Sewer stowage tube...Opinions please

[dznf0g]

I purchased a water softener here:

PortsBlue 200 In-Line Mobile Water Softener

While deciding how to store this critter along with some 1" PVC which I fashioned a stand for the softener and filter for, I thought of a 46" sewer hose stowage tube.

I became concerned with the weight and mounting, so I though I'd run it by you all. As we know, these tubes are screwed into a cross member along one side and plated and screwed into the belly skin along the other side. That's fine for a relatively light weight, but my "loaded" tube weighs in at just over 13#s.

Here's my plan:
I added 2 modified PVC plumbing hangers with two 1/8" aluminum L brackets each. That will give me 6 screws into the AS cross member.







I plan to plate the belly skin with a 3 X 6" aluminum plate for each end of the tube utilizing the provided end mounts. The plates will be riveted with 6 rivets. I am thinking olympics, as I think it will spread the load better.

The tube will then be attached to the plates with rubber expansion well nuts.

The mounting location will be at the first cross member aft of the curb side lower wrap storage compartment. I believe ground clearance will not be an issue here.

What do you all think? Sturdy enough?

[DryFly]

I recall that a standard #8 drywall screw has a pullout strength of about 400lbs when screwed into a 20 ga (.033") steel stud. The AS frame member is probably about 1/8" thick. I'm not as sure of the pullout strength of the pop rivets. You would have to go to the manufacturer's website and look at the specs.
Where did you purchase the tube and brackets? This is exactly what I've been contemplating for my Argosy.

[dznf0g]

Hi, DryFly,

It's not the pullout strength I am worried about. It's the torquing due to the lack of solid support on the belly skin side of the tube. I THINK that the hangers will take out most of the twisting action, but I am not sure.

Here is the tube:

46"L E-Z Hose Carrier- Black - Valterra A04-0151XBK - Sewer Accessories - Camping World

Here is the hanger:

4 in. PVC DWV J-Hook Pipe Hanger-HD553-9W at The Home Depot

I cut it off at the right length and sandwiched it between two lengths of standard 1/8" thick aluminum stock, bent to 90*, also from HD.

[robert claus]

My trailer did not have a sewer hose storage tube, so I fashioned one out of PVC tube. I located the l to r frame member by the rivet locations, then drilled and tapped holes for 3/16 bolts. I bolted 3 PVC hangars to the frame, one bolt in each, then installed the tube. A cap was glued on one end, and a cap and plug installed on the other. I also drilled some drainage holes in the bottom of the tube.

[robert claus]

I used hangars that looked like this

[Melody Ranch]

Unless you have "been there" you might not think about the end fittings on the hoses. With those hose storage tubes you will be deeply involved in pulling recently used fittings off...and putting on...at every usage. What a mess....you will need those latex gloves. I use the aluminum end cap covers, sold here by one of our Forum members, which accommodate the assembled hose and fittings. No assembly required. It is still a dirty job.

[dznf0g]

Melody,
This one is not for an actual sewer hose. I already have 2 others for that and don't mind them at all. I just cut off the tabs on the end fittings of the hose and they fit fine, except for the 45* clear flusher, but I don't use that as much on the AS as my old SOB. This one is for 13 pounds of water softener and stand.

Robert,

Those look like really sturdy brackets which would put all the load on the frame member w/o any twisting motion, where did you find them? HD had nothing like that. Were they for PVC or heavier pipe....maybe I need to look in another section.

[robert claus]

They are hangars for PVC pipe and I found them in the plumbing section of my local independent hardware/building supplies store. They were only a couple of bucks each, if that. The right side of the pic is the hole for the bolt that goes into the frame, and the left takes a bolt and nut to fasten around the pipe. PM me with the size of the pipe and I'll pick up some for you, if you'd like. The hardware store I've referenced is very old, and there is inventory there that's been around for 50 years- Addison Building Supply in Arlington Heights.
BTW - I do leave the end fitting on my Sewer hose, and it just fits through the end cap opening, so I don't have to disassemble. Rubber gloves are still standard procedure, though.

[dznf0g]

Thanks, Robert! I'll look around a bit, but if I can't find them, I may take you up on your offer.

[r.swanson]

hangers for chain link fence post for the gate will work

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by r.swanson

hangers for chain link fence post for the gate will work

4" in diameter????