Good morning everyone! Does anyone know who manufactures the 30 amp electrical cords for Forest River Rockwood Roos? (It is black on the plug end and has a yellow and black screw-on end at the camper end, but I don't see a brand stamped on it.) Ours has gone bad, and will just stop working for no explainable reason, and when DH goes outside and wiggles it, the power will flicker on and off until it gets "just right" and will work until it just randomly quits again. Frustrating. Especially when it's pouring down rain. :) Anyhoo, FR has told me that it's not covered under our second year warranty, but I figured it couldn't hurt a thing to contact the manufacturer directly and see if they would help us out, seeing as how it's almost $100 to order a new one.I guess a followup question to that will be, if we do end up having to buy one, is there a particular one that might last better than the original one did? We have not stepped on it or pulled it or anything, and I suspect the problem might be because of the way it sticks out awkwardly from the camper rather than going downward, if that makes any sense at all. Haven't finished my coffee yet this morning. :) Thanks, everyone!

It sounds like a loose connection. If you don't know someone with enough electrical experience, the dealer should be able and willing to fix it if he wants to keep you as a customer. Its highly unlikely the cable would need to be replaced.As an afterthought, even if you found out who made it, chances are that you don't speak Chinese. Lol

I could see how something like a power cord would be considered a wear item. You probably don't need to replace the whole cord, just the plug on the end. (I'm assuming that is where you have to 'wiggle' it to make it work?)

Type in "30 amp electric cord" into google search and select images when it loads up. Pick your poison from the photos.I use ETRAILER.com for all my trailer info needed. Most all the RV parts places will carry a replacement for your complete cable. LOWES and WALMART will most likely carry the replacement ends only if you just want to change that out.Being loose has probably already damaged (burned) the contacts on both sides of the connection point. Be sure to look for burned contacts. You may have to replace the socket on the trailer now as well...I order everything from AMAZON if I can come up with a part number...Roy Ken

Likely made by Marinco:If it's a molded cordset like in the picture, you can replace just the female end that connects to the trailer...there are two part #'s, one for the twist lock connector and one for the weatherproof cover with twist-lock ring, here.

Yes, the end we have to wiggle is the end that screws into the camper. Hadn't thought about just replacing the end; I will ask DH about that. Nothing is burned or even looks fishy- the power just won't stay on!Thanks for the suggestion to search google images, Roy. I will do that!BurbMan, our cord is black, just the screw-on portion is yellow, so not a match. Thanks though!!! I appreciate everyone's input!

Who Manufactured our 30 amp Electric Cord? | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

howellma
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013
we just had the same problem on our last trip to Fort Pickens, the last night it wouldn't make a connection, pulled it out and saw evidence of hot spots and melt marks, not very bad though. Spent the night with the windows open. when i got home we pulled it apart and one probe looked like it wasn't making good connection, arc evidence. We are still inside our year warranty, is this something that would be covered? Its really not that hard to fix. I already bought a new cord, so when this is fixed we will have a spare.
rock077
Explorer
Jul 27, 2013
RandK-M wrote:
I know everyone is focusing on the cord, but it could also be a bad connection on the inside of the plug that's on the trailer. Especially if there are no burn or arcing marks on the cord plug or the prongs on the trailer.

Normally when the live connection is making and breaking it will arc/spark and leave marks like little pits on the metal prongs.

Ray

I agree. Check the cord with a multimeter before you spend the money to replace it. I bet there is a loose connection in the trailer plug. The screws that hold the wires can vibrate loose if they were not installed properly.
Chuck_S
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
Turn the power OFF at the pole before connecting to the trailer to avoid damage as shown in the photos. The water heater is typically turned on and you'll get a 15+ amp spark at the plug.

Replacing the whole cord is not necessary. The Roo trailer connector is a standard marine (read expensive) 30a 110v AV twist lock connector available at boat sources; the shore end is a standard 30a "RV" connector you can buy at Home Depot for probably under 10 bucks. This is 110v 30a, not 230v. Different than a dryer plug for example. Read the labels on the connectors or you'll get the wrong plug.

-- Chuck
RandK-M
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
I know everyone is focusing on the cord, but it could also be a bad connection on the inside of the plug that's on the trailer. Especially if there are no burn or arcing marks on the cord plug or the prongs on the trailer.

Normally when the live connection is making and breaking it will arc/spark and leave marks like little pits on the metal prongs.

Ray
RoyB
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2013
Typical 30 AMP SCREW ON PLUG looks like this...

Take the plug out and first check the ends of the cable...

You should not see any indication of burn marks

A real bad case would look like this

Everytime you wiggle it it has to be burning the contacts somewhere...

Then look on the trailer side at the prongs sticking out. They also should all be clean and show no signs of burns. Notice the burned area in this photo..

Worse case will look something like this...

It all starts out by just not making a good contact and gets worse and worse. Needs to be replaced before more damage is done...

It is usually the other end of the 30AMP cable that see the burn marks first. The site pedestals are used so much they are getting worn out. I always look at the pedestal connector and if it is bad or burned I will not plug into it. Request another location...

This is what will happen to the other end if you plug it into a bad connection point.

NOTE GOOD...

Roy ken...
bikendan
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
BurbMan wrote:
Likely made by Marinco:

If it's a molded cordset like in the picture, you can replace just the female end that connects to the trailer...there are two part #'s, one for the twist lock connector and one for the weatherproof cover with twist-lock ring, here.

my '07 Roo had a Marinco cord. i had mine replaced under their warranty.
remember, many things in your trailer have their own separate factory warranty. some will be longer than the FR 1 or 2 year warranties.

a/c, fridge, furnace, awning, microwave, converter, roof, tent ends, water heater, frame, axles and so on.
BurbMan
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2013
I wouldn't pay attention to the colors....my cord is black with a yellow connector also...maybe post a picture of what your existing cord looks like. Marinco is "the" company that makes shore power cords and connectors for boats and RVs so it's likely what yours is too....
OLWalker
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
Yes, the end we have to wiggle is the end that screws into the camper. Hadn't thought about just replacing the end; I will ask DH about that. Nothing is burned or even looks fishy- the power just won't stay on!

Thanks for the suggestion to search google images, Roy. I will do that!

BurbMan, our cord is black, just the screw-on portion is yellow, so not a match. Thanks though!!! I appreciate everyone's input!
BurbMan
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2013
Likely made by Marinco:

If it's a molded cordset like in the picture, you can replace just the female end that connects to the trailer...there are two part #'s, one for the twist lock connector and one for the weatherproof cover with twist-lock ring, here.
RoyB
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2013
Type in "30 amp electric cord" into google search and select images when it loads up. Pick your poison from the photos.

I use ETRAILER.com for all my trailer info needed. Most all the RV parts places will carry a replacement for your complete cable. LOWES and WALMART will most likely carry the replacement ends only if you just want to change that out.

Being loose has probably already damaged (burned) the contacts on both sides of the connection point. Be sure to look for burned contacts. You may have to replace the socket on the trailer now as well...

I order everything from AMAZON if I can come up with a part number...

Roy Ken