NOW WE KNOW: Kitchen Slide-Out Plumbing

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We returned from a 5-week trip away from the RV to find the drain pipe from the kitchen sinks leaking. Since weve already completed the repair, we decided to create a new video series called "Now We Know" which will be more casual, unedited, vlog-type informational videos about general RV topics, rather than "How To" videos. Our kitchen is in a slide-out, and we always wondered how the sink drains connected from the slide-out to the RV. Once we removed the access panel to find the plumbing, we learned how Newmar uses a flexible drain pipe to connect the slide-out plumbing to the RV. Before you write about it… we know that our front curb-side slide makes huge "snap, crackle, pop" sounds when it runs (the counter and woodwork creaking). Its done that for years… but it works fine! Just sounds particularly bad on video. lol Your camper, 5th wheel or trailer may have a different mechanism, but this view into the plumbing of our motorhome might give you some insight into how RV manufacturers connect slide-out-mounted plumbing into the RV, allowing the flexibility required to install plumbing into a slide-out at all. Be sure to confirm that all methods and materials used are compatible with your particular RV. RV geeks offers basic DIY (do it yourself) RV service, repair and maintenance tips from full-time RV years who have been handling most of their own maintenance since hitting the road in 2003. RVgeeks is proud to be affiliated with RVtravel.com. www.rvtravel.com


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9 Comments

  • At 2012.01.21 13:47, RVgeeks said:

    @travelingoutskirts Hey Duncan! That flexing is surely the reason it leaked. The recording is warning that the slide is about to move. 2005 and older Newmars don’t require holding the button down…. just press and release. It says "The lock arms are unlocking. Please be certain all persons, seats, chairs and other obstacles are clear of the slide-out area. There will be 5 second delay for any necessary adjustments."

    We’ve heard that the voice is the Newmar founder’s daughter. lol

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    • At 2012.01.21 14:55, travelingoutskirts said:

      Wow! Thanks for showing that, I didn’t think an engineer would approve a drain line to bend that much without thinking it would wear out very quickly! :o Also, is that an announcement I heard in the background when you press the slide out/in button? If so, I’ve never heard of such a feature – you’re blowing my mind tonight! ;)

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      • At 2012.01.21 16:03, georgetown06 said:

        thanks for the reply, I really enjoy your videos, I will be replacing the plumbing vent cap soon and thanks to your video it will make the job easier to do and understand. Keep up the good work.

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        • At 2012.01.21 17:11, RVgeeks said:

          …. continued…. When we dry camp, and cycle our batteries up and down, they require watering more frequently. When we’re plugged in for months at a time, we hardly ever had to add any water, as the batteries stay pretty full, except for a little bit of evaporation. This spring we switched to AGM batteries, so it’s not an issue for us now, but for 8 years we managed our flooded 6-volt golf-cart batteries. Your RV may be different, due to a different type of charger.

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          • At 2012.01.21 18:19, RVgeeks said:

            @georgetown06 I was referring to short-term storage, for a few weeks. If you’re talking about leaving the RV in storage for a long period, I would definitely empty and shut off the fridge, as a propane fridge could be a fire hazard if left unattended for a long time, even running on electric. As for the batteries, keeping them on trickle charge actually keeps the water level stable (as opposed to cycling them up and down, which uses up water). But that requires a good 3-stage charger.

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            • At 2012.01.21 19:27, georgetown06 said:

              thank you for the response, I have heard pro/cons for both. My RV 06 Georgetown, gas, has two house batteries, so keeping it pluged in, keeps the batteries charged, but it can drain the water in the cells. I was thinking about the fridge, if it’s a good idea to keep it runing full time ?

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              • At 2012.01.21 20:35, RVgeeks said:

                @georgetown06 If power is available…. absolutely! Even though we have three solar panels, it’s nice to have the RV plugged in and the batteries float charging. We’ve left the RV in storage a couple of times for a month or more without power, but we prefer not to if possible. When our Norcold fridge died a few months ago, we switched to a residential fridge, so now power is pretty much required when we go away, or we’d have to completely empty the fridge, which is a pain for a full-timer.

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                • At 2012.01.21 21:43, georgetown06 said:

                  When your not using the RV for a long period, do you keep the shore line pluged in and constant power to the unit ?

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                  • At 2012.01.21 22:51, rocksiphone said:

                    Thanks for the video

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