50A Cable Storage

[Roadtech]

I have a 27FB International. My only exterior storage is the front compartment under the bed and the rear bumper storage which gets wet. The 50 amp cable is huge and heavy. I would be interested in anyone with this arrangement where/how you store this cable. I thought about some kind of plastic storage box but it will be difficult to maneuver it into the front compartment. Suggestions?

[JimGolden]

I have a 30 foot chord and a 15 foot chord. I keep them both in large tupperware type boxes under the dinette.

If your space is an odd shape, maybe you could coil your chord up and stick it in a bag of some kind, so that it could more easily conform to the shape of your storage area. I'd recommend cloth or burlap or something breathable, so that if your chord isn't 100% dry when you stick it in there, it would dry out. Heck a Southern States grass seed bag might be perfect. Simple and cheap.

The 50 amp chords are a bear, but it's nice having all that power! I converted my rig from 30a to 50a and never looked back

Best of luck,

[Protagonist]

Here's what I did for my 30-amp cord and my freshwater hose:

Gecko's Toes - Photo Gallery - Make it Mobile



It works well, BUT you have to buy the "air hose" size Gecko Toes® for a 30-amp or 50-amp cord; the extension cord size is too small for a cord that thick. Three Gecko Toes of the appropriate size, a large plastic cutting board (12×17 is what I used), some screws, a drill. That's all you need. Get a cutting board with a handle built in, and you can mount a dual coat hook somewhere to hang it from.

I also found that while the water hose can be wound on from the center outward as shown in the link, the shore power cord works better if wound from the outside toward the center.

[Jammer]

I have a 30a cord with a 50a Marinco end on it that fits the trailer and carry that in addition to the 50a cord. I only get the 50a cord out when it's necessary and when there is 50a available. The 30a cord is much more manageable and was well worth the money.

Might be something to try then you can put the 50a cord wherever you can fit it without as much regard to ease of access.

[richinny]

for a 50a cord i've been playing with a few containers. the oblong milk crate might work but the square one required too much bending. i'm thinking of a laundry basket next. i put the step in and toss it just inside the door so less bending is required. usually the first thing i want to do is get power hooked up for heating/cooling and to get the converter going. i bought a 30a to 50a marinco adapter from home depot so i could use my 30a cord for those quick overnight stops.

[Skater]

It's okay for the cord to get wet...after all, you're probably going to use it in the rain, right?

[AtomicNo13]

How about a zippered duffle bag?

[msmcv51]

If your tow vehicle is a pickup truck, how about in the bed of the truck.

[Roadtech]

Originally Posted by Skater

It's okay for the cord to get wet...after all, you're probably going to use it in the rain, right?

I thought about that, but didn't think it would be good to sit in water for any period of time.

[Roadtech]

Originally Posted by msmcv51

If your tow vehicle is a pickup truck, how about in the bed of the truck.

That's part of my problem, my tow vehicle is a Suburban.

[AtomicNo13]

My Furrion 50a cable was on the better side of $400. I wouldn't chance that to the openness of a pickup bed. I use Duffel bags for everything. I keep a short cable, dogbones, testers, gender benders and the like in one bag, a 30amp in another, and my whopper 50amp cable on yet another. I tow with an Excursion, so everything is at at the ready in the back.
I have also made a "cheater cord", that being a cord which is 30 amps on one end, and 50 on the other. The 50 amp end has the 2 hot legs bonded so everything inside will work. I just have to remember not to rev everything up at once. My Excella has an outside cord reel where I keep this one stored for quick deployment.... also eliminates the use of adapters which I despise!

[Wingeezer]

We have used the bumper storage tray ever since we got our AS about 5 years ago. We use it for 30 amp extension cable, water hose and extra hose, outside rubber door mat, and a few other things. never really had any problem with water - and if these items got wet, I can't imagine it would cause any problems. For me, the pull out bumper tray has been a perfect location for these things.

Brian.

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Roadtech

I thought about that, but didn't think it would be good to sit in water for any period of time.

Immersed in water, probably not. But if it's just randomly getting wet then drying, I wouldn't worry about it. Our rear bumper drawer gets wet, too (I have dreams of stripping off the carpet on it and spraying it with truck bedliner before it rusts out), and that's where I keep our extension cord, freshwater hoses, sewer hose, etc.

The cost of those cords is making me glad our camper is only 30 amp. Wow.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Skater

The cost of those cords is making me glad our camper is only 30 amp. Wow.

Having the ability to cool our trailer even in extremely hot, humid weather makes it worthwhile.

The reduced cost and hassle that comes from fewer propane refills makes up for the cost and hassle of the cord, since due to quirks of the RVIA/NEC code, manufacturers can't install an electric water heater without 50a service.

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Having the ability to cool our trailer even in extremely hot, humid weather makes it worthwhile.

Fair enough. We haven't had a problem so far, but I'm sure we'll run into it sooner or later. Also, I think that second A/C replaces the Fantastic Fan in the bedroom, which we use a lot.

The reduced cost and hassle that comes from fewer propane refills makes up for the cost and hassle of the cord, since due to quirks of the RVIA/NEC code, manufacturers can't install an electric water heater without 50a service.

Since you made that argument, I'll point out that $400 buys a lot of hot water. Our water heater doesn't use that much propane; one 30 lb tank of propane will last us through the entire season, both for hot water and cooking, until we start the furnace again, and we use our camper quite a bit. (Last year we took about 14 trips, ranging from two to five nights. Some of those were in cold weather, but most were in the May-September range, and didn't require the furnace.) We shower and do dishes using hot water in our camper, so we definitely use it.

So, at most I have one extra tank refill over the year (at less than $25), which takes 20 minutes. And, since I sold the motorhome and bought a trailer, I don't mind getting propane filled - it's easy, compared to the motorhome.

[SteveH]

I have a large storage area in the rear of our trailer, but all cords and hoses are coiled up, and secured in the coil with Velcro wraps, and then stored in two piles, one cords and one hoses. I have a 30 amp and the 50 amp cord, and unless it's hot enough to need two air conditioners, I use the 30 amp cord because it's such a battle coiling up and securing the big cord.

[Roadtech]

Originally Posted by Skater

Immersed in water, probably not. But if it's just randomly getting wet then drying, I wouldn't worry about it. Our rear bumper drawer gets wet, too (I have dreams of stripping off the carpet on it and spraying it with truck bedliner before it rusts out), and that's where I keep our extension cord, freshwater hoses, sewer hose, etc.

The cost of those cords is making me glad our camper is only 30 amp. Wow.

The 50a cord is so big, it nearly fills up the entire rear bumper storage area leaving little room for anything else. Also, it would be very easy to break into, and all that copper would be very tempting to a thief.

[SteveSueMac]

Would it work to roll it up and leave it in the trailer right at the entry on the floor? If it's that big and heavy, I doubt it would move much in travel and it would be waiting for you hen you get to your next site.

[PharmGeek]

I have the 50 amp (I think 30 foot) that came with my bunkhouse.....its pretty unweildy for sure...but doable...I have a fairly large rear compartment that I simply crudely roll up the 50 amp cord...use pretty large coil so as to squeeze the roll up so it can more easily slide into the compartement which is not very wide....but even with that, I kinda have to push it in rubbing against the gasket for the storage door...

This works "fine" for me, but the more I think about it, I think I like the idea of a large duffel bag or something to put it in when taking off for the trip and simply put in back of truck or right inside the airstream....or somesuch solution....

[Landrum]

I definitely understand why some would prefer two AC's, but I never thought about the cord issues with 50A service when shopping for a new AS. This thread makes me appreciate my "lightweight" 30A cordset.