The Silver Streak

[Glider]

I just completed some plumbing mods to the Silver Streak.

Goals:
1. Move the 20 gal water tank 5" forward to create room for a future inverter.
2. Replace valves with quarter-turn ball valves.
3. Resolve interior fill issue. The original interior fill location in my van pointed downwards because of a lack of room between the top of the water tank and the underside of the gaucho. This was fine for filling the tank, but not so fine for pouring tank treatments such as bleach or vinegar into the tank.
4. Replace the old water filter with a new, easily-cleaned model.

The Original Setup:
The original setup is classic SMB. In order to create sufficient floor space to install an inverter aft of the water tank, I needed to move the tank forward, and eliminate all of the plumbing aft of the tank.





The New Setup:
In my new arrangement,
- the tank is shifted forward;
- the water pump is relocated to between the tank and the exterior wall;
- the plumbing is tight against the aft face of the tank;
- a new tank fill is installed, with the T facing upwards;
- drain and fill have new quarter-turn ball valves;

The result:
- I can put bleach into my tank now;
- and I have room for a future inverter.




As a side note, I used both stainless steel cinch clamps and copper crimp rings in this installation. I've always used copper in the past, but I wanted to experiment with the stainless cinch clamps. I like both systems. I found that in some places one was easier to install, and in other places the other was easier to use. It is nice to have a choice.

[86Scotty]

It never ceases to amaze me how more space can be found in the same space with a little creative thinking.

[Glider]

SMB originally left the 5" gap between the front of the tank and the front bulkhead because they mounted a support leg for the front corner of the gaucho--to be used when the gaucho is pulled out--on the underside of the gaucho. The leg protrudes downward, and there was insufficient space between the top of the tank and the underside of the gaucho to mount it--so the tank got slid back to create space for the leg.

I removed the leg. I will mount a different, compact leg on the underside of the lip of the gaucho that protrudes into the living space. Should work well.

[Glider]

That plumbing job bugged me all week. Yes, it created the room I needed for an inverter, but, after completing the job, it just wasn't pretty enough.

"Ridiculous", I told myself. "It is under the gaucho. Nobody will ever see it. It functions perfectly. Leave it be."

That self-talk worked well enough during the work week, but in the meantime I caught myself sneaking into Home Depot to buy some more crimp rings. Not a good sign when I'm trying to convince myself that surely I wouldn't be so silly as to tear apart perfectly functional plumbing.

Friday night rolled around. I got my book out at dinner, and firmly told myself that I was going to read for a bit, and go to bed early. A perfectly sensible evening.

"But hey, it won't hurt to pop out to the van just to kiss it goodnight..."

Several hours--and about 15 crimp rings--later, I had re-plumbed the water system. Oh, so satisfying. I like the second version much, much better than the first version. Now I'll smile with pleasure every time I sit on that gaucho, knowing that there is beauty beneath my rump.

The new version:

And look at all the room that I now have for an inverter!!!

[Glider]

In modifying my plumbing, I had to ensure that the top of my Tee--which I needed in order to be able to pour tank treatments into the tank--would not be higher than the underside of the gaucho.

To measure, I put a clump of silly putty into a plastic bag, set it on the water tank next to the Tee, and closed the gaucho. The top of the silly putty showed me exactly how much room I had to work with.

[Glider]

And tonight...a keypad to make life more fun.

[86Scotty]

Pretty crafty there, lady.

[Glider]

The stove is getting roughed in this weekend.

Here's where I started:


I had to lose the upper drawer and the fan. No big deal there. The challenge was in the placement. The van was not built to make room for a stove. I spent the afternoon splitting hairs in order to find the exact location that would make everything work.

Having found the perfect spot, I drew lines, and drilled the corners. It will be jigsaw time tomorrow. I'm excited to be finally getting this stove in the van...I've been thinking about it for a long time.

[86Scotty]

This is the fan you want anyway. I've found no better fan in general and certainly no better fan for a PH van since it sits so perfectly on the sill around the PH in any of the windows you prefer.

Fan-Tastic 01100WH Endless Breeze 12V Portable Standing Fan

[BrianW]

+1 on the Endless Breeze fan. Use ours all the time in the van.