Propane line routing issues - Argosy MH

[bkahler]

Sometime in the near future I'm going to be dropping the propane tank so I can get it checked out and cleaned up as needed. While looking things over I've come to the conclusion that the copper piping is a disaster waiting for a place to happen.



As you can see the picture the main propane line is hanging below the truck chassis frame rail and the lines to the fridge, water heater and furnace tap off and go up under the drive shaft and on their respective locations. I just can't see that arrangement being all that safe.

I'm thinking there should only be one line running across the to the other side of the chassis and the lines should be run along the along side the outside of the frame rails.

Am I right in assuming this mess should be cleaned up?!

Brad

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Sometime in the near future I'm going to be dropping the propane tank so I can get it checked out and cleaned up as needed. While looking things over I've come to the conclusion that the copper piping is a disaster waiting for a place to happen.

Attachment 182003

As you can see the picture the main propane line is hanging below the truck chassis frame rail and the lines to the fridge, water heater and furnace tap off and go up under the drive shaft and on their respective locations. I just can't see that arrangement being all that safe.

I'm thinking there should only be one line running across the to the other side of the chassis and the lines should be run along the along side the outside of the frame rails.

Am I right in assuming this mess should be cleaned up?!



Brad

Brad personally I prefer to keep the propane line inside the frame rail simply because it is more protected from road debris. I would route the line down the tank side with one cross to the other side and keep the appliance runs as short as is reasonable.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Brad personally I prefer to keep the propane line inside the frame rail simply because it is more protected from road debris. I would route the line down the tank side with one cross to the other side and keep the appliance runs as short as is reasonable.

Dan,

That sounds good to me. I'll probably have to take out a loan to buy the copper, or I could just raid an abandoned house for it's copper piping

Thanks,

Brad

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Dan,

That sounds good to me. I'll probably have to take out a loan to buy the copper, or I could just raid an abandoned house for it's copper piping

Thanks,

Brad

Would you rather have a boat to support? Think of it as helping to keep the economy afloat.

[92landyacht]

For what it's worth, later model AS motorhomes used black iron pipe as the main trunk and then used poly butyl covered copper for the branch lines.

If you're thinking of upgrading, you may consider using the iron pipe inside and above the bottom of the frame rails with your existing copper going to each appliance. The iron pipe would be less susceptible to damage then plain copper. What ever you do, just make sure that the pipe is sized correctly to be able to supply all appliances operating at the same time.

[idroba]

In defense of what you have now: It has operated for almost 40 years where it is and I am sure it is original. It may be time to replace it, but the original location is not all that bad apparently.

Just another thought in the pile.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Would you rather have a boat to support?

No boats thank you... I've got to many projects as it is

Think of it as helping to keep the economy afloat.

But whose going to help me stay afloat after all that I'm having to spend on the Argosy?

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by 92landyacht

For what it's worth, later model AS motorhomes used black iron pipe as the main trunk and then used poly butyl covered copper for the branch lines.

If you're thinking of upgrading, you may consider using the iron pipe inside and above the bottom of the frame rails with your existing copper going to each appliance. The iron pipe would be less susceptible to damage then plain copper. What ever you do, just make sure that the pipe is sized correctly to be able to supply all appliances operating at the same time.

Black pipe. That's interesting. If I were to switch to black pipe the overall length of the run would probably be no more than four feet or so, this is only a little 20' motorhome!

Also three of the appliances are separated by no more than two feet or so.

Since I have to do some welding right next to the propane tank I'll proably be dropping the tank tomorrow which will give me a chance to evaluate just what might be the best approach.

Thanks for the info!

Brad

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by idroba

In defense of what you have now: It has operated for almost 40 years where it is and I am sure it is original. It may be time to replace it, but the original location is not all that bad apparently.

Just another thought in the pile.

I've been thinking about that and I'm not sure if it's luck that nothing has happened to my Argosy or if I'm worrying for nothing. I do know the later coaches all have their propane lines tucked up out of the way which would cost more to accomplish so there must be some advantages to doing so.

I've had a blowout on an 83 Winnebago motorhome inner dually that tore up the floor above and I can just picture a section of tire separating and trying to wrap itself around the exposed copper tubing.

Since I have to rework various parts of the propane system anyway I'm thinking this would be as good a time as any to make changes.

Thanks!

Brad

[Smartstream]

Just for info my 82 has a combination of black iron and copper. For your short runs going from iron to copper may not be worth the hassle.

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Just for info my 82 has a combination of black iron and copper. For your short runs going from iron to copper may not be worth the hassle.

My '82 280 is all copper. I wonder if AS did things differently depending on the day of the week!

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Dan,

That sounds good to me. I'll probably have to take out a loan to buy the copper, or I could just raid an abandoned house for it's copper piping

Thanks,

Brad

A contractor buddy of mine was working on a 5 story building in San Francisco a few years ago...lots of copper plumbing. They came in one morning and it was all gone! After replumbing again, they painted all copper pipes black to make them look like plastic. So, just look for some new construction with black plumbing if you want a "discount". LOL

[bkahler]

Dean, that's hilarious Just goes to show that thieves aren't to bright.

I won't need more than about 6' to 8' to run where I need to on the other side. After that I will have plenty of existing pipe to finish the individual runs.

Thanks!

Brad