I made a stupid mistake on my last trip and left the electric cord to my tow vehicle too loose. It dragged on the ground and frayed the rubber insulation on the cord. The only lights that were affected were my running lights so I continued on my trip.Today, I took the trailer to the dealership to have it winterized and the electric cord repaired. They replaced the cord but I am concerned about the replacement cord they used. They used cord they had in stock and wired a new plug onto it but I am concerned about the quality of the replacement.The original cord was thick like the 30 amp cord for your hookups at an RV park. The new cord and plug they installed is very thin like a 16 gauge extension cord you would buy at Wal Mart. The new plug is also very small and flimsy compared to the original one. When I questioned the repairman about it, he told me that the cord just doesn't have as much insulation as the original one but is just fine. All my lights and brakes are working but I would appreciate an expert opinion on this. Thank you

SusanDallas wrote:I made a stupid mistake on my last trip and left the electric cord to my tow vehicle too loose. It dragged on the ground and frayed the rubber insulation on the cord. The only lights that were affected were my running lights so I continued on my trip.Today, I took the trailer to the dealership to have it winterized and the electric cord repaired. They replaced the cord but I am concerned about the replacement cord they used. They used cord they had in stock and wired a new plug onto it but I am concerned about the quality of the replacement.The original cord was thick like the 30 amp cord for your hookups at an RV park. The new cord and plug they installed is very thin like a 16 gauge extension cord you would buy at Wal Mart. The new plug is also very small and flimsy compared to the original one. When I questioned the repairman about it, he told me that the cord just doesn't have as much insulation as the original one but is just fine. All my lights and brakes are working but I would appreciate an expert opinion on this. Thank youFind a different dealer.If it is as I am picturing it in my mind, the plug wired to the cord is not a wheaterproof connection.The proper fix is to buy the entire heavy cord with the plug made into (moulded end)it. This is a common repair and they are available everywhere at modest cost. Lots of people do this.

Thing that grinds my gear!!!When you want nothing but the best and the dealer says."It will be just fine" And that one more reason to do the work myself!!

The RV ownership experience is hard. In order to make it sustainable for the long term, learn how to do simple things yourself. Repairing a frayed cord should be a simple fix you could do right in your driveway.

sch911 wrote:The RV ownership experience is hard. In order to make it sustainable for the long term, learn how to do simple things yourself. Repairing a frayed cord should be a simple fix you could do right in your driveway.And most parts are readily available on Amazon, eBay, etc.

Maybe Susan is perfectly capable of doing simple things herself, but doesn't always have the time to do so. I find myself in that situation quit frequently, perfectly capable, but find it is better worth my time to have someone else do it.

Electric Hookups to Tow Vehicle | Good Sam Community

Huntindog
Explorer
Dec 22, 2017
SusanDallas wrote:
I made a stupid mistake on my last trip and left the electric cord to my tow vehicle too loose. It dragged on the ground and frayed the rubber insulation on the cord. The only lights that were affected were my running lights so I continued on my trip.

Today, I took the trailer to the dealership to have it winterized and the electric cord repaired. They replaced the cord but I am concerned about the replacement cord they used. They used cord they had in stock and wired a new plug onto it but I am concerned about the quality of the replacement.

The original cord was thick like the 30 amp cord for your hookups at an RV park. The new cord and plug they installed is very thin like a 16 gauge extension cord you would buy at Wal Mart. The new plug is also very small and flimsy compared to the original one. When I questioned the repairman about it, he told me that the cord just doesn't have as much insulation as the original one but is just fine. All my lights and brakes are working but I would appreciate an expert opinion on this. Thank you
Find a different dealer.
If it is as I am picturing it in my mind, the plug wired to the cord is not a wheaterproof connection.
The proper fix is to buy the entire heavy cord with the plug made into (moulded end)
it. This is a common repair and they are available everywhere at modest cost. Lots of people do this.
RasMouSein
Explorer
Dec 22, 2017
Thing that grinds my gear!!!
When you want nothing but the best and the dealer says.
"It will be just fine"
And that one more reason to do the work myself!!
sch911
Explorer
Dec 22, 2017
The RV ownership experience is hard. In order to make it sustainable for the long term, learn how to do simple things yourself. Repairing a frayed cord should be a simple fix you could do right in your driveway.
jfkmk
Explorer
Dec 22, 2017
sch911 wrote:
The RV ownership experience is hard. In order to make it sustainable for the long term, learn how to do simple things yourself. Repairing a frayed cord should be a simple fix you could do right in your driveway.

And most parts are readily available on Amazon, eBay, etc.
troubledwaters
Explorer III
Dec 22, 2017
Maybe Susan is perfectly capable of doing simple things herself, but doesn't always have the time to do so. I find myself in that situation quit frequently, perfectly capable, but find it is better worth my time to have someone else do it.
Yeti_plus
Explorer
Dec 22, 2017
Look at the cord. It should have wire sizes and number printed or indented into the cable.
Should be 2 X 10 +1 X 12+ 4 X 16. Which is 2 #10 AWG plus 1 #12 AWG plus 4 16 AWG. The indenting is sometimes hard to read, so you may need a flashlight to bring out the contrast.
The difference in size is usually due to thicker rubberish insulation over all the conductors. For 12 volts it doesn't have to be heavy, but it is nice to keep moisture out of the conductors.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Dec 22, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
... the plug wired to the cord is not a wheaterproof connection. The proper fix is to buy the entire heavy cord with the plug made into (moulded end)
it.

I'm sure that by "wheaterproof" connection Huntindog means a waterproof connection and to get that you don't want to just install a new Bargman plug on the existing cable but replace the entire cable with a plug that's factory molded on to the cable so it can't leak water into the plug itself. Sold everywhere.
_1nobby
Explorer
Dec 22, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
waterproof connection and to get that you don't want to just install a new Bargman plug on the existing cable but replace the entire cable with a plug that's factory molded on to the cable so it can't leak water into the plug itself. Sold everywhere.

Agreed....a molded plug onto the cable is the BEST solution.

But sometimes not the easiest solution based on where ever the end of that cord snakes through the trailer.

A bargman plug, if sealed, will work just as well.
Trust me.... at the airport we don't change 300 ft of cable to replace a ground power plug that powers aircraft when on the ground. We replace the plug and seal it.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Dec 22, 2017
troubledwaters wrote:
Maybe Susan is perfectly capable of doing simple things herself, but doesn't always have the time to do so. I find myself in that situation quit frequently, perfectly capable, but find it is better worth my time to have someone else do it.

Till you drag the trailer to a dealer and then go back to get it, then do it all over again to have it repaired correctly, it just might take longer than simply attaching seven wires. The point is that one must learn to do the simple things or RV'ing will be a miserable experience.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 22, 2017
7-way Molded Trailer Umbilical Cord