Power cord length-recommendations?

[SilverHoot]

Just now starting to think about purchasing a power cord. I'm shopping for a 30amp inlet (taking recommendations on location for inlet) and want to buy a power cord at the same time. I've seen 10', 25', 30' and longer. I know that power drops happen the longer the cord is, so what is the optimal length that is recommended that works most places without extensions.

Thanks

[azflycaster]

Different RV parks have the power connections in different locations which makes it difficult to determine the best size. The cord on my trailer is around 20 feet long and runs out of the rear bumper. This works about 90% of the time, but positioning the trailer is sometimes critical. I carry an extension for the other 10%.

[SilverHoot]

Thanks Richard, think I will get either a 25' or 30' and locate the inlet at the rear.

[azflycaster]

In my travels I am seeing more and more RV parks with the power posts toward the front on the street side.

[noreen&sal]

Have a 20 foot cord in the rear and have occasions where I needed the extension just for a couple of feet. Sal.

[Minno]

I located the new 110 VAC power inlet in the middle of Little Girl. I figure that will cover shore power connections 95% of the time or better. We've been at campgrounds where the shore power post is in the middle of the trailer, and in rarer situations, at the front of the trailer. We have a 30 foot 30 amp power cord. Plus I have a 25 foot extension for those rare times we need it.

Chris

[moosetags]

We use our Airstream extensively in many situations and campgrounds. We have a 30' primary power cord (30 amp) and a 30' extension cord (heavy duty 30 amp RV cord). We have only needed the extension cord 3 or 4 times over the years. One of the places that we use the extension cord is in SuEllyn's Dad's yard in Jacksonville. Lucy has been hooked up there for as long as a month straight. We have not noticed any depletion of power while using the extension cord.

Brian

[SilverHoot]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

In my travels I am seeing more and more RV parks with the power posts toward the front on the street side.

Mines an open canvas now so i can locate it wherever makes most sense. Problem is I have no sense of where that might be having never trailered before!

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by SilverHoot

Mines an open canvas now so i can locate it wherever makes most sense. Problem is I have no sense of where that might be having never trailered before!

Some of the new trailers have two 30 amp power feeds (one in the front and one in the rear). That would be a very convenient feature.

Brian

[garry]

I have a 30' and don't remember having to use an extension at a campground but have used it at home.

Camping with our son in his Airstream he had to borrow our 20' extension at least twice before he "forgot" to give it back. I have since replaced our spare just in case.

I would recommend a 30' and carry a 20' extension just in case.

Lots of folks do not know;
A coiled electrical cord can generate twice the heat as opposed to uncoiled.

On edit.. our sons electrical cord is 20'.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Canadian trailers use a 36 foot city power cable.

We have used it as a replacement for many years, with "ZERO" problems.

Andy

[SilverHoot]

Originally Posted by moosetags

Some of the new trailers have two 30 amp power feeds (one in the front and one in the rear). That would be a very convenient feature.

Brian

That's a great idea. Need to weight the additional expense and and an additional perforation in the skin vs carrying an extension cord everywhere just in case...

[SilverHoot]

Where are the new Airstream's power inlets?

[Mexray]

You might want to do something similar to our new shore power cable installation...

Check out post #44, and #46 shops the actual components I used for this conversion...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f173...tml#post925376

[Jammer]

SilverHoot

I remember asking these same kinds of questions before I took delivery of the trailer.

On new trailers the power inlet is streetside, towards the rear. I believe the exact location does vary somewhat from one model to the next. Mine is within a foot or two of the rear bumper.

My cords are 25'. I have two, one 30A, one 50A; I use whichever matches the campground. I also carry in the trailer a 25', 30A extension, an adapter for using a 30A cord with a 20A outlet, and 25' and 100' 20A cords. I have available at home, 50' extensions for 30A and 50A, but they're heavy and big and I don't bring them unless I know I'll need them.

I have never been to a developed campground, open to the public, that had offered electricity but where a 25' cord would not work. I use the long cords when I'm parked in my driveway somewhere, and at ersatz "campgrounds" for special events. In my driveway, for example, I have a 50A outlet on one of the buildings where it was easy to install, but I usually park a little ways away from there and the cord won't quite reach.

Speaking with more experienced RVers, the usual answer I get is that they end up using the extension cord once a year at most. Often, it's not so much a matter of absolutely needing it as it is wanting to park in a particular spot where the cord won't quite reach (for reasons of wanting a better view or to leave room for a tent or something).

Finally, you're probably going to want to carry a 20A cord anyway, if for no other reason than that it's handy for power tools and the like, and in the rare cases where the outlet is more than 25' away you can use that with an adapter and just be careful not to run the A/C and the microwave at the same time.

[SilverHoot]

Jammer,

That is some excellent info ...thanks a lot!

[AirHeadsRus]

I just replaced my cord Friday with a 35' cord that I picked up from Vintage Trailer supply. They were out of stock for a while but have them now.
Regards,
Joe

[tkasten]

We do a bunch of boondocking so I replaced power cord with 35' so that it will reach the back end of my TV while it is in front of my trailer. My little twinky is only 22' so it works out perfectly.