Technically Speaking
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING – Q & A
Rock and Roll
Tripod stabilizer
MORryde X-Brace 5th wheel Stabilizer
I installed a tripod stabilizer that is designed to wrap around the kingpin on my fifth wheel trailer. My wife is still complaining that this device is not doing the job and the trailer makes her seasick every time I walk front to back, even though I try to be careful and not rock the boat. Upon doing research I see that there are myriad products out there and they all claim to stop the rocking motion, so of course, I am not sure which one to purchase and I would love to have your input.
— Edward Perez

The kingpin stabilizer is not very effective; you need something that uses multiple points on the fifth wheel to prevent movement. Take a look at the MORryde X-Brace Stabilizers (morryde.com). The X-Brace has multiple connection points and provides good lateral support that takes the wiggle out of chassis movement. It will stop the side-to-side and front-to-back motion that makes your wife uncomfortable. Likely, installing just the front stabilizer will squelch the unwanted movement, but you can also opt for a rear-mounted system. If you are somewhat handy, you should be able to install the X-Brace system in a couple of hours.

Device Charging Outside
Device Charging Outside
Etrailer.com carries a number of multi-device charging stations, some with just USB ports and others with a combination of USB ports and a 12-volt DC socket connection.
Device Charging Outside
Bill, we just bought a new motorhome and, unfortunately, it doesn’t have USB outlets in a compartment for the convenience of charging our cell phones while we’re sitting outside. I do have a USB adapter for plugging into electric; however, I do not have an exterior 120-volt AC outlet. I’m a little bit stumped.
— John Tatum

My suggestion is to get a 12-volt DC USB port adapter that is made to mount permanently in a wall. Check out the Charging Station for RVs at etrailer.com. It has two USB ports and one 12-volt DC outlet and sells for $31.80. This will give you the ability to charge more than just cell phones. You should be able to locate a source of 12-volt DC power in or near the compartment, even if you have to tap into an overhead light fixture. There are also waterproof USB outlets available if you decide to locate a charging station on the outside sidewall.

Heaving Lifting
Heaving Lifting
Hatchlift Products offers bedlift kits for applications ranging from small light applications through more weighty oversize queen and king mattress supports.

My wife and I finally sprung for a new mattress for our trailer. I can’t believe that we slept on that old mattress for as many years as we did without developing a major back problem. But here is the issue: The mattress is so heavy the bed platform will not stay up; we can’t even lift it up without the help of a second person. The hydraulic shock, or whatever you call it, is virtually useless with that much weight on the platform. Does anyone make a kit that we could install to alleviate our problem?
— Jeff Bowman

Jeff, I can only imagine your pain sleeping on a horrible mattress. Fortunately, I do have a solution to alleviate your problem. A company that specializes in pneumatic struts, Hatchlift (hatchlift.com) offers a heavier-duty version that will take most of the effort out of lifting the platform. The company also offers a complete line of struts for compartment doors as well as RV Bedlift kits. Before ordering a kit that’s suitable for your particular bed platform, look carefully at all of the options and if you have any questions, send the company a message. These people are experts in this field and have been making struts for a long time.

Keep in mind that the Hatchlift kit may not match the existing brackets for your current gas struts. If that’s the case, you may have to shore up the existing brackets with a couple of bolts through the bed platform and the side of the wood frame where the lower brackets are mounted. This is not a major deal, but you’ll have to ask someone to help with the project. You can prop open the platform with a length of 2 x 4 if attempting this upgrade by yourself, but if it dislodges you can be seriously injured. That being the case, remove the mattress before attempting to install the new struts.

The End of the End
Marinco Parkpower
Marinco Parkpower 1RPC50RV.
The end of my 50-amp power cord has finally given up. This cord is very heavy and plugs into the receptacle in the side of the RV. I believe that the weight and downward force contributed to the destruction of the plug, which has completely pulled apart. I was flabbergasted when I saw the price of a replacement 50-amp power cord. Is it possible to replace just the end of the cord? And how do I prevent this from happening again?
— Jeremy Willis

It’s certainly possible to replace the end on your 50-amp power cord. And, yes, it’s just going to happen again over a period of time, so my suggestion is to use a Marinco ParkPower 1RPC50RV locking collar male-to-female right-angle adapter, which can be found on amazon for around $80. This adapter has a right-angle connector that will remove much of the strain associated with plugging in to the sidewall. You can also improvise and find a method to limit the strain on the connector like I did by using a bungee cord that hooks on to the edge of the nearby slideout. 30-amp adapters are also available for those who do not have 50-amp service.

Are you stymied by a technical problem with your RV? Write to RV Enthusiast Technical Director Bill Gehr at [email protected]. Bill will answer inquiries as space permits.
Bill Gehr
Bill Gehr
Bill started his 50-year career in the RV industry when he went to work for an Airstream dealership. After the gas shortages in the 1970s, Bill decided to start his own business and opened up Bill’s RV Service in Ventura, California. After several years in business, he met Bob Livingston, and together they worked on hundreds of technical editorial projects at his shop while becoming great friends. Bill eventually joined Bob on the TV show “RVtoday,” filming a number of hands-on projects. After retiring, Bill headed out full-time in his fifth wheel and toured 39 states while writing technical articles for Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines. He now is Technical Director for RV Enthusiast.