Issue with hookups

[Forrest747]

I am really having a difficult time where to put the hookups for water and power. I really do not want to put any holes in the side of my project other than a door. To be honest I have not found any covers or such that do not look RV. I also would like the rear of the trailer to have as few things coming out of it as possible. (Less things to trip over)

For electrical do I do an male electrical outlet and hook it up with an extension cord.
Or do I attach an 50 foot cord that i pull out of the hole that I do not want to put in the side of my trailer.
Or maybe something in the tounge area and run wire down the chassis and connect to the galley area.

For the water. I am installing a ten (10) gallon tank with pump so I will need some port to fill it, also do I install a hose connection point so I can hook up to a faucet to save battery power not running the pump.


Ok thinking as I am writing this: I am building an A frame tounge. create a box in the tounge, its going to be made out of 2X3 steel. Run a 10 foot piece of extra 2X2 steel tubing (Ok i planned and bought to much 2x2) down the center from the box in the tounge to the back of the galley. Hard wire a 10 gauge 50 foot power cord through the galley down the 2x2 tubing and store in the box created in the tounge.

Do the same thing with the water connection. Run in the same 2x2 I know alot of you saying dont mix the water and electrical. but if the electrical terminates at a different point than the water does will it not be ok. I guess my trailer fire huh.

Than put the holes in the cover of the tounge box.

Advantages I believe more storage space in the tounge frees up space in the galley to store cords and hoses. I do not have the covers I am dreading.

I still believe I will have to have a cover in one side to have for a fill point for the (10) gallon water tank and can use the same style of fill cover I have for my Jeep gas tank to keep the same look.

[Miriam C.]

Did you talk yourself into it or out of it. You don't really need a 2x2 for the electric or water. The tongue access is a good idea and I wish I had done it. You can also put in 12vdc. It really isn't a good idea to run water and electric together but that is your choice.

Depending on your tank you can probably fill directly from the tongue area. No need to run water lines.

[Forrest747]

I do plan on taking this trailer off the beaten path. It is also something that annoys me about wiring is the wires just attached under the chassis. Some good road debris kicks up or much more likely a branch snagging on the wire and pulling on them just makes my skin crawl. I was planning on running the trailer wires in conduit anyways, so why not make it beefy and strong and will have the added bonus on stiffing the frame. I do have enough steel to do dual channels down the middle or at least offset where the tongue and the frame meet at the front and run one with water and the other with electrical.
Tongue box construction will be ¼ inch steel plate cut to the tongue shape and welded in place with the scrap 2x2 welded on top of the tongue to give addition height and then build a cover out of diamond plating.
I want to have the battery and converter in the galley close to the electrical panel; I am also going to construct with the circuit breakers and electrical blocks.

[Nitetimes]

I do plan on taking this trailer off the beaten path. It is also something that annoys me about wiring is the wires just attached under the chassis. Some good road debris kicks up or much more likely a branch snagging on the wire and pulling on them just makes my skin crawl. I was planning on running the trailer wires in conduit anyways, so why not make it beefy and strong and will have the added bonus on stiffing the frame. I do have enough steel to do dual channels down the middle or at least offset where the tongue and the frame meet at the front and run one with water and the other with electrical.
Tongue box construction will be ¼ inch steel plate cut to the tongue shape and welded in place with the scrap 2x2 welded on top of the tongue to give addition height and then build a cover out of diamond plating.
I want to have the battery and converter in the galley close to the electrical panel; I am also going to construct with the circuit breakers and electrical blocks.

You shootin' for bullletproof!?!?! I'd think 1/8" would be more than sufficient for a tongue box, 1/4" is gonna add a whole lot of un-necessary tongue weight.

[starleen2]

I think you answered your own question - If you're looking for affirmation - then go for it

[Forrest747]

I agree 1/4 is a bit much its also what I have lying around. Did not think of the tongue weight so more thought into that is needed. thanks guys

[ERV]

You could do both lines in electrical thin wall and save alot of weight. And if you could make room in the trailer box for the tank it would be easy to drain for winter. Just put a shutoff on it and a hose adapter there and you would be done. Turn the tank off to use city water. But 10 gal. of water is still going to put 80# on the tongue.

Erv

[kennyrayandersen]

I agree 1/4 is a bit much its also what I have lying around. Did not think of the tongue weight so more thought into that is needed. thanks guys

OR

You could run the wires down the tube like you are thinking and simplify the water to a 8-10 gal removable jug [stored in the rear]. You are talking about heading off road so maybe shouldn't worry to much about the water hook up? Unless you are planning on extended stays at campgrounds or something (plus if you do that what are you doing with all of the waste water?)

[Forrest747]

I already have the water tank and the waste water is going into a tank that will be placed underneath during stops. I just want to make sure I can hook this trailer up in any situation. I am still looking for a good Mr. Fusion for power if you see any let me know!

[bobhenry]

I had the same problem thats why my electric hookup is a male plug hanging underneath the tear.
If you look close you will see a black and white male plug hanging behind the tire.

[kennyrayandersen]

how about if you mimicked one of the commercial units, only you did it out of wood so it looked more 'period'

OR

you could make a box on the inside with a decent looking cover that is only open while you're parked, otherwise it would stay flush and not look so 'RV' as you put it.