How We Repaired Our RV 30-Amp Power Cord After Dragging It 40 Miles

Full-time RV travel has a way of teaching you to expect the unexpected.

Sometimes that means finding an incredible place you didn’t know existed. Sometimes it means arriving somewhere after the tourist season has ended and discovering you’re one of the only people left in town.

And sometimes it means discovering that your RV’s 30-amp electrical plug has been dragging down the highway for the last 40 miles.

That was one of the surprises waiting for us as we traveled south after Ed finished working the sugar beet harvest in North Dakota.

Before the trip was over, we’d explored Theodore Roosevelt National Park, wandered around nearly deserted Medora, visited Wall Drug and Badlands National Park, camped in the Nebraska National Forest—and learned a very useful lesson about RV electrical cords.

Here’s what happened.

Leaving Fargo and Heading West

After Ed finished the sugar beet harvest, we celebrated with dinner at Spitfire Bar & Grill in Fargo before finally getting back on the road.

We were heading west across North Dakota on Interstate 94, eventually working our way south toward Arizona.

Our first overnight stop was a free camping area just east of Bismarck.

It was a simple stop, but exactly what we needed. The parking area was level enough that we didn’t even bother unhitching. We put down the stabilizers and settled in for the night.

Since it was hunting season, we also had to think about General.

Friends had given us an orange safety vest, so we wrapped it around him when we took him for a walk. A big yellow Lab probably doesn’t look much like a deer, but during hunting season we’d rather make him as visible as possible.

We had the entire camping area to ourselves.

Discovering the Enchanted Highway

Continuing west on Interstate 94, we kept seeing signs for something called the Enchanted Highway.

Then we passed one of the enormous roadside sculptures near Gladstone.

Naturally, we had to figure out what this was.

The Enchanted Highway runs south from Gladstone toward Regent, North Dakota, with a series of huge metal sculptures along the route.

We didn’t drive the entire highway on this trip, but it was exactly the kind of unexpected roadside attraction we love stumbling across while traveling.

That’s one of our favorite things about RV life.

Sometimes the places you didn’t plan to visit are just as memorable as the ones you did.

Our First Look at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

About six miles east of Medora, we stopped at the Painted Canyon area of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The visitor center is conveniently located near Interstate 94, making this an easy stop even if you’re simply traveling through the area.

And the view is spectacular.

The colorful layers of the landscape stretch out below the overlook, giving you a wonderful introduction to the North Dakota Badlands before you’ve even entered the main section of the park.

We highly recommend stopping here.

Then we continued into Theodore Roosevelt National Park itself.

And almost immediately, there were buffalo.

Lots of buffalo.

Camping in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Late October

We stayed at the campground inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora for three days.

There was just one complication.

It was October 26.

We were definitely visiting at the tail end of the season.

Most of the area’s tourist businesses had already closed, and many of the park’s seasonal services had shut down as well.

That included the water.

There was one water source still operating in the park, but it wasn’t something we could attach our hose to and use to fill the RV’s fresh-water tank.

So we improvised.

We had saved a couple of one-gallon water containers, and we began filling those at the available water source.

Two gallons at a time, we carried water back to the trailer and poured it into our supply.

Was it convenient?

Not particularly.

But that’s part of RVing.

Sometimes you have hookups. Sometimes you carry water two gallons at a time.

We decided to look at it as another little self-sufficiency challenge.

The Advantages—and Disadvantages—of Visiting Medora Late in the Season

Medora was nearly deserted.

We stopped for gas and discovered an old-fashioned system where Ed left his card inside, the attendant turned on the pump, and he came back inside afterward to pay for however much fuel he’d pumped.

Most of the shops and tourist attractions were already closed.

A local woman explained that there were only a handful of businesses still operating for the late-season “stragglers.”

Apparently, that’s what we were.

So Ed became Mr. Straggler, I became Mrs. Straggler, and naturally General became General Straggler.

There are disadvantages to arriving this late in the year. Restaurants, shops and attractions may be closed, and campground services can be limited.

But there are advantages too.

There were almost no crowds.

We could wander around town, explore the park and enjoy the scenery without dealing with the heavy traffic that comes with peak tourist season.

Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The next day, we headed farther into Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The scenic road normally forms a loop, although construction meant we could only drive partway before turning around during our visit.

That didn’t matter much.

There was plenty to see.

The park is famous for its wildlife, and we saw plenty of buffalo. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is also known for prairie dogs and wild horses.

Near the visitor center, we visited the Maltese Cross Cabin, which Theodore Roosevelt used during his time ranching in the Dakota Territory in the 1880s.

The visitor center had additional exhibits about Roosevelt’s time in North Dakota and his connection with the region.

After three days in Medora, however, it was time for the Stragglers to continue south.

Wall Drug and the Badlands

Our next destination was South Dakota.

We knew of a boondocking area near Badlands National Park that offered some incredible views, so we drove out to take a look.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a spot where we felt comfortable setting up the trailer.

Some of the sites were very close to the cliff edge.

Between worrying about General wandering too close and our own dislike of heights, we decided this particular boondocking spot wasn’t for us.

One of the most important things we’ve learned while RVing is that you don’t have to stay somewhere simply because other RVers love it.

If a campsite doesn’t feel right for you, keep going.

So we headed back toward Wall.

Spending the Night at Wall Drug

We ended up in the parking area at Wall Drug.

There were signs indicating no camping, so rather than assuming it was okay, we went inside and asked.

The employee told us we could stay overnight as long as we weren’t loud or disruptive.

That worked perfectly for us.

Wall Drug itself is difficult to describe if you’ve never been there.

It’s part store, part restaurant, part museum, part tourist attraction and part maze.

What began as a small drugstore has grown into a sprawling collection of connected shops and attractions.

We wandered through the complex, looked at the displays and explored the pharmacy museum.

It is definitely one of those places you have to experience at least once.

Back Through Badlands National Park

We had visited Badlands National Park before, but we were happy to see it again.

The landscape is extraordinary.

Massive formations suddenly rise out of the surrounding prairie, creating a landscape that looks completely different from almost anything around it.

Every time we’re there, we find ourselves wondering what the early pioneers must have thought when they came upon this landscape while traveling west.

On this trip, Ed explored part of the park while General and I stayed with the trailer. The next day, we drove through the Badlands together as we continued south.

And that’s when our next RV adventure began.

Our RV Electrical Disaster

We eventually pulled into a campground in Nebraska.

We had an electric site and were looking forward to plugging in for the night.

There was just one problem.

We couldn’t.

Our trailer’s 30-amp electrical plug was destroyed.

The cord normally stored inside a compartment in the trailer, but the plug had always been a little troublesome. It could work its way loose and come out of the opening.

This time it had.

Somewhere along the road, the plug slipped out.

We estimate that it dragged behind the trailer for about 40 miles.

By the time we discovered it, the end of the plug had literally been ground flat against the highway.

There was no plugging that into anything.

Finding a Replacement 30-Amp RV Plug

We weren’t exactly sitting next door to a large RV dealership.

We were in rural Nebraska.

Ed started calling around and eventually found a hardware store in Mullen that had a replacement 30-amp plug that could be wired onto the existing cord.

The store was about 45 miles away.

He drove there, bought the replacement plug and brought it back to the campground.

The plug itself cost around $17.

Now he just had to install it.

At night.

With a flashlight.

Because that’s how these things seem to happen.

Can You Replace a 30-Amp RV Plug Yourself?

Before this happened, Ed had never installed a replacement plug on the end of our RV’s 30-amp cord.

But the replacement came with instructions, and we had basic tools with us.

He used a multi-head screwdriver, wire cutters and wire strippers to prepare the damaged cord and attach the replacement plug.

It wasn’t a complicated collection of specialty tools.

And by the end of the evening, we could plug the trailer into shore power again.

Instead of finding an RV service center, arranging an appointment and potentially paying considerably more for the repair, we were back up and running with a replacement part that cost about $17.

That experience reinforced something we’ve learned repeatedly while traveling:

Don’t automatically assume you can’t fix something.

Sometimes you can’t.

But sometimes the solution is a trip to the hardware store, a few basic tools and a set of instructions.

Of course, RV electrical systems can be dangerous. If you’re uncomfortable working with electrical wiring or aren’t confident that you understand the instructions, getting professional help is the better choice.

The Hardware Store That Saved the Day

We also have to give credit to the people at the hardware store.

They knew exactly what Ed needed and even offered to stay open long enough for him to get there if necessary.

Fortunately, he arrived before closing.

Interestingly, when Ed explained what had happened, the man at the store immediately understood.

“You dragged the cord behind your trailer, didn’t you?”

Apparently, we weren’t the first RVers to do it.

And we probably won’t be the last.

Should You Carry a Spare 30-Amp RV Plug?

After this experience, we think carrying a replacement plug is worth considering, particularly if your RV has a cord storage system similar to ours.

A spare plug doesn’t take up much room.

Neither do the basic tools needed to install one.

You may never need it.

But if your electrical plug gets damaged when you’re miles from the nearest RV service center, having that inexpensive part tucked away in your toolbox could save you a lot of trouble.

At the very least, regularly inspect the way your power cord is stored before traveling.

Make sure the plug is completely secured and can’t work its way out while you’re driving.

We learned that lesson the hard way.

A Temporary Fix to Keep It From Happening Again

Replacing the plug solved the electrical problem, but we still needed to keep the new plug from falling out again.

So Ed created a temporary retaining system from things we already carried.

A hose clamp, a piece of wire, some hardware left over from another project and a couple of self-tapping screws gave us a way to secure the cord.

It wasn’t fancy.

It didn’t need to be.

It just needed to keep our brand-new plug from bouncing down the highway.

That’s why we carry tools and assorted repair supplies in the RV.

You never know what you’ll need until you need it.

And, according to Ed, clothes hangers deserve a place in the RV repair kit too.

Basic Tools Worth Carrying in Your RV

You don’t need to haul an entire workshop around the country, but a small collection of basic tools can make a huge difference when something goes wrong.

Things like a multi-bit screwdriver, wire cutters, wire strippers, pliers, electrical tape, hose clamps, zip ties and a good flashlight can solve an amazing number of little problems.

A basic multimeter can also be useful for troubleshooting electrical problems if you know how to use one safely.

And after our experience?

A spare 30-amp replacement plug doesn’t sound like a bad idea either.

One More Unexpected Stop: Nebraska National Forest

Once the electrical problem was solved, we decided to stay another day.

We were camping in the Nebraska National Forest, and it turned out to be an interesting destination in its own right.

Rather than rushing away after repairing the trailer, we took a little time to enjoy where we were.

That’s another benefit of RV travel.

A breakdown doesn’t always have to ruin the trip.

Sometimes it simply changes the itinerary.

The Biggest Lesson From Our RV Power Cord Mishap

Something will eventually go wrong when you’re traveling in an RV.

It might be a water problem.

It might be an electrical problem.

It might be a tire, a hose, a piece of hardware or something you didn’t even know could break.

The important thing is not to panic.

Look at the problem.

Figure out what you need.

Ask for help when you need it.

And determine whether it’s something you can reasonably handle yourself.

We arrived at our campsite thinking we had a serious electrical problem.

A few hours later, after a long drive to a little hardware store and about $17 for a replacement plug, we had electricity again.

It wasn’t the end of the world.

It was simply another day of full-time RV life.

And another story to tell.

We’ll see you down the road…and Over the Hills!

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