Plumbing In Slides

[Sanddog00]

Wow I think they need to redo the patent and include you

[Sanddog00]

Originally Posted by Dav L

Newmar uses a patented flex joint for the sink drain in the slide that has broken twice so far. I modified it and put more flex in the system and my fingers are crossed. Also upgraded the light duty black pipe to schedule 40 white standard plumbing parts.

DAV L. Wow I think they need to redo the patent and include your change $$$$$

[Dav L]

Originally Posted by Sanddog00

DAV L. Wow I think they need to redo the patent and include your change $$$$$

their design isn't bad, it's their choice of materials. I suspect their patent is about a rotating sleeve that allows that slide to go in / out. That sleeve is connected to "spa" piping that allows for a free form bend that has some flexibility to "roll out" for when the slide is out, and "roll in" for when the slide is retracted. The problem I have found is that spa pipe is still a little rigid and the PVC fitting it is connected to, cracks. I just used a flexible rubber joint between the spa pipe and the fixed PVC. Not a patent worthy thing. More of a DIY workaround.

Brings to mind my neighbors log cabin. The plumbing is sleeved to collapse as the logs dry out and shrink. The roof is then closer to the ground after a few years. The sleeves keep the plumbing from cracking under that immense pressure.

[ftodaro]

I am in the middle of replacing my flex spa hose in my sink drain. I am having a hard time finding a hose that is less rigid and has a bend radius for the space i have to work with.

[Dav L]

Originally Posted by ftodaro

I am in the middle of replacing my flex spa hose in my sink drain. I am having a hard time finding a hose that is less rigid and has a bend radius for the space i have to work with.

Home Depot sells the spa hose...but yes, its a bit rigid. I even tried heating it to put a bend in it. Didn't work well. I also put a 22.5 elbow in the system but then the spa hose would have to do a backwards bend when the system was expanded.

If my rubber fitting doesn't do the job, I was going to try a radiator hose next which is more pliable. You can find straight hose at a good NAPA.

[Ed Headington]

Had 2 Fleetwood motorhomes with kitchens in the slides. Never a problem. The second one, a Revolution LE we had for 9 years and 90,000 miles including 3 trips driving to Alaska, and never had any plumbing problems. Now we have a Newmar LE with the kitchen in the slide. Had this coach for almost 6 years and almost 50,000 miles, and have not had any plumbing problems.


Ed Headington

[winniman]

This kind of issue may not show up until the rv is 15 years old. Everyone who has a fairly new rv is not likely to have this problem yet. This would be caused by many repeated opening and closing of the slides. I would be almost more concerned with a propane line flexing many hundreds of times.

[ftodaro]

Originally Posted by Dav L

Home Depot sells the spa hose...but yes, its a bit rigid. I even tried heating it to put a bend in it. Didn't work well. I also put a 22.5 elbow in the system but then the spa hose would have to do a backwards bend when the system was expanded.

If my rubber fitting doesn't do the job, I was going to try a radiator hose next which is more pliable. You can find straight hose at a good NAPA.

I have found a few different type hoses online. The first one i tried was just to rigid. I have a different option on order. If I find a good option, i will post it otherwise i will use the spa hose again its just not a good choice for the job. I will reinforce the joints with a piece of wood and radiator hose clamps.

[grldst]

2002 Monaco Executive with kitchen slide. We had the sink drain leak, water ran down onto the transfer switch and caused it to malfunction.

We bought this RV used and upon doing the repair it appeared that this drain was improperly repaired prior to our purchase. We repaired it and never had a problem with it again. The transfer switch ...we had to take the cover off and used a hair dryer to dry it out. That took care of that issue.

[2Yung2 Quit]

Originally Posted by Dav L

their design isn't bad, it's their choice of materials. I suspect their patent is about a rotating sleeve that allows that slide to go in / out. That sleeve is connected to "spa" piping that allows for a free form bend that has some flexibility to "roll out" for when the slide is out, and "roll in" for when the slide is retracted. The problem I have found is that spa pipe is still a little rigid and the PVC fitting it is connected to, cracks. I just used a flexible rubber joint between the spa pipe and the fixed PVC. Not a patent worthy thing. More of a DIY workaround.

Brings to mind my neighbors log cabin. The plumbing is sleeved to collapse as the logs dry out and shrink. The roof is then closer to the ground after a few years. The sleeves keep the plumbing from cracking under that immense pressure.

When you say flexible coupling, are you referring to a "no-hub coupling"?

[Dav L]

Originally Posted by 2Yung2 Quit

When you say flexible coupling, are you referring to a "no-hub coupling"?Attachment 268964

Yes, that's similar to what I now have in use (so far, so good with limited use).

Note that I also replaced all the black PVC with stronger schedule 40 PVC so since I already was replacing all that, I put the right fittings on to support the rubber coupling and used the PVC to make up for the new spa / coupling hose lengths so nothing binds and the spa / coupling hose is as long as possible to give more gentle flex across it's length, without binding.

[FatChance]

This picture shows the brass flexible coupler in the sink drain in our coach. It rotates when the slide is extended (shown) and retracted in conjunction with the flexible drain hose.

The water supply hoses and PEX lines have enough flex that a flex coupler is not needed.

[AbdRahim]

Originally Posted by FatChance

This picture shows the brass flexible coupler in the sink drain in our coach. It rotates when the slide is extended (shown) and retracted in conjunction with the flexible drain hose.

The water supply hoses and PEX lines have enough flex that a flex coupler is not needed. Attachment 269009

Where is the Fernco piece, or equivalent, in this picture.

[FatChance]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

Where is the Fernco piece, or equivalent, in this picture.

There is not one in this setup. With this setup, the flexible coupling (the brass coupling in the picture) flexes in a rotational motion instead of a lateral motion.