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Old 01-10-2018, 11:06 AM   #1
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Bathroom faucet - Now I'm in trouble!!

Okay, our nickel-dime bathroom faucet hot water handle just disintegrated one day. No way to fix or replace, apparently. Talk about cheap stuff. shame on you, FR.

anyway, trying to change this faucet is virtually impossible. The faucet is up against the bathroom wall, and access from below is blocked by the sink, water lines, and a shelf. The cabinet, countertop, and shelf is pretty nigh impossible to remove as the screws that hold them in place cannot be accessed.

I was able to break free the connector to the cold water faucet, but it doesn't turn to complete the disconnect. Borrowed a plumbing tool to help with the impossible angle, and no luck. Cannot break free the hot water connection; it is simply on there too tightly. And I tried my friend's plumbing tool to grip it and break it free, but no luck. Almost impossible angles to try to get at these dang connections. I bought a replacement faucet at Camping World, but now appears I'll have to return it since there seems to be no human way to remove the existing faucet. If it sounds like I am about to snap, and am thinking the dunces at FR need a lesson or two in design, you are correct. I promised my wife when she left at 7 am this morning that when she got back at 1 pm it would be job done.

If I am "stuck" with this cheap crap, then it is just a matter of time before the cold water handle disintegrates like the hot water handle did. Then I am very serious trouble. There is no brand name on the factory installed faucet, so no way to get the parts to fix that - if such a thing was possible (highly unlikely.) Sure wish FR/Rockwood put more quality fixtures in with easy access for repairs. Pretty easy to do, and would happily have paid another $50 for my rig to have it the right way instead of this insanity.

Okay, rant over - anyone got a brilliant idea to save me and my faucet??

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Old 01-10-2018, 11:19 AM   #2
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Pictures?
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:02 PM   #3
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Pictures

Good idea...coming right up.
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:10 PM   #4
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Photos

Ok, how do I upload photos???
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:12 PM   #5
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Ok, got it - photos attached

Photos of my predicament

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Old 01-10-2018, 12:16 PM   #6
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While we wait for the pics I'll say this. It is not just with FR. All RV's have this issue. It's all about Cost and weight. A few pounds here a few pounds there. It all adds up. Replacement faucets are easy to find. Google and Amazon are your friends. Youtube will be very helpful also. Is there a thick base on this faucet to indicate that it may be surface mounted held in place with a couple of screws that you may not be seeing. That's why we need pics. If it's in the wall I sure there is a removable panel on the back side of the wall. Trailers are an education and a challenge. it's fun to beat that challenge.
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:19 PM   #7
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First I would try someone with smaller hands. Next, I would look at removing the sink itself. If all else fails, cut the supply hoses, hopefully you can then use the hose to help twist off the anchor nut and connection to faucet, replace the faucet and reconnect hoses with pex union/coupler. Or better yet put a fitting on the pex and just use standard sink supply hoses to reconnect.
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:23 PM   #8
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Thanks for the response, but I used to sell these rigs and am very familiar with the nickel-dime crap the manufacturers use to justify stupidity.

As you'll see from the photos, there is no panel to be removed with a couple of screws. The shelf cannot be removed because the sewer pipe runs through it.

I agree that it is fun to beat the challenges presented by dumb engineering and stupid 'cost cutting" or "cost containment." That's why I do all of my own repairs, like replacing my TV antenna. But this sucker has me stumped, ergo my appeal for help. The wall at the back of the sink is the exterior wall. NO ACCESS.
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:30 PM   #9
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Pull the sink.
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:30 PM   #10
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Another idea. Get a tool like this to remove faucet nut, then pull up faucet to remove hose connection if there is enough play in supply hoses.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fam...g-faucets/amp/
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:32 PM   #11
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where is the cold water line? I don't see it in the pictures.
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:33 PM   #12
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I would pull the sink, but the it is adhered to the countertop from above. The countertop sits on TOP of the sink and it is glued tight.
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:35 PM   #13
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Have that tool, and there is not enough room in there to turn the tool. No matter what I do...
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:37 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robsshots View Post
Have that tool, and there is not enough room in there to turn the tool. No matter what I do...
Wow. I would cut the lines then. Or pay some poor RV tech to do it
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:39 PM   #15
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The cold water line is the white line to the right of the red hot water line. The white line with the black connector on top takes the cold water to the shower...
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:39 PM   #16
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We have pretty much the same sink/cabinet/faucet in our Flagstaff.
While it was a tight squeeze to get both hands up around the back of the sink, I was successfully able to sit on my knees and reach up under the sink (with both hands) and replace our faucet assembly.
Below is a before picture.

Best of luck.
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:40 PM   #17
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Man, you are right about that tool...if only I had some ROOM. And I am a small guy...5' 7" with small hands. And there is zero play in the water lines. Guess some extra inches of line costs too much and weighs too much...LOL
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:41 PM   #18
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Ah. You are going where I was going. Cut the lines and insert connectors once the faucet is replaced. That's all I have been able to think of....
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:45 PM   #19
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Here is the tool for these situations.

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Old 01-10-2018, 12:49 PM   #20
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Did you consider removing the trap from the sink to the outlet. That'll give you some "operating room". The threaded end will most likely have two tabs on the nut. I've had some success using a long 10" pair of needlenose pliers and catching the tabs on the nut like a spanner wrench. Maybe you'll get lucky
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