[Archived]

Tim, my power cord motor failed about 18 months ago. After retracting it manually, literally forcing it in through the retractor reel 4 inches at a time, we finished the trip and existing for a time by pulling out about 12 inches of the lead and using a 50 amp extension cord.

I do not know how Marathon configured your H but my XLii was built with an H&H Braun unit which is no longer manufactured or supported by the company. Wonderful. To make matters worse, retrofitting my bus with a newer Glendenning unit “might” work but required that the entire water bay be dismantled just for enough access to start re-designing it.

My solution was to visit West Marine and install a marine-type twist connection on the side of the bus between the two bay compartments. This has served me well, and in the event I ever decide to restore the cord operation to the original intended set-up I could use that plug as an auxilary connection.

Hopefully you will not have to go through the same experience. Good luck.

[Dick]

Tim,

Our power cords come out from a hole on the drivers side. If by chance we had a failure of the in-out motor I have a simple solution. This also applies to XL-II with the Marathon propriety drop door.

Carry an extra power cord which can be used in emergency as above. Also , and I’ve had to use this a couple of times to extend access as power source is not reachable with the main power cord.

You can run another 30 Ft cord from the main bus cord without a serious drop in power. 30 foot cord can be purchased fairly reasonable if you shop around.

I never leave KC without extra cord.

AL

[Jerry]

What do you do if the failure is not in the extension and retraction of the cord, but in the contacts at the base of the cord reel so no power reaches the transfer switch from the cord reel.

I think Towson is on the right track.

[Dick]

Well Jon, You can wire – up a “buddy plug” as another option.

[Dan]

Wouldn’t using the buddy plug be backfeeding to the coach’s electrical system with a cord that had a male plug on both ends? Creating a hazard?

I have one of those fancy round stainless steel Mariner (I think) outlet covers on the curb site of the coach that will receive an equally twist lock 50amp cord. The power board in the coach has lights to indicate whether shorepower is via port or starboard sources. Look around, you might have one of those on the curb side.

[Rudy]

I have what Dick said,

A 50 Amp twist lock male on both sides of the bus…

I am getting ready to set myself up one of those just in case of reel failure. I have a 50′ extention cord I could use If I had too…

[Archived]

All my Liberty coaches had a power cord plug / receptacle on each side of the coach. Even the ones with a cord reel.

All also had a buddy plug. I never looked into if a power cord with two male ends could back feed power into the coach via the buddy plug.

If you only have a cord reel as Tim’s appears to be and wish to add a power cord connection to use with a cable so yui can get power to a coach, you really should add a selector switch so you can only introduce power to the transfer switch from only one shore power source. If someone were to try to power a coach using two shore power sources it could create problems.

[Dick]

I think the buddy plug on my 1994 Liberty come straight off the generator hence the term buddy. I’d be afraid to run power into it.

[Archived]

I do travel with a 50′ extension which will work in a pinch to connect to the primary cord. But I think I’ll look into adding another outlet for the “what if” scenario Jon poses. I wish ther was a better manual crank if the motor fails than shoving it back in 4″ at a time.

[AL]

I have only the electric reel and have often wondered what I would do if it will not go in. I always have lots of extra cord in case it will not go out but what to do if it is hanging out and will not go in?

My reel is tucked away where I can barely see it and I doubt if I could even reach it with one hand.

Davy

[Archived]

Tim,

In a pinch, pull the fender, takes 3 minutes and manually work the reel/tube to retract.

I do like the idea of a separate dedicated plug, but remember you have to a cord that goes from 3 twist lock to 4 recepticle.

[Archived]

I think the power cord issue is another reason that Nancy is using to convince Tom that their next bus needs to be a Liberty again…..Power cords,bus air, ability to dump from either side…..Sorry Tom but your wife needs a little help pushing you…

[Deleted User]

Thank you for your concern Sparky, but now that you do my oil changes, I’m not in position to upgrade due to the expense.

[Peter]

Good one Tom … Sorry Sarge!

[Archived]

Tom’s coach ownership history appears toi have been a progressive evolution, ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the so-called “food change.” I don’t understand why anyone would encourage him to regress.

Tim, on your Marathon, I think the suggestion of having an extension cord on hand in the event your cord reel fails to deploy the cord is a good idea. You can manually pull the cord out. I think you could manuallyetract the cord through the top of the water bay, but I have never tried it.

It is much more likely that you will have a failure of the drop door. If it fails, you cannot plug the coach in, and you must bypass the system to get the door to come down. Be sure you know how to bypass the system, or you will be running the generator on your trip. Don’t ask me how I know that.