Flat hose

Fessenden
Fessenden Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited August 2020 in Caravans #1

I am planning to use a 'valve' type filler on my Aquaroll in a few weeks time on a stay at a CL.

Having been to the site before, I estimate the hose from tap to van will be around 20metres.

I am in two minds about buying a 20m reel of flat hose, or a traditional wind up hose on a metal reel - which would obviously be heavier.

Any advice and info will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

 

 

Comments

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2020 #2

    The main problem with flat hose, I have found, is that it kinks very easily and can stop the flow to the Aquaroll. This is especially relevant if the tap is quite close to the caravan. It means the hose has to be laid out fully in a big loop to avoid kinks. It is also difficult, again I have found when doing it, to try to get steriliser down it. After several weeks between trips of residual water staying in the hose I like to give it a good clean.

    As we never drink water that has come through the caravan system I now use a 'normal' round hose. It is claimed that components of the round hose can leach into the water but as I say, we don't drink it.

    I have always carried some round hose as an extension in case the tap was too far from the caravan for the flat hose. I don't have it on a reel and the weight is quite negligible. Round hose is also so cheap it can be replaced annually.

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
    500 Comments
    edited August 2020 #3

    We have been using roll flat hose which I bought on ebay for about 8 years. It is blue drinking water hose. I bought a 7M and a 10M length and a M/M conector. Ours is conected to a float valve in the water container. When packing up it needs to well flattened and rolled up tight and I find a damp cloth helps with this and cleans it at the same time. The two little rolls are about 9" and 11" so it good for saving space and weght.  

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2020 #4

    if you don't drink the water from the caravan, then there's no need to sterilise the flat hose .... 😉

  • stephen p
    stephen p Forum Participant Posts: 194
    100 Comments
    edited August 2020 #5

    We use a flat hose in a wind up cassette, very compact and fairly light. As mentioned you do need to run the whole length out but if you use a float valve in the aquaroll the water pressure keeps the pipe round. It is quite reluctant to go flat again and back into the casette, particularly in winter, but a little patience and overall a useful product.

    Unless you are getting your water from a bore hole source, or similar, then it will be chlorinated etc. by the local water company and as far as I am concerned that is as good as any steriliser so we have always used the caravan water for drinking. 

  • OrionCalls
    OrionCalls Forum Participant Posts: 116
    edited August 2020 #6

    I use BRUNNER 15M ROLL-ON HOSE REEL WITH FLAT FOOD GRADE HOSE.

    The flat strong hose need not be unwound fully to be used and comprises of a triple chamber system. You can simply pull a metre off and it will work just as well!

    Certainly recommended by us 

  • Challenger 480 SE
    Challenger 480 SE Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited December 2021 #7

    I'll second the comments made by OriionCalls

  • JWF
    JWF Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited February 2022 #8

    Hi OrionCalls,

    This may sound like a daft question, but HOW to do use the Brunner Flat Hose?

    i have just received delivery of mine and the centre hose connector is a nice snug fit into the reel, which is great when storing, but it is needed to connect to a tap, it is a strain to bend out and believe after a short period of time could cause damage to the actual hose it’s connected to. The only other option is to attach another short piece of hose to extend to the tap, but then that defeats the benefit of a single hose / reel function.

     

    Moderator Edit:

    Please note that the comment was made in 2020 so it's unlikely that the OP will see your post after all this time.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2022 #9

     Indeed Mr / Ms /Mrs Moderator  !

    ORIONCALLS most recent post was in January 2021 so not a prolific poster  frown

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
    1,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited February 2022 #10

    ....just in case this is of use to anyone else...  we use flat hoses without any problem.  However, I use them in 5m lengths.  I have 4 lots of 5 metres each with connectors, and just use as few lengths as possible in order to connect to the tap.  I keep each 5m length on a separate reel.  This seems to work well for us....

    David

  • OrionCalls
    OrionCalls Forum Participant Posts: 116
    edited February 2022 #11

    JWF

    If you unroll the hose on your initial use of it, then unfasten slightly more hose in the centre where the hose connection clips in.  You can then roll the hose fully onto the reel.

    I did this on my initial use of the hose (about 7 years ago) and I’ve never had any problems with the hose.

    Hope this helps.

  • Kasspa
    Kasspa Club Member Posts: 360 ✭✭✭
    edited February 2022 #12

    David, I don't have multiple lengths but did cut approx 5m off the main reel to save having to unroll it all every time we filled up as it it's a pain trying to discharge the water left in it before putting it away when other folk are queuing to use the MSP.

    If the MSP is on the opposite side to my inlet I have generally managed to throw it under the van to access it that way, or through the habitation door & out of a window..... there's always an option...

    The only time I use the main reel is if I opt for a service pitch, then as you say, connect them together.

     

    Kasspa

     

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2022 #13

    There is a lot to be said for our onboard tank filled with a watering can. volume and colour of your choice.

     

    Colin

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
    1,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited March 2022 #14

    One problem I have found, which possibly depends on the particular flat hose 'brand'/ or quality......:  I have found that some of the hoses are 'reinforced' at the end, where the connectors fit.  Should you cut a longer hose, if the bit in the middle isn't as thick (ie it isn't reinforced), it is difficult to fit the connector without a leak.   I found this out when I had to cut the end off a 5m hose, because of a problem.  I couldn't successfully put on the connector to the end I cut - it was too thin.  I ended up relacing the hose.  Perhaps it was just a 'cheap hose'???

    David

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
    500 Comments
    edited March 2022 #15

    I had that problem a constant drip from both ends I just removed the fittings put a few turns of electrical tape to increase the diameter of the pipe never leaked since 

     

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2022 #16

     As there is no obvious indication that hoses and Aquarolls are sterile or not we don't drink from the taps in the caravan, instead using the 5 litre water bottles that can be purchased full from supermarkets. They can be refilled again and again and are easier to use to fill the kettle than trying to get it under the tap if the sink is full of dishes.

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
    500 Comments
    edited March 2022 #17

    Like most members when we are on a serviced pitch we use a split connector so can easily fill the kettle direct from the tap but we do have a container for when we are on a normal pitch