You shouldn’t skimp on heavy-duty electrical connectors, especially when they’re connected to a vehicle. Besides the basics of connecting your RV to the power outlet at the campground, you want an RV power cord to be well-insulated and tolerate the outdoors in all types of weather. Storage and cleanliness matters, too—as does safety. Designs that reduce the danger of electric shock and highly visible cords that lower the risk of injuries from trips and falls all should be a part of any RV cord checklist.
We’ve found five highly-rated RV power cords, each with different attributes to recommend them across a wide price range. For ease of comparison, we’ve chosen 25-foot cords rated at 30 amps. Some manufacturers offer longer cords. There are also extension cords available specifically designed for RV use. If you’re new to this, you should know that depending on the campsite, you may be dealing with 30 amps or 50 amps. There are adapters available (and separate dedicated 50-amp cords), but one of the cords we’ve found is built to handle both without an adapter.
- Dumble 5630 : Best Basic RV Power Cord
- Leisure Cords 226871 : Best Value RV Power Cord
- Weekender by ParkPower 30ARVD30 : Best Premium RV Power Cord
- Conntek 14435 : Best RV Power Cord with Built-In Adapter
- Camco Power Grip 55501 : Best Cost-Is-No-Object RV Power Cord
The Dumble 5630 is a basic, high-quality RV power cord. It features a twist connector, grip handle and indicator light. It also includes two straight blades and one round blade, allowing for conversion from a 30-amp male connection to a marine-style 30-amp female connection.
- Reasonable price
- Durable
- Extra blades for conversion to marine-style connection
- Black cord harder to see on the ground and in low light
- One-year warranty is short compared to some other cords
- Light on features
The Leisure Cords 226871 has a water-tight molded plug and connector ends and comes with adapters for female connections. An LED indicator glows green when there’s power. The cord is designed to be flexible even in cold weather.
- Reasonable price
- High quality
- Adapters included
- Some reports of plugs damaged in shipping
- Cord is black and reduces visibility
- More than a few buyers complain that adapters were left out of the package
The Weekender features wide-grip handles, two LED indicator lights (one on each end) and a locking ring that ensures a watertight seal. It’s bright yellow for maximum visibility on the ground and in low light. ParkPower backs the Weekender with a three-year warranty.
- Reasonable price
- Three-year warranty
- High quality
- Marine-style connections require an extra-cost adapter
- Some complaints that the locking ring is not as secure as promised
- Heavy-duty cord is heavier when carrying and loading than others
Separate adapters are a fine solution, but adapters are also one more piece to store and potentially lose. The Conntek 14435 RV Power Cord connects an RV’s 50-amp plug to an RV pedestal’s 30-amp output.
- Converts 50-amp RV inlets to work with a 30-amp power source
- Durable
- Bright yellow cord and connectors for visibility
- Users say female fitting is overly snug
- Some buyers report issues with threaded ring lock
- Pricey
Camco’s 5501 RV power cord is built to a standard, not to a price. It features full copper wiring and a sheath that’s supposed to resist fire and heat. It features an adapter making for easy conversions between male and female connections and has a threaded locking ring for weatherproof connections.
- Durable
- Good locking mechanism
- Male/female adapter included
- Handle on plug does not fit inside some surge protector covers
- Handle grip too tight for larger hands
- Some reports of damaged plugs upon arrival
METHODOLOGY
In order to determine the best RV power cords we considered the products most accessible to the widest swath of consumers in the U.S., which also includes performance, price and value. We also considered a broad range of end-user ratings and evaluations by multiple testers.