square bumber plugs- how to keep them?

azjerry · 01-03-2012, 12:35 PM

Back from our first trip in our new Swift SLX 145 RB. Everything went fine except when we got home I noticed one of the square rubber plugs was missing and the end of my sewer hose was hanging out. I noticed that the plugs don't fit particularly well. How does everyone keep theirs in place?

Denise · 01-03-2012, 12:40 PM

We had that problem with our little Casita. We caught it twice on short trips just before it worked it's way off all the way. On a longer trip, it was gone! We bought a new one, and that seemed to do the trick. Although it looked like the fit was ok, maybe the original was somehow defective??

So far with 10k+ miles on our current tt, we haven't lost either caps

poohbear · 01-03-2012, 01:38 PM

Keep em in the storage bin.
Allways check that the two tabs align with the holes in bumper.Dont ask me how I know.

RVhiker · 01-03-2012, 03:39 PM

I've lost one, too -- but I think that I did not have it put back in properly. Now I give the plug a little shake with my finger to make sure the rubber tabs are properly placed. So far, no problems.

I think that if you double check and still have problems, that either your bumper is out of shape or the plugs are malformed.

The bumper steel is fairly thin, and can be easily bent out of shape. My bumper on my shiny new Jayco was bent slightly and would not allow a sewer hose with standard fittings to be stored inside. I fixed it by sticking an ax handle inside the bumper, and prying and hitting where the malformation was.

Quahog · 01-03-2012, 04:28 PM

Seems like an easy fix for this might be to drill a small hole through the bumper (underneath) and through the cap and put a black zip tie with enough slack to remove it but not lose it.

Thankfully, I haven't lost one yet but you have me thinking an ounce of prevention...

Murphie · 01-03-2012, 04:33 PM

Tie some fishing line to the cap and secure it to the trailer. If the line is thin enough you can just loop it thru the hole and tie a knot. Thats what I have done and I still have both. Nevertheless I agree with others that Jayco could have attached a larger bumper. It would have made it easier to put the hoses in with the connections. Makes you wonder if the people who design these ever use an RV themselves.

clutch · 01-03-2012, 10:06 PM

If you want to make sure the sewer hose stays in the bumper just drill a small hole in the top and drop a bolt in it to keep the hose from working out if the cap comes off. You can also drill a hole and drop in a bolt in the center of the bumper so you don't have to reach waaaaay in to get the hose out. The bolt will not come out unless you lift it out.

Terry · 01-03-2012, 10:09 PM

Did your plug have the two notches on it that matches up with the holes on the bumper? Mine is a very snug fit and I have to squeeze it a little to get it in there and it is held very tight.

azjerry · 01-03-2012, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tafische

Did your plug have the two notches on it that matches up with the holes on the bumper? Mine is a very snug fit and I have to squeeze it a little to get it in there and it is held very tight.

The connector on my new sewer hose was sticking out of the end of the bumper

so I want to get this fixed.

My plugs have two "buttons" or "blobs" of rubber that are intended to match up with holes in the top and bottom of the bumper. But even with these they're a loose fit. The replacement Camco plug I bought today does not have these bumps but is a tighter fit.

I have some short tent type stakes. If I drill a hole though the top and bottom of the plugs I can drop a stake through the holes in the bumper and through the plugs. I might try the fishing line trick too if I have some around. That should work.

OffTheGround · 01-04-2012, 08:46 AM

Sometimes the cause of this problem is by people adding aftermarket mods to the thin gauged steel bumper. If a bike rack, spare tire or generator housing is bolted onto the bumper, movement of the add on flexes the thin bumper in-turn popping the caps. As outlined above a simple tent peg or bolt through the top hole usually fixes the problem of losing the caps.

Seann45 · 01-04-2012, 10:47 AM

Put the cap on the bumper... drill a hole through both and top and bottom and put a 4 1/2" bolt through it... this will keep the cap in place on the road

hotrod51 · 01-05-2012, 08:05 PM

On my 230SL I took sheet metal screws and put them in the two raised portions.
Leave a little bit sticking up to catch on the sheet metal bumper. Never lost one in 13 years. Also I get screen scraps and silicone them to cover the hole, keeps creatures with stingers out of the bumper.

mach8274 · 01-31-2012, 01:48 PM

How about this...

It also keeps the honest man honest!

RustyFairmount · 01-31-2012, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach8274

How about this...

It also keeps the honest man honest!

Man, where are you camping that you need to lock down the poop tube???

dg1971 · 01-31-2012, 07:23 PM

Those Master locks look like a little 'overkill". They would do the trick, though.

Gma-n-Gpa · 02-01-2012, 10:21 AM

now that's what i need - one more key!!!

mach8274 · 02-02-2012, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyFairmount

Man, where are you camping that you need to lock down the poop tube???

I used to store the TT at a storage facility. I have heard stories about poeple getting their TT's and fivers ransasked-just trying to be proactive. I'm not worried about when I'm camping. I store it on my Dad's property now so I probably don't need the locks anymore.

Diesel Donnie · 02-02-2012, 05:53 PM

Drill a small hole through both ends of the plug- Cut a length of clothes hanger wire and insert it through the holes in the plug after it has been installed in the bumper- Bend the top of the wire into a "T" so you can grip it to remove when needed- The "T" also keeps the wire from disengaging- The wire will hold eveything inside the bumper for a lo-o-o-o-ng time! Have used this trick for over 60 years and never lost anything! Good luck! Don

clutch · 02-02-2012, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyFairmount

Man, where are you camping that you need to lock down the poop tube???

Where we are in Az and you have to lock everything down that is useable. You name it, motorcycles, quads, rails, chairs, BBQ's, propane tanks, trucks, bicycles, anything in an unlocked vehicle, like I said, you name it.

CruizinKim · 02-02-2012, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clutch

Where we are in Az and you have to lock everything down that is useable. You name it, motorcycles, quads, rails, chairs, BBQ's, propane tanks, trucks, bicycles, anything in an unlocked vehicle, like I said, you name it.

Uh oh, am I going to have to worry about someone taking our propane tanks off the camper while we sleep?

Kim
2012 Jayflight 32bhds

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