Poll: Where would you mount your 30 A shore-power inlet?

[Metrocruiser]

⚙️ Option 1 – Exterior Wall Mount (Traditional RV port)
✅ Easy plug-in access
✅ “Factory RV” look if using Marinco/Furrion/SmartPlug
⚠️ Requires drilling through the van skin + careful sealing
⚠️ Slight thermal bridge and visible on the exterior

---

🧰 Option 2 – Hidden Under-Body Mount (behind driver rear wheel)
✅ Completely stealth — keeps exterior clean
✅ No holes through painted panels
⚠️ Harder to reach when plugging in
⚠️ Needs weatherproofing, drip-loop, and grommet protection


Exterior





Undermount

 

[gas_sprinter]

I ran a 10AWG extension cable through the passenger side firewall to connect the shore power.

I don't have DEF tank, since I have the gasoline engine Sprinter.

Edit: should have mentioned that lots of RV parks required to back in only, meaning I had to get the additional longer extension cord as it has to go from under the hood to the rear pedestal.

 

[Graphite Dave]

First question is the need for 30 amps. What will you power with that much amperage? Air conditioner?

When working for the forest service I once drove off with the gas nozzle in the fill tube. That caused me to locate the shore power plug where I could see it before opening the driver door. Sprinter conversion was located under van on driver side. Transit conversion is located at the driver door. I found a path up into the "B" pillar and out above floor.

Install in Transit:

Shore Power | Orton Travel Transit

www.ortontransit.info

 

[vreihen]

We put our 15A shore power inlet in the black body trim directly below the fuel filler door. That location gets your wire into the B-pillar, and there's a factory hole on the inside rear of the pillar to fish the wire through. All of our electrical stuff is right behind the driver seat, so wiring is very short and tidy for us.

Blah, blah, blah fuel explosion near electrical input, diesel doesn't explode, etc. I see that location as a safety improvement, since the driver is much less likely to forget to pull the shore power if they have to walk past it getting into the driver's seat.....

 

[Kajtek1]

Each exterior plug will be prone to rust and dirt.
I had 30 amp cord stored the back of my shower and made an access hole in the floor, to pull the plug outside.
This way I pulled only the cord length, I needed, without dropping it into mud. The same system served also water hose.

 

[Onhiatus]

I value @vreihen point about the driver being unlikely to miss that the van is plugged in, but I did have the fuel / power mix reaction he called out. I love @Kajtek1's solution to not have extra cordage lying in the mud and snow, but I'm not sure about the ingress.

When I added our outlet I was too much of a wimp to cut through the side of the van, but I didn't want to have to be messing around underneath the van to plug in, and I wanted the results to look "good". We ended up drilling through the floor of the wall into the cavity that has an access hatch under the van. The port itself was mounted in the rear quarter panel trim (no cutting through the metal - just the plastic trim!) and the cord runs through the slam vent into the previously mentioned cavity. This was a great solution for us, and had the added benefit of when I had a port failure I was able to splice into the existing power line through the access hole instead of having to tear out my build of having a splice outside the van.

Note I only have a 15amp input - so cable is pretty manageable. ymmv

Pics from the repair - https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/98293/post-1283799

Photo of the install location:

 

[BrentfromHB]

https://www.moonrakerdesignco.com/p...8kW71D-UzRF9UEUrv1T5JQcdb7qYtaIMRodPLavIZ21iy

 

[TheOffRoadCoffeeStop]

https://www.moonrakerdesignco.com/p...8kW71D-UzRF9UEUrv1T5JQcdb7qYtaIMRodPLavIZ21iy

Wish I'd have known about that. I'd have had my builder use that for my 50amp install. Looks clean.

 

[BrentfromHB]

Wish I'd have known about that. I'd have had my builder use that for my 50amp install. Looks clean.

Yep! So clean.. I just installed the lockers last weekend and this weekend finishing up with this 30a kit.

 

[blutow]

If you are connecting shore power regularly, I personally wouldn't put it under the chassis. The last thing I want to do is get on my hands and knees every time I connect/disconnect power (in the rain/mud/snow/etc.). And I don't understand what the stealth approach buys you, but different strokes for different folks.

We mounted our 30a smart plug in the traditional RV spot and have found that most camping spots with power are designed around the driver's side rear location. Nothing that couldn't be worked around with a long enough shore cord, but the short run just makes it tidy and we don't carry a long cord.

I do worry about driving off with the power attached, but I put a yellow cord wrap/tie around the steering wheel any time I connect power as a reminder to disconnect before starting the van. Otherwise, I know I'd eventually forget since we seldom connect to power and I rarely use my driver's side door to enter the van (I don't get a visual reminder seeing the cord on the driver's side and would probably miss it eventually even if I did use the door). I'm not one to blindly follow the "RV industry standard" for many things, but for us, the standard RV location works.

 

[vreihen]

Otherwise, I know I'd eventually forget since we seldom connect to power and I rarely use my driver's side door to enter the van (I don't get a visual reminder seeing the cord on the driver's side and would probably miss it eventually even if I did use the door).

I really want to program the PSM so that it disables the starter if shore power is hot, but MB has made it almost impossible to get PSM programming assistance unless you're a major customizer and not a hobbyist.....

 

[gas_sprinter]

Each exterior plug will be prone to rust and dirt.

Yup that's my primary concern.

 

[gas_sprinter]

I even installed another yellow extension cable but in reverse direction to use the Anker Solix F3800 power station inside the van to power up our refrigerators during the power outage.


(I used to move that thing in and out of the van when needed but moving 130lbs power station was getting a little too much.)


In case the untrimmed cable ties bother you, this is the adjustable cable ties where it can be undone and tied down again.

 

[Shawn182]

Outta the way, mostly hidden, and easy peasy to access without having to get on knees. Waterproof box and weather resistant marine connector.

Not gong for stealth but other than bunk windows I have zero penetrations on the sides for a clean look. Personally hate all the crap, doors, and plugs coming off the sides of most RVs and Camper Vans.

I put in a 30A cuz I have a rooftop AC but in reality with the Victron Multiplus Hybrid Inverter/Charger I have yet to ever actually plug into a 30a service in 5 years and would just put in a 20A standard input if I had to do it over. As it sands now I gotta use an adapter but that also acts as a break away safety and would just unplug at the Edison plug should I ever drive off while still plugged in (thankfully have had good habits of knowing when I am on shore power).


Box (has gotten stupid expensive): https://www.mcmaster.com/75895K13/?...X2FkvJi1vl2gK-CAEWQEsXmChE22IcdmhprhJv_oTNpu0

Cable Gland for 10/3 SO: https://www.mcmaster.com/8302k191/

Connector: https://www.amazon.com/Marinco-303SSELBRV-Stainless-Steel-Power/dp/B004VRNM26/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3ZJN59NSXPNH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.f8AgYMorlEtNaI3FFynz2ICTd2cex6C-iggNJkOUAGe9GTiruIiKFwMO_HWCNCQ-ppOuZfmRGbMoXR6ptKmSFNI8-7RQBHXkCqmTWty0xrEIJgxS5v7jMPgSMHsECjp9C9YKSOkkM97N4L6Qyiyqhyw6qlX8l1YbSnJMeUpspK3jTAYSgyRAs_TJdnV4LxidkQ23chMN3b8OLuHVTUejjD31bFjCvxvTmKq_1WmlhKGSNjQ0nDc-5qx1ozuQofrhMBN5IGyrvJMjDMbEWNuntPZC_-cQ99teB6LWCpYKG3d3FR3SpkXpAfnxE8cStU73kv5kXf09MYeYiaukQk1ObELzZ5LY4fy70jgWO3Lb-0MRj1xwMoxFadLfqFT_lKAnmjlsokkuxGAHpaCZDE_ZmmMVat6jF7NQaA8rgZOoPtELWocmsXbgPvOJf4Wg8nfE.PoQAL-PQi0e3xI9jnolZWOqgv4h01XnVdyrAAlSWONo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Marinco+Shore+Power+Inlet&qid=1735532581&sprefix=,aps,226&sr=8-6&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS:US_IHI_3M_HARDLINES_AUTOMATED

 

[The_D]

Hitch driver side, so that have the shortest path to house battery driver side d pillar.

 

[Metrocruiser]

Outta the way, mostly hidden, and easy peasy to access without having to get on knees. Waterproof box and weather resistant marine connector.

Not gong for stealth but other than bunk windows I have zero penetrations on the sides for a clean look. Personally hate all the crap, doors, and plugs coming off the sides of most RVs and Camper Vans.

I put in a 30A cuz I have a rooftop AC but in reality with the Victron Multiplus Hybrid Inverter/Charger I have yet to ever actually plug into a 30a service in 5 years and would just put in a 20A standard input if I had to do it over. As it sands now I gotta use an adapter but that also acts as a break away safety and would just unplug at the Edison plug should I ever drive off while still plugged in (thankfully have had good habits of knowing when I am on shore power).
View attachment 388610

Box (has gotten stupid expensive): https://www.mcmaster.com/75895K13/?...X2FkvJi1vl2gK-CAEWQEsXmChE22IcdmhprhJv_oTNpu0

Cable Gland for 10/3 SO: https://www.mcmaster.com/8302k191/

Connector: https://www.amazon.com/Marinco-303SSELBRV-Stainless-Steel-Power/dp/B004VRNM26/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3ZJN59NSXPNH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.f8AgYMorlEtNaI3FFynz2ICTd2cex6C-iggNJkOUAGe9GTiruIiKFwMO_HWCNCQ-ppOuZfmRGbMoXR6ptKmSFNI8-7RQBHXkCqmTWty0xrEIJgxS5v7jMPgSMHsECjp9C9YKSOkkM97N4L6Qyiyqhyw6qlX8l1YbSnJMeUpspK3jTAYSgyRAs_TJdnV4LxidkQ23chMN3b8OLuHVTUejjD31bFjCvxvTmKq_1WmlhKGSNjQ0nDc-5qx1ozuQofrhMBN5IGyrvJMjDMbEWNuntPZC_-cQ99teB6LWCpYKG3d3FR3SpkXpAfnxE8cStU73kv5kXf09MYeYiaukQk1ObELzZ5LY4fy70jgWO3Lb-0MRj1xwMoxFadLfqFT_lKAnmjlsokkuxGAHpaCZDE_ZmmMVat6jF7NQaA8rgZOoPtELWocmsXbgPvOJf4Wg8nfE.PoQAL-PQi0e3xI9jnolZWOqgv4h01XnVdyrAAlSWONo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Marinco+Shore+Power+Inlet&qid=1735532581&sprefix=,aps,226&sr=8-6&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS:US_IHI_3M_HARDLINES_AUTOMATED

I like this!

 

[Bk3132]

I value @vreihen point about the driver being unlikely to miss that the van is plugged in, but I did have the fuel / power mix reaction he called out. I love @Kajtek1's solution to not have extra cordage lying in the mud and snow, but I'm not sure about the ingress.

When I added our outlet I was too much of a wimp to cut through the side of the van, but I didn't want to have to be messing around underneath the van to plug in, and I wanted the results to look "good". We ended up drilling through the floor of the wall into the cavity that has an access hatch under the van. The port itself was mounted in the rear quarter panel trim (no cutting through the metal - just the plastic trim!) and the cord runs through the slam vent into the previously mentioned cavity. This was a great solution for us, and had the added benefit of when I had a port failure I was able to splice into the existing power line through the access hole instead of having to tear out my build of having a splice outside the van.

Note I only have a 15amp input - so cable is pretty manageable. ymmv

Pics from the repair - https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/98293/post-1283799

Photo of the install location:

@Onhiatus did you have to remove the black trim panel or did you just drill right through and fish the cord?

 

[SprinteR777]

I went with the traditional RV spot on the driver side and haven't regretted it - yeah you gotta drill through the van skin but the convenience of not crawling around under the van every time is worth it. Just make sure you seal it up real good with some butyl tape.

 

[Onhiatus]

@Onhiatus did you have to remove the black trim panel or did you just drill right through and fish the cord?

I removed it - but it was easy. Unscrew the corner pieces and it pops right off - seal the mounting points while you are there.

There are lots of things that I would do different if I started over, but I don't think this is one of them.

 

[Motormad]

I have installed mine underneath the van below the passenger door for visability. I use hookup twice a year (when solar is not enough to keep the battery fully charged in the winter), so don't mind the inconvenience for that frequency.