Water damage, the good the bad and other upgrades

[shadow]

Here are both pieces installed,


I`m glad this weekend wasn`t a total loss, and I was able to get more done.

 

[DangerBird]

Looks like your RV will be much better than new! Great work shadow!

 

[shadow]

Looks like your RV will be much better than new! Great work shadow!

Thanks.

Everything that I have to repair or rebuild, I make sure that it is way better than it ever was
when it came from the factory.

 

[shadow]

Weekend Update.

I posted a few weeks ago that the grab handle/porch light on my rv decided to break.
I guess after thirty three years, that was it. It wasn`t in good shape anyway, and the light lense was
broken and no longer made.

After several hours of searching, I found that no company in the U.S. make this type of grab handle anymore.
This style of grab handle is still used on new rv`s in other country`s, so after searching on ebay I found a company
in Australia that ships world wide, so I was able to order a new grab handle from them.

Here is what`s left of the old grab handle on my rv.


 

With the old grab handle removed, I had to widen the opening half an inch so
the new one would fit

 

[shadow]

Here is the new grab handle installed. What I huge improvement.


The new grab handle has a blue night light.


And the regular light.

 

[shadow]

Now that its dark, I took a couple more pictures so you can see the blue night light
and the porch light.

Night light.


Porch light, its very bright.

 

[rvpopeye]

That looks awesome !
The night light feature is so cool
Mine hasn't broken (yet) but the light stopped working and the lens is pretty sad but still waterproof! Once again rig envy !

 

[highdesertranger]

very nice, love the night light option. highdesertranger

 

[bigsallysmom]

What did you use to widen the light area with? And on my little travel trailer the max air pressure used to clear the water lines was listed at no more than 30 lbs. Different companies, different plumbing, different pressures?

 

[VanKitten]

That night light is such a great idea!

 

[shadow]

What did you use to widen the light area with? And on my little travel trailer the max air pressure used to clear the water  lines was listed at no more than 30 lbs. Different companies, different plumbing, different pressures?

I used a jigsaw to widen the light area.

As for air pressure to clear the water lines, 20 - 30 lbs of air pressure should be more than enough
to clear the water lines.

I just got done replacing about ninety percent of the water lines in my rv and replacing the hot water heater.
So my water lines are completely empty. I won`t be able to test the water system until next spring, we are starting
to get freezing temperatures here now.

Next year I will have to get an air nipple so I can blow out the water lines.

 

[shadow]

I couple of weeks ago I had the drawers out of the cabinet in the bathroom, and I could see day light
from the outside in the back of the cabinet. So today I was able to check it out.

I took a long piece of wire and pushed it down through were the light was coming in, and them went
outside and located were the wire was sticking out. It had come out at the back side of the rear wheel well.
 
So, I went to the hardware store and got a can of spray foam, and went to work sealing things up.
I can say from my own experience, that this spray foam is some nasty stuff. Once you spray it on,
that`s it. You can`t smooth it out or do anything with it, and if you try, its a sticky mess.

This is the light coming in at the back of the cabinet.


Here you can see the wire sticking out, this is how I located the hole.


I climbed under the rv and found that the original foam had fallen a part
from age. The tube you see is one of the gas tank filler tubes.


Here is everything all sealed up, and like I said, you can`t make this spray foam
look nice and smooth. Once you spray it on, that`s it.

 

[shadow]

No more air leak, everything is all sealed up.

 

[rvpopeye]

There goes all your ventilation !

 

[shadow]

There goes all your ventilation !

Not at all, there is actually a vent for the basement area.

The holes I sealed up today are right behind the rear dual tires on the driver side.
I don`t want the rear tires splashing water up inside the rv, so now that can`t happen.

 

[shadow]

I live in an area were we get snow and freezing weather in the winter, and I was thinking about building a box
around my water tank and filling it with fiberglass insulation to help keep it from freezing.

My water tank is in the basement storage area of my rv, so I would think it could get cold enough to freeze.
Would this be a good idea ?.

 

[closeanuf]

Cold air is going to come in thru the vent for your water heater.

 

[shadow]

Cold air is going to come in thru the vent for your water heater.

I am aware of this, that`s why I was asking if it would be a good idea to put a box around the
water tank and insulate it.

I think this is something I will look into.

 

[rvpopeye]

I was just kidding about the ventilation !

Are you going to use the water heater all winter?
The heated water should prevent any freezing if yes.

Otherwise drain that thing !

 

[shadow]

I was just kidding about the ventilation !

Are you going to use the water heater all winter?
The heated water should prevent any freezing if yes.

Otherwise drain that thing !

I know you were kidding about the ventilation.

I guess I was bored and over thinking things to much. I am always trying to think of ways to fix or improve my rv, and
I didn`t even think about the heat from the hot water heater keeping the basement area warm.

Also, the heater is right next to the water tank. I don`t know if I will use it much because I have
a buddy heater, but when I do it will also keep the basement area warm.

Right now I wont be using the rv in the winter, so the water tank will be drained, hot water heater drained,
and all water lines blown out.