plumbing

[Grid Runner Adventures]

I live in the northern states. it gets downright cold in the winter. my walls are 3/4 inch foil foamboard laminated on each side with 1/8 th inch ply. should i run tubing for water lines inside the walls or outside of the walls on the inside of the camper?.

I am thinking of positioning a pvc pipe capped off in the top front most part of the trailer for a hot water tank. and cold water below the trailer.

also, what kind of tubing do you guys run for water lines.

was thinking of clear pvc tubing its rated for -25 up to 150F

im leaning torwards running it external. would be fun to see water rushing around.

[Grid Runner Adventures]

oh also. what options are there to keep the holding tank/water tank from freezing when its freezing out.

[Juneaudave]

I will be interested in hearing...I'm not too sure many keep their trailers or boats "wet" in the winter...at least in the cold climates. Most everyone I know winterizes during the freezing weather.

[Shadow Catcher]

If you wish to wet camp with subfreezing temperature then you need to heat tape piping and heat pad tanks (available as RV products). If all you are trying to to do is prevent damage then drain and use RV water supply antifreeze (non poisonous) in the parts that are not drained i.e. pump and water heater. I have an air compressor fitting that fits over the water system inlet that lets me blow out most of the water in the system then add enough antifreeze to fill the pump and valves.
Google winterizing an RV.
e.g. http://www.thecampingsource.com/item/RV ... egory.aspx
You are talking a fairly substantial energy and $ cost to camp wet.

[Grid Runner Adventures]

i will be living in it full time through a winter or two while building a house.

[Grid Runner Adventures]

i've decided to run pvc pipe tanks one down each side of the camper inside. it will be out of the way of everything, insulated from outdoor tempratures. back end of each tank i will run a fitting through to outside to drain them when need be. now to figure out how much 8feet of 4 inch pvc pipe can hold.

[Grid Runner Adventures]

looks like 5.33 gallons ish?

[Shadow Catcher]

Do a search for preparing an RV for winter camping. I spent a winter in Milwaukee working and know you will have to plan well with NOTHING exposed, insulate and heat tape lines and tanks. Using line with some flexibility is not a bad idea for when it does freeze, and it will.

[Grid Runner Adventures]

i shouldnt need to worry about heat tape and pads if i put the tanks and plumbing on the inside of the camper. not inside the walls but actually inside the camper itself eh.

[doug hodder]

That would probably be your best bet as long as you have a consistent heat source. When extremely cold however, you might want to open up the cabinet doors to allow heat to get to the lines/ tank, pump etc....just an idea. Doug

[Grid Runner Adventures]

aye. the main tank/holding tank will be in the open along the sides of the floor. but the upper tank will all be hot water anyways. so that should be set.

[bobhenry]

i will be living in it full time through a winter or two while building a house.

Build the garage first and add heat and electric and maybe a frost proof hydrant. Now park your "bedroom" inside.

Pouring the concrete and framing a garage is a 3 day project for you and a couple friends. You will need storage for tools and supplies to build the house so a garage or utility building is a first priopity anyway. So why not set it up so it can later be a man cave if you wish.

Beats the hell out of a wet frozen teardrop with burst water pipes.

Save the tiny trailer for the fun times after the house is done or for a mid project vacation when you can no longer stand to look at the mountain of work yet to be done to the house.

I spent the better part of a year adding a 14 x 20 kitchen from the sod up and remodeled the ONLY existing bathroom. In this same time I converted the old tiny kitchen into a laundry room. The old kitchen to laundry remodel involved a collapsed foundation and cracked floor joists so it was from the dirt up rebuild not a fluff and buff. Tieing in the roof ment a new roof on the whole house. This ment the removal of 3 layers of shingles and 2 layers of wood shakes then deck over the skip sheathing so it was no picnic either. Enclosed the front porch and installed 12 new windows in the house so a complete siding job was in order to tie the look together.

My point is ~ this was an existing home ~ you will need a place to retreat and recharge and perhaps even escape from .

[Grid Runner Adventures]

aye, i dont have the property yet. will be living in my camper for a bit to save up money for property on the fast track.

you can see pictures of it in the non traditional designs forum here