Experts-need your advice again, this time...a hose

kdee69
kdee69 Forum Participant Posts: 226
edited September 2016 in Motorhomes #1

We are off tomorrow on our second forray  - managed to snatch two late available pitches at Rowntree York! 

We are only 30+ miles from York so this time are happy to fill the tank at home but obviously we need a water hose at some point!

My question is - I see food grade written re hoses, and people have xhoses etc...what do we need to buy? What sort of length would you recommend for using with a M/H. What sort of connector for the tap end and if more than one needed, what sort do I order?

Your advice is invaluable for a newbie like me so please, suggestions, links, photos will all be welcome!

 

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Comments

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #2

    Hi, i bought a 5m and 10m "blue" hose off E-bay and a selection of hose joiners and tap connectors, and a water can ........

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2016 #3

    All cc sites have a m/van service point the hose you buy is a matter of choice , when we had m/vans we did not use water from the on board tank for drinking water, and just used an ordinary garden hose with an assortment of connectors,most garden centres sell "kits" of assorted fittings,a watering can is also a good investment ,to top up the van without moving off pitch,

    Ps i have seen" Compact" hoses in some garden centres

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
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    edited September 2016 #4

    I tried to post a picture of the fittings that you'd need but I've given up after four attempts.

    All other forums accept pictures direct from my PC - but not this one.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2016 #5

    Hi, i bought a 5m and 10m "blue" hose off E-bay and a selection of hose joiners and tap connectors, and a water can ........

    like Husky, we have two hoses that can be joined together if required...plus various tap fittings....though the std hoselok one will do for most places.

    in lieu of Husky's watering can, i have a 10 ltr container, and a 'drain pipe elbow' which fits snuggly into the water inlet so that two hands can be used to pour....works very well and cheap as chips....

  • S6 Kevin
    S6 Kevin Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited September 2016 #6

    Hi, I purchased a 7.5m lenght of blue food grade hose off amazon for the filling of our fresh water tank. I find this length fine for CC motorhome service points but would need to be longer if using serviced pitches, maybe up to 20m +. I always add sterilising
    tablets prior to filling. Another useful gismo is a cap that replaces the water filler cap. This cap has a 'hoselock' type male connector fitted and makes filing an easy one person job. With regards to fittings, fit the hose with female 'hoselock' fittings
    and you'll need a couple of screw on tap adaptors. B&Q sell all these fittings.

    If there's a motorhome service point you can drive directly over the grey waste manhole to empty the tank. If not you'll need to devise an extension hose system. I found the aquatic pump hoses ideal for this purpose.

    Hope this helps and enjoy your trip

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #7

    It is encouraging to see that folk do use clean food grade hoses to fill their fresh water. Now before I get labled a doing a survey / having a clip board, we just happened to be close to the MHSP outside the main block at Cirencester. So could not help noticing filling practices during our week long stay. The waste tap had a coil of yellow hose permanently attached and a large sign saying, for flushing waste tanks, don't use for filling fresh water. Hardly surprising after it's been pushed into someone's waste tank, or used for rinsing down the drain. However, I noticed numerous vans using it to fill the fresh water.   Yuk.   I am fairly sure it was the fresh water, as this was all they were doing after arrival.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2016 #8

    im not sure i 'get' what this yellow hose would be for....

    obviously nothing to do with toilet cassettes....but you say for waste tanks? 

    we do have access to our waste tank from inside the van (not many do) but taking a hose inside wouldn't be something id want to do on site....

    the only way 'in' to a waste tank for most vans would be via the exit pipe...do folk actually shove a yellow hose up their waste pipe?

    rinsing down the drain, yes one might think to swish a bit of water about, but most draining processes dont leave a mess..

    ...a special hose to wash down the ground?....

    personally, i will use my blue hose to fill the fresh water tank but cant recall anyone attempting to clean their waste tank from the outside......having done this on our old Bolero (entry point is a large screw in bung under the van) i can tell you its
    a blooming messy process.....

    one to do at home with plenty of time and space, rather than to be attempting at a (possibly) busy MHSP.

    im sure the yellow hose is just there to confuseWink

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited September 2016 #9

    There is a danger of making life too complicated. Although we are newbies we have caravanneed for 30 years plus. This year we have used the new motorhome for seven weeks in Europe. Every single site that we stayed at (about 15) had a MH service point and
    a fresh water tap with hose. We use empty mineral water bottles for drinking water so are not too fussy about filling the tank with the supplied hose.

    So, I have a hose supplied with the van for mains hook up or filling - never needed - and a water container of approx. 10 litre for emergency hand filling - never used.

    We used the empty mineral water bottles to fill the toilet flush and, once, I used them to top up the fresh water tank by about 5 litres.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #10

     

    im sure the yellow hose is just there to confuseWink

    Probably BB. However, you would have thought the large sign, placed by the tap, where it could not be missed would put folk off. After all you have no idea of where it has been. That and the other sign saying fresh water on the tap without a hose.

  • S6 Kevin
    S6 Kevin Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited September 2016 #11

    Have also seen the yellow hose being pushed a considerable way into the fresh water inlet. Not a pleasent thought

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #12

    Isn't the yellow hose used to wash your dogInnocent

  • kdee69
    kdee69 Forum Participant Posts: 226
    edited September 2016 #13

    so...just to recap...

    Any hose and a connector that fits to a standard tap?

    What's food grade?

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #14

    so...just to recap...

    Any hose and a connector that fits to a standard tap?

    What's food grade?

    Put "food grade hose" in the E-bay search and it will show you the different types

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2016 #15

    I must confess to being a bit puzzled by the "food grade" bit. The water is hardly in th pipe long enough for it to matter surely?

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited September 2016 #16

    so...just to recap...

    Any hose and a connector that fits to a standard tap?

    What's food grade?

    Write your comments here...food grade pipe , water passing through said pipe is suitable for human consumption  ( it's something to do with what it's made of inside ) , usually colour is blue  , cost ............. about ten times ££££££££££££ above normal pipe price

  • S6 Kevin
    S6 Kevin Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited September 2016 #17

    This is what I'm using here

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2016 #18

    £2.00 a metre for blueSurprised we still carry flat garden hose that we always used with m/vans never got ill nand still usr to fill
    aqua roll if near to service point or on a sevice pitchWink

  • jeffcc
    jeffcc Forum Participant Posts: 430
    edited September 2016 #19

    never used food grade hose in 40yrs for filling fresh water tanks, just good old garden hose, as previous posters have said its not in there long enough to absorb any nasties that may or may not be present. Also use onboard water for drinking and never had
    an issue,

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2016 #20

    £2.00 a metre for blueSurprised we still carry flat garden hose that we always used with m/vans never got ill and still used to fill aqua roll if near to service point or on a sevice pitchWink

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #21

    I have a couple like this in the motorhome although mine are fold flat which takes up less room.

    7.5m Extension Food Grade Hose – for Caravan / Motorhome Mains water adaptor kit

    I would have thought that the propect of having a problem with a non food hose is fairly slim especially as most people seem not to use the onboard suppy as drinking water. If I go to a service point where there is a existing hose I remove it and use my own. Unfortunately I seem too many examples of the provided hose being used for the wrong reason, particularly in Europe.

    David

     

     

     

  • kdee69
    kdee69 Forum Participant Posts: 226
    edited September 2016 #22

    all great help thanks...

    Now apparently length "does" matter Winking, so thanks to those who have already indicated we may need longer than 7.5m but if it's
    in this country on a "normal" CC/CL site would we need more than 7.5 m?

     

    Also, I'm a bit confused (not difficult) about the sterilising tablets? Where do they go? Just drop them in the tank? I have no idea !!

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #23

    all great help thanks...

    Now apparently length "does" matter Winking, so thanks to those who have already indicated we may need longer than 7.5m but if it's in this country on a "normal" CC/CL site would we need more than 7.5 m?

     

    Also, I'm a bit confused (not difficult) about the sterilising tablets? Where do they go? Just drop them in the tank? I have no idea !!

    We use Puriclean powder in our tank. A 100g pot (available from Halfords)  is enough for a 90lt tank. Would suggest you desolve in a small jug of water and introduce to a half full  water tank via the inspection hatch. Once in fill the tank which should then slosh it around a bit. After 24 hours just pump it through all the taps in the motorhome and that should do the job. Whether you might want to reapply the treatment a week or two after might depend on how old the motorhome is and how long it may have been left standing.

    David

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2016 #24

    never used food grade hose in 40yrs for filling fresh water tanks, just
    good old garden hose
    , as previous posters have said its not in there long enough to absorb any nasties that may or may not be present. Also use onboard water for drinking and never had an issue,

    however, i did this once, for convenience, using the rolled up hose in my garage..goodness knows how long the water had been sitting in that old garden hose...weeks, could have been months....as i hadnt used it....

    so, first cuppa......ugh! even i (with no taste buds according to SWMBO) could taste whatever had leeched into that old stale water....our pals came into the van as third party witnessesUndecided 

    they said it was disgusting.....Sad

    so, since then (and before then) the food grade hose, as even lying in the van for a while, water can go off in an ordinary garden hose....IMHO, of courseUndecided

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #25

    i only use a "blue" hose for fresh water so that i don't get it mixed up with my "Garden" hose that i carry for washing things off with , but it's all down to choiceHappy

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited September 2016 #26

    Food grade hose will reduce the nasties (technical term) that co-habit on the inside of water hose. Specifically, it reduces the chances of a bacteriological bio film forming . Food grade hose will also reduce any plasticisers leaching into the water. 

    A short length of non food grade hose run through first with some water won't kill you (probably)

    I don't like to find any kind of hose attached to fresh water taps. Frankly, some people are a bit thick and will use it to wash out toilets (seen it done) so I always remove it and run a bit of water through before attaching my own hose.

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
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    edited September 2016 #27

    Hozelock make the following items -

    Outdoor tap connector x 4 – 10 to 1 you'll leave one of these on the tap every so often.

    Hose Repair Connector x 2 – in case of damage to the hose pipe

    Double Male Connector x 2 – some Bornes in France need these connectors

    Hose End Connector x 4 – carry spares in case connector malfunctions or gets damaged.

    Any type of Hosepipe – maximum 5 metres

    A Hoeswater blue connector for filling fresh water tank while you stand back and relax.

    Spare pipe kept in the bowels (perhaps the wrong word) of the Motorhome for emergencies only.

    In six years of Motorhome travels in the UK and abroad I've only used the longer pipe on one occasion

    As far as I know no-one has died, or even been taken ill, with a hosepipe infection if used regularly.

    Any pipe, whatever quality, will deteriorate over time and using common sense renew the pipe if you have any doubts about it.

    Before filling remove any connectors or pipes from the tap and use your own – not everyone has your high standard of hygiene.

     

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2016 #28

    Food grade hose will reduce the nasties (technical term) that co-habit on the inside of water hose. Specifically, it reduces the chances of a bacteriological bio film forming . Food grade hose will also reduce any plasticisers leaching into the water. 

    A short length of non food grade hose run through first with some water won't kill you (probably)

    I don't like to find any kind of hose attached to fresh water taps. Frankly, some people are a bit thick and will use it to wash out toilets (seen it done) so I always remove it and run a bit of water through before attaching my own hose.

    same here fysh....

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited September 2016 #29

    There will come a time when you are not on a site and are in need of water . I have filled up in Buxton before now at the fountain where the locals fill their water bottles. You would have a hard job connecting a hose pipe but a couple of cheap watering
    cans works very well. I have two as it's easy to carry two when full. You can also use them when a hose won't reach as in the case on many CL sites. Also means that you are not hogging the only water tap that's available with your hosepipe.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited September 2016 #30

    There will come a time when you are not on a site and are in need of water . I have filled up in Buxton before now at the fountain where the locals fill their water bottles. You would have a hard job connecting a hose pipe but a couple of cheap watering
    cans works very well. I have two as it's easy to carry two when full. You can also use them when a hose won't reach as in the case on many CL sites. Also means that you are not hogging the only water tap that's available with your hosepipe.

    Simply remove your hose when finished filling. Does everyone not do this? 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2016 #31

    There will come a time when you are not on a site and are in need of water . I have filled up in Buxton before now at the fountain where the locals fill their water bottles. You would have a hard job connecting a hose pipe but a couple of cheap watering
    cans works very well. I have two as it's easy to carry two when full. You can also use them when a hose won't reach as in the case on many CL sites. Also means that you are not hogging the only water tap that's available with your hosepipe.

    Simply remove your hose when finished filling. Does everyone not do this? 

    Fysh, Qfour is a MHer and i expect he was referring to 'hogging' the tap for the duration of a full fill, sometimes froma slow tap......not a single AquarollWink