| What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231806] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 16:06  |
Lightfoot
Messages: 22
Registered: October 2013
Location: Southeast USA
Karma: 0
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Hi all.
I want to replace the whole water supply system
I think the 1/2" PEX seems right. Just a lot of connection styles. Crimping/compression-rings, slip joints, is there a solvent weld?
Good-bad-ugly What does the jury say?
Also I want to do this for several coaches (what's my parts/required tool cost) -considering labor is cheap...(me) 
A) Has anyone had any failures with any certain system or brand of crimp/ compression/ solvent weld type?
B) What pipe/connections did you use to redo your coach?
Chris Lightfoot
Working with a '73 palm beach.
Mary Esther FL
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231807 is a reply to message #231806] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 16:14  |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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I'm part owner of a plumbing & electrical wholesale house and I used 1/2" pex with crimp connectors in the Birchaven. I would *not* use sharkbite-type connectors except as a last resort. In no way would I use any of the plastic fittings. I particularly like the color-coded pex (blue=cold, red=hot) in the coaches as it helps others figure out what you've done. The negative, of course, is that the crimp tools are expensive and can be cumbersome to work with in tight places.
SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
[Updated on: Sat, 30 November 2013 16:15] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231808 is a reply to message #231807] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 16:44 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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I had a new SOB (Arctic Fox camper). After about a year I noticed a little water under the sink. Upon further investigation every single PEX connection was loose and leaking. All I had to do was tighten them by hand, but some were in some very hard to reach spots.
Is it typical for PEX to need occasional checking/tightening after the initial installation? Assuming they were assembled correctly in the first place (not a good assumption considering some of the other flaws we found), I would think if this were normal then periodic checking would be recommended, but I haven't seen this anywhere.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231812 is a reply to message #231806] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 17:04 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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>typical for PEX to need occasional checking/tightening after the initial installation?
Not the crimp ring type with the brass fittings, every other type of pex connection is, IMO, consumer-oriented crap.
Sharkbites: people love them, but they are trusting a pressure connection to a star washer and an o-ring.
Inside a structure, rather than an RV, I like CPVC solvent-weld better but in an RV we need the freeze-proof quality of pex.
SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
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| Re: [GMCnet] What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231814 is a reply to message #231811] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 17:08 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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| Robert Mueller wrote on Sat, 30 November 2013 14:52 |
Since PEX is used in houses with connections inside walls it would seem rather stupid if the manufacturer were to recommend
"periodic checking."
Regards,
Rob M.
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I agree. I guess I must assume my camper was sloppily plumbed to start with. As I said earlier, we found many shortcuts and problems with it. The worst one was that the battery leads in the generator compartment (we didn't have a generator at first) were taped together WITHOUT any tape on the individual terminals. They were wired directly to the house batteries, no fuse or breaker. Fortunately, and probably by pure chance, one cable went to the negative of one battery and one to the positive of the other battery, so when they shorted they blew the 10 gauge wire connecting the batteries (in parallel) and not the batteries themselves. If they had been connected to one battery the result would have been much, much worse than a couple of charred wires.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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| Re: [GMCnet] What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231818 is a reply to message #231814] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 17:46 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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My take on PO's:
Everybody works to their own skill and quality level. Some people have fantastic skills and are perfectionists others are hammer
mechanics and work to "close enough is good enough." ;-)
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: David Orders
I agree. I guess I must assume my camper was sloppily plumbed to start with. As I said earlier, we found many shortcuts and problems
with it. The worst one was that the battery leads in the generator compartment (we didn't have a generator at first) were taped
together WITHOUT any tape on the individual terminals. They were wired directly to the house batteries, no fuse or breaker.
Fortunately, and probably by pure chance, one cable went to the negative of one battery and one to the positive of the other
battery, so when they shorted they blew the 10 gauge wire connecting the batteries (in parallel) and not the batteries themselves.
If they had been connected to one battery the result would have been much, much worse than a couple of charred wires.
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231819 is a reply to message #231818] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 18:04 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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That is to a great degree true. But in any original project - and healing the GMC is certainly original in many ways - one should identify and respect the logical stopping point. If you read 'The Soul of a New Machine' by Tracy Kidder, it's called the 'ship it' point. You can embellish and shine and hone and fine tune, but at some point, you got to ship it. Defining the optimum point for any given construct is the mark of an excellent project manager.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
________________________________
From: Robert Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2013 6:46 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] What's best /What to avoid: New water supply!
My take on PO's:
Everybody works to their own skill and quality level. Some people have fantastic skills and are perfectionists others are hammer
mechanics and work to "close enough is good enough." ;-)
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: David Orders
I agree. I guess I must assume my camper was sloppily plumbed to start with. As I said earlier, we found many shortcuts and problems
with it. The worst one was that the battery leads in the generator compartment (we didn't have a generator at first) were taped
together WITHOUT any tape on the individual terminals. They were wired directly to the house batteries, no fuse or breaker.
Fortunately, and probably by pure chance, one cable went to the negative of one battery and one to the positive of the other
battery, so when they shorted they blew the 10 gauge wire connecting the batteries (in parallel) and not the batteries themselves.
If they had been connected to one battery the result would have been much, much worse than a couple of charred wires.
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231832 is a reply to message #231806] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 20:19 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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I have 3 sons who are plumbers. I plan to have them do some upgrad and repair work in the GMC. 90% of their work is with pex. I will have to ask them about the quality of the shark bite joints. They have used them in my house and we have very high water pressure. No leaks yet.
I would think that half inch pex with crimped joints would be ideal in an RV.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231840 is a reply to message #231806] |
Sat, 30 November 2013 20:43 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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>plumbers
Football fans don't won't to admit there's a problem with concussions. Plumbers love sharkbites, they get them out of making tight, PITA joints. They're good for temporary use, test caps, etc. *Maybe* for a near-impossible repair between joists in a crawlspace. In an RV with all the vibration? No way.
But when plumbers go off to talk among themselves, the o-ring bothers them.
https://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/t16675/
SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231939 is a reply to message #231806] |
Sun, 01 December 2013 20:15 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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I confirmed with my 3 sons the plumbers. They say shark bites should only be used for temporary connections.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #231952 is a reply to message #231806] |
Sun, 01 December 2013 22:42 |
Hal StClair
Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM
Karma: -12
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Back in another life (4 1/2 years ago) I was a building inspector
and saw many different systems. Most were good in some applications
none seemed good in all. The Pex seemed to be the best for most installations but still has drawbacks. People have the misconception that it's freeze proof-it isn't. The pipe will survive freezing but the fittings won't. The many different fittings used are usually a compromise, Sharkbites the biggest IMHO. We (the municipality) always required access if they were used although they were 'listed' to be covered and installed as such.
The original fittings were the expansion type but the tools were expensive and harder to use in confined spaces. I suppose most any could be used in our coaches if we try to keep them accessible but for my piece of mind I'll use the expansion type.
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
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #232102 is a reply to message #231952] |
Tue, 03 December 2013 12:33 |
Lightfoot
Messages: 22
Registered: October 2013
Location: Southeast USA
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Thanks guys!
Hal
I did note that the pipe is only freeze resistant.Are you saying that the you used fittings that are able to expand? or that they are installed via the expansion of the pipe around and onto the fitting?
Chris Lightfoot
Working with a '73 palm beach.
Mary Esther FL
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| Re: What's best /What to avoid: New water supply! [message #232166 is a reply to message #232102] |
Tue, 03 December 2013 20:54 |
Hal StClair
Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM
Karma: -12
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Senior Member |
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I'm sorry I wasn't more precise. I meant to say that the pipe is expanded over brass/copper or some form of plastic fittings. And no, there are no fittings I'm familiar with that are freeze proof/resistant. All things being equal, Pex is probably the best thing going right now, IMHO.
BTW, this stuff is REALLY tough. In our Pex certification class they took a 2 foot piece of Pex with barbed (expanded type) fittings on either end. They mechanically pulled on the fittings until the Pex failed-the fittings never moved. It was quit impressive.
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
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