How to protect water lines

[steve0white]

Hello,

This is my first post. My wife and I bought a 1976 28' Argosy Center Bath (Cece) about 2 years ago. We've been camping in it quite a bit with our two boys 3 and 1-1/2.

We took it out for the 1st time this year and had a couple water leaks that were caused by a loose connection from the previous owner repairs. I was able to repair it but now I am trying to prevent it from happening again.

The water lines run across the top of the floor from the water tank to under the sink. Also, there are hot an cold lines that run along the floor in the bedroom around the perimeter from the rear road side corner along the rear to the curbside and up to the bathroom. I included a picture of the water line running from the tank under the gaucho to under the sink.I have them covered now with some gray cover for electronics wiring from ikea but I would like to protect them with something to prevent them from getting stepped on or tugged at by the boys. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

[Drathaar]

Check the online electrical retailers for the plastic/rubber covers for extension cords. A big box place like Lowes might have something as well.

[HowieE]

The easiest way would be to build a Step Box along the wall. Take a piece of 1x2, standing on edge, secured to the floor, deck screws, and top it with a piece of 1/4 ply. You can paint or cover as you like.

[mimiandrews]

Replace that line with PEX. It's tough enough to take a lot of punishment.

[55AS]

+1 on PEX suggestion.

[HowieE]

If the whole trailer is still using copper lines you may want to replace Everything with Pex. Plastic is less likely to fail during freezing. However if you blow out the pipes and install antifreeze in the fall you are good to go.

In any case you will want to conceal those pipes running across the floor just for cosmetic reasons.

[steve0white]

I was planning on replacing some of the lines with PEX as needed. There's plenty of other projects to keep me busy at the moment. Made it so far through 2 Michigan winters without any issues related freezing. So hopefully that will continue.

Based on the suggestions, I think I am going to replace the exposed lines with PEX since I have to replace a gate shut off valve with a ball valve in the bathroom. I like the idea of boxing it in as HowieE suggested. I'll update with pics when completed.

[StarckMad]

The stock protection in my 74 argosy 26 was a folded"z" of aluminum, covered with the vinyl mouse fur wallpaper. The box idea is simple and sturdy.
I'm replacing all the copper in mine with PEX. This after finding 4 bursts in my pipes not repaired and about 3 more with rubber hose and hose clamps. The run from freshwater tank to water heater was the longest. Goes pretty quick tho.
Cheers!

[dalemonroe]

We winterized with RV antifreese but the antifreese taste lingered for months. Now we just drain. Our trailer has PEX.