Blew power steering hose

[SNAIL1]

After a 7000 mile trip, we pulled into the driveway and while I was positioning the rv, the power steering hose blew!

We blew the power steering hose on our 2001 Newmar Dutch Star Diesel pusher. I've found the hole and am planning on changing the hose myself. Spartan says it is 32 ft long! Has anyone done this before and can you offer some suggestions?

Any ideas appreciated.

thanks,

[USMCRET]

Mine blew while at a repair shop. What they did was run the new hose along the frame without regard to the original hose's routing, and I understand why they did that. Trying to run the replacement hose through all the looms like the original would have been a huge PITA and probably would have jacked the repair price upward.

[Snomas1]

Interesting problem. I am trying to find a way to replace the two 35' heater hoses that run inside the tube steel frame to prevent a hose from breaking on the road when traveling!

[SNAIL1]

It's done and not as bad as I thought--but not an easy, clean or quick task. Lots of crawling under the mh and working in cramped spaces near the front wheel well and around the rear axle. Oh and did I say dirty from all the oil. It took about 8 gallons of hydraulic oil to refill the system!

What I did was to use 1 1/4 inch plastic electrical conduit and 1 inch flex plastic pressure water hose purchased from Home Depot to run the new ps hose inside.

I routed the conduit outside the main frame beginning about even with the front tire drivers side to about half way through the propane tank compartment. Then I angled down at 45 degrees to run the conduit along the inside of the approximately 1 1/2 inch box structure supporting the bottom of the basement under the mh. At the rear of the 1 1/2 inch box structure near the rear wheel, I used the plastic water hose to snake up along the spring structure to the frame and back to the hydraulic control box just behind the rear axle.

I supported the conduit and hose with large wire ties used for bundling groups of wires. I secured the conduit and hose to the existing bundles of wiring and hoses, the frame, the 1 1/2 square structure and anything else I found that would work. I did bend some 1 1/2 inch metal conduit clamps so I could clamp to the 1 1/2 inch square structure to support the hose. I used a rubber 1 1/4 inch coupling for joining the hose and pipe together.

Once the pipe and hose were installed it was relatively easy to push the new ps hose through to the rear of the unit. I did not glue the conduit, 45 ells or connect the hose together until after I pushed the new ps hose into position and connected the respective ends of the new ps hose. I used foam insulation to seal each end of the conduit to prevent water, dust, etc. from entering.

Spartan says the hose is originally 32 ft long for our unit. My new route required 31 ft 4 inches of hose. Our local hydraulic supply shop made up the hose to Spartan's spec, Spartan is always great to work with and supplied the specs for the hose and fittings within an hour after I placed the call to them.

The mh has now been driven back to the storage lot and all our neighbors are happy.

Spartan did say they repair this problem by drilling a hole in each end of the basement and routing the new hose through the basement. When I looked at all the water heater, holding tanks, fresh water tank, etc that I would have to fish the hose through, I chose an outside route.

[Snomas1]

Snail1, Nice job on the reroute, I just met w/ our mechanic and he is going to reroute the 2- 5/8" heater hoses thru the storage compartment and hang them just under the floor along the tube structure and go over the water storage tank area to the engine compartment. I had one quote for $4800 and his is $1400 to do the same job plus change out the 4 -1/4" hoses that come off the coolant holding tank. I guess when I have a PS hose go I will consider what you have done! Thanks for your description.