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[GMCnet] Water lines [message #299109] Fri, 15 April 2016 22:26 Go to next message
Peter Garry is currently offline  Peter Garry   United States
Messages: 138
Registered: July 2011
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Senior Member


Sent from my iPhone
I have been rebuilding my 73 23 footer. The original water piping was copper and wandered up over the ceiling and all over. To replace I felt that PEX would be best. However PEX does not bend around tight corners very well so one needs to use lots of joints with the "shark" connections. From experience I knew that if there was to be any breakage it would be at a joint, more joints more opportunity for a failure. My solution....... use a flexible reinforced plastic pipe with every fixture connected directly to a manifold, one for hot and one for cold. No joints except at the manifold and at the fixture. (Some call this home run plumbing) Made sure that the 2 manifolds were accessible and the clamp fittings all had their tightening threads easy to tighten.
Just my solution to plumbing in extremely tight spaces.
Peter Garry
73-23ft
Calgary Alberta
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Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299115 is a reply to message #299109] Sat, 16 April 2016 07:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
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Registered: August 2005
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Senior Member
Use this when ever possible
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/gmc-chemicals-and-tools/p41301-poly-amour-tube.html

Does not kink

On Friday, April 15, 2016, Peter Garry wrote:

>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> I have been rebuilding my 73 23 footer. The original water piping was
> copper and wandered up over the ceiling and all over. To replace I felt
> that PEX would be best. However PEX does not bend around tight corners very
> well so one needs to use lots of joints with the "shark" connections. From
> experience I knew that if there was to be any breakage it would be at a
> joint, more joints more opportunity for a failure. My solution....... use a
> flexible reinforced plastic pipe with every fixture connected directly to a
> manifold, one for hot and one for cold. No joints except at the manifold
> and at the fixture. (Some call this home run plumbing) Made sure that the 2
> manifolds were accessible and the clamp fittings all had their tightening
> threads easy to tighten.
> Just my solution to plumbing in extremely tight spaces.
> Peter Garry
> 73-23ft
> Calgary Alberta
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


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“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
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Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299116 is a reply to message #299109] Sat, 16 April 2016 08:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JShot is currently offline  JShot   United States
Messages: 485
Registered: October 2006
Location: NW Ohio
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Senior Member
Peter,
Here's how we did our corners

https://www.google.com/#q=pex+90+corner


John Shotwell
Ridgeville Corners, OH
78 Royale Center Kitchen
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299125 is a reply to message #299116] Sat, 16 April 2016 09:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
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Registered: April 2011
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Senior Member
I used the same type of corner bracket when a soft 90 would work when I
replaced the water lines in The Pig with pex. Where a tight 90 was needed I
used 90 degree brass elbow and shark bite clamps from Home Depot. Worked
great every time and no waiting/ no leaks.

Sully
77 Royale
Seattle.

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, John Shotwell wrote:

> Peter,
> Here's how we did our corners
>
> https://www.google.com/#q=pex+90+corner
> --
> John Shotwell
> Ridgeville Corners, OH
> 78 Royale Center Kitchen
> Web Site: GMCmhRegistry.com
> Email: john at gmcmhregistry dot com
>
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299127 is a reply to message #299115] Sat, 16 April 2016 10:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Mr ERFisher wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 08:34
Use this when ever possible
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/gmc-chemicals-and-tools/p41301-poly-amour-tube.html

Does not kink
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------

Peter,

I happen to lover working with Polyarmor and appreciate what Gene has to offer, but the some of the inside surface of that tubing is mild steel. I would hesitate to use it for potable water.

Matt - enjoying a quiet day in Columbia SC


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299131 is a reply to message #299116] Sat, 16 April 2016 10:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
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Senior Member
JShot wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 08:54
Peter,
Here's how we did our corners

https://www.google.com/#q=pex+90+corner
I won't use PEX in anything as long as CPVC is available. Mechanical joints are a non-starter. Solvent welded is THE way to go. Use these in corners:

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/dd/dd12c036-ede1-49e8-8a6f-7ec9abe7c887_400.jpg
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299133 is a reply to message #299109] Sat, 16 April 2016 11:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chr$ is currently offline  Chr$   United States
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
I used PEX but heated the pipe where it needed to be curved. Only used fittings where they were accessible.

-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299134 is a reply to message #299133] Sat, 16 April 2016 11:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Hal StClair   United States
Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM
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Senior Member


I'm a real fan of Pex (I'm licensed to install it so am very familiar with it ). Although nothing is 'freeze proof', Pex is the closest thing you'll find to it in H20 systems. The fittings certainly won't survive freezing but the pipe will. You'll use fewer fittings in the installation which are the Achilles heal of any system. If you use an expandable tool the fittings are very reasonable and the best connection you can get. The tools come up used on EBay frequently for reasonable amounts ( bought a pair of the tools with dies for $75 on CL). There are different types of Pex, 'A' being the easiest to bend and if you do kink it a heat gun will remove the kink. Here's one of the tools listed now:



http://www.ebay.com/itm/F1960-pex-Expander-Kit-with-1-2-3-4-1-Expansion-Head-suit-Propex-Uponor-Wirsbo-/281853719640?hash=item419fca7458:g:8soAAOSwIwh WQ95t
Just my thoughts, Hal


"I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind, except you happen to be insane." 1977 Royale 101348, 1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered, 1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout, Rio Rancho, NM

[Updated on: Sat, 16 April 2016 11:57]

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Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299139 is a reply to message #299134] Sat, 16 April 2016 12:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
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Registered: April 2011
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Senior Member
Had an older travel trailer with cpvc plumbing in it. In an area with
freezing weather it truly sucked. When it freezes it splits for great
distances. While cheap and easy to mend when access is available often I
had to chase pipes into compartments where access was not easy. With pex
you can design your system with access to the joints and not sweat the runs
because the runs will not split when they freeze.

Sully
77 Royale
Seattle

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, Hal StClair
wrote:

>
>
>
> I'm a real fan of Pex. Although nothing is 'freeze proof', Pex is the
> closest thing you'll find to it in H20 systems. The fittings certainly won't
> survive freezing but the pipe will. You'll use fewer fittings in the
> installation which are the Achilles heal of any system. If you use an
> expandable
> tool the fittings are very reasonable and the best connection you can
> get. The tools come up used on EBay frequently for reasonable amounts (
> bought
> a pair of the tools with dies for $75 on CL). There are different types of
> Pex, 'A' being the easiest to bend and if you do kink it a heat gun will
> remove the kink. Here's one of the tools listed now:
>
>
>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/F1960-pex-Expander-Kit-with-1-2-3-4-1-Expansion-Head-suit-Propex-Uponor-Wirsbo-/281853719640?hash=item419fca7458:g:8soAAOSwIwh WQ95t
> Just my thoughts, Hal
> --
> 1977 Royale 101348,
>
> 1977 Royale 101586,
>
> 1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299146 is a reply to message #299139] Sat, 16 April 2016 17:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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sgltrac wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 12:09
...In an area with freezing weather it truly sucked. When it freezes it splits for great distances. ...
It gets down into single digits a couple times or so a year here. I would think that winterizing it (getting the water out of the pipes) would prevent freezing. Smile
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299149 is a reply to message #299146] Sat, 16 April 2016 17:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
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Senior Member
Of course winterizing the system would prevent this from occurring A but as
you know sh👎t happens. Also, some people like to use their camper in the
winter.

Sully
77 Royale
Seattle

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, A. wrote:

> sgltrac wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 12:09
>> ...In an area with freezing weather it truly sucked. When it freezes it
> splits for great distances. ...
> It gets down into single digits a couple times or so a year here. I would
> think that winterizing it (getting the water out of the pipes) would prevent
> freezing. :)
> --
> '73 23' Sequoia For Sale
> '73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit For Sale
> Upper Alabama
> Why don't they sell spray paint that washes off with soap and water for
> graffiti vandals to use?
>
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299155 is a reply to message #299149] Sat, 16 April 2016 20:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
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Senior Member
sgltrac wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 17:53
Of course winterizing the system would prevent this from occurring A but as you know sh👎t happens. Also, some people like to use their camper in the winter.

Sully
77 Royale
Seattle
OK. For all people from this day forward that need to repair or replace plumbing in their GMCs, PEX is the ONLY material for the GMC. Do not even bother to consider alternatives. Buy the tools and learn to install PEX. Nothing else will work.
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299159 is a reply to message #299155] Sat, 16 April 2016 21:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
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Senior Member
Haha. That's good A 😊

Sully
77 Royale
Seattle

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, A. wrote:

> sgltrac wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 17:53
>> Of course winterizing the system would prevent this from occurring A but
> as you know sh👎t happens. Also, some people like to use their camper
>> in the winter.
>>
>> Sully
>> 77 Royale
>> Seattle
> OK. For all people from this day forward that need to repair or replace
> plumbing in their GMCs, PEX is the ONLY material for the GMC. Do not even
> bother to consider alternatives. Buy the tools and learn to install PEX.
> Nothing else will work.
> --
> '73 23' Sequoia For Sale
> '73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit For Sale
> Upper Alabama
> Why don't they sell spray paint that washes off with soap and water for
> graffiti vandals to use?
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299168 is a reply to message #299159] Sun, 17 April 2016 09:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
Senior Member
The "tools" consist of a clamping tool ($35) and learning to do it consists
of installing clamping tool over clamp/hose/fitting and squeezing. The ONLY
reason I piped up about this in the first place A is because you declared
that cpvc was the only way to go and I had enough trouble with it to decide
I would never purchase another rv with rigid plastic pipe. Wanted to spare
others of the potential frustration. So quit calling the kettle black.

Sully
77 Royale
Seattle

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, Todd Sullivan wrote:

> Haha. That's good A 😊
>
> Sully
> 77 Royale
> Seattle
>
> On Saturday, April 16, 2016, A. > wrote:
>
>> sgltrac wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 17:53
>>> Of course winterizing the system would prevent this from occurring A
>> but as you know sh👎t happens. Also, some people like to use their camper
>>> in the winter.
>>>
>>> Sully
>>> 77 Royale
>>> Seattle
>> OK. For all people from this day forward that need to repair or replace
>> plumbing in their GMCs, PEX is the ONLY material for the GMC. Do not even
>> bother to consider alternatives. Buy the tools and learn to install PEX.
>> Nothing else will work.
>> --
>> '73 23' Sequoia For Sale
>> '73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit For Sale
>> Upper Alabama
>> Why don't they sell spray paint that washes off with soap and water for
>> graffiti vandals to use?
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299179 is a reply to message #299168] Sun, 17 April 2016 10:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
emerystora is currently offline  emerystora   United States
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
Senior Member
Sully
The clamping tool is only one way to do it. The professional plumbers perfer to use PexA with an expansion collar and to use an expansion tool to expand the pex and the collar to fit it over the barbed fitting. The pex then shrinks back to tightly grip the fitting.
The expansion tool is more expensive but it does a better job.

It can also be rented at a tool rental place.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

> On Apr 17, 2016, at 8:54 AM, Todd Sullivan wrote:
>
> The "tools" consist of a clamping tool ($35) and learning to do it consists
> of installing clamping tool over clamp/hose/fitting and squeezing. The ONLY
> reason I piped up about this in the first place A is because you declared
> that cpvc was the only way to go and I had enough trouble with it to decide
> I would never purchase another rv with rigid plastic pipe. Wanted to spare
> others of the potential frustration. So quit calling the kettle black.
>
> Sully
> 77 Royale
> Seattle
>
>> On Saturday, April 16, 2016, Todd Sullivan wrote:
>>
>> Haha. That's good A 😊
>>
>> Sully
>> 77 Royale
>> Seattle
>>
>> On Saturday, April 16, 2016, A. > > wrote:
>>
>>> sgltrac wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 17:53
>>>> Of course winterizing the system would prevent this from occurring A
>>> but as you know sh👎t happens. Also, some people like to use their camper
>>>> in the winter.
>>>>
>>>> Sully
>>>> 77 Royale
>>>> Seattle
>>> OK. For all people from this day forward that need to repair or replace
>>> plumbing in their GMCs, PEX is the ONLY material for the GMC. Do not even
>>> bother to consider alternatives. Buy the tools and learn to install PEX.
>>> Nothing else will work.

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Re: [GMCnet] Water lines [message #299180 is a reply to message #299179] Sun, 17 April 2016 11:10 Go to previous message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
Senior Member
I am aware that there is I multitude of styles of pex type tubing fitting
and clamping systems. If I were to plumb a house filled with expensive
hardwoods/furniture and the plumbing would be costly to access later like
its buried in a wall covered with sheet rock and then cabinets I would
probably use copper since I have a lot of familiarity with it and will
outlast me but for the coach I used the "shark bite" tool and fittings
from Home Depot. All of the newer mh/camp trailers if have looked at
itelize a pex type piping material. My neighbor at our vacation place in
eastern Washington has a 5th wheel on his lot which he uses as a guest
house. It never moves and when I asked him about winterizing he said he
occasionally remembers to do it but has not ever had to fix the supply
lines. It can drop into the low twenties and stay there for over a week in
winter. The shark bite fittings are a bit spendy but there weren't very
many compared to plumbing a house. It was very easy to do and I did not
have to worry about spilling glue or primer while installing it. Also, when
I changed my mind about routing or length,no fittings were wasted because
the clamp is removable and the cheap pipe sacrificed. Red and blue coloring
made keeping hot and cold runs easy to identify. Not a single connection
leaked and I had never done it before. Not declaring this is the only way
to go and certainly not the cheapest if you only count materials.

Sully
77 Royale
Seattle

On Sunday, April 17, 2016, Emery Stora wrote:

> Sully
> The clamping tool is only one way to do it. The professional plumbers
> perfer to use PexA with an expansion collar and to use an expansion tool to
> expand the pex and the collar to fit it over the barbed fitting. The pex
> then shrinks back to tightly grip the fitting.
> The expansion tool is more expensive but it does a better job.
>
> It can also be rented at a tool rental place.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Frederick, CO
>
>> On Apr 17, 2016, at 8:54 AM, Todd Sullivan > wrote:
>>
>> The "tools" consist of a clamping tool ($35) and learning to do it
> consists
>> of installing clamping tool over clamp/hose/fitting and squeezing. The
> ONLY
>> reason I piped up about this in the first place A is because you declared
>> that cpvc was the only way to go and I had enough trouble with it to
> decide
>> I would never purchase another rv with rigid plastic pipe. Wanted to
> spare
>> others of the potential frustration. So quit calling the kettle black.
>>
>> Sully
>> 77 Royale
>> Seattle
>>
>>> On Saturday, April 16, 2016, Todd Sullivan > wrote:
>>>
>>> Haha. That's good A 😊
>>>
>>> Sully
>>> 77 Royale
>>> Seattle
>>>
>>> On Saturday, April 16, 2016, A. >> >
> wrote:
>>>
>>>> sgltrac wrote on Sat, 16 April 2016 17:53
>>>> > Of course winterizing the system would prevent this from occurring A
>>>> but as you know sh👎t happens. Also, some people like to use their
> camper
>>>> > in the winter.
>>>> >
>>>> > Sully
>>>> > 77 Royale
>>>> > Seattle
>>>> OK. For all people from this day forward that need to repair or replace
>>>> plumbing in their GMCs, PEX is the ONLY material for the GMC. Do not
> even
>>>> bother to consider alternatives. Buy the tools and learn to install
> PEX.
>>>> Nothing else will work.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
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