Help identifying hanging wire July 06, 2025, 01:27:01 pm Hello! This is my first post - I am the new proud owner of a 2006 26.5 mid bath/rear kitchen. After arriving to the RV site on my first trip out, I noticed this wire/cord hanging down from the underside of the RV. Does anyone have any guesses on what this could be for? I've attached a few photos to show where on the RV the wire was hanging from and a few close ups. For the trip home, I duck taped it to something so that it wouldn't drag on the road. 1 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #1 – July 06, 2025, 05:40:33 pm Welcome to the forum! I believe that's in the area where the generator would be (assuming your rig has one.) If so, does the generator work?
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #2 – July 06, 2025, 06:00:06 pm It looks like the other end is attached to the chassis, in which case it is a ground wire. Was the generator removed, in which case the wire is surplus? Was the generator replaced, in which case the wire was missed when reconnecting things? 2 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #3 – July 07, 2025, 03:50:32 pm This is a guess, but it looks like it goes to the steps area. Maybe electric step control or step out indicator light for manual steps. 2 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #4 – July 08, 2025, 01:03:17 pm Quote from: HiLola - July 06, 2025, 05:40:33 pmWelcome to the forum! I believe that's in the area where the generator would be (assuming your rig has one.) If so, does the generator work?I hope I'm replying to this response correctly - please let me know if there is "proper etiquette" for how to respond to people's replies. Yes, my rig does have a generator and it was serviced to get back up & running right before I purchased it. I ran it before my trip but I haven't tried to start the generator since I noticed the hanging wire. I'm out of town but once I'm back, I'll try to start up the generator and see if it starts up. Thanks for the suggestion!
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #5 – July 08, 2025, 01:09:19 pm Quote from: Keith S - July 06, 2025, 06:00:06 pmIt looks like the other end is attached to the chassis, in which case it is a ground wire. Was the generator removed, in which case the wire is surplus? Was the generator replaced, in which case the wire was missed when reconnecting things?Hi Keith - the generator was serviced right before I purchased the rig. I had a detailed inspection done on the rig before I purchased and generator ran fine during the inspection and the wire wasn't hanging down at that point in time. If this is a ground wire - would I need to call a RV Tech to have it fixed/repaired or would this be an auto-mechanic? Total newbie here so apologies if that is really dumb question
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #6 – July 08, 2025, 01:12:19 pm Quote from: Linda B - July 07, 2025, 03:50:32 pmThis is a guess, but it looks like it goes to the steps area. Maybe electric step control or step out indicator light for manual steps.Hi Linda - I had the same thought as you when I first discovered this - that it looked like it might connect to the steps. There are electrical steps that extend automatically when I open the door. Those are still working even with this wire hanging but I haven't looked at the indicator lights related to the steps - good suggestion! I will check that out once I can get back to my rig. Thank you!
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #7 – July 08, 2025, 01:24:13 pm Quote from: ktj1390 - July 08, 2025, 01:09:19 pmIf this is a ground wire - would I need to call a RV Tech to have it fixed/repaired or would this be an auto-mechanic?Not a dumb question at all. I would talk to the shop that did the generator service first, then a RV Tech if still not resolved. The auto mechanic would mostly handle vehicle-related issues, which this probably isn’t.
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #8 – July 08, 2025, 02:25:42 pm If the steps are still working, then that wire is probably not related. If it's a generator grounding wire, then having it unconnected is a safety issue. It definitely needs to be fixed.
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #9 – July 08, 2025, 11:00:09 pm It looks to me like it originally had a wire eye on it and now its broken. I would look on the vehicle frame and see if I could see where the ground for the converter was attached. I think mine is bolted to the chassis frame.Jon 2 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #10 – July 09, 2025, 02:37:13 pm Like Jon said, the connverter is connected to ground in that general area, and is connected in addition to the generator starter motor in the same location. So both connections need to be connected to the chassis at the same location. RonB
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #11 – July 11, 2025, 11:33:42 am Thank you everyone for your responses and input! Jon - you are correct, there was a wire eye on it and that piece is broken. I should have taken a better picture of that part. I think I'm going to enlist the help of a RV tech for this since it could potentially be a safety issue and I'm not feeling confident just yet to try to tackle this on my own. But at least now I will be able to better describe the issue to the RV tech over the phone - thanks to y'all's help! I'll report back on what it ends up being just so it is documented in case someone comes across this thread with a similar issue in the future. 5 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #12 – July 11, 2025, 01:00:24 pm Good idea, Katie. Your tech is probably more familiar with the term "ring terminal," so if you call it that, they'll know what you mean right away. 1 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #13 – July 14, 2025, 07:50:10 pm For anyone interested in the outcome, it was a ground wire for the generator. RV repair tech got me all fixed up! He was very nice and answered all of my questions. He also gave me a few pointers like using a surge protector when plugged into shore power and a water pressure regulator - so I have those on order now. 2 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #14 – July 14, 2025, 09:44:28 pm Hello Katie. You might find the following information written by a very competent RVer from this Forum to be helpful. It offers some exceedingly solid information. Getting Started - A Primer For The New RV'erSafe travels.
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #15 – July 14, 2025, 10:28:57 pm Quote from: Ed & Margee - July 14, 2025, 09:44:28 pmHello Katie. You might find the following information written by a very competent RVer from this Forum to be helpful. It offers some exceedingly solid information. Getting Started - A Primer For The New RV'erSafe travels. Thanks so much for point me to this! So much helpful information - I think I'm going to print it out to keep with me in the RV!
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #16 – July 14, 2025, 10:42:39 pm Quote from: Katie J. - July 14, 2025, 10:28:57 pmThanks so much for point me to this! So much helpful information - I think I'm going to print it out to keep with me in the RV!The author’s name is Ken Fears who passed away a few years ago. But I can assure you that your comments have made him smile. 2 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #17 – July 15, 2025, 12:23:54 am Katie, more helpful info for your reading pleasure here:The Lazy Daze Companion 2 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #18 – July 15, 2025, 11:37:29 am Thanks for letting us know the outcome, Katie. That's always appreciated. One tip: if you connect to campground water, a pressure regulator is a must. But many of us prefer not to connect to campground water. Instead, we just draw from the Lazy Daze's freshwater tank, refilling when necessary. This has advantages: it doesn't let water stagnate in the tank, where nasties can grow; and it doesn't leave water sitting in a hose in the hot sun - ditto. In cold weather, there's no hose to freeze. I've never connected to campground water with my last three rigs, and I know I'm not the only one. Just something to think about. 4 Likes
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #19 – July 15, 2025, 12:46:05 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - July 15, 2025, 11:37:29 amThis has advantages: it doesn't let water stagnate in the tank, where nasties can grow; and it doesn't leave water sitting in a hose in the hot sun - ditto. In cold weather, there's no hose to freeze. I've never connected to campground water with my last three rigs, and I know I'm not the only one. Just something to think about.Andy - thanks for the tip! I think I will try that out going forward - would make unhooking to run an errand easier too.
Re: Help identifying hanging wire Reply #20 – July 15, 2025, 12:47:13 pm Quote from: HiLola - July 15, 2025, 12:23:54 amKatie, more helpful info for your reading pleasure here:The Lazy Daze CompanionAwesome! Thank you - with the link you shared and this forum, I will have reading material for days!
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