I removed the basement wall in our new 2020 Solitude 310GK-R and found the most organized and cleanest basement of the three Grand Design 5th wheels we've purchased to date. Not great by any stretch but much better. They actually used a wire loom to route some of the wires. Having said that, if I would have turned the camera 90 degrees to the left, you would have seen a rats nest of wires but I wanted to point out one potential problem with my plumbing. The red flexible hose coming from the hot water heater is too short and as a result, bent too sharply. Water flow will be reduced quite a bit by this. I've never worked with PEX hoses or fixtures so I have reading to do on how to fix this.
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Cleanest basement yet but hot water line is pinched a bit
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Cleanest basement yet but hot water line is pinched a bit
Brian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitchTags: None
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Originally posted by bertschb View PostI removed the basement wall in our new 2020 Solitude 310GK-R and found the most organized and cleanest basement of the three Grand Design 5th wheels we've purchased to date. Not great by any stretch but much better. They actually used a wire loom to route some of the wires. Having said that, if I would have turned the camera 90 degrees to the left, you would have seen a rats nest of wires but I wanted to point out one potential problem with my plumbing. The red flexible hose coming from the hot water heater is too short and as a result, bent too sharply. Water flow will be reduced quite a bit by this. I've never worked with PEX hoses or fixtures so I have reading to do on how to fix this.
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2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus
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Makes me want to spit nails. Changing the 90 degree fitting on the water heater to a straight fitting would make a nice straight shot to the supply line. Another fix while you are right there is relocate the black tank flush line that is resting on that same fitting. Definitely is a lot neater there than our Reflection but way too much flex hose. I can understand a piece of flex hose for the water pump , vibrations and all , but flex on every other line , that's too much.
Brian (the other one , or am I number 3)Brian & Michelle
2018 Reflection 29RS
2022 Chevy 3500HD
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Originally posted by Country Campers View PostAnother fix while you are right there is relocate the black tank flush line that is resting on that same fitting.Brian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch
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bertschb
Hi Brian,
With all that space to work, it is a shame that Grand Design chooses to use soft hose. It seems that they use this hose to expedite final assembly . . . but, the result is often a situation as shown in your picture. Pex is very easy to work with. A few "right tools" (see attached) and you will easily add a new skill to your repertoire. Put an elbow on the water heater outlet and come straight across to the T in the Pex line. The T that is there will rotate in the Pex to point at the water heater without creating a leak.
That black soft hose is curious. Normally black hose is reserved for black tank flush. It looks like that black hose connects to blue Pex. I have seen this on a plant tour and pointed out that this is asking for confusion down the road with blue Pex (normally reserved for potable cold water) now inserted into a black tank flush line. I was assured that this meets RVIA requirements . . . but those who have read my previous posts will know what I think of RVIA "requirements".
Edit: Added a picture of what that soft hose on the water heater outlet will look like in a couple of years . . . ask me how I know this .
RobAttached FilesLast edited by Cate&Rob; 04-02-2020, 07:34 PM.Cate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Originally posted by Cate&Rob View PostbertschbPut an elbow on the water heater outlet and come straight across to the T in the Pex line.
That black soft hose is curious. Normally black hose is reserved for black tank flush. It looks like that black hose connects to blue Pex.
Edit: Added a picture of what that soft hose on the water heater outlet will look like in a couple of years . . . ask me how I know this .
Rob
I will order some PEX tools and hose. Can you tell me what type of elbow I need for the water heater outlet?
I remember reading about your burst soft hose a couple years ago. We haven't had a Grand Design RV long enough yet for that to be a problem but I think we'll have this 310GK for more than a year so I may replace all the soft tubing.
Brian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch
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Originally posted by bertschb View Post
Hi Rob
I will order some PEX tools and hose. Can you tell me what type of elbow I need for the water heater outlet?
Rob
Cate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Originally posted by Cate&Rob View PostThe elbow that you need, to get the water heater outlet pointed at the existing T in the Pex lines, is shown on the upper left of page 5 in the previous attachment.
Brian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch
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Originally posted by Cate&Rob View Post
Pex fittings come in all configurations, in plastic or brass, from any Home Depot or similar. The elbow that you need, to get the water heater outlet pointed at the existing T in the Pex lines, is shown on the upper left of page 5 in the previous attachment.
Rob
BrianBrian & Michelle
2018 Reflection 29RS
2022 Chevy 3500HD
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Originally posted by Country Campers View Post
There is already an elbow on the heater. Would you not want to put a straight fitting there?
BrianBrian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch
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Originally posted by Country Campers View Post
There is already an elbow on the heater. Would you not want to put a straight fitting there?
Brian
RobCate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Here is a close up of the fitting on the hot water line from the water heater. It also shows the black tank flush line above it.
Brian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch
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bertschb
Hi Brian,
The black knurled fitting is hand tightened with a cone washer inside. The easiest fitting to remove/replace. I would go with (other) Brian’s suggestion of replacing this with a straight fitting if this is reasonably aligned with the T.
RobCate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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Thanks for the tips. I finished installing the EMS today and as expected, I'm crippled right now. My knee, hip, back and elbow all hurt right now. I'll resume mods/fixes next week after I recover :-)
-BrianBrian & Kellie
2020 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, MORryde IS, 1,460w solar and 540ah BBGC3
2020 Ford F-350 Platinum SRW PSD Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch
Previous setups:
2019 Grand Design Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 Ford F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
2016 Grand Design Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch
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bertschb
BTW . . . (assuming that this is a Suburban water heater) the white plastic thing between the black fitting and the water heater outlet is the check valve required by Suburban for winterizing. These plastic devices are known to be a problem. There are better brass ones. While you’re fixing plumbing issues . . . . . .
RobCate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, Canada
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