Hi there,

Whilst preparing for our last Trip, I noticed water under my van & found the “Plastic Nipple” on the outlet from the front Water Tank had a slight crack in it & was leaking.

On inspection, all four looked “Dodgy” so I decided to replace them all with Brass.

Another was in very “poor Condition” & snapped whilst being removed.

Pirtek have replacement Fittings & they are not expensive.

Far easier to change the fittings at home than “On The Side Of The Road”.

I also replaced all the “Plastic Drain Cocks” with Stainless Ball Cocks with Screw In Plugs.

We do a lot of “Freedom Camping” & treat our Water as Gold.

Tar Trekka.

Any day above the ground is a great day.

Yore damed right, far easier to do it at home before you depart.
Those plastic fittings for unknown reasons seem to last for around 2 years.
I replaced the plastic drain cape with these cocks, remove handle and tighten up nut, undo nut and put handle on to operate…
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Various-Type … 0eTHTCO2Jg

Hi bot TT’s …

I like the idea of a cock on a drain point as long as it is protected; as if a pump fails you have a way to get your water. Never understood a plugged drain point that wasn’t a tap.

As a plumber though, and recommending to untrained members, I do not advocate a brass fitting into a tank.

The simple reason is that a brass thread is hard to get into a soft walled poly tank without many folks going that bit further to get it just right and stripping the thread.

And I have seen it done many times even with the 20 litre Jerry cans as well.
Far from saying you two old hands would do that though…just saying.

I recommend a good polly fitting and a John Guest tap. The JG fitting can be turned anyway whilst in position.

You can get these ones;http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Plastic-Gree … SwYIxX5Q1q

I’ve spoken to a few guys who use them. BUT in my case I went with metal because I live in a frost prone area and if water freezes in the plastic fitting they tend to split….

TramcarTrev wrote:You can get these ones;http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Plastic-Gree … SwYIxX5Q1q

I’ve spoken to a few guys who use them. BUT in my case I went with metal because I live in a frost prone area and if water freezes in the plastic fitting they tend to split….

My Jayco came fitted with a hand pump at the sink for use in dire emergency..

I have seen these cheap fittings used and mainly in the days of the clear hoses and bad tasting water etc. Also a big temptation to new folks doing their own plumbing. Bunnings have racks full of them. I find The beginner knows nothing of the benefits Stainless circlips either, it seems.The cheap polly taps are stuffed with one bit of grit where as the JG fitting are of a quality tougher plastic.

But the problems all come back to connectivity, and hose clamps just don’t cut it in the long run. I have seen so many leaks its not funny, and definitely a no-no within the cupboards.

It is all about the shock of seeing the cost of the JG fittings really, I mean I have seen their stop cocks for
$12-00 each, and it soon adds up.
But when you are camping, losing water,and crawling around under the van that it all comes back to perspective.

We had a ‘tap’ to drain our tank until it was modified by a goolie! Replaced it with a plastic bung, carry a brass spare. Recently fitted a second tank, separate system, hand pump on rear bumper.