Replacing a 30 amp male plug on Class C umbilical cord

[John_S2]

The molded 30 amp plug on my umbilical cord is pulling away from the cord. Tried pushing it back but to no avail.

Should I replace the plug or the whole umbilical cord and plug? The cord goes into my rig and disappears behind the refrig so whole cord replacement could get complicated.

Is it easy to just replace the plug? If so, any recommendations on a brand or style of plug? Do not want to cut any corners with a cheapo plug that is not weatherproof or durable. The original one has done well for the past 15 years.

Thanks for any and all suggestions and tips.

[jerb]

as mentioned unfortunately its hard to find a decent plug, i usually go buy a 30 foot rv extension chord, cut the female end off and hard wire it into the breaker panel, them molded plugs are hard to beat, as others have said, updating to the morinco quick connect is definately a good idea!

[John_S2]

Thanks to everyone for all the great ideas and suggestions.

[Bob_Landry]

Do the mod for a detachable cord, replace the plugs with quality ones(Marinco) and that problem goes away.

[John_S2]

Looking online the Progressive male plug looks pretty good. Looking at the TT-30P plug.

[j-d]

That Progressive Industries part Chris suggests really looks good. Worth the price premium of not more than about $10 over the Big Box ones.
The plug on our old 1984 coach was decently made till you got to the steel screws and washers on its screw terminals. I don't know what they're called, but there are electrical washers with stamped edges that keep twisted wire from squeezing out from under a screw even with an ordinary washer. I salvaged them from something and had three for the TT-30 plug. With those and stainless screws I was able to get things tightened up to where the plug no longer got hot.
Chris' plug takes care of all that right out of the box.

[Horizon170]

smkettner wrote:

John S wrote:
The molded 30 amp plug on my umbilical cord is pulling away from the cord. Tried pushing it back but to no avail.

Try again. On a hot day lay the cord out full length in the sun for an hour. Then start by the RV and work your way toward the plug using a sliding grip to work the outer casing out to the plug. Use some adhesive at the plug to hold it in place. I used JB Weld.

Otherwise get the Camco or Marinco with a grip handle. Although these don't always fit in the mouse hole. Progressive Industries has a plain plug end. I would not trust the stuff I see at the hardware store.

Great idea-------JB Weld saves the day for me often.
My SIL told me today that JB Weld makes one for plastic now.

[travisc]

I just go to walmart and get a new cord- and cut the plug off the end and wire it to the RV- if I think about it I get a replacement plug and have another extension cord....

[Clay_Smith]

It is very common for the outer jacket of the power cord to shrink back and separate from the molded plug as it ages. If you replace the cord it well happen again. Now that the outer jacket had shrunk with age, you could easily fix it by just replacing the plug.
I recommend the plug by "Park Power" by Marinco over "Camco" after working with both.

[Chris_Bryant]

smkettner wrote:

John S wrote:
The molded 30 amp plug on my umbilical cord is pulling away from the cord. Tried pushing it back but to no avail.

Try again. On a hot day lay the cord out full length in the sun for an hour. Then start by the RV and work your way toward the plug using a sliding grip to work the outer casing out to the plug. Use some adhesive at the plug to hold it in place. I used JB Weld.

This ^^^^^. As long as the plug itself is in good condition (I use goop to glue the casing to the plug).

If replacement is required, I highly recommend the Progressive Industries one- it has real lugs for the wire, rather than a simple screw terminal like most of the others, and a round ground pin, rather than U shaped.

[old_guy]

I had that same problem with mine and they didn't make a small enough replacement plug head to go back into my TT. I had to duck tape it when I traveled. I finally found one last year, they just came out with this new style. I also got one from home depot but it was junk and would not go into the small storage hole either. like I said thereis one out there, just have to get an rv dealer find it for you.

[time2roll]

John S wrote:
The molded 30 amp plug on my umbilical cord is pulling away from the cord. Tried pushing it back but to no avail.

Try again. On a hot day lay the cord out full length in the sun for an hour. Then start by the RV and work your way toward the plug using a sliding grip to work the outer casing out to the plug. Use some adhesive at the plug to hold it in place. I used JB Weld.

Otherwise get the Camco or Marinco with a grip handle. Although these don't always fit in the mouse hole. Progressive Industries has a plain plug end. I would not trust the stuff I see at the hardware store.

[ScottG]

It would be easier to just replace the plug.
Sadly there seems to be no more quality plug than the standard Camco item many RV places sell. I held out for a Marinco (hoping it was better) but its quality was no better.
Maybe someone else knows of a better make.