Water Lines and connections

[Bradsr51]

Our 25 RKS has Apix water lines and special crimped fittings that need a special tool. I wonder if all Jayco's are made this way. A local dealer showed me compression fittings they use and they do not require any special tools. They have a ring that you just pull back and insert water line and let the ring pop back out to secure. These would seem to be a lot easier to work with if they're any good. Has anyone ever used these or know about them?

 

[Murphie]

http://www.sharkbiteplumbing.com/kits

Sharkbite connectors may be another. I think the ones on my trailer are Appolo but not sure. They all pass the test from what I know. There is lots info on the web about these systems and how they differ. the ones I see on Jaycos have the aluminum ring that needs to be crimped with a special tool.

 

[RVhiker]

Actually, it's a steel ring. The rings are cheap, the tool to crimp them is about $50, then you can fix your own plumbing! Whoo Whoo!

 

[norty1]

Compare the crimp ring with a Sharkbite connector and you may understand why they don't use them.

 

[nylyon]

Our local Home Depot stocks a lot of PEX and SharkBite components. I haven't used the SharkBite because of cost, but the PEX ain't cheap either, but it is easy to work with.

 

[Murphie]

Your right, Home Depot sells the tool in a kit for 39.00 and it comes with several stainless steel rings. I'd like to put a "T" in the sink line so I can attach a line to hook up the tornado black tank flush tool. I'll send it down thru the toilet rather than risk a leak going the other way.

 

[mcfarmall]

Sounds like the plain old quick push-on fittings we use at work for air lines on machinery. Menards has some and you can get them from McMaster-Carr or your local industrial fluid power supply house. SMC, Legris, Festo, and many others.

 

[radar67]

I had to change the valve for the hot water feed. I do not have the words to explain the joy I had undertaking this task, 6 foot 3, 250lbs curled up under a sink ribs dug into a cabinet frame..... oh what fun.
Grinding off the clamp ring worked, but difficult, I did try to find the right tool, but no luck, until two weeks after the job was done. The tool looks like a bolt cutter, I think a bolt cutter would work.
After the valve was out, the Sharkbite valve worked perfectly, until I realized the replacement valve was longer than the original, so I had to cut down the water line. So I could have just cut the line, avoiding the grinding, and installed the new valve in no more than two minutes.