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04-28-2019, 07:34 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Retired from Dallas & Full-Timing, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape as of 01/16/17
Posts: 1,312
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City/Gravity Water Hatch
My city/gravity water connection hatch is getting kinda ratty looking, even if I clean it.
Has anyone replaced it with a nicer one?
Fred M.
__________________
Fred M.
"Whoever said retirement was overrated...
...never had an Escape"
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04-28-2019, 09:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
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I'd like to replace mine with one that has a lockable cover. I've seen them but I don't know if or how you can retrofit one to an Escape.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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04-28-2019, 09:36 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
I'd like to replace mine with one that has a lockable cover. I've seen them but I don't know if or how you can retrofit one to an Escape.
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This is what I have. Used to be the one they used. It locks, but I wouldn't call it secure. You can see how easy it is to bend. Good place to collect dirt too. And, not easy to attach city water because it's so tight.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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04-28-2019, 10:28 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Retired from Dallas & Full-Timing, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape as of 01/16/17
Posts: 1,312
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
This is what I have. Used to be the one they used. It locks, but I wouldn't call it secure. You can see how easy it is to bend. Good place to collect dirt too. And, not easy to attach city water because it's so tight.
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Glenn, I would like something like what you have, but maybe more sturdy?
__________________
Fred M.
"Whoever said retirement was overrated...
...never had an Escape"
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04-29-2019, 01:22 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Whether you replace it, or just improve the existing one, an appearance issue with all of the common plastic RV fittings is that their finish deteriorates in sunlight... so if you paint it with a suitable spray paint (intended for plastics) it will stay nicer. The colour of the trailer's gelcoat finish can be matched pretty closely, which is a bonus. Painting it while it is off of the trailer is easier and more effective.
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04-29-2019, 01:33 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
This is what I have. Used to be the one they used. It locks, but I wouldn't call it secure. You can see how easy it is to bend. Good place to collect dirt too. And, not easy to attach city water because it's so tight.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Dog
Glenn, I would like something like what you have, but maybe more sturdy?
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It might be reasonable to build your own box mounting the two fixtures, mounted behind a stock access hatch. You custom box could angle the city water inlet down (so the hose hangs without bending stress) and the fill port up (to make it easier to fill, it could be shaped for easy cleaning, it could be large enough to use comfortably, and it could be as strong as you want.
Jim Bennett built his own covered box and described it in this thread:
Low Pressure Quick Connect Install
Although it is for a propane connector, not water, the general construction approach could still be used. Of course, for an Escape it would also be appropriate to build the box of fiberglass rather aluminum; it could still be riveted or bolted in place.
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04-29-2019, 01:56 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
if you paint it with a suitable spray paint (intended for plastics) it will stay nicer.
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Krylon Fusion in Dover White.
I used it to match the propane tanks cover to the trailer.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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04-29-2019, 05:53 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Fred, try using "303" on your plastic components, may help with protection.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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04-29-2019, 11:52 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Fred, try using "303" on your plastic components, may help with protection.
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Jim I still use in the wheel wheels Helps in cleaning . Still had plastic degrade , reason for changing what I could to stainless and getting rid of the 9 in bath Vent . The UV 's will still deteriorate the plastic no matter how much 303 you apply . I made a door to surround the water inlets especially when we almost lost the water cap Strap was broken . Pat
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04-29-2019, 12:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Abiquiu, New Mexico
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21 2017 GMC Canyon Duramax Diesel
Posts: 328
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In our bus, I used two of the Seafit SS inlets mounted on a SS plate which I made for city water and water tank fill. They worked great for many years. You would have to fabricate a recessed SS box to hold the fittings. https://www.westmarine.com/plumbing-inlets
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04-29-2019, 12:45 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,126
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
It might be reasonable to build your own box mounting the two fixtures, mounted behind a stock access hatch. You custom box could angle the city water inlet down (so the hose hangs without bending stress) and the fill port up (to make it easier to fill, it could be shaped for easy cleaning, it could be large enough to use comfortably, and it could be as strong as you want.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chama
In our bus, I used two of the Seafit SS inlets mounted on a SS plate which I made for city water and water tank fill. They worked great for many years. You would have to fabricate a recessed SS box to hold the fittings. https://www.westmarine.com/plumbing-inlets
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If you build something don't forget you need to include provisions for the fresh water tank vent/overflow. If you look close you will see these are incorporated into the design of both the old lockable style and the newer type.
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04-29-2019, 01:44 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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IF you like shiny stuff, you could replace the fresh water access with the OEM, THEN cover it up with this https://airstreamsupply.com/New-Airs...roduct_id=6585
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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04-29-2019, 02:39 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,126
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
I'd like to replace mine with one that has a lockable cover. I've seen them but I don't know if or how you can retrofit one to an Escape.
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Based on comparing dimensions something like this should fit by just increasing the height of the stock cut out by about 1". This assumes that Escape didn't oversize the opening width or you might be just a bit too wide to catch the side mounting holes.
https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Fresh-Wa...01-2000VP.html
Although it says B&B on the plastic in Fred's picture I believe this is the newer non-lockable unit installed:
https://www.amazon.com/JR-Products-4.../dp/B000BGJW5M
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04-30-2019, 08:31 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327
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That does look like one of the JR units... but better-illustrated than on JR's own website. Both fittings are angled in the appropriate direction, although I don't understand why the city water fitting isn't much more vertical, to further reduce hose strain.
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04-30-2019, 08:56 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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No wonder Escape stopped using Gbag's lockable cover. It's not very functional, locking it seems redundant and if it collects that much dirt it's also ugly. The cap tether on mine broke. I used Krylon plastic spray on the yellowed plastic license plate light and it peeled off after a winter. Seems like this is a "if it ain't broke..." situation.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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04-30-2019, 10:01 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyronL
No wonder Escape stopped using Gbag's lockable cover. It's not very functional, locking it seems redundant...
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I think that some people are concerned with vandalism (such as putting something in the water tank).
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04-30-2019, 10:04 AM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
I think that some people are concerned with vandalism (such as putting something in the water tank).
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Scamp uses a 'pimple' fresh water hatch. When my child was little, she thought it was a great place to feed tiny rocks. She wasn't trying to vandalize anything, just being a child. But oh my....
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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04-30-2019, 10:17 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
Scamp uses a 'pimple' fresh water hatch. When my child was little, she thought it was a great place to feed tiny rocks. She wasn't trying to vandalize anything, just being a child. But oh my....
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I can see that happening with this design, which I would call something like a "hopper" (Scamp calls it a "bucket" style):
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04-30-2019, 12:41 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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A disappointment for us not having the locking water cover . Since then . I have installed a locking cover over the Escape water inlets . No sure of the makes but Dave's picture was not the same on our 2 previous RV's . They were sturdy never broke and were on older RV's . When I have looked in RV stores still see them available. At the time I was just lazy to have to cut a 1 in out of our fibrerglass . I will some day but the locking door I installed has worked for years . The cover keeps hopefully mischief out of the fresh water . The one I would look for has a brass hose attachment , no plastic .. The one on the trailer is , how do I say this cheap . Pat
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04-30-2019, 12:48 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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A locking trailer hose connection will not necessarily prevent mischief, that can still occur at the pedestal source. I'd suggest a locking fresh water tank cover and just use the on board water.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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