The subject of RV fires comes up often at RVtravel.com. RVs burn, and they burn very fast: If not caught within a minute the coach will usually be a goner. If you want to see what we mean, visit YouTube.com and search for RV fires.
Fires can be caused by many things — often the result of poor engine maintenance, even a blown tire that catches fire and quickly spreads to the RV itself.
Another significant cause is faulty wiring, which for most of us is difficult to see without some serious poking around our RVs, usually in places hard to get to. In this video, an RVer shows you a great example of faulty wiring on this Tiffin motorhome. He notes the dangerous wiring is not necessarily Tiffin’s fault as it could have been from work done later.
Whatever the case, watch the short video. It’s an eye-opener, for sure.
As an aircraft mechanic I use wire ties to secure all wires to prevent chaffing. Should not just stick/bundle wires in a cabinet or unused space.
Electrical issues are the most common problems in RV’s. And very few techs know how to find them and fix them. Check every connection in the AC Breaker panel (power off) and don’t over torque them. Check all the connections in the 12VDC Panel again don’t over torque them. Put anti corrosion grease on the battery terminals, make sure they are tight as well. If Jeep 2018 and newer, make sure all the fuses are anchored into sockets, owners are reporting many not seated correctly.
We have a 2017 Thor A.C.E. 29’4”. ALL the electrical problems we have had have all boiled down to loose wiring. Either spade connector not pushed all the way in or just touching. From camera not working, 12v outlets or USB plugs not working, or working intermittently, to slides not working or working intermittently. And, in a case of rear view camera only working some of the time, not properly grounded.
I use wire cable sleeve or the split wire cable loom on the places that wires could rub or be cut. Available at any electronic or auto parts store in different sizes. Also available at Wal-Mart and on Amazon.
We owned a 2012 Thor Challenger. The microwave/convection oven would not work. Thor replaced it 5 times in one year. We told them there was a wiring problem. They said they would continue to replace it. We never got to use it. We replaced the RV.
Should have replaced that wire with a New One. It was a readily available Power Plug at Walmart or order it on Amazon.
I would not have put a Damaged Wire like that back in USE!