Have new hose reels to install. Both Glendinning. 50 foot electrical and 35 foot water. Since my basement was redone by the last owner there is no evidence of prior reels but don't think they were ever installed.
Wonder what is the best way to mount and fasten them? Was thinking of putting in some Riv Nuts into the metal under, but then thought maybe up into the wood subfloor... or even though the bulkhead with bolts... So before I do it wondered how any of you that have done it, installed them.
Or if you have a factory installed reel, how did they mount them?
Thanks
Bob
I strongly suggest that you mount the reals on top of 1/4 inch aluminum plates to spread the load. On the fiberglass floor.
Thought about that Jeff. what would be the best way to fasten the aluminum plate to the floor? Rivets? lag screws? Riv nuts? I will check with a magnet to see where the steel is under that wet bay, but it might not be in a area that I can use, and don't want to fasten it to the fiberglass floor only.
Through bolt, with aluminum plates acting as washers below.
Have seen too many where the reels were just through bolted and cracked the underside fiberglass letting water in.
Bed in a polysulfide and this arrangement will last the life of the coach.
Our coach came with the red spring-loaded hose and cord reels. Looked like they were intalled early in the life of the coach by a prior owner. The mounting bolts on both reels were as recommended by Brett - long carriage bolts passing completely through the floor. On the underside of the coach two heavy 3/8" steel plates with the mounting bolts protruding through. Very sturdy and secure!
When I needed to remove the hose reel to replace the hose, I discovered that two of the bolts (on the underside) had apparently been "scraped" on something with considerable force. A "high-centered" event (railroad crossing?) was my guess. The 1/2" of threaded bolt visible below the large nuts was bent over so severely that it was impossible to remove the nuts. Had to cut the nuts off with a Dremel tool.
I cleaned up and painted the backing plate - reinstalled the reel with fresh bolts/nuts. Now good for another quarter century! :thumbsup:
Chuck, Did you install the bolts up from the bottom to lessen the possibility of future damage by a "scraping" event?
No, I put them back in from the top. The design (and placement) of the reel mounting bracket makes it almost impossible to reach the bolts from the top side with a wrench. Hence the use of the carriage bolts - no need to hold them when snugging up the nuts under the floor.
I did size the bolts to leave minimal threads showing below the nuts. Also, I intend to avoid high-centering the coach if at all possible.
Knock wood.
That's the way I did mine.
jor
Here is a pic of how I modified my wet bay for hose reels. Used 16ga 316ss and 1/4" for mounting plate. Thanks again Don.
John
John nice install. Any flex when you bring in the power cable? Not sure my reel has enough room to do that.
Brett I like your idea. I will go that route.
Thanks
Bob
There is no flex at all.
John
Wow, been pricing aluminum and steel plate on Mcmaster Carr... pretty expensive stuff. Not sure what thickness I need. Seems like even the thin stuff has pretty good strength.
Also hard to get in more than 2 feet in width.
mild steel (https://www.mcmaster.com/standard-steel-sheets)
aluminum (https://www.mcmaster.com/standard-aluminum-sheets)
Guess I could go with thinner 2-3 " strips between the bolts front to back and a plate on the inside maybe....
Any specific water hose you are using? Mine has a small leak so its on the list to get done maybe this weekend if I can get a hose that will work..The one I have is hard on both ends now from age.
John, your wet bay looks great. I see Don's influence.
I have wet bay envy. 😄
Edited to add: I sourced my aluminum on eBay.
Aluminum sheet | eBay (https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Aluminum%20sheet&ssPageName=GSTL)
Bob,
I have always had good luck digging around scrap metal yards. On many different occasions I picked up just what I needed when I had my aluminum sailboat.
I got mine (¼" diamond plate) in the remnants section of Industrial Metal Supply in San Diego. I don't know your location Bob, but they have a couple of locations in AZ and 3 or 4 in So Cal. I have likewise found material at our local recycling outfit in Temecula CA. Welding shops are also a place where you might find suitable remnants. I chose the piece I did because it was the perfect size in one dimension (across). Material in the Rem section of IMS is sold by the pound like most of the metal they sell, but at a much reduced rate. I was actually looking for plain ¼" plate, but there wasn't any of the right size at the time. When I was done, I was pleased with the diamond plate look ;D
¼" aluminum plate is plenty strong, of more concern as far as structural integrity is the manner in which it is attached to the sidewalls, particularly on the bulkhead side.
Don