camper electrical cord storage question

[maxwell11]

I know it's not a tow vehicle question, but when the trailer is hooked to the TV, it's kind of part of the total camping experience.

we bought a new Jayco 28ft trailer and it is a nice trailer,
only real problem we have had, the pull out electrical cord. They must have installed that cord on a 100 degree day and the cord had been stored in the sun all afternoon, so it was very soft.

when it's cold or cool, we have problems getting the cord out or back in the storage holder.

Question:
1. can I safely just cut the cord off so it only comes out of the trailer about 1 foot and use an extension cord to hook up my trailer to the campsite electrical power?

2. just use a extension cord, hook it to the trailer electrical cord, leaving the trailer electrical cord coiled up inside the trailer cord holding area?

******This option would be easy, but is it safe to have the wire coiled up inside the trailer as its being used?*****

I can produce pictures of bloody, skinned hands trying to push this XXXXX stiff cord back into the trailer storage area. cord storage area is in center of the back of the trailer, behind the bike rack, the cord storage box area is very small, the cord fits fine on a hot summer day: cool, cold day, not so much.

I plan to do something before next camping season, just want others thoughts on solving the problem.

thanks for any information on solving this problem.

[maxwell11]

thanks for the information.

I will check with my dealer, but I like the idea of just pulling the trailer cord out a ft or two and plugging in my extension cord,
the extension cord is the same size wire as the trailer cord.

[goducks10]

If it were me and it is me I have a similar type of 'stuff it in a box' cord. At home I only pull out 1-2' and use my home cord to plug it into the home outside plug in. Out camping I either use the 5'ers cord or drag the softer home one out and do what I do at home. I would rather spend the money on another power cord so I have two. I take the home cord camping and use it with the gen. We try and place the gen away from us so we need the two cords. Also some CG's have the power in weird places so on occasion I've had to drag out the home cord as well.

[mkirsch]

diazr2 wrote:
Why would you have to cut the cord to do that? Just use your extension cord with the main line.

Coupl'a reasons:

1. Power at RV parks and campgrounds is iffy to poor most of the time. The farther it has to travel, the more voltage drop you get. Anything you can do to shorten the path to your RV will help.

2. You don't have to buy an expensive extension cord. All you need is a mating pair of L5-30 twistlocks, or some other appropriate 30A 120V connection.

[RoyB]

Just be sure you connect up all three wires in the plug/connector (HOT-NEUTRAL-GROUND) if you make changes.

This is the only way the trailer frames get its FRAME GROUND for lightning protection through the THREE WIRE Shore Power Cable..

I personally like the DISCONNECT TYPE Shore Power Cable best but it does require you to find a suitable storage place for it when not in use. Being disconnected also makes it a prime target for thieves.

If you disconnect the 25-foot pull-out RV30A shore power cable be sure to purchase a RV FEMALE PLUG and make an RV30AMP Extension Cord out of it... We seem to always have a need for another RV extension cord around here. Some camp grounds doesn't have their PEDESTAL close enough some times.

Roy Ken

[Dadoffourgirls]

I would recommend that you go post on the Jayco owners forum. This is a common situation on many of the Jaycos (mine included).

[Ron3rd]

12thgenusa wrote:
You can buy a conversion kit to convert your cord to a detachable one. The down side is you have to find a place to store the cord. A more expensive solution is to replace the cord with a more flexible one.

That would be the way I would do it. Convert it over to external cable hook up and get rid of the mouse hole.

[12thgenusa]

You can buy a conversion kit to convert your cord to a detachable one. The down side is you have to find a place to store the cord. A more expensive solution is to replace the cord with a more flexible one.

[DutchmenSport]

I had this problem this winter as we had to take the camper on the road several times, but I keep it plugged in 24x7 too. I ended up with 2 - 50 foot 30 amp extension cords. I use both of them (because of where the camper is currently sitting and where the electric cord comes out of the camper), and just pull the trailer umbilical cord out about 5 inches. When we've had to take the camper on the road, it's easy to unhook, leave the 100 foot line on the ground and go.

I would NOT cut the cord on the camper unless you switch over the type of plug where you can unplug the cord completely from both ends. When you're using the camper this summer, you'll be glad you kept the full cord. Beside, those 30 amp extension cords don't sell cheap either! (They average about $2.00 a foot depending on where you purchase them).

[Sandia_Man]

Our rig was similar in that we had to stuff our shore power cord into a small, very tight area that included our converter, AC circuit breakers and DC distribution panel. We simply cut the cord and attached the appropriate plug ends, that way we could store shore power cord in our passthrough basement where there is room aplenty.

[SAR_Tracker]

The BEST way would be to shorten the existing cord, putting the appropriate connectors on the cut ends. I've found the "female" ends for my 30amp cord at Lowes, but had to go to a RV store for the "male" end. I store the long "external" cord in a plastic crate.

Check out this website for further information on how to hook up the wires.

[edsland]

You can use a 30 amp rv extension cord, I own one I case my electric box is too far for cord to reach. The only thing is the plugs are really tight to put on and take off.

[diazr2]

Why would you have to cut the cord to do that? Just use your extension cord with the main line. Just don't try and pull the main line all the way out. Just pull it out a ft or two. When you only use an extension cord you don't get the use of all the electrical power in your rig. Smaller cords mean more heat build up in the line and more problems your solution should include leaving the main cord it's the best option. IMHOP. The electrical guys on this list will be able to give you the reasons for this. But just know bigger is better.

[the_bear_II]

A lot of RVs now come setup like boats. The cords are separate from the RV. You plug the cord into the RV and the other end into the campsite pedestal.

You could re-wire and add the plug on the side of the RV and then get a new cord with the correct ends or add an end to the cord you cut off.

[enblethen]

Yes, however I would but the two foot long replacement cord assembly and a female 30-TT cord body. You will have the same final product.
Replacement male cord
Female cord body