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10-01-2022, 09:01 AM
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#1
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 434
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Replacing the freshwater drain valve
My freshwater drain valve is going to hell . Not only has it always been a tough reach, but it's always been difficult to use because it flexes heavily on the pipe and is designed to swivel on the pipe end for who-knows-why.
But now the valve handle has been breaking off in chunks (after the photo was taken) so I need to do something about it. What have folks out there done about this? An extension might be nice, but a nice bigger valve with easier to turn handle is more on my list. I suppose I don't want it too easy to turn so I don't accidentally dump the water. The pipe appears to be white PEX, which is something I suppose is high-time I learn how to work with.
Any advice would be very much welcome!
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Todd
2019 Micro Minnie 2108DS with upgrades and mods here
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, RedArc TowPro-Elite, Andersen 3380 WDH
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10-01-2022, 10:12 AM
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#2
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South Central, Pennsylvania
Posts: 443
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Todd, here's a picture of how I solved the issue of having to get down on the ground and reach under the MM to open and close the drain for the FW tank.
I replaced the OEM valve with a 1/2" PEX elbow and extended the line to a 1/2" SharkBite 1/4 turn hose bib mounted near our steps on a bracket I fashioned.
Fred
__________________
2016 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2106DS, 200Ah BB, 400w rooftop & 500w front cap solar
2020 Tundra SR5 DLCB TRD Off Road, 5.7L V8 w/6.5' bed & 38 gal. tank, 4.30 axle ratio
Blue Ox Sway Pro w/750# bars, wired RVS rear view camera, Renogy 20A DC/DC charger
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10-01-2022, 10:21 AM
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#3
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 434
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Fred, very nice!
Did you angle the line extension a little downhill so it would drain for frost? I know photo angles play tricks on the eyes so I won't try to guess from the photo.
I guess I'd better investigate PEX tools and such.
__________________
Todd
2019 Micro Minnie 2108DS with upgrades and mods here
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, RedArc TowPro-Elite, Andersen 3380 WDH
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10-01-2022, 11:33 AM
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#4
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South Central, Pennsylvania
Posts: 443
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tinglett
Fred, very nice!
Did you angle the line extension a little downhill so it would drain for frost? I know photo angles play tricks on the eyes so I won't try to guess from the photo.
I guess I'd better investigate PEX tools and such.
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Yes, I did. The picture I posted was from my initial build. I've since shortened the down tube to give the extension additional fall. I don't currently have a picture of the final build. I can post a final build picture later tomorrow or Monday if you want me to.
I use pinch clamps for 99% of my connections, this is the pinch clamp tool I use for 95% of those connections. Its ratcheting action makes it easy to use one handed and is able to get into tighter places than some tools.
__________________
2016 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2106DS, 200Ah BB, 400w rooftop & 500w front cap solar
2020 Tundra SR5 DLCB TRD Off Road, 5.7L V8 w/6.5' bed & 38 gal. tank, 4.30 axle ratio
Blue Ox Sway Pro w/750# bars, wired RVS rear view camera, Renogy 20A DC/DC charger
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10-01-2022, 12:38 PM
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#5
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pflugerville/Austin, Tx
Posts: 7,373
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This is a place where we each may need to decide how we want to go. I very rarely need to get involved with PEX so am deferring on the tools.
In place of gearing up for PEX, I am willing to go the easier but more expensive route of Sharkbite type fittings on the rare occasion I do have to deal with it.
For the ease and speed versus getting the tools and experience, I'm okay with paying a few dollars more for quick and easy. I find too many places in RV where the clamp tool is hard to fit.
The older I get, the more I find I no longer use all the tools I really needed 20-30 years ago so I try to avoid buying even more!
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Richard
Why no RV year, make and floorplan on MY signature as we suggest for others?
I currently DO NOT have one!
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10-01-2022, 01:54 PM
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#6
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South Central, Pennsylvania
Posts: 443
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Morich
This is a place where we each may need to decide how we want to go. I very rarely need to get involved with PEX so am deferring on the tools.
In place of gearing up for PEX, I am willing to go the easier but more expensive route of Sharkbite type fittings on the rare occasion I do have to deal with it.
For the ease and speed versus getting the tools and experience, I'm okay with paying a few dollars more for quick and easy. I find too many places in RV where the clamp tool is hard to fit.
The older I get, the more I find I no longer use all the tools I really needed 20-30 years ago so I try to avoid buying even more!
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Agreed, if you don't have the tools and don't see a use for them in the future, there are probably better options.
In this case, extending the FW drain, there is very little pressure involved. Small hose clamps should serve the same purpose as the pinch rings. I don't believe a SharkBite elbow will work in this case without replacing the down tube. The down tube on my FW tank is soft plastic tubing and Todd's appears to be the same.
__________________
2016 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2106DS, 200Ah BB, 400w rooftop & 500w front cap solar
2020 Tundra SR5 DLCB TRD Off Road, 5.7L V8 w/6.5' bed & 38 gal. tank, 4.30 axle ratio
Blue Ox Sway Pro w/750# bars, wired RVS rear view camera, Renogy 20A DC/DC charger
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10-01-2022, 02:01 PM
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#7
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Morich
This is a place where we each may need to decide how we want to go. I very rarely need to get involved with PEX so am deferring on the tools.
In place of gearing up for PEX, I am willing to go the easier but more expensive route of Sharkbite type fittings on the rare occasion I do have to deal with it.
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I went to the home center looking for Sharkbite since Fred mentioned the brand and found these "push on" varieties. How can you get easier than that?
I cut off the old valve, but as I was doing so I could see I'm really working with something not quite PEX. The Sharkbite valve when on fine and appeared good, though it stupidly would rotate in the axis of the valve handle. Thankfully I decided to test it and put a few gallons in the tank. No go. It was leaking badly
But maybe this isn't so bad. I started pulling away the spray foam to look at how much tubing remained for "plan B" and quickly discovered what "plan B" needs to be. The whole thing is installed into the tank which has a 1/2" NPT standard opening. I'll stick with nylon or PVC.
So off to the home center again. A typical weekend....
__________________
Todd
2019 Micro Minnie 2108DS with upgrades and mods here
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, RedArc TowPro-Elite, Andersen 3380 WDH
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10-01-2022, 03:16 PM
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#8
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 434
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Well, sometimes things shape up. I went to the home center and found a nice 1/2 NPT PVC valve, but no luck finding any other PVC or nylon threaded fittings. So I started looking at brass pipe nipples and noticed a nice set of stainless fittings.
But then I also noticed a perfect 45 deg stainless hose bib. With a little TFE paste it is now in place and working perfectly! I can swing that handle down with my pinky. And as a bonus, it has garden hose threads in case I want to drain the water off somewhere else.
Is the spray foam used in RVs special? I probably should spray a bit back on before my next trip.
__________________
Todd
2019 Micro Minnie 2108DS with upgrades and mods here
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, RedArc TowPro-Elite, Andersen 3380 WDH
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10-01-2022, 04:48 PM
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#9
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Land of calenture (TX)
Posts: 679
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Nice. Maybe a cap would be good if the handle moves that easily.
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10-01-2022, 05:57 PM
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#10
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by backtrack15
Nice. Maybe a cap would be good if the handle moves that easily.
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Heh, good point. The handle is in a nice protected spot. I'll keep an eye on it and will find (the hard way) over time if that's an issue. But I do have some nice brass garden hose caps, so I'll put one in my water accessories bin. Hmm...it may be worth putting one on just to keep things clean from road gunk.
I think good spray foam is Great Stuff Multipurpose Black. I'll get some of that and hit a bunch of spots with it.
__________________
Todd
2019 Micro Minnie 2108DS with upgrades and mods here
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, RedArc TowPro-Elite, Andersen 3380 WDH
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10-01-2022, 06:14 PM
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#11
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 37
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Great timing! As I was thinking about digging into this valve myself. We go winter camping so my concern is more about freezing. I'm assuming the 1/2" NPT in the tank is just right in the bottom up against the coroplast? Is there enough room to somehow tuck the valve up so it wasn't hanging out the bottom?
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2022 Micro Minnie 2100BH
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10-01-2022, 06:51 PM
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#12
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South Central, Pennsylvania
Posts: 443
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Todd, glad to see you found a solution.
__________________
2016 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2106DS, 200Ah BB, 400w rooftop & 500w front cap solar
2020 Tundra SR5 DLCB TRD Off Road, 5.7L V8 w/6.5' bed & 38 gal. tank, 4.30 axle ratio
Blue Ox Sway Pro w/750# bars, wired RVS rear view camera, Renogy 20A DC/DC charger
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10-01-2022, 07:20 PM
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#13
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: South Central, Pennsylvania
Posts: 443
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NV_Camper
Great timing! As I was thinking about digging into this valve myself. We go winter camping so my concern is more about freezing. I'm assuming the 1/2" NPT in the tank is just right in the bottom up against the coroplast? Is there enough room to somehow tuck the valve up so it wasn't hanging out the bottom?
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Not sure if this will help you, seeing that our MM is a 2016 and yours is a 2022, but here's a picture of what my connections look like under the coroplast.
__________________
2016 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2106DS, 200Ah BB, 400w rooftop & 500w front cap solar
2020 Tundra SR5 DLCB TRD Off Road, 5.7L V8 w/6.5' bed & 38 gal. tank, 4.30 axle ratio
Blue Ox Sway Pro w/750# bars, wired RVS rear view camera, Renogy 20A DC/DC charger
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10-01-2022, 08:13 PM
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#14
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred 2106DS
Not sure if this will help you, seeing that our MM is a 2016 and yours is a 2022, but here's a picture of what my connections look like under the coroplast.
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I can’t imagine much has changed about the tanks so this is great! Thanks!
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10-02-2022, 05:49 AM
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#15
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NV_Camper
I can’t imagine much has changed about the tanks so this is great! Thanks!
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Also, if you look closely at my final photo you'll see the plastic of the tank that the stainless valve is threaded into. That, along with Fred's photo, should give you the complete picture. My 2019 model is currently at its lowest height position so you may have another 3" to work in (cross fingers).
Fred's picture is nice to see! I hadn't seen the tank before and it's very nice to see that it has a bit of a drain sump for frost.
__________________
Todd
2019 Micro Minnie 2108DS with upgrades and mods here
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, RedArc TowPro-Elite, Andersen 3380 WDH
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10-05-2022, 02:34 AM
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#16
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 302
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Thanks for starting this topic and coming up with a solution Todd. My valve also seems to be a little flaky and something to add to my list.
Do you do any winter camping? If so, my only concern would be the type of stainless the valve is constructed of (along with the hardware) and how it would react with salted roads.
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2020b Micro Minnie 2108TB / 2022 F-150 Super Crew 4X4
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10-05-2022, 10:08 AM
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#17
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RocknRoll
Do you do any winter camping? If so, my only concern would be the type of stainless the valve is constructed of (along with the hardware) and how it would react with salted roads.
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Here is the specific valve I got, though Menards is a home center only in the midwest: https://www.menards.com/main/plumbin...15-c-19519.htm
It's 304 stainless which is good for marine use, but I think there is better out there. I'm not going to worry too much about salt as I don't usually pull the TT on winter roads. Experts can chime in, but I think it's something like 316 that's the best one for salt. I somehow doubt our use will make much diff here, though.
__________________
Todd
2019 Micro Minnie 2108DS with upgrades and mods here
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, RedArc TowPro-Elite, Andersen 3380 WDH
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