Upgrading Travel Trailer Electric service

Hello, not sure if this is in the right forum, so my apologies if not. I have a 1968 Yellowstone TT, it is 16ft from bumper to hitch, the cab is only 13ft. Right now it only has one light (electric anyway, has another propane light as well) and I think 1 outlet, haven't went through the whole thing extensively, just recently bought it. Currently, installed by previous owner, it simply has a grounded outdoor extension cord, that runs from the breaker box to a standard 15/20 amp outlet.

I plan to at least add in a small dorm fridge, maybe a small 800 watt microwave. Future plans would maybe include a portable ac, (maybe if I get the inspiration a rooftop unit, but while I am handy with somethings, cutting open the roof would make me nervous lol), and at least another outlet or 2. Who knows what other modifications will spring to mind in the future.

So my first though was to upgrade the box and hook up 30 amp service like most TT's come with. But now I am thinking if I am upgrading anyway why not just go ahead and go all the way to 50 amp service? I doubt my little trailer will ever need that much electricity, but isn't better to have an not need than to need and not have? Also I have read that some people (while rare) have come across campsites with 50 amp only service, so if I just went with 30, I would have to downgrade to 15/20 amp while there? I am assuming that all have the 15/20 amp outlet, or would I just have no power?

Would upgrading it to the 50 amp service just be complete overkill? I am assuming the cost would not be that much of a difference considering I have to buy a new box and shore power cord anyway. This will be my first camping experience not in a tent so I don't know what all I might need power-wise. Any reasons not to go with 50 since I am redoing anyway?

Also had another thought of upgrading to 30 amps and then if and when I got the ac unit, just running a dedicated power cord from it to the campsite box, and advantages to this configuration over just going to 50 amps?

Any suggestions are helpful
Thanks
Tim

18 Replies

westend
Explorer
Jun 10, 2015
A lot depends on your type of camping. If you're a minimalist, keep it all as it is. If you want microwaves, a/c and maybe some other appliances, upgrading isn't difficult. I'd suggest to go with typical 30amp RV shore connections and size your new load center accordingly. Get a load center that has at least 10 full size breaker locations. That way you can distribute the power better and will have fewer mains trips. Typical 30 amp RV load centers are sorely lacking on this, choosing to have one to three or four breaker spots. What happens is that you can't turn off an appliance without killing a bunch of receptacles or another main appliance. Just get a 75 amp load center at the big box stores and equip it with a 30 amp, single pole main breaker.

I've actually done this upgrade to my '71 Starcraft. I demo'd the interior so ran all new wire and installed 50 amp service. The price is about equal for the interior parts but the 50 amp power inlet and the shore cord will induce sticker shock (maybe a bad choice with that last, lol). I was lucky to find a Marinco shore cord on a clearance table at CW. Otherwise, you're looking at $150-$300 for the cord. The power inlet and wire to the load center was an additional $75 (bought off E Bay). The cheaper solution is to install 30 amp service and an additional 20 amp service as an auxiliary for future A/C, electric water heater, or microwave. You already have the latter but check wire sizes if you plan to power the bigger appliances. I think you'll find that you have AWG 12 in the walls and it's too small for some A/C solutions.

If you want to see how one man outfits an old trailer, look through the thread in my signature line, "the Cowboy/Hilton". There are a lot of pictures in there about wiring and explanations.
opnspaces
Navigator III
Jun 10, 2015
I can't see any reason to have 50 amp service on a 19 foot trailer. To me that would just be throwing money away. It would be far cheaper to buy a $10 50/30 adapter for the unlikely event that you ever encounter a 50 amp only site.In truth without a rooftop ac and large microwave you probably don't even need a 30 amp service. But I would do the 30 amp anyway as that's what comes standard in most trailers.
tharless
Explorer
Jun 10, 2015
Definitely not planning on two large ac's, unless I want to convert it into a giant refrigerator lol. Was just thinking of maybe on of those small room ones you put the exhaust out a window.

You don't think I need to upgrade to add the fridge? I would be running the fridge, a tv, and a cpap machine all at the same time (fridge and cpap all night, tv till I go to sleep)?

I was thinking maybe a microwave, simply because I have a little one sitting in my garage, but in reality I probably would never use it, don't need to when I can build a fire :B.

I was aware that 50 amp service is actually 100 available amps, assuming everything is run on 110 power, and my service door and where the breaker box currently is, are right beside each other so no snaking a big wire through the camper, but I did not think about storing and maneuvering the big wire that needs to run to the campsite box. Thanks for pointing that one out.

I know I just signed up and posted my first time today, but while trying to figure things out I have been on the forum for a little while learning things and it nice knowing there are good people like you to help out those who need it. :)
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 10, 2015
30A serves us fine. I do run the water heater off a separate cord plugged into the pedestals 20A receptacle.
GordonThree
Explorer
Jun 10, 2015
50 amp service isnt just 20 more amps, it's actually 20 more amps plus a whole 'nother 50 amps. that is, you have to install a system to handle two 50 amp circuits. That means a special larger breaker box with a duplex 50 amp breaker, and a big old 50a service cable with 6ga wire to snake through various holes to get where it's going (hot + hot + neutral + ground.)
Slate_CM
Explorer II
Jun 10, 2015
Even if the cost were not that much more, I wouldn't see the need for 50 amp. Just the thickness of the wire required would make it more difficult to work with.

Although somewhere on here, it was brought up that maybe all RV's will go to 50 amp. But seems like that would be a ways off. And I believe that there are 50 to 30 adapters.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jun 10, 2015
Are you planning on adding two large A/C units? If not, then you have no use for 50a service.

Fact is you can run one AC unit on only 15a service if not much else is running.

If it was me (I have had 1960's era RVs) I would add the dorm fridge and go camping with it as is. If you add A/C then you can upgrade at that time if needed.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jun 10, 2015
I wouldn't want to wrestle around a 50 amp cord in the cold weather.
bumpy

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Upgrading Travel Trailer Electric service

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