Stinky Slinky Holding Tube on 2012 17B

[Devil Dog]

While I was taking out the threaded plug for the holding tube for the slinky the hole tube was turning.
So I crawled under to have a look see and found something surprising. The holding tube is supported by some sort of wooden blocks attached to the frame with self tapping metal screws.There is a circular cut out that the tube hangs from with some metal straps that plumbers use holding it in place, but not very securely.Only one screw on each end.
My thoughts are how to tighten this tube up with out stripping the screws in the wood and how long before this wooden hanger goes rotten and falls off completely. I think its a bad choice materials for a long service life. I'm going to have to think this through and maybe swap this wood out for some other more reliable material.
Any ideas out there.?

[walloe]

Could you attach a 4x4" or 5x5" PVC fence post? I've seen others use that method.
Alice

[hippo]

Your trailer has a 2 year warranty Reace will fix anything on it.
Chuck

[Devil Dog]

Yes, it has to be Plastic,Teflon or PVC anything but wood. some thing that would last at least 5 or 10 years. It's already come loose after one trip.
And I thought of the warranty but what would they do, tighten the screws or put a new piece of wood in. That would be temporary at best.

[escape artist]

Hi: Devil Dog... Ours just sits on top of the bumper and is held in place by the plumbers pipe strap. There is a Valtera brand tube that has fittings that attach to the frame so it can hang underslung of the frame...but I think Reace is reluctant to put more holes there and concerned about ground clearance. Either way it's a "$#!((\" issue. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Paul S.]

I just finished changing the tube to one that actually holds a quality hose and remounted it farther forward. I'll post some pictures after work tonight.

Cheers,

[Vermilye]

There is a photo of a 5" square fence post I mounted in place of the original tube at my trailer modifications post - scroll to the middle - (http://lakeshoreimages.com/trailer.html). I did this so I could fit a heavy duty hose with a 90° fitting on the end.

[gbaglo]

I just had to go out and look at mine, even in the dark and the rain.
Couldn't see much with a flashlight so I had another look today and shot this pic.

There is no wood. Everything you see is steel. Mine is a 2008 17B.

baglo

[Paul S.]

Here are a few pic's of the mod I did on the weekend. The 17B I used to have used the same PVC tube but I bought a tube from Camping World a few years ago because the inside diameter of the original one was not large enough to fit a good quality hose into. The original slinky had only 2 hooks that were ground down to fit inside the tube and this made them weak and of course one broke during a cold camping trip. On the new 19' I wanted to replace the factory PVC one, that was held on with wooden blocks and plumbers(?) strap, with the same larger diameter tube from Camping World. I had 2 pieces of 1/8" aluminum plate cut and bent at work then drilled and tapped for 1/4-20 bolts that attach them to the frame. I also moved the assembly forward about 6" so it's just behind the rear levellers. The new hose assembly came with a screw-in adapter that ensures a secure fit to whatever pipe State parks or campgrounds require. The hose itself has 4 hooks for a much more secure fit to the trailer.

[Paul S.]

And another of the hose.

(Camping World loves me!!!)

[Devil Dog]

Paul, now that's a proper job. Well done and it looks like it's made to stay there for a while.
Hope you don't mind if I borrow a few ideas from your set up.
I under stand that a up graded HD hose needs a larger tube. is that correct.?

Mike

[float5]

Mike, ours has a much better hose than the original and it fits into the original tube. Do not know where it came from but Camping World is a good guess.

[Paul S.]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

Paul, now that's a proper job. Well done and it looks like it's made to stay there for a while.
Hope you don't mind if I borrow a few ideas from your set up.
I under stand that a up graded HD hose needs a larger tube. is that correct.?

Mike

Yes a larger diameter tube is required. The hose in the picture has 4 small "stubs" that are at the end that attaches to the trailer. They allow you to grip the hose and turn it indepentently of the fittings. This is necessary because the elbow on the other end has to be pointing down!!! I had to file about 1/16" off the ends of these to get it in the larger tube. These hose are great as well. The material they are made from sort of "clicks" together as it extends or retracts and holds its shape very well. They are much easier to work with than the cheap ones.

[gbaglo]

Are you saying the hose the Escape comes with is crappy?

baglo

[Paul S.]

Well not exactly. I just wanted something a little more solid!!!!

[Yukon Escape]

Tell me about the wooden blocks.
When the tube was mounted on our 19, with the strapping you mentioned, the wooden block split and was not noticed at the factory.
The screw was barely holding.

One end of the tube came loose, on a rainy night while driving through Fairbanks Alaska, and was dragging behind the trailer.

I was not singing a happy song, and the drivers behind me were not amused either, when I stopped to see what was making the scraping noise.

I found a piece of string and tied it up, to get to my destination in the city.

The permanent cure is two large stainless steel straps now holding the tube under the rear bumper of the trailer.

I would have thought this should have been caught by the installer in the factory.
As well it would be cheaper and more secure, less labour intensive, to attach this tube under the bumper in the first place.
I still have the wood pieces to show to reace when down that way again.

Doug

[Devil Dog]

Doug, Your experience is just what I want to avoid. If that tube was to fall off and get under the front of a car following behind you who knows what could happen. It wouldn't be pretty and who would be at fault the owner of the trailer or the manufacturer.?

[reace]

I appologize for the problems some of you are having with the sewer hose holder. After reading this thread, I removed the tube and wooden block/hanger from a unit. Welded on a piece of angle iron to each side of the frame and used two bolts to attach the hose to the trailer. Very secure and no wood to fail. This will now be the standard.

If anyone would like to stop by and have their tube attachment modified, I will be happy to accomodate them.

Reace

[barry]

One more reason to buy an Escape. A manufacture who will fix something when it's not up to par, no questions asked ............ great after sales service. Mines loose and spinning and I was going to rectify it myself but I think I'll take Reace up on his offer!

Barry

[gbaglo]

And, I still haven't found any wood.
I don't see any straps either.
This thread has had me out, under the trailer three times now.
And again tomorrow.

baglo