Cheap 50 amp cord reel

[GMC4x42011]

Looked online for a 50 amp cord reel and the cheapest one I could find was $138 for a manuel.
Thought about using a hose reel, so I looked them up at Harbor Freight and found this: 100 Ft. Steel Air Hose Reel
I happen to have one where I live , so I picked one up and it works perfect for $17.99.

[chiro]

I have a similar rv the 365 saq. I am not trying to be smart but why do you need a reel? Is it easier to wind up, stores neater or what. The 50 amp cord is much heavier and bulky. I have been looking at the ones online. The one you installed looks great and it would fit in my unit.

[WEMig]

Nice, thanks for sharing!

[ependydad]

Nice! I may check that out. I currently wind the cord down into a 5-gallon bucket and it's a workout (especially if it's cold out!).

[GMC4x42011]

Yea the 50 amp cord is big and bulky. There is no way I could roll it up that tight without the reel. Just stretch it out straight and roll it up. No having to twist to get it to lay flat. Some people roll them up into a milk crate but I find this alot easier, if you have the room to mount it.

[RodeoGeorge]

I ordered 50' of 6/4 SOOW and made a new cord. A lot lighter, and much more flexible even in cold weather.

RodeoGeorge

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by RodeoGeorge

I ordered 50' of 6/4 SOOW and made a new cord. A lot lighter, and much more flexible even in cold weather.

RodeoGeorge

I just had to google "6/4 SOOW".. so - understand my level of education (aka none ). What's different about this vs. what comes with the camper?

It seems like for 50' of 6/4 SOOW - it's between $150-$175. I then assume you need 2 new connectors?

[RodeoGeorge]

The main difference is in the thickness of the outer jacket, which adds both bulk and weight to the "standard" 50A power cord. SOOW cable, electrically, is equal to the properties of the standard cable. In fact, the standard cable uses 8 or 10 AWG for the ground since it should not be carrying any current, and the SOOW will have 6 AWG. I could not find SOOW with 3 - 6AWG and a single 8 or 10 AWG.

In detail, the letters in "SOOW" stand for cable properties. The ‘S’ in SOOW cable means “Service.” For portable cords that begin with an S but are NOT followed by a J, the voltage rating is 600 volts. The ‘OO’ means the cable has oil resistant insulation and jacketing. The ‘W’ means the cable is weather and water resistant. Overall, SOOW cable resists oil, solvents, water, ozone, aging, and abrasion. It is also flame retardant, flexible, and durable.

After a lot of shopping around, I ordered mine from

SOOW | eBay

Free and fast shipping, believe it or not via USPS.

Found the connectors on eBay.

RodeoGeorge

[tmmar]

GMC,
Looks like you have the cable wound so that the end that plugs into the coach is last on the reel. How do you work it so that you can get to the end that plugs into the campground electrical box? Do you need to take the entire cord off the reel?
Thanks,
Tom

[RodeoGeorge]

No matter which way you wind the cable, one end is going to be on the bottom, unless you center roll it.

If you do center roll it, the unused portion will remain on the reel, and the compartment door will not close unless you have a motor home where the ends can be fed out the bottom.

RodeoGeorge

[GMC4x42011]

tmmar,
This is on a Sandpiper 376BHOK 5er. I have to take the cord off the reel. The camper plug is between the two back slides. I roll the male end up first because you can hook the prongs under the reel bracket and it holds it tight while you roll it up.

[tmmar]

Rodeo,
What is center rolling? Also, the compartment where my electric cord contains the socket where the one end of the cord plugs into and a hole on the bottom to feed the electric cord to the outside to attach to the pedestal.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by tmmar

Rodeo,
What is center rolling? Also, the compartment where my electric cord contains the socket where the one end of the cord plugs into and a hole on the bottom to feed the electric cord to the outside to attach to the pedestal.

Find the center of the cord and place it on the spool first and roll both ends in at the same time.

[RodeoGeorge]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Find the center of the cord and place it on the spool first and roll both ends in at the same time.

X2

Something that anyone that has been in the military and had to deal with LARGE cables learns very quickly. You do not have to roll the entire cable back up.

RodeoGeorge

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by RodeoGeorge

X2

Something that anyone that has been in the military and had to deal with LARGE cables learns very quickly. You do not have to roll the entire cable back up.

RodeoGeorge

x2

[tone100]

GMC4X4 I know I'm late to the party but I have the same trailer and that is an awesome idea for the cord. The forward basement is so small on the 376bhok every little bit of room helps. Did you just screw it directly to the floor? I want to do this.

[rscconrad]

Awesome idea. Gotta head to harbor freight with a 40 percent coupon

Thanks for sharing

Robert

[AVid]

I used mine all last season with a 50 amp cord and it works great. And, yes, I screwed it directly to the floor. It was so cheap I figured if it didn't work, I wasn't out much.

John

[tone100]

Is the floor metal?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forest River Forums mobile app

[AVid]

Originally Posted by tone100

Is the floor metal?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forest River Forums mobile app

The base of the reel is metal, the floor in the basement of my fiver is wood. I used 4 1/4X1 lag bolts to secure it. It hasn't come loose after a seasons use. It makes dealing with a heavy cord easy.

John

edit: Here's a picture of mine