Gotta Question ??

[Charles Firth]

I am new to camping and a few weeks ago purchased a Rockwood Windjammer TT . In reading the modifications section, I really like the idea of the square PVC post cover for storing the sewer hose. Will the hose not fit inside the rear bumper ? I have not tried it yet, I thought that is why the bumper is hollow, or was it just to save some weight ? Thanks in advance, I am sure I will have lots of other questions, so I don't totally look like a green horn when I finally get to use the TT. Chuck in Va.

[fonzie]

Here is good thread to your question. I store mine in a large plastic container in the back of my truck.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...age-39436.html

[Ford Idaho]

The el'cheapo (blue)hose that may have come with your trailer may fit, however a lot of people buy a better hose that most likely will not fit in the bumper.
I know the Camco I bought will not fit in the bumper on my trailer.

[KyDan]

What is the inside dimension of your bumper?
There is no single answer. A new hose might fit or not...
I have a good hose and it does -just- fit inside my rear bumper but mine
might be larger than yours?

I even found a camco compact 90 el that will fit in the bumper.
It is not a fitting for attaching the hose to a sewer pipe but it's just
for dumping.

Welcome to the forums!!
Happy Camping!

[Capt. Mike]

We, too, have a Windjammer, and we use a good quality Camco hose. It fits inside our rear bumper, but you have to have the tabs turned just right to make it go in.



Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new Windjammer. They are awesome trailers, IMO.

[wrvond]

Once upon a time the camper manufacturer's installed hollow bumpers for the weight and cost savings. Then one day, an enterprising camper discovered that his/her stinky slinky would fit inside. All the other campers thought this was a great idea, and started storing their slinkies inside their bumpers, too. Eventually many campers noticed that their bumpers were starting to rust away from the inside out. Others found that sloppy welding during manufacture left sharp points inside that sliced through the vinyl of their hose. About this time, word got back to the manufacturers that people were storing their hoses inside the bumper. The wicked manufacturer said "What a great idea! I'm so glad I thought of it!" And they started advertising the hollow bumper as a "feature" to allow the storage of the slinky. However, as noted, those with steel bumpers had learned it wasn't such a great idea to store the hose in there, and so they purchased round PVC pipe and installed these pipes (with threaded caps) on various places on their campers. As the evolution of the slinky progressed from a relatively small springy hose with a straight fitting on one end to a very thick walled compressible hose with various fittings and attachments, another solution was required to provide a bit more room for storing the hose and it's fittings. It was found that the square vinyl covers for fence posts worked a treat for this application (and others!). Observers of the wicked camper manufacturers fully expect to see square tubes mounted on new model campers in the very near future as a very expensive option.

[ProjectPro]

We store two sections of slinky in the bumper. I use end caps and have not seen any rust problems after three seasons. I had a problem with the end plugs of the bumper wanting to fall out. Duct tape works but looks awful after about a week in the sun. I found a push-pin fastening device at West Marine, drilled small holes through the bumper and rubber plugs, and no more lost plugs.

[KyDan]

I'm sure there are pros and cons to storing the hose in the bumper
but my hose is rarely wet on the outside when I put it in there so I do.
Looking inside the bumper with a flashlite last season I didn't see much
rust to speak of. No more than you'd expect to see inside an un painted
steel tube. I had a slight burr on the open ends when the trailer was new.
It looked like the bumper had been cut with either a band saw or a "stone
saw" cut off wheel. It left a sharp burr which made replacing or removing
the rubber caps difficult. A few minutes with a file took care of it.

I also use a wire clip to keep the rubber end caps from falling out.
DO use something. The hose can slide around in there and it will eventually
bump out the cap and get lost.
I saw a hose on the side of I64 coming back from a fall trip a couple months
ago!
Mine also will fit only if I turn the tabs on the ends just right, but it does fit!
YMMV

[pwb01]

Originally Posted by ProjectPro

We store two sections of slinky in the bumper. I use end caps and have not seen any rust problems after three seasons. I had a problem with the end plugs of the bumper wanting to fall out. Duct tape works but looks awful after about a week in the sun. I found a push-pin fastening device at West Marine, drilled small holes through the bumper and rubber plugs, and no more lost plugs.

I've never had a problem fitting a 20 footer in one end and a 10 footer in the other but the end caps have always been a problem. I put a chain fastened to the rubber and drilled a hole for a brass bolt in the bumber. All that does is not lose your end caps. Once a cap came off and I slung a slinky. That must have been scary if someone was behind me! I'll check out the pins.

[KyDan]

I made my pins out of #9 galvanized fence wire because that's what I
had laying around.
Others have used Shish Kabob skewers found at the dollar store.

[Ford Idaho]

The guy who did our PDI told me I would probably lose the end caps, so I took them off.
After I glued screen over the holes to keep the wasps out I used two screws on each end to hold the caps.

I keep my Camco hose in a tote.

[Charles Firth]

THANKS for all the replies, all the suggestions are great, and the best about them all, it that they are all tried and proven methods. I am leaning more toward a tote that can be sealed, keep plastic gloves and such in there. You would usually rinse the dump hose before storing, I guess. Keep down on odors . Thanks a ton. Chuck in Va

[dcheatwood]

Originally Posted by KyDan

I made my pins out of #9 galvanized fence wire because that's what I
had laying around.
Others have used Shish Kabob skewers found at the dollar store.

Yep.

[R Whitlow]

I leave the cheap on in the bumper for dumping at the dump sites. I keep the good Rhino hoses in the storage compartments making sure I wash them up before putting them away. Also have the cover caps for both ends, they serve two purposes keep hose compressed and avoiding leaks.

[nuisance]

Driver39 DH drilled a hole in the bumper and cap now he puts a small diameter bolt in the hole. Cap doesn't come off driving down the road.

[schrederman]

Made my pins out of 1/16" stainless welding rod...