the rear bed platform extending over the connection point. With a travel trailer simply tuck the connection under the body of the trailer, under a slide, or within a wheelwell. Solves the problem of trying to stuff 25' of stiff main service cable back in through a mousehole and costs nothing. :B

New shore power inlet installation | Good Sam Community

29 Replies

Gulfcoast
Explorer
Mar 14, 2019
An easy way...

Only pull out one foot of the factory power cord out of the trailer, and then plug in a 30 amp extension cord to it. No wiring or rigging needed.
trail-explorer
Explorer
Mar 14, 2019
wrktfsh wrote:
...The mouse hole cut out was was too large for the bulkhead mount marine plug so I cut a piece of hdpe plastic to go over it with a proper sized hole for the new receptacle

Was it similar to this?
trail-explorer
Explorer
Mar 14, 2019
Westcoasting wrote:
so i won't be dragging nothing down the road!

That means you are dragging everything....
trail-explorer
Explorer
Mar 14, 2019
SoundGuy wrote:
Yeah, because it's tangled & knotted inside it's storage compartment. :S

You shouldn't have tied knots in it before stuffing it in the hole.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Mar 13, 2019
I have the style with the mouse hole where you push the cord back into the camper. Yes, it does get tangled up. (Thankfully mine is behind my kitchen drawers so I can pull them out to straighten it.)Yes, it is hard to push in and out, especially when cold. I would rather have the other style, I could make my kitchen drawers bigger then too. But, I will live with it the way it is.
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Mar 13, 2019
The first camper we had, a Coleman pop-up, had a mouse hole and I really didn’t like it. I always wondered why it wasn’t done like a boat. When I did our cargo trailer conversion, I put in a Marinco set-up. Our third camper had that darn mouse hole. One of the first mods was to install a Marinco. Our current camper came with the Marinco.
I cannot imagine connecting any other way. The cord comes out of a Rubbermaid tote and goes back in, wet, dry, dirty, whatever.
Westcoasting
Explorer
Mar 13, 2019
Lynnmor wrote:
Westcoasting wrote:

This is a great idea and one doesn't have to roll up the cord and store it after :)

As you drag that cord down the highway, wouldn't you be concerned that it might become unplugged? :h

Like i said before i have never had a problem in 30 plus years of pushing the power cord back in so i won't be dragging nothing down the road! I see your point though, you still need a second extension on the power cord to get it to the park connection.
opnspaces
Navigator III
Mar 12, 2019
Nice modification. I thought about doing the same as a mouse deterrent when camping. But instead I just jam a stick or wad of aluminum foil in the mouse hole to keep them out.

Yes a cold cord can be a pain to stow away. But typically by the time I get to the cord it's warmed up enough to easily push it back in the hole.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Mar 12, 2019
If one would attach a tether behind the plug, the cord will not get knotted. I use a large carabiner clip that is attached inside using a nylon strap. My wife is in charge of the electrical connection and has no issue since aborting the detachable setup. Just enough cord is pulled out to reach, and it is always wiped as it is put back in. When I talc the slide seals, I talc the cord as well.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 12, 2019
SoundGuy wrote:
... but a no cost solution that I've also employed is to cut the main service cable back so it's just long enough to reach the trailer's rear bumper where the connection to an extension cable can be made yet kept up off the ground

trail-explorer wrote:
Easier solution is to just not pull the entire 25' cable out.

Yeah, because it's tangled & knotted inside it's storage compartment. :S

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New shore power inlet installation

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