How to make a Hole?

[NuthatchBC]

I need to put a hole in the outside wall of our 19 for the solar panel receptacle. What is the preferred method - use a hole saw or drill a smaller hole and carefully file to the correct diameter? I'm afraid of cracking the fiberglass. Any and all suggestions welcome.

Doug

[PGDriver]

Hi Doug

A hole saw and don't use to much pressure.

Cheers Doug

[Jim Bennett]

Yeah Doug, what Doug said.
You could do a pilot hole smaller that the center bit in the hole saw too.

[hotfishtacos]

I would run the hole saw counterclockwise and take your time. You should get a clean hole...

[J Mac]

What diameter hole do you need? a hole saw is generally for a 1/2" hole diameter or greater.
Anything smaller than that and I'd likely use a regular cobalt bit. Pilot hole first like Jim Bennett suggested

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by hotfishtacos

I would run the hole saw counterclockwise and take your time. You should get a clean hole...

Have you actually tried this?

Holesaws are a regular used item at work, and have drilled lots of materials from plexiglass, fiberglass, wood, steel, etc. and would never go backwards. They are designed to cut clockwise, and you would end up burning your way through going backwards. Any cutting tool will do a cleaner job used properly.

[daveandsandyclink]

Doug,

The first big hole I cut in the side of my trailer was kind of scary! Now...
I am about to cut in a bathroom window. It's just fiberglass and won't
crack.

If you haven't cut your hole yet, use a metal hole saw rotating the correct
direction (clockwise) @ normal hand drill speed from the outside. No pilot hole is needed. You will find the fiberglass to be about 3/16th thick. Check
inside of coarse for a clear area first. Let the blade cut out the insulation too.
If need be, you can use a die grinder bit or Dremal to enlarge the hole.
Save your cutout should for any reason you might want to fill the hole back in.

[Dixhiccup]

Dave please could you let me know the distance between the outside of the trailer wall to the inside of the bathroom wall.

[daveandsandyclink]

Yes...I can. I have not started this project yet. The option was not available at our pickup date. My 5.0 wall gap may differ from your 15B. You may want to consult the master & creator of all Escapes...Reace.
I will be using a bathroom window made for a Casita. I really want that entry for washout.

[Dixhiccup]

Exactly my idea too but I thought of just putting about a 2"hole through to the bathroom with fittings on the inside of the bathroom and one on the outside so that a hose can be passed through. I'm not brave enough to cut a window. Richard

[gbaglo]

I just run a hose in through the rear driver side window and through the door to the bath on my 17. On a 15 that would be an even shorter distance, I would think. I don't flush every time I empty. I've only done it a few times in more than four years, so it's not that inconvenient.

[santacruzer]

Takes a little more hose, but coming through the front door works fine for me. If I was to cut a hole for this purpose I think I'd go ahead and put in a complete opening window, though.

[Dixhiccup]

Ok! I guess I won't try to re-invent it and I'll just open the door instead of the fiberglass. Reace basically told me the same thing, at least he was polite enough not to use the word "Lazy" in his advice!.

[gbaglo]

One reason you won't be flushing that often is a lot of the dumps have a short hose, with the end chopped off, attached to the faucet. You can't add an extension hose and then there are the six campers lined up behind you to use the facility.

[Dixhiccup]

I know youve been to Merritt ! How about a bayonet type connection, there must be one. Quickie question - is a Senior member by age or length of membership?

[gbaglo]

Problem is there is nothing to connect hoses at most of these dumps - just a raw end of hose. It's probably to keep people from stealing the hose, or from using it to flush??. At the gov't dumps you have to have somebody hold the lever open too.
I only flush, on a site, at a full-service campground where I can do it at my leisure.

As for "senior" member, just keep posting and you'll get there. I don't know what the magic number is.

[Dixhiccup]

I guess I'll go have my morning now!

[Dixhiccup]

That should have read Nap. Getting there!

[santacruzer]

Carrying one of those "water thief" connectors is helpful for situations where the hose bibb just has a tapered spout instead instead of a threaded connection, or where a hose end has been cut off. That way you can add an extension hose. I've found you can't put as much pressure through the connection, but at least it's water flow.

[gharms]

What a fascinating crowd this is... Several years ago somebody got a telescope installed in the roof of his 5.0, and now another member wants to install a periscope...