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09-01-2012, 06:30 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
1971 18' Caravel
Cookeville
, Tennessee
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 107
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Pex Cost
Anyone hired out or replaced their plumbing with Pex? What did it cost?
1973' AS Ambassador, 29'
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09-01-2012, 06:54 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1968 28' Ambassador
Cedaredge
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,542
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Pex is relatively cheap. It's the tools that cost the money. Plumber will charge you more than copper probably. But I have no idea as I replaced it myself for about $175 including tools.
__________________
Jason
May you have at least one sunny day, and a soft chair to sit in..
2008 5.7 L V8 Sequoia
AIR # 31243
WBCCI # 6987
FOUR CORNERS UNIT
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09-01-2012, 07:13 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
1953 32' Liner
1955 22' Safari
Valley View
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,971
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I have found that "local" hometown lumber yard/hardware stores around here let you use the tools for free. AND, the PEX price is good too.
__________________
"If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted
then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production."
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09-01-2012, 07:40 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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There are PEX fittings out there that don't require special tools. "Flair It" is one of them. It is what I used and have had no problems since I installed all new PEX in our trailer. One of the reason I chose this brand. If I'm on the road, no special tools are required to make repair.
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09-04-2012, 02:13 PM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
1976 Argosy 20
RR4 Marmora
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 28
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Pex
Hi, the cost of PEX is not a big problem but if you are going to use any of the push and twist, or Shark Bite fittings or even the ratchet type crimp i would be careful as they are all designed for homes and not something bouncing down the road at 120 KPH. The most secure type is the crimp rings and I use them on repairs all the time, it takes a little longer and you have to hold your mouth a certain way and curse but I know when crimped its not coming apart! Never had a leak yet with the crimp ring!
Yes the tools are expensive but most hardwares will lend out the units when you buy the supplies from them!
Steve
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09-04-2012, 02:28 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1977 23' Safari
Niagara on the Lake
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 984
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I did the work myself, replaced everything except the water tank and pump. Total cost about $350 including new kitchen and bathroom faucets and the crimp tools.
__________________
1977 Safari Land Yacht
2005 Toyota Tundra SR5
2022 Toyota 4Runner SR5
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09-04-2012, 02:50 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1970 23' Safari
2005 30' Classic
1986 31' Sovereign
Lorain
, Ohio
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,645
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I've had the "press-on" fittings installed for a couple of years without problem. The original ones from Lowe's sold I beleive were for the marine industry.
I actually like the new ones they carry better. In addition to the O-ring securing the pex, the fittings have a hand tightening nut to clamp the tubing.
The pex is cheap, the fittings are not. Figure $4-$5 each.
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09-04-2012, 05:21 PM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 488
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I highly recommend PEX "a" over the other PEX. It is much more flexible, but it also costs more and it is a little harder to find. It is a different manufacturing process. It isn't as popular because it does cost more. It uses the same fittings, it is just a better PEX tubing. You get what you pay for.
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09-04-2012, 05:36 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1968 24' Tradewind
Oxford,
, Mississippi
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,564
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Make sure you buy red pex for hot water lines and blue or white for cold lines. Makes it much easier to keep up with what goes where and the price is the same. Best price I found on pex was at a big plumbing supply house (where the local plumbers and HVAC guys go). A good deal less per foot that buying sticks at HD or Lowes. I keep a pocket crimper in my took kit and a few shark bite fittings but the only leak I have had in 3 years is a hose clamp on the flexible line running out of my 12V water pump. One tip, many of the connections in an Airstream are in tight spots where the long handle crimp tools are impossible to use. Make up the connections in the trailer and use a Sharpie to mark the orientation of the tubing and the fittings. Take the pieces apart and do the crimps outside the trailer. If you plan it carefully you will only need to make one or two crimps in the tight spots and for those you can use either the pocket crimper or SharkBite fittings.
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__________________
Bruce & Rachel
__________________
68 Trade Wind
2001 Toyota Tundra
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09-04-2012, 07:35 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1997 30' Excella
1961 26' Overlander
1954 22' Flying Cloud
1981 28' Airstream 280
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,436
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Hi, the cost of PEX is not a big problem but if you are going to use any of the push and twist, or Shark Bite fittings or even the ratchet type crimp i would be careful as they are all designed for homes and not something bouncing down the road at 120 KPH.
Shark Bite type fittings have been used on over the road and off road construction trucks for years on air systems with great success.
With that being said, I replaced the plumbing in a 24' Argosy I'm rebuilding for about $350 total. PEX, fittings, new 1/4 turn shut offs at EVERY water connection.
__________________
Bruce
WBCCI# 9259 AIR# 38927 TAC-TX 14
Stop Littering-Spay & Neuter-- Adopt From Rescue
No amount of time will erase the memory of a great dog.
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09-04-2012, 07:53 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
1953 32' Liner
1955 22' Safari
Valley View
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,971
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Yeah! Bruce!...I have used Shark Bite of five Vintage ...the oldest almost five years....never a problem....never. And, when I wanted to add an additional line it was a breeze. I just don't know where these rumors start. I am all for trying new ideas...even if it fails it was a "ride."
__________________
"If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted
then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production."
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09-04-2012, 07:53 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
1973 27' Overlander
Spring town
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
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I had my 73 replaced with pex cost around $1050 and that was everything new including water pump filters!
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09-04-2012, 08:35 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 28
Fresno/Clovis
, California
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 704
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I replaced all plumbing with pex, built the manifolds for hot and cold outside the AS, then installed it, making the kitchen connections, inside the trailer. I used the crimper made to be used with the pliers, but because I don't have the required grip, I used my vice I have mounted on a portable 4 legged stand. My total cost with $26 crimper = $125. I used all white 1/2 pex because I know where the cold and hot are. No leaks!
__________________
Roger
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09-05-2012, 07:56 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 488
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirHeadsRus
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Anytime you need the lines to be very flexible, PEX "a" is the way to go. They clearly state that in the info. If you don't need it to be flexible, choose what ever works.
If you have PEX "a" and PEX "b" next to each other you can see that the flexibility is like night and day between the two.
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