Shore power adapters/refit for 5th wheel

[RobertN]

Anyone have feedback on a good shore power adapter/refit for a 5th wheel?

My 5th wheel has the mouse hole style cover, and all the 30amp service cable gets stuffed thru that when stored. My wife and both have about ripped that cover out of the side of the RV. And, as it was a used trailer to begin with, it is apparent it happened before we got it.

We have had it a couple years now, and are tired of that. We'd like to convert it to a shore power type receptacle and plug.

Anyone done that? Recommendations? I was looking at the "ParkPower" 30amp detachable conversion kit.

 

[rasimmo]

I worked as an RV tech for a while. I have never done that, but it should be pretty easy. I have not looked at the conversion kit though. The only thing I can think that might be a problem is the hole where the wire goes in. The receptacle type are smaller than the hole for the one you have now. I know it has been a couple weeks, you probably have it done already.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My 5th wheel camper has the 30 amp shore power cord that stores inside the camper...
The kit that you are looking at should give you what you want...
I've never installed that type of retrofit but it looks like it would work well for you...

 

[wolfpack2]

I installed one of these years ago on my old RV. It worked great for the 5 year we had the unit and took less than an hour to install. On our trailer, when you would push the cable back inside the trailer it would go into the kitchen base cabinet. Most of the time it would open the cupboard door a the cable would be all over the floor. After a couple of trips, I found this product and had it fixed. The kit contained a trim ring that fit perfectly where the original "mouse" hole was. To install it , you simply cut the power cable and connect the adapter in the middle, screw it to the side of the trailer, caulk and your done.

30 Amp RV Detachable Power Conversion Kit | Marinco

 

[Bigfoot62]

Might be a dumb question,

But, why would you want to block off the storage compartment that was designed for the power cord, in order to have a detachable cord that you now have to roll up when wet and muddy and try to find a place to put it?

 

[jeffsw6]

Bigfoot62, because those power cords do not stuff into the storage compartments easily, and they develop tons of nasty cable memory if left in there for a long time, so they are then hard to pull back out, especially when cold. It's just a PITA way of stowing the cable.

 

[RobertN]

I did get the Marinco/Park Power kit; it arrived Friday. I installed it yesterday after I got home from duck hunting. It was super simple to do. I also reinforced behind the lower part of the original hole, as one of the screws had been torn out.

This is a 10 year old RV. It was very apparent that whoever had it before we got it two years ago, had about ripped the "mouse hole" off the side trying to get the cold cable out, as jeffsw6 mentioned. And thanksgiving weekend, my wife and I about did the same, while setting up along the coast, with it raining when we arrived.

The lost storage, is a hidden compartment anyways. The cable storage "hole" was next to the end of the fresh water tank, under the convertible sofa. It is pretty inaccessible, short of adding another small door on the side of the 5th wheel.

 

[not2old]

My trailer is a 1993 model with a 6"x6" door for the cable to go into an otherwise empty compartment. I have no trouble getting the cord in or out and am able to store extra adapters in there as well. I'm actually able to coil the cord inside if I don't want to just push it in.

 

[techwrtr2]

Might be a dumb question,

But, why would you want to block off the storage compartment that was designed for the power cord, in order to have a detachable cord that you now have to roll up when wet and muddy and try to find a place to put it?

I can think of another reason why you might want to beyond those mentioned. We believe the shore power line is how some of the mice invaded our smaller trailer. When it's all closed up, they may not get in but we often have the trailer connected to power to keep the lights working, mice walk up a nice easy road inside.

 

[RobertN]

I thought about that option too. I have one next to the 5th wheel pin box, to hold the trailer cable/connector when it is not hooked up to the truck.

I like the clean connect/disconnect with the setup I got though.

My trailer is a 1993 model with a 6"x6" door for the cable to go into an otherwise empty compartment. I have no trouble getting the cord in or out and am able to store extra adapters in there as well. I'm actually able to coil the cord inside if I don't want to just push it in.