Club 80-90 Forums

CovKid wrote:Via a hole with a rubber grommet in it, and route accordingly. Each scenario will tend to dictate the most sensible route. You can get the 8mm pipe from B&Q for about £18 for ten metres - less in Wickes when they actually have it in stock.

After that you want good quality cara van taps. Mine is a five-way (see pic), not because I'll use five, but these are the best quality ones around and I got the taps at a good price via ebay. The unused ones are shut and tap handles removed but could be employed if I ever needed them. Better to have more taps than you need than waste your money by having too few.

Always leave a little extra bend at junctions somewhere just in case you ever have to cut back the pipe in the future to fit a new olive. Nothing worse than finding part of the pipework no longer reaches after you've cut it. By the way, from time to time ALDI sell small pipe benders designed for 6mm. 8mm and 10mm pipe - worth having one of those to avoid flattening the pipe on a tight curve. If you're not familiar with how to tighten up compression joints, there are plenty of youtube vids that will give you an idea so you don't overtighten. Basically do them up until you meet resistance then a further quarter turn.



As an aside, it was only when I re-plumbed it all that I discovered the pipe to Propex heater had a minor leak so glad I did it now. Mount the taps well out of view but so you can get to them easily enough. Tucked up under a cupboard is a good spot. If you ever get broken into, the last thing you want is some moron (or even an adventurous child) turning on all your taps for fun.

You also want a load of 8mm pipe clips to make sure everything is secure and the pipes don't rattle.

CovKid wrote:No worries.

Also worth routing a pipe near to sliding door with a quick-connector on the end. You may not use it much but when the weather is warm, you can cook outside or even connect a small heater for under the awning if its chilly. Just make sure you use the goop they sell to seal compression joints. The trend these days is to use a silicone version so I just used a bit of high-temperature gasket stuff I had in a tube. Did the job nicely.

If you are fed up paying bottled gas prices, almost any small, compact four-hole LPG tank can be converted to accept gas at the forecourt. The only difference is the outlet valve and a filler hose needed. On an LPG tank the pick up is from the bottom of the tank (liquid). On a catering, Westy-type tank, the take off is from the top (gas). Tinleytech do the right valves and show the different diameters they're designed for. I went that route, picking up a tank for £26 and only needed to buy an external filler and hose to connect to tank. Its less than half price gas now.

I haven't done a "How To" for obvious reasons but any competent bod could convert one. I use my Propex a lot during the winter, even when driving, and I used to spend about £60 a year on gas refills. Now it costs about £14. Propex can be fired up from indoors when its below zero outside as I wired in a remote. Nice to get out there and it be not only toasty but all windows defrosted while everyone else is still scraping theirs.