My cord is too short

bgrhrdt · 07-03-2022, 12:59 PM

It's the story of my life.

But....

... this has happened a couple times recently. I've pulled in to a site, decoupled, leveled, and realized my cord would'nt reach the pedestal. Now, I try to remember to check before I go thru all that, but sometimes I could use a little more length. I've been looking at 10' 50 amp ext cords and it seems the prices can vary quite a bit.

Is there a particular gauge I should make sure I'm getting or are there quality concerns I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

bsmith0404 · 07-03-2022, 01:56 PM

I believe most of your 50A extension cords are going to be 6g. I thought that was pretty standard. Personally I’d get at least a 25’ cord. I’ve been to sights where it was needed and a 10’ wouldn’t have been long enough. Did you get in around trees and have to deal with positioning for your slides to open, it’s better to not have to worry about how long the cord, water hose, and sewer hose is as well.

Javi · 07-03-2022, 02:03 PM

I have carried a 25 foot extension cord for years.

jsb5717 · 07-03-2022, 02:25 PM

I got a 15’ extension from Amazon. So far it’s about right.

xrated · 07-03-2022, 03:12 PM

I bought a 30' extension cord several years ago and have had to use it a few times. Always better to have more than you need and not the other way.

wiredgeorge · 07-03-2022, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgrhrdt

It's the story of my life.

But....

... this has happened a couple times recently. I've pulled in to a site, decoupled, leveled, and realized my cord would'nt reach the pedestal. Now, I try to remember to check before I go thru all that, but sometimes I could use a little more length. I've been looking at 10' 50 amp ext cords and it seems the prices can vary quite a bit.

Is there a particular gauge I should make sure I'm getting or are there quality concerns I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

It would sure help if you put together a signature with year, make and model of your camper and same for tow vehicle. Under UserCP and make sure you save it. Next thing is that it would be best to position your camper for hooking up to the pedestal, connect the power cord and then level. That way, the 12V needed for your landing gear isn't relying on your battery and you can't level till you unhook from you tow vehicle.

bgrhrdt · 07-03-2022, 04:14 PM

That's strange because when I have logged in from my computer in the past, all that info is there. But now on my phone traveling it doesn't show up.

bgrhrdt · 07-03-2022, 04:15 PM

That's great advice

rhagfo · 07-03-2022, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgrhrdt

It's the story of my life.

But....

... this has happened a couple times recently. I've pulled in to a site, decoupled, leveled, and realized my cord would'nt reach the pedestal. Now, I try to remember to check before I go thru all that, but sometimes I could use a little more length. I've been looking at 10' 50 amp ext cords and it seems the prices can vary quite a bit.

Is there a particular gauge I should make sure I'm getting or are there quality concerns I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

Typically a 50 amp cord is made of 6/4 cable. I built my own, planed 20’ ended up at just shy of 23’. I bought 20’ of 6/4 SOOW cable at HD for $5.58 a foot. I had the male plug, but needed to buy the female end for $24.95.

Here is my post on it.

https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=52077

I will add that my main cable is 40’ of 6/4 SOOW cable, that fits in a 3 gallon bucket.

wiredgeorge · 07-03-2022, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgrhrdt

That's great advice

See the signature fine now! I never have used an extension cord as I carefully place my camper to make sure my slide doesn't hit the pedestal and I am within reach of the pedestal to plug in. I have enough water hose and sewer hose that those two hook ups are not my main concern. When operating your landing gear and slides, you should be on shore power because they both drain your rig's battery.

ChuckS · 07-04-2022, 04:19 AM

I just use a visual reference on my fifth wheel when I pull int9 a space .. I look at the LG and if they are Ahead if the power pedestal then I know my 50 amp cable will reach..

My plug in is at the rear of my Alpine and if the LG are behind the power pedestal I know my cord won’t be able to reach

rhagfo · 07-04-2022, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javi

I have carried a 25 foot extension cord for years.

Javi, have you ever used it? I ask as my regular cable is 40’ and have yet to need an extension cord. Well that was until we were going to spend the month at my daughters place. Looked like we were going to be 50’+ from the 30 amp outlet I installed. Well she trimmed an apple tree allowing us to park on the near side of a light pole. Now the 40’ works! Maybe some day I will get to use it.

**sourdough** · 07-04-2022, 08:16 AM

My cable is 36' long for the trailer. I have carried a 15' extension for years and it's never been unrolled. In some locations the utilities are placed pretty weird. I have lots of water hose and quite a bit of sewer hose so I can situate pretty well in campsites so that I don't have to use extensions for the sewer (once) or power. Of course I assess the sight when I get to it and as I park to make sure things fit like I want as I'm sure others do as well.

bsmith0404 · 07-04-2022, 08:39 AM

I’ve used 50A 25’ cord once. I also had a 30A cord from a previous trailer that I had kept and carried with me, used to use it with a dog bone until I bought the 50A cord. I sold it to a guy at an RV park. He showed up, didn’t have one and needed it. I was letting him use it, but we were leaving a couple days before him, so sold it to him for $20. Helped him out, saved him some $$ and got one thing I no longer needed out of my rv.

**JRTJH** · 07-04-2022, 09:22 AM

My shore power cable is 30'. I carry a 35' extension cable. The ONLY time I've ever even taken it out of the passthrough is at a campground where the power pedestal on the campsite was not properly connected (ground missing) and the EMS woulnd't pass through power. The campground gave me the choice of moving to the adjacent site or just plugging in there and staying where we were set up. I elected to break out the extension cord rather than tear down, rehitch, move 20' and then set up camp again.

Other than that one time, the extension cord has never been uncoiled or plugged in.

**flybouy** · 07-04-2022, 10:07 AM

Our unit is 30 amp but that's really irrelevant. I converted from mouse hole to twist lock years ago. Use 30' power cable and have a 25' extension. We've stayed in 2 campgrounds where we needed the extension. Both were oddball sites in very old campgrounds. Just like the extra sewer hose or clean water hose it's better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it.

LHaven · 07-04-2022, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgrhrdt

That's strange because when I have logged in from my computer in the past, all that info is there. But now on my phone traveling it doesn't show up.

People naturally assume the mobile version of the site carries all the information of the desktop version, but it just plain doesn't.

The two major differences are no signatures, and hotlinks aren't apparent (they still work, but they're not underlined or colored to indicate they're clickable).

rhagfo · 07-04-2022, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LHaven

People naturally assume the mobile version of the site carries all the information of the desktop version, but it just plain doesn't.

The two major differences are no signatures, and hotlinks aren't apparent (they still work, but they're not underlined or colored to indicate they're clickable).

You can select to view full site, at least on an iPhone.