Fresh water Dump Valve

[Wayne R]

I am getting ready to install cargo trays and was looking at the fresh water dump valve. It along with the shroud is taking up a lot of valuable space. I have only used the valve once and see little value vs. wasted space. Has any one else removed it and capped it off? The low point drains are adequate IMHO to drain the tank.

Also any recommendations on Slim Slider vs. Joey Beds?

[Wayne R]

I am getting ready to install cargo trays and was looking at the fresh water dump valve. It along with the shroud is taking up a lot of valuable space. I have only used the valve once and see little value vs. wasted space. Has any one else removed it and capped it off? The low point drains are adequate IMHO to drain the tank.

Also any recommendations on Slim Slider vs. Joey Beds?

[alpinerver]

Hi wayne
I looked at both and much more impressed w/ Slim slider, all aluminium constructio and fit much closer to the floor. small co. in Orofino ID. super folks they have a web site. good Luck Larry

[EngineerMike]

I sorter grumbled at the space lost to the dump valve, but haven't moved as yet to reclaim it.
First, at least on my model, the bulkhead around the propane tank interrupts the full-coach-width that would otherwise exist, so the valve location isn't totaly out to lunch.
Second, about half of the lost area is reclaimable by reworking the wood/carpet enclosure around the valve.
However, as time goes by I may get to that. I agree that the large diameter isn't needed. About a 3/4" valve & line would be fine w/me, & that could be routed to be out of the way to reclaim a coupla square feet of storage floor space in the 36' basement. I don't think the low point drains dump the tank contents, just the plumbing lines; but it'd be easy to neck the drain down to manageable size & reroute.

[Wayne R]

My thoughts are with the water pump on the tank can be drained just fine through the low points.

Looking at my bay the cargo floor support rods are sure in a dumb spot if you want to put in trays. I have removed mine and have a plan to relocate them so they line up with the center door jam. But if cargo trays are installed spreading out the load are they even necessary?

I am leaning towards the slim sliders and probably will go there and have them installed. What about putting a dog leg in the front tray to clear the wall for the propane tank and using a full extension tray?

[EngineerMike]

Not sure how much of a dog leg you'd need, but you might consider two trays- one full width of coach, then a short one that covers just the floor subtended by the propane bulkhead.
That's what I was thinking (as opposed to 30 tacos).

[Wayne R]

Mike how about the cargo floor support rods?

[Wayne R]

As I lay out how I want to put my cargo slides in the front 2 bays. The cord reel and inverter are good candidates for relocation. Inverter to the ceiling and cord real to the front next to the wall for the propane compartment. That would allow 1 5'x8"� slide and 1 5'x5.5' slide.

The dirt devil is probably going above the black tank if I can squeeze it in since the wife doesn't like it anyhow. So the occasional bag change would not be that big of a hassle. The enclosure for the AC and TV outlets can be made a lot more compact in fact I might recess them into the bulkhead. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[EngineerMike]

Wayne- On the 36' there are two cargo floor support rods.
Also on mine there are 3 basement doors on DS of ~50" each, and 2 on the PS of ~66" ea. The PS side rod lines up w/the PS door mullion, and the DS rod lines up w/the rear DS door mullion. So the full-width area for a 96" wide cargo slide is reduced to about 25% of the cargo door area on the PS. I can see where you'd like to relocate a rod or 2.
The floor is framed w/2" steel angle iron and sheeted w/plywood. The rods go thru the floor & thru a flat strap to support the floor at about mid span front to back ± a bit. The flat strap isn't structural like a beam. And the 2" angle won't span front to back w/out some mid-span hold-em-up. Couldn't say why they do the strap except that it makes a good washer to spread the load between the rod & the plywood in which case a washer woulda been easier.

IIWY,I'd replace the rods in places that were more convenient to a motorhome user, more or less near mid span, but I wouldn't go rodless.

Wife asked what I was doing under the coach. I told her. She asked, "Can we add an Engineer Dump Valve?" I told her no.