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Old 02-20-2017, 06:00 PM   #1
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2005 30' Classic
Burlington , Ontario
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Switch from Thetford to Valterra connectors

I a tired of having a hard time finding Thetford cnnectors and wondering if it is easy to switch to Valterra?

I know you van get Thetford to Valterra adapters and I have used them - had breakage and leakage problems - and I would rather just convert o Valterra if not too difficult.

It looks like the drain pipe on our trailer is ABS and about 3.5" outside diameter.

I am wondering f I can just saw off the Thetford adapter that is glued on and install a Valterra one.

Anyone done this?

I was at Camping World at Cocoa Fla. today and they son't appear to sell any
Thetford parts at all - not even the adapters. It is becoming a it of a pain!

Our trailer is a 2005 -I think newer AS traliers are now fitted with Valterra but don't know when they switched.
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Old 02-20-2017, 06:21 PM   #2
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Yes, you can just saw off the pipe and put on whatever you fitting want. I'm considering that right now on my Excella. It is 3" ABS pipe so PVC glue will not work.

My 2000 Safari has all Valterra fittings and valves. My 99 Excella has all Thetford. As far as I know they came from the factory this way.
I'm not sure, but I think the less expensive Airstream models have Valterra.
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Old 02-20-2017, 07:36 PM   #3
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Wingeezer - I did just that. When we traded for our new to us 2002 Classic 30 a year ago it had a Thetford fitting. My hoses were Valterra. After searching the dealer's inventory and the inventory at a Camping World for the adapter with no luck I bought a Valterra fitting and went to a Home Depot where I bought a Dremel tool and some PVC cement. I sawed off the Thetford fitting and glued on the Valterra in the parking lot, in the cold, in the dark. It's still there. I wasn't aware you couldn't use PVC cement on ABS. I thought the solvent cement was for both. Anyway, it worked.

Al
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Old 02-21-2017, 04:21 PM   #4
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Thanks guys, I'll be making teh switch when I can find a suitable Valterra fitting to install on the trailer.

Hoping I'll have enough pipe left to do it when I cut off the Thetford, but if not, I suppose I can just install a 3" ABS coupling and short stub piece of 3" pipe t bring it out to a suitable length.


Thanks!
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Old 02-22-2017, 06:52 PM   #5
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Cut or grind the fitting itself rather than cutting the pipe that way you are not shortening it.
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Old 02-22-2017, 11:04 PM   #6
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HD sells a glue that will work with both PVC and ABS
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Old 02-23-2017, 05:51 AM   #7
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Thetford change

I bought my AS Safari 28' new in 04 and have finally got around to having mine changed at Camping World. It has been a problem!! Keeping my fingers crossed that CW can do it right...
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Old 02-23-2017, 06:23 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidz71 View Post
Cut or grind the fitting itself rather than cutting the pipe that way you are not shortening it.
Makes sense, but I'm thinking it could take a lot of careful work with an angle grinder to do it properly to save maybe a 1/2" or so of pipe.

Am I wrong? did it come off easily?

I thought that if after cutting the old Thetford connector off, if I wanted the pipe longer I could just add a pipe coupler and a very short length of new pipe.

Thanks .... Brian
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Old 02-23-2017, 07:47 AM   #9
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You can pur. adapter on ebay also many hose fittings for valttera. Then cut off old connector, glue new on, glue will work on both pvc and abs. Any big box or hardware store has glue. It is simple job, use hack saw then at back of hub cut, this leaves nice strait cut, [you will only lose 1/2 inch of pipe this way] take utility knife scrape around inside to clean up any burrs from cutting then make sure outside edge is smooth, as with any glue up job. The adapters are very cheap and no hassle with incov. from thetford style. Another prob. not addressed is using pump out serv. most don't have connections to thetford.
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Old 02-23-2017, 10:01 AM   #10
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I couldn't get a hacksaw into the tight quarters on my trailer. I used a dremel tool with a cutoff wheel. It was impossible to get the cut smooth and straight, but it didn't seem to matter. A better choice would have been one of those oscillating multi-tools with a saw blade, but at HD it was twice the price of the Dremel.

Al
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Old 02-23-2017, 10:18 AM   #11
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Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy View Post
I couldn't get a hacksaw into the tight quarters on my trailer. I used a dremel tool with a cutoff wheel. It was impossible to get the cut smooth and straight, but it didn't seem to matter. A better choice would have been one of those oscillating multi-tools with a saw blade, but at HD it was twice the price of the Dremel.

Al
Also there is a short one handed handle for hacksaw blade not a bow lots less money than dremel if having to buy.
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Old 02-23-2017, 11:04 AM   #12
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This is on my list to do also as I am tired of fiddling with the extra white adapter. I already have the black thetford to valterra adapter in hand buy I want to get a piece of the ABS to extend the pipe a few inches to make it easier to hook up.
It will soon be time to break out the saw-zaw!
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