Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 10:08:03 GMT 10
OK the good news is I have the new tyres fitted to my rim's and I have weld up the axle with brakes and pads and have loosely fitted it under the van. 
So I would like to bolt it in so as to fit the rims/tyres and be able to move the van around and pull the pop top off and roof but before I lock it into place decided to look at the other pipes under the vans and some of them are scary 
So could anyone pull up any links to posts where they have upgraded or re newed there pipes, I am replacing my copper mains pressure pipe with smartex and I wonder will it fit the water tank barb and the manual pump ? 
I may go to the big green shed in town this afternoon for a shopping run.
Cheers Lawrence
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leeron
In Training
1966 Duralvan
Posts: 46 
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Post by leeron on Feb 21, 2015 16:14:38 GMT 10
My poor 50 year old water tank had seen better days and I had a replacement given to me(and was a perfect fit), The new tank has 3/4 and 1/2 inch threaded holes so I just screwed the 3/4 to 19mm pipe fitting in then plumbed back to the sink (was all left over pieces from relocating my hot water system on the house)
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leeron
In Training
1966 Duralvan
Posts: 46
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Post by leeron on Feb 21, 2015 16:24:22 GMT 10
I had a mission impossible to get to the base of my mains pressure sink tap also and used a few cheats as pictured. The flex braid hose has a 90 degree elbow fitting at the tap(all one piece stainless)(Note the bulk foam around the fridge body on the left of picture)  |
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leeron
In Training
1966 Duralvan
Posts: 46
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Post by leeron on Feb 21, 2015 16:45:05 GMT 10
I re-used all the existing holes in the floor and shelves (which was a bit untidy from new but so was the thought of empty holes to be filled) In this pic the mains incoming(360 degree swivel) , The brass coupling with grey silicone all around it is a tee piece for the sink (directly above it)The tee is facing up through the floor. The other part of the tee heads off to a compact 1/4 turn tap on the draw bar up front.
The elbow centre of screen is from the water tank to the hand pump on the sink and the big black hose is the sink drain pipe(original one)
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leeron
In Training
1966 Duralvan
Posts: 46
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Post by leeron on Feb 21, 2015 16:51:43 GMT 10
Used a 12mm barb to 1/2 thread and screwed it into a female 1/2" to 19mm pipe fitting. Hose spiral between hand pump and pipe leaves enough slack to pull the hand pump up through the hole in the sink for servicing without disconnecting the water line. This of course was all done in a mad rush to be ready to go away ! The main benefit with this system is that if I decide to add a 12v pressure pump from the water tank I can add and remove couplings to suit as well as tap into the mains pressure line after adding a one way valve to the mains incoming.  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2015 2:40:51 GMT 10
I find repairing things is fine though in the long it pays to replace things in the long run, like fuel tanks water tanks also have pressure tested to be deemed safe to use whether it be for hot or cold water use, something to note you can go to places like camec and get replacement wash basins and kitchen sinks in the long run it is better to replace old and with new and be in code than refit or retrofit old, this sink You have may have lead in it as that would of been the standard of solder back when the caravan was made as as plumbing fittings goes.
I only suggest camec for to make sure you are compliant to the regs today not to when the caravan was made. Initially..
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leeron
In Training
1966 Duralvan
Posts: 46
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Post by leeron on Feb 23, 2015 14:59:18 GMT 10
I find repairing things is fine though in the long it pays to replace things in the long run, like fuel tanks water tanks also have pressure tested to be deemed safe to use whether it be for hot or cold water use, something to note you can go to places like camec and get replacement wash basins and kitchen sinks in the long run it is better to replace old and with new and be in code than refit or retrofit old, this sink You have may have lead in it as that would of been the standard of solder back when the caravan was made as as plumbing fittings goes. I only suggest camec for to make sure you are compliant to the regs today not to when the caravan was made. Initially.. Umm....
Lawrence has asked for some examples or links to where people have renewed or replaced the water piping on their van. I am sure if he wanted a new sink he would have done already and replaced the whole cupboard, bench, stove and drawer assembly beneath it to suit the new sink.
Pressure test for a gravity fed potable water storage tank 
Could you enlighten us on these Regulations ..... actually that's not necessary ......please don't.
How about you Post some pics example of how he can upgrade instead?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2015 23:45:26 GMT 10
I wasn't talking about waste tanks as a such though when you repair a tank of any description it pays to have it pressure tested to see if it will hold water.
I know today we tend to use plastic in caravans for hot/cold water piping though looking at the piping existing in the caravan it was a common practice to copper piping within the 50's- early 80's copper piping was used and common practice wash to wrap pipes in led or aspestos if any damage was to happen to the metal sinks common repair was to heat up the sink and melt lead to affect a repair I was looking at the existing water pipes I wondered if they were copper as I noticed you seem to have a lot brass affixed to the old stuff.
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leeron
In Training
1966 Duralvan
Posts: 46
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Post by leeron on Feb 24, 2015 1:02:35 GMT 10
I wasn't talking about waste tanks as a such though when you repair a tank of any description it pays to have it pressure tested to see if it will hold water. I know today we tend to use plastic in caravans for hot/cold water piping though looking at the piping existing in the caravan it was a common practice to copper piping within the 50's- early 80's copper piping was used and common practice wash to wrap pipes in led or aspestos if any damage was to happen to the metal sinks common repair was to heat up the sink and melt lead to affect a repair I was looking at the existing water pipes I wondered if they were copper as I noticed you seem to have a lot brass affixed to the old stuff. None of the stuff in the pictures is old stuff except for the van itself and the sink. (the dark pipes are multi layer polyethylene)
All the pipes fittings and hose are near brand new, It is the product Lawrence mentioned: www.smartex.com.au (push on fittings, elbows, T pieces, flexible food grade pipe etc.) There is other brands like "Shark bite" for example. (no soldering or nut collars or olive glands to muck around with)
These products are what the brand new vans are fitted out with now and most of these newer products are mains water pressure rated so the only leak you should have worry about is the flexible water hose you plug into the side of the van.
potable water tank means "drinking water" tank (For when your van is not next to a tap)
Hope this info helps. 
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Post by bobt on Feb 24, 2015 23:19:01 GMT 10
Hey Lawrence
I don't recall seeing any discussion in the past about plumbing. I would suggest you go look at Al's page on his millard 'millard1399' he may have made some mention of plumbing. He practically rebuilt the van from the ground up. Nice to hear you have new wheels..
cvliving caravan water tanks were never designed to operate under pressure
bobt
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