Community Forums

Lynn Marie · 06-19-2017, 02:13 PM

Hello all,

Well the hose troll has struck...again. In 2005 I had the hose that runs from the bedroom slide to the valve complex on the passenger side compartment to the aft of the front wheel. It has lasted until a couple of weeks ago. So the defective hoses were still in the system when mine were replaced then. The hoses were purchased from HWH through Cummins Northwest in Renton, WA.

I do not know if any rerouting of hoses were done around the radiator nor if any heat shielding was done. I also don't know if the two hoses connected to the "equalizer"? in the battery compartment were replaced. (I didn't know I had the equalizer in the battery compartment - I guess I better look!) Therefore I cannot say if my issue is heat related or defective hoses/connections.

I received the recommended fixes from members on this forum and will print them out for the RV repair place in Yakima that says they can fix my leak. Hopefully this will resolve my leak for good!

Thanks to all who contribute to this forum!

Frank Tamez · 06-19-2017, 02:20 PM

Are you talking about Aubrey's in Yakima? They do good work and know Alpines very well. I had them install a residential fridge in a 36 foot Alpine a couple of years ago. They did a great job and did it for a reasonable price..

Frank

Lynn Marie · 06-19-2017, 02:33 PM

Yes! They said they have done HWH work on Alpines! Thanks for the vote of confidence in them!

DrDaveMA · 06-19-2017, 05:24 PM

Lynn Marie, around '04 - '05 WRV was using hydraulic hose made by someone other than HWH (I suppose to reduce costs). On our '05 about 2 years ago we developed pin hole leaks in 2 of our main slide hoses. Actually, while the leaks appeared to be pinhole leaks in the hose, the real problem was the fitting at the end of the hose, they were NOT swaged on and leaked with the fluid traveling under the plastic outer cover until it found a weak spot and started to leak through the pin holes. Replacing both hoses (they need to be exactly the same length, solved the problem. If you are having problems with hoses, most any competent hydraulic shop can fix you up, you just need to be aware that hose length does matter (that is why you have extra hose coiled in some places).

Lynn Marie · 06-19-2017, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrDaveMA

Lynn Marie, around '04 - '05 WRV was using hydraulic hose made by someone other than HWH (I suppose to reduce costs). On our '05 about 2 years ago we developed pin hole leaks in 2 of our main slide hoses. Actually, while the leaks appeared to be pinhole leaks in the hose, the real problem was the fitting at the end of the hose, they were NOT swaged on and leaked with the fluid traveling under the plastic outer cover until it found a weak spot and started to leak through the pin holes. Replacing both hoses (they need to be exactly the same length, solved the problem. If you are having problems with hoses, most any competent hydraulic shop can fix you up, you just need to be aware that hose length does matter (that is why you have extra hose coiled in some places).

Thank you DrDaveMA!!! Appreciate it!!!

Old Scout · 06-19-2017, 06:43 PM

Actually--the primary year for non-HWH sourced hoses was 2003 [at least from personal experience]. Thought by 2005, they had it worked out and were back to HWH-sourced hoses. The problem with the bedroom wardrobe slide in 38ft and shorter coaches seems to be heat-related from the radiator, and perhaps, in addition, something to do with the way the equalizer tubes and the scissors rams are actuated--very abrupt movement. Not sure if this applies to both HWH and non-HWH hoses, but if you look closely you will see that the outside layer on the hoses is actually uniformly perforated to allow for leaks from the inter-hose layers so as to seep at the leak point...

Lynn Marie · 06-19-2017, 07:54 PM

Thanks Old Scout!

My coach was probably built in 03, but title says 04, since I bought the coach in March of 04 and there was a month left on the warranty. However I did have the the bedroom slide hose replaced in 05 and I thought that the hose came from HWH, but WRV was involved with the process at the time, so maybe they provided the replacement hose and I got another less robust one!

DrDaveMA · 06-19-2017, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Scout

Actually--the primary year for non-HWH sourced hoses was 2003 [at least from personal experience]. Thought by 2005, they had it worked out and were back to HWH-sourced hoses. The problem with the bedroom wardrobe slide in 38ft and shorter coaches seems to be heat-related from the radiator, and perhaps, in addition, something to do with the way the equalizer tubes and the scissors rams are actuated--very abrupt movement. Not sure if this applies to both HWH and non-HWH hoses, but if you look closely you will see that the outside layer on the hoses is actually uniformly perforated to allow for leaks from the inter-hose layers so as to seep at the leak point...

Dean, it also depends upon the floor plan, on the FDTS there are no hoses near the radiator, I know, I checked while radiator was being replaced.

At least on our '05 we had non-HWH hoses.

I never looked to see if the hose was purposely perforated, but that makes sense.

Old Scout · 06-19-2017, 09:17 PM

Probably out beyond my "headlights" [again] but figured any 38ft or shorter coach with a wardrobe slide on the driver's side, above the radiator, would also have to have hoses above/around the radiator area??????

DrDaveMA · 06-20-2017, 05:20 AM

Ironically 38 FDTS has bed slide on driver's side and vanity on passenger's side, wardrobe is in rear.

Old Scout · 06-20-2017, 06:44 AM

Why do I have to keep "re-learning" this stuff--perhaps because I forget?????? ........but to be clear, when we talk about "most" hose leaks, we are talking about Alpines with wardrobe slides over the radiator, kinda, maybe????? Keep me honest......

wolfe10 · 06-20-2017, 06:55 AM

For any with this problem (hydraulic leak on HWH wardrobe slide with lines run over the CAC and radiator), I did a "redesign" that should prove a LOT more reliable.

Fewer connections, larger diameter lines and routed lines forward of the CAC and radiator into a cooler area.

PM me (include your e-mail address) if you see oil leaking down the front edge of your CAC or other symptom of this issue and I will be happy to send you a copy of the document.

Lynn already has a copy.

RVPioneer · 06-20-2017, 03:43 PM

FWIW, the previous owner of our coach had a hydraulic hose replaced in the "right rear compartment" according to the paperwork. This is where the equalization cylinder resides, brilliantly positioned above the Vansco unit. I believe this to be the hose from the wardrobe slide, on a 36MDDS or FDDS. The PO also fabricated a trough to divert hydraulic fluid. The cylinder is prone to leaking, which I learned after having the hydraulics inspected. The shop advised that the cylinder could be replaced but would develop leaks in short order which would lead to a dissatisfied customer who had paid a sum of cash to not have a problem fixed.

I do not know it the replaced hose was rerouted away from the steamy radiator and CAC. Typically a leak will develop at the end of a hose where the end fitting is not properly swagged/crimped. Since it is somewhere between difficult and impossible to get a swag tool on the fitting once the hose is installed, removing and replacing the hose is the standard repair. This generally involves hundreds of dollars for labor and a $70 hose. The end result is a new and theoretically higher quality hose than what was originally installed, regardless of the source.

The moral of this story, if there is one, is that replacing an otherwise properly functioning equalization cylinder may be in unnecessary expenditure.