re-plumbing a 79 bird

[mikconleys]

Hi Folks,

Anyone have any experience in re-plumbing a 79 31ft rear bath from
copper to fex? I am more than willing to accept advice.

Mike Conley

[Pete Masterson]

That would be PEX -- not fex...

My coach is much newer, so it's not quite the same issue. Essentially, you connect an adapter to the existing plumbing, then install the PEX as needed. Copper to PEX fittings may be available from a local home center (but they're tough to come by in my area).

I got some needed connections online at PEX Connection

<http://www.pexconnection.com>

PEX Connection offers a variety of copper and plastic components.

Since my coach was originally plumbed with Polybutylene (gray plastic), their "Flair-It" connecters were a major help. Usually with PEX you need to use a special crimping tube, but the Flair-It connectors allow you to tighten them with regular pliers and they can be removed without cutting the tubing.

The only hint is to be sure to leave extra tubing in the runs to allow for expansion/contraction. It sometimes takes extra space since 'proper' 90-degree turns should be made with a loop in the opposite direction of the corner. That is, if you're making a 90-degree turn to the right, make a loop to the left and come back across the inbound piece of tubing at a 90-degree crossing, this leaves a loop that can take up the stresses as the water flows and is turned on and off. I note that with 3/4" tubing, such turns take a fair amount of space -- but most of the work can probably be done with 1/2" tubing.

Good luck -- take photos and post them when you're done.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On May 12, 2008, at 10:46 AM, mikconleys wrote:

Hi Folks,

Anyone have any experience in re-plumbing a 79 31ft rear bath from 

copper to fex?  I am more than willing to accept advice.

Mike Conley

[Dorn Hetzel]

I would expect you can reliably get from copper to PEX via threaded fittings available for both.

If it were me replumbing some sections, I would put some valves where I joined and new for testing and isolation.


Dorn Hetzel
77FC35
Hogansville, GA
www.campground.flatcreek.us

On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 3:22 PM, Pete Masterson <"aeonix1@mac.com"> wrote:

That would be PEX -- not fex...

My coach is much newer, so it's not quite the same issue. Essentially, you connect an adapter to the existing plumbing, then install the PEX as needed. Copper to PEX fittings may be available from a local home center (but they're tough to come by in my area).

I got some needed connections online at PEX Connection

<http://www.pexconnection.com>

PEX Connection offers a variety of copper and plastic components.

Since my coach was originally plumbed with Polybutylene (gray plastic), their "Flair-It" connecters were a major help. Usually with PEX you need to use a special crimping tube, but the Flair-It connectors allow you to tighten them with regular pliers and they can be removed without cutting the tubing.

The only hint is to be sure to leave extra tubing in the runs to allow for expansion/contraction. It sometimes takes extra space since 'proper' 90-degree turns should be made with a loop in the opposite direction of the corner. That is, if you're making a 90-degree turn to the right, make a loop to the left and come back across the inbound piece of tubing at a 90-degree crossing, this leaves a loop that can take up the stresses as the water flows and is turned on and off. I note that with 3/4" tubing, such turns take a fair amount of space -- but most of the work can probably be done with 1/2" tubing.

Good luck -- take photos and post them when you're done.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On May 12, 2008, at 10:46 AM, mikconleys wrote:

Hi Folks,

Anyone have any experience in re-plumbing a 79 31ft rear bath from

copper to fex? I am more than willing to accept advice.

Mike Conley

[Terry Neal]

Mike, I recently replumbed everything in my 82 PT40 with Pex. Wish I
were only 3 feet tall & less than 100 lbs. Lots of tight spaces
involved. Had to remove most of the rear bedroom in order to do it.
Tightest area was the rear cabinet that houses the water heater. Your
FC should be easier I hope. Believe that your water heater is under
the rear bed? Took about 4 days for everything, counting multiple
trips to the plumbing supply house. I used the PEX system with Red
& Blue hose plus the crimped fittings requiring the $125.00 tool.



Good luck.

Terry Neal

Bozeman, MT

82PT40 6V92TA

74FC34 6V53T











Dorn Hetzel wrote:







I would expect you can reliably get from copper to PEX via

threaded fittings available for both.







If it were me replumbing some sections, I would put some valves where I

joined and new for testing and isolation.







Dorn Hetzel



77FC35



Hogansville, GA



www.campground.flatcreek.us












On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 3:22 PM, Pete

Masterson <"aeonix1@mac.com">

wrote:












That would be PEX -- not fex...





My coach is much newer, so it's not quite the same issue.

Essentially, you connect an adapter to the existing plumbing, then

install the PEX as needed. Copper to PEX fittings may be available from

a local home center (but they're tough to come by in my area).




I got some needed connections online at PEX Connection
<http://www.pexconnection.com>




PEX Connection offers a variety of copper and plastic

components.




Since my coach was originally plumbed with Polybutylene (gray

plastic), their "Flair-It" connecters were a major help. Usually with

PEX you need to use a special crimping tube, but the Flair-It

connectors allow you to tighten them with regular pliers and they can

be removed without cutting the tubing.




The only hint is to be sure to leave extra tubing in the runs

to allow for expansion/contraction. It sometimes takes extra space

since 'proper' 90-degree turns should be made with a loop in the

opposite direction of the corner. That is, if you're making a 90-degree

turn to the right, make a loop to the left and come back across the

inbound piece of tubing at a 90-degree crossing, this leaves a loop

that can take up the stresses as the water flows and is turned on and

off. I note that with 3/4" tubing, such turns take a fair amount of

space -- but most of the work can probably be done with 1/2" tubing.




Good luck -- take photos and post them when you're done.



 

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
"aeonix1@mac.com"








 




On May 12, 2008, at 10:46 AM, mikconleys wrote:





Hi Folks,




Anyone have any experience in re-plumbing a 79 31ft rear

bath from
copper to fex? I am more than willing to

accept advice.




Mike Conley








 








 
				

[Wilhelmus Schreurs]

Mike:

I redid my coach last year with Pex piping. I was quite surprised how easy it all was to do.

I used the pex plastic fittings as well as the plastic collars instead of the copper/brass collars. It did take some planning in advance to do that.

I had to take out thewater tank, rear furnace, toilet, some woodwork,and ice maker.

I also installed all new faucets except for the shower.

In addition, I re-established the connection to the city water which had been removed, moved the pump fromunder the sink to under thebed.

All in all it is a very nice neat installation.

Bill 84 FC 35 SB "$quanderlodge"
Terrace, B.C. Canada

----- Original Message ----
From: mikconleys <mikconleys@...>
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 10:46:44 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] re-plumbing a 79 bird

Hi Folks,

Anyone have any experience in re-plumbing a 79 31ft rear bath from
copper to fex? I am more than willing to accept advice.

Mike Conley

---

Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!