Plumbing done!

[Billygoat]

Spent the last few days, half that time running to different stores to get the right plumbing connection. Holy cow what a mess of connections for our setup. I was wanting to do Pex thru the coach, wanted to avoid the crimping of the joints because of what I was told about them working loose when driving the coach. In doing this it took me out of the HD and Lowes places cause they have nothing other than the crimping for Pex. I had to go to my local RV supply place to get the connections to work. But when it came to the tight turns Pex became a problem and had to convert to reinforced hose which took a special connection to make that happen. A lot of running from one place to another to cobble it together but got it done. Now how long it stays leak free, who know?

TG

 

[Scotty]

I'm working on the same - but using the HD / Lowes stuff (regrets building)
can you provide more detail and pics of your install?

 

[Billygoat]

Hey Scotty, I’ll try to take a few pics here.
Will post them up here soon.

TG

 

[dsmithy]

I did mine a decade ago in 2003 on my '73 which had copper. At that time they were selling PEX with the threaded-nut kind of fittings which resulted in a lot of 90 degree turns. It was kind of fussy but I have had zero leaks or problems of any kind since then. I think it took me three days. I used the existing copper duct-taped to the PEX to pull it over the ceiling. I did no major disassembly of cabinets or panels to get it done. My coach has an ABS piece between the closet and bathroom module for the ceiling. I did take that off.

 

[Billygoat]

Here you go Scott, was a bit difficult to get all connection pics but here is most of them. Hope this helps.

 

[Scotty]

Here you go Scott, was a bit difficult to get all connection pics but here is most of them. Hope this helps.

Those pex connectors do look better than the standard stuff from Lowe’s
Are they ‘shark’?

 

[Billygoat]

Some 3 way connections were sharks from Lowes but only 2. The rest were all from the RV supply store. The prices were a bit cheaper but not much.

TG

 

[Matt Colie]

Makes me glad all the copper in our coach is good. I had to replace the bends under the sink in the head because they got frozen at some point and I was worried, and had to change the leads in the galley to flexible for the new tap there. (It is worth while to keep the cook happy.) The only actual failure was where the lead up to the shower got rubbed through on the water heater shell. I was able to replace that piece of copper with a flexible lead right out of the store and a single compression fitting. I was able to pull the new lead in using the old copper as a messenger. We didn't even miss the departure for the spring international.
Matt_C

 

[Scotty]

my coach HAD the old (original) Polybutylene piping (Grey Pipes)
I believe it was the first year they manufactured/offered these for water supply, so coachman took advantage of this new tech. But when I gutted my coach, I disposed of it since ithad some fittings that were shot and this product was discontinued around 1995 I believe.

 

[Billygoat]

Yep Scotty, as you see in some of the pics I left some of the original black plastic piping in, specifically the cross over piping from bathroom to kitchen. I felt I could replace it when I see leaks occur with those lines. Last thing I gotta figure out is a RV antifreeze line from the propane tank area. Just have to think on how that connection works. May just stick with what I have and pour the antifreeze into the tank??

TG

 

[kidjedi]

Knock on wood, most of my original gray plastic is still holding strong. I do put pex in all my Airstreams. I have used mostly brass shark bite connectors, and they have done surprisingly well (in the beginning I was worried they would pull apart). I do make extra effort to keep all plumbing connections accessible (behind access panels) in case anything were ever to spring a leak. In places where I have "removable components" like water filters and water pumps, I transition from PEX to Stainless Braided Flexible so it's easy to remove things when it gets cold.

 

[B1gflip]

my coach HAD the old (original) Polybutylene piping (Grey Pipes)
I believe it was the first year they manufactured/offered these for water supply, so coachman took advantage of this new tech. But when I gutted my coach, I disposed of it since ithad some fittings that were shot and this product was discontinued around 1995 I believe.

Do you know if they make shark bites or something that you can use with PB?
thanks

 

[Scotty]

Do you know if they make shark bites or something that you can use with PB?
thanks

I do not know if Shark Bites would work. That’s a good question since the most common failure mode of the old PB was cracked connectors (at least on mine)

 

[RF_Burns]

I found out this past winter that mice love Pex tubing. We had some plumbing done about 2 years ago with Pex and leaks developed twice this winter from mice chewing on them. I had never heard of this, but a quick google search shows they love the stuff! We have two cats and still had a couple of mice. So protect your GMC from them!

Are Rodents Really Chewing Through PEX? - TDT Plumbing

Rodents Chewing Through PEX Pipe is a problem in Houston. TDT Plumbing can help fix the damage to your water pipes. Call (713) 697-2088 for help now!

tdtplumbing.com

 

[tmsnyder]

I found out this past winter that mice love Pex tubing. We had some plumbing done about 2 years ago with Pex and leaks developed twice this winter from mice chewing on them. I had never heard of this, but a quick google search shows they love the stuff! We have two cats and still had a couple of mice. So protect your GMC from them!

Are Rodents Really Chewing Through PEX? - TDT Plumbing

Rodents Chewing Through PEX Pipe is a problem in Houston. TDT Plumbing can help fix the damage to your water pipes. Call (713) 697-2088 for help now!

tdtplumbing.com

Hopefully they prefer mouse poison bait over the PEX in my GMC. They can come in and fill their bellies.

 

[Scotty]

Hopefully they prefer mouse poison bait over the PEX in my GMC. They can come in and fill their bellies.

May I make a suggestion to all....

NEVER put poison / Bait INSIDE the item you are trying to protect, but rather place it elsewhere - you do not want to draw them into the space your trying to protect, you want to repel and keep them away.

I learned this from a wise old timer who use to store a boat for me - made perfect sense to me and I have followed that rule of thumb from that day forward.

Having said that, I have successfully implemented 'million dollar mouse traps' in a few exterior / discreet locations and they work very well.

 

[tmsnyder]

May I make a suggestion to all....

NEVER put poison / Bait INSIDE the item you are trying to protect, but rather place it elsewhere - you do not want to draw them into the space your trying to protect, you want to repel and keep them away.

I learned this from a wise old timer who use to store a boat for me - made perfect sense to me and I have followed that rule of thumb from that day forward.

Having said that, I have successfully implemented 'million dollar mouse traps' in a few exterior / discreet locations and they work very well.

Oh it's only served for those mice that find their way inside. Believe me, there's plenty of bait around the outside and a 'walk-the-plank' mousetrap baited with peanut butter as well. But if they don't take the hint and end up inside, I kill them.

 

[Melbo]

There is a polybutylene repair that is sold at lowes. it connects poly to pex. As previously mentioned poly typically fails at the connections. I don't know if the repair is a better connector so it won't fail all I know is they sell them.

SharkBite
3/4-in PEX Crimp x 3/4-in Polybutylene Brass Transition Coupling
Model #UC4016LFZ
$3.78

 

[tmsnyder]

There is a polybutylene repair that is sold at lowes. it connects poly to pex. As previously mentioned poly typically fails at the connections. I don't know if the repair is a better connector so it won't fail all I know is they sell them.

SharkBite
3/4-in PEX Crimp x 3/4-in Polybutylene Brass Transition Coupling
Model #UC4016LFZ
$3.78

I've used PEX crush rings to connect RV tubing to PEX fitting. It was close enough that the tubing was squeezed onto the fitting to seal.

 

[pvfjr]

Do you know if they make shark bites or something that you can use with PB?
thanks

They do. You can spot them for sure by the gray band on one end only. I've found them at Ace and Lowe's, and used them patching up my mom's mobile home. It's handy to be able to adapt PB to PEX or copper.