Exposed wiring

[Go-red-car]

Hi everyone... quick question on the "new to us" Jayco 30.5 RLS. I notice that the wiring is exposed on the kingpin arm. I have seen other brands with a cover over the wiring. Is this normal for Jayco and is it OK to leave like this?

[Jagiven]

It is 12V wiring so yes it is OK to leave it like this.

From the image, someone has been in it and done some work. Suspect the previous owner had to replace the pigtail.

You can buy a nice water tight box to make the connection in.

https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-50048...s%2C99&sr=8-46

[Go-red-car]

Thanks for the link to the junction box. I like having it protected from the elements.

[norty1]

I'm not OCD but would clean it up inside a box, just so.

[TWP723]

Maybe bunch them together in a nice neat package and shrink wrap them.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by TWP723

Maybe bunch them together in a nice neat package and shrink wrap them.

Until a tail light goes out?

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by norty1

Until a tail light goes out?

Trade it in??

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by norty1

Until a tail light goes out?

I meant individually then wrapped or tied together. I'd dielectric grease them then shrink wrap each connection. Never been a fan of wire nuts in the open air without protection. It may sound finicky or OCD but that's just how I am.

[Yooper906]

Originally Posted by TWP723

I meant individually then wrapped or tied together. I'd dielectric grease them then shrink wrap each connection. Never been a fan of wire nuts in the open air without protection. It may sound finicky or OCD but that's just how I am.

On my 2022 28.5 we had a LOT of trouble with the new type of connectors that Jayco is using now for their electrical connections. Various shorts between wires and also some grounding. The 7 way from the truck splices into the trailer wiring using a 4 square electrical box, just a regular residential type box with a screw on cover. The new snap type connectors with the little lever are useless. Not much room in the box, and trying to stuff wires back into the box was horrible. Some levers on the connectors came loose EVERY time. During the worst of it, camping in Iowa, the running lights on the drivers side would stay on all night, and this was unplugged from the truck.

So I used butt splices, dielectric grease and shrink connectors. Cured the problem, but no one wants to do this in a campground 1500 miles from home.

[RedHorse1]

A neighbor at the storage lot and I have both had issues with birds wanting to nest in the pin box. I found sheets of “corplast” at my local big box store (maybe 2x3’). I cut a piece to a shape that would cover the openings and secured it with heavy duty Velcro. Consider something similar after you get the wiring sorted out if you want to keep critters out.

[norty1]

I made a cover for the back of mine that just clamps on with spring clamps. I roll up the cord and it's sealed inside. I remove it when traveling and store it inside by the power cord.

Nothing worse than having to pull a birds nest out to go camping.

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by Yooper906

On my 2022 28.5 we had a LOT of trouble with the new type of connectors that Jayco is using now for their electrical connections. Various shorts between wires and also some grounding. The 7 way from the truck splices into the trailer wiring using a 4 square electrical box, just a regular residential type box with a screw on cover. The new snap type connectors with the little lever are useless. Not much room in the box, and trying to stuff wires back into the box was horrible. Some levers on the connectors came loose EVERY time. ...

Interesting to hear about the WAGO connectors. Jayco actually uses branded WAGO connectors, and they get pretty high marks when you read about them.

I recently used them on a home project (a lot of them), and I was in a situation where if they didn't work the first time, or came out of the connectors, it was fixable, but it was a lot of work, so they had to work every time. I didn't have any that failed on me.

Sounds like maybe the point of failure here was the fact that there was too much crammed in the box. I've had connection issues with wire nuts or butt splices as well, if you're cramming a lot in there. That's really never a good situation on many fronts, but's there probably nothing worse or more frustrating that working with wires that are only 2" long too! It's a double edged sword for sure...

[Happy wife / happy life]

Jagiven’s suggestion would do a really nice job of cleaning that mess up. You might consider “tinning” the wire ends before using the crimp connector’s. If you google “ tinning wire” you will find some good videos on how to do it.

[Yooper906]

Originally Posted by cadman_ks

Interesting to hear about the WAGO connectors. Jayco actually uses branded WAGO connectors, and they get pretty high marks when you read about them.

I recently used them on a home project (a lot of them), and I was in a situation where if they didn't work the first time, or came out of the connectors, it was fixable, but it was a lot of work, so they had to work every time. I didn't have any that failed on me.

Sounds like maybe the point of failure here was the fact that there was too much crammed in the box. I've had connection issues with wire nuts or butt splices as well, if you're cramming a lot in there. That's really never a good situation on many fronts, but's there probably nothing worse or more frustrating that working with wires that are only 2" long too! It's a double edged sword for sure...

Correct. WAGO connectors are used throughout my trailer, the ones in my 7 way junction box are the only ones I've had a problem with. I also agree trying to cram all of the wires back into a four square box is problematic to say the least. One of the little WAGO lever is going to catch on something.

[JosephC]

A cover is a good idea, but may I suggest you do not use the pin box area to store your vehicle connection cable. Such constant action, in and out, may damage or disconnect the wiring and associated connections. I simply affixed a hook on the underside of the trailer beneath the bed overhang and close to the pin box. Then after disconnecting, roll the power cord and place it on the hook.

[Go-red-car]

Hello everyone and many thanks for all of the great suggestions. I will be making a cover for the opening and also will clean up the wiringas I'm a bit OCD as well

[MtnGoat]

OCD is good. CDO is better

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by norty1

I made a cover for the back of mine that just clamps on with spring clamps. I roll up the cord and it's sealed inside. I remove it when traveling and store it inside by the power cord.

Nothing worse than having to pull a birds nest out to go camping.

Yeah the birds are a pain. The space above my slide toppers is also a favored nesting site. Early spring thru early summer I plug the openings at each end with nerf footballs and stick a pinwheel in an empty screw hole at each end of the roller tube.
I route my 7-pin cable around the front end of the pin box to the other side and put the plug in one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/AP-Products-0...%2C216&sr=8-54