Well it finally happened .. The shower combo in my Westport Van started spurting water after only 22 years!
It seems that the molded 'plastic' plumbing split due to the pressure exerted by screwing the hot water tap too hard to turn it off. With a much increased pressure from a clogged up shower head, a jet of water was spurted out of a seal around the cosmetic cover piece.
Fortunately, the design prevented water from going between the shower cubicle & the outer cladding.
Unfortunately, to replace the mixer unit I'll need to remove at least a portion of the exterior cladding & perhaps cut through a ply reinforcing sheet across the rear of the van.
My plan is to cut out a section of the cladding & the ply, that I think is under the cladding, do the replacement & then fit either a hatch or vent over the cut out section.
Has anyone else had experience in this area?
ps. I will be talking to my local friendly caravan repairer (I am a repeat customer) for his advice & perhaps a quote (Insurance?) before starting the job.
Radar said
08:26 AM Oct 29, 2020
Hi Cupie.
Sorry to hear of the aliment with your trusty caravan and time for a new shower system.
Here is our 2019 $500 vent which gives access to the shower mixer in our en suite when a 2012 john guest fitting failed on the cold pipe and again earlier this year we had to replace another john guest fitting. I was not inpressed but it was a much cheaper repair.
I may be wrong, I was talking with a Jayco owner and he did say he replaced the mixer shower tap in the combo bathroom without to much drama.
I wanted to fix our problem when it happen but when the wife seen me with a 4" grinder at the back of the caravan 1200ks from home she encouraged me to get on the phone and find a repairer.
We use Jacks Caravan Repairs at Virginia when home, reasonable priced, workshop or mobile, very easy to deal with. 0414645635.
That's the approach that I am contemplating. Your job looks quite neat. I hope that I can do as well. I'll use a dremel & not an angle grinder though. LOL
I have plenty of time to complete the job because we will not be using the van until after XMAS & the School holidays.
Added to this are the repairs resulting from our latest SW Qld trip including -
- Straightening a corner steady (exiting a servo in Barcauldine or perhaps wrong exit at Ilfracombe CP .. you'd think that I'd have learnt by now)
- Replacing TV winder handle .... again. (I was going to fit the latest Wineguard head, but it won't fit - good for Vertical signals))
- Replacing the TV with one that will receive HD. Or perhaps install an old Set top Box if I can find one in my junk pile.
- Replace broken toilet roll holder
- Re-gas A/C It worked OK but has never been serviced.
- Replace Patrol windscreen (done)
- Secure shaving mirror in ensuite (done)
- Refix clothes hangers in bedside closets
- The first job that I did was to completely empty & clean both the van & Patrol .... Wash & polish too. Amazing the junk & dirt that accumulates.
Plus the normal annual service on the van & a scheduled service on the Patrol .. Oil, Grease & all filters etc.
I need to decide on a way to carry a spare fuel container too. The Patrol has a small tank and a big thirst. I am bit reluctant to put a carry bracket on the rear of the van. So I might have to put one on the back of the Patrol. A more difficult & expensive job. I currently carefully wrap & protect one that goes in the front boot. There is space for 3, but I'd rather not.
Just another aspect of Caravanning .. that I actually enjoy.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 29th of October 2020 09:57:14 AM
Radar said
12:38 PM Oct 29, 2020
For our failure with the air con I used Icetech at Clontaff.
He was a ripper, saved me heaps and gave me some good sounding advice, I am sure I am now qualified 2nd year apprentice.
If you call him, leave a message, he will return your call.
Cupie said
01:51 PM Oct 29, 2020
I'll put him in my contacts list .. thanks again.
Warren-Pat_01 said
03:11 PM Oct 29, 2020
Hi Cupie,
When we had our GQ (4.2L diesel) I put a replacement 130L tank in. And when I added gas injection, the 34L air capacity gas tank went on the driver's side in front of the axle, strapped to the chassis. Food for thought?
I needed however to replace the rear springs to GU mediums to boost the clearance.
I know replacement tanks are expensive but you might be able to get one from a wrecker (the source of a replacement tank on my MQ).
Cupie said
03:41 PM Oct 29, 2020
Thanks Warren .. 130L sounds good & would solve a lot of problems. I'll put it on my list for investigation. A quick look on the net lead me to Browne Davis who sell them new about 148L. with no mods for the coil sprung GQs like mine. Price?
Well it finally happened .. The shower combo in my Westport Van started spurting water after only 22 years!
It seems that the molded 'plastic' plumbing split due to the pressure exerted by screwing the hot water tap too hard to turn it off. With a much increased pressure from a clogged up shower head, a jet of water was spurted out of a seal around the cosmetic cover piece.
Fortunately, the design prevented water from going between the shower cubicle & the outer cladding.
Unfortunately, to replace the mixer unit I'll need to remove at least a portion of the exterior cladding & perhaps cut through a ply reinforcing sheet across the rear of the van.
My plan is to cut out a section of the cladding & the ply, that I think is under the cladding, do the replacement & then fit either a hatch or vent over the cut out section.
Has anyone else had experience in this area?
ps. I will be talking to my local friendly caravan repairer (I am a repeat customer) for his advice & perhaps a quote (Insurance?) before starting the job.
Hi Cupie.
Sorry to hear of the aliment with your trusty caravan and time for a new shower system.
Here is our 2019 $500 vent which gives access to the shower mixer in our en suite when a 2012 john guest fitting failed on the cold pipe and again earlier this year we had to replace another john guest fitting. I was not inpressed but it was a much cheaper repair.
I may be wrong, I was talking with a Jayco owner and he did say he replaced the mixer shower tap in the combo bathroom without to much drama.
I wanted to fix our problem when it happen but when the wife seen me with a 4" grinder at the back of the caravan 1200ks from home she encouraged me to get on the phone and find a repairer.
We use Jacks Caravan Repairs at Virginia when home, reasonable priced, workshop or mobile, very easy to deal with. 0414645635.
Thanks Ralph (Radar)
That's the approach that I am contemplating. Your job looks quite neat. I hope that I can do as well. I'll use a dremel & not an angle grinder though. LOL
I have plenty of time to complete the job because we will not be using the van until after XMAS & the School holidays.
Added to this are the repairs resulting from our latest SW Qld trip including -
- Straightening a corner steady (exiting a servo in Barcauldine or perhaps wrong exit at Ilfracombe CP .. you'd think that I'd have learnt by now)
- Replacing TV winder handle .... again. (I was going to fit the latest Wineguard head, but it won't fit - good for Vertical signals))
- Replacing the TV with one that will receive HD. Or perhaps install an old Set top Box if I can find one in my junk pile.
- Replace broken toilet roll holder
- Re-gas A/C It worked OK but has never been serviced.
- Replace Patrol windscreen (done)
- Secure shaving mirror in ensuite (done)
- Refix clothes hangers in bedside closets
- The first job that I did was to completely empty & clean both the van & Patrol .... Wash & polish too. Amazing the junk & dirt that accumulates.
Plus the normal annual service on the van & a scheduled service on the Patrol .. Oil, Grease & all filters etc.
I need to decide on a way to carry a spare fuel container too. The Patrol has a small tank and a big thirst. I am bit reluctant to put a carry bracket on the rear of the van. So I might have to put one on the back of the Patrol. A more difficult & expensive job. I currently carefully wrap & protect one that goes in the front boot. There is space for 3, but I'd rather not.
Just another aspect of Caravanning .. that I actually enjoy.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 29th of October 2020 09:57:14 AM
For our failure with the air con I used Icetech at Clontaff.
He was a ripper, saved me heaps and gave me some good sounding advice, I am sure I am now qualified 2nd year apprentice.
If you call him, leave a message, he will return your call.
I'll put him in my contacts list .. thanks again.
When we had our GQ (4.2L diesel) I put a replacement 130L tank in. And when I added gas injection, the 34L air capacity gas tank went on the driver's side in front of the axle, strapped to the chassis. Food for thought?
I needed however to replace the rear springs to GU mediums to boost the clearance.
I know replacement tanks are expensive but you might be able to get one from a wrecker (the source of a replacement tank on my MQ).
Thanks Warren .. 130L sounds good & would solve a lot of problems. I'll put it on my list for investigation. A quick look on the net lead me to Browne Davis who sell them new about 148L. with no mods for the coil sprung GQs like mine. Price?