Hose for Built-In Vacuum

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Hose for Built-In Vacuum

December 06, 2011, 02:24:46 pm

I've searched all over that motorhome and cannot find anything that looks like a hose for the built-in vacuum system. Is there a special hiding spot for it? If not, does anyone know of a source for one of the systems installed in a 1993 U225?

Craig

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #1 – December 06, 2011, 02:57:14 pm

Craig,
I don't know what brand vacuum you have. In the U270, we have a Vacuflow unit. Check here for a hose.
Central Vacuum | Central Vacuum Systems | Central Vac - Vacuflo

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #2 – December 06, 2011, 06:38:10 pm

I checked at FOT back in June and they only had the whole kit. Hose and all attachments. It was I thought a little pricey at $80 or so. Call the parts counter they can set you up.

see ya
ken

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #3 – December 06, 2011, 06:49:02 pm

Quote from: wa_desert_rat – December 06, 2011, 02:24:46 pm

Is there a special hiding spot for it? If not, does anyone know of a source for one of the systems installed in a 1993 U225?

Found ours in the cabinet under the fridge. Sorry, I threw it out. Did not need it as we have hardwood floors.

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #4 – December 06, 2011, 07:51:37 pm

In our 1993 U225 the vacuum is called a "Small Wonder", Model 19-1. We just ordered replacement bags and filter from the company.

Google got us to:
www.centralvachq.com/RVCON/subgrp/subcde/000050-000130.aspx

for parts. Bag was Item 4908, plus there should be a washable gray filter held by a spring steel wire in the bag area to keep the motor clean. We washed the filter and also ordered a replacement.

Sure they could help with your hose. But mostly any vacuum clearer store will have those hoses for central whole house systems.

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #5 – December 06, 2011, 11:15:15 pm

My couch has a storage area underneath, has a hard to open door. Might check there.

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #6 – December 06, 2011, 11:29:43 pm

Thanks everyone. Good ideas and I'll explore them tomorrow. I looked for some indication of who made the vacuum today and couldn't find anything. We live in a small town but I think there might be someone here who might sell these hoses. Hoping they're all the same size. With any luck there will be a hose under the sofa.

Craig

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #7 – December 07, 2011, 08:24:58 am

Not sure of your floor plan; the vacuum in mine was under the fridge - that space also serving as a hose/attachment storage area. The hoses and attachments are smaller than standard vacuums (if there is a "standard" size). My hose was split and leaking in several spots. Also could not find a source for the secondary air filters for the model in my coach. Took it all out, and will be using my stick and brick vacuum when I move on out. Draws only a little more current, but with the extension hose and attachments works better than the Small Wonder did.

The space where the vacuum was turned out to be the ideal spot to mount an inverter.

Steve

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #8 – December 07, 2011, 09:13:50 am

On our U-225 the vacuum unit is under the ref/freezer. We found the model # info in the coach paperwork. If you have to buy a hose, measure from the middle of the coach to the far corners fore or aft, and only buy that length.

I saw in someone's listing for sale the hose was coiled and hanging in the closet. Ours stores in the same space as the unit. There is lots of room under the couch for it to be hiding as well. The size of the hose seems the same as the whole house units I have seen in homes and on the old GMC motorhomes of the 1970's.

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #9 – December 07, 2011, 08:06:25 pm

No coiled up vacuum hose under the sofa (I looked... and it's not easy to look either). There is a box of stuff under there but I couldn't get it out to look at it. Dang arthritis in my hands is really no fun.

Checked the closets. There are sure a lot of cubbyholes in a Foretravel. Everywhere I looked there was some hidey-hole where something could be put. We're going to need a chart once we start full-timing. Tons more storage than our 32-foot sailboat and I thought that had a lot. LOL.

Thanks for all the replies.

Craig

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #10 – December 07, 2011, 08:21:54 pm

Craig,
We found ours hid under the floor of our closet.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #11 – December 07, 2011, 09:26:01 pm

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – December 07, 2011, 08:21:54 pm

Craig,
We found ours hid under the floor of our closet.

Hmm... I didn't go quite that far. Looks like more looking around tomorrow. The coach is a good place to go take a nap, anyway.

Craig

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #12 – December 07, 2011, 09:46:51 pm

Hi Peter,
I didn't know the U270's could be optioned with the central vac... where is your unit located in the coach? We have a empty nook in the large compartment with the joey bed near the center of the coach. I was wondering what that might be for... I don't suppose that all the 270's had the plumbing for it regardless of whether or not that were so equipped.
Don

Quote from: Peter & Beth – December 06, 2011, 02:57:14 pm

Craig,
I don't know what brand vacuum you have. In the U270, we have a Vacuflow unit. Check here for a hose.
Central Vacuum | Central Vacuum Systems | Central Vac - Vacuflo

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #13 – December 08, 2011, 09:30:25 am

Don,
When I purchased the coach in 2003, I requestd FOTn to install the unit. It is located in the driver side main storage compartment. The unit plug-in for the hose and hose itself along with the other tools is located under the fridge which is located over where the vacuum unit is installed.

Oh yeah, we got the Splendide Washer/Drier combo genny auto start, Retarder joy stick as well. This coach was very well optioned after we bought it. We're ready to go for long periods of time...

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #14 – December 08, 2011, 09:48:07 am

If you have mainly tile or a hard floor in your coach, the central vac is fine ... although getting the stuff in and out of the storage (which is usually under the fridge) is a pain and wrestling with the python of a hose is no fun. I recommend coiling it and putting it in a cheap "stuff sac" from Walmart or using a baby bungee to hold it together, instead of trying to stuff it loose under the fridge. I swear that the thing is alive! If you have a fair amount of carpet, it is not gonna work ... sorry. You really need something with a "beater brush" to get the nap clean and get the dust or pet hair, and the goofy little "air powered" brushes that are sold just do not do the job on large areas. I had a unit in out '93 that was fine, because we had almost all tile. The '95 had too much carpet, and I bought a little upright vac that worked much better. It also works on bare floors and tile in this '02, and I do not miss the absence of a central vac.

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #15 – December 08, 2011, 12:03:20 pm

Well optioned indeed! You were smart to have the factory do all that... The washer/dryer combo was a royal PITA to install:)... Fortunately, the previous owner had the Joy Stick put in, and as the generator will turn itself on when you run the inverter with no shore power after awhile, I believe it has that option. Where is your propane furnace? Ours is under the fridge where your vac hookups are...

Don

Quote from: Peter & Beth – December 08, 2011, 09:30:25 am

Don,
When I purchased the coach in 2003, I requestd FOTn to install the unit. It is located in the driver side main storage compartment. The unit plug-in for the hose and hose itself along with the other tools is located under the fridge which is located over where the vacuum unit is installed.

Oh yeah, we got the Splendide Washer/Drier combo genny auto start, Retarder joy stick as well. This coach was very well optioned after we bought it. We're ready to go for long periods of time...

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #16 – December 08, 2011, 12:35:56 pm

Don,
The 34 coach has the short galley with an area underneath the counter streetside that houses the one & only propane furnace. If you would, it is located at the galley corner steetside.

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #17 – December 08, 2011, 12:53:42 pm

Ah... I see. It is to the right of the drawers in the picture where there would otherwise be dead space in that layout. That must the air return under the bottom drawer... Very clever use of space!

Quote from: Peter & Beth – December 08, 2011, 12:35:56 pm

Don,
The 34 coach has the short galley with an area underneath the counter streetside that houses the one & only propane furnace. If you would, it is locate at the galley corner steetside.

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #18 – December 08, 2011, 01:56:45 pm

FOUND THE HOSE! I actually feel a little stupid now that I found it. I had been looking in the closets and this morning took my flashlight and looked at the outside of the cabinetry under the closets and there was this sliding door......

Anyway, behind the door was the hose and several fittings. My only excuse is that the area is quite dark with the curtains all drawn (for better insulation) but still... there it was... right in plain sight.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Craig

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #19 – December 08, 2011, 09:50:24 pm

A year ago a got one of those little LED lights on a headband. I use that thing all the time! I'd like to say that it is the first thing that goes into the camper, but unless we're loading up and leaving immediately, it actually is one of the last things in. I use it too much to have it away from me. There are several places in the camper that light doesn't get to no matter what time of day it is, and that little Chinese thing is a great help.

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #20 – December 08, 2011, 10:07:37 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – December 08, 2011, 09:50:24 pm

A year ago a got one of those little LED lights on a headband. I use that thing all the time!

Steve and I use his all the time as well. It comes in handy not only for repairs around the house and coach but also for walking the dogs at night

Michelle

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #21 – December 09, 2011, 12:02:07 am

Quote from: Steve & Michelle – December 08, 2011, 10:07:37 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – December 08, 2011, 09:50:24 pm
A year ago a got one of those little LED lights on a headband. I use that thing all the time!

Steve and I use his all the time as well. It comes in handy not only for repairs around the house and coach but also for walking the dogs at night

After so many years on ships I learned to carry my Swiss Army Knife plus a utility knife on my belt plus a pocket flashlight. Now the light is an LED version that is very bright. It's also handy for answering that age-old question, "Is that a flashlight in your pocket... or... "

It's a flashlight... but that doesn't mean I'm not happy to see you.

However, I didn't think to get it out and look at floor level until, finally, I did and "viola!".

Craig

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #22 – December 09, 2011, 07:52:39 am

Glad you found yet another cabinet, with a sliding door that blends into the woodwork so well.

I did suggest that you might be finding things for months. I have crawled around, looked under and inside everywhere on the coach. Hard to see brown switches on the wood work with out a flashlight. Then when I find things I still marvel at the design of my old classic.

Still have had to call Kent Speers who owned the coach before me for help. You are going to find even more mysteries, and hidden things I will guess.

Was showing the coach to a camping neighbor last month, and he kept asking about things mine had that his brand new coach did not have, and he had been happy to tell me he got a $100K discount!

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #23 – December 11, 2011, 08:37:03 pm

I am glad I read about this. I don't use my built in vacuum either. As Carol said it just doesn't work on carpet. But it dawned on me that I can take the hoses out and use the space for bulk food storage. Anytime we can find additional space it's a good thing!

Re: Hose for Built-In Vacuum

Reply #24 – December 11, 2011, 09:19:14 pm

The small diameter hose with these LITTLE WONDER Vacuums can clog easily. I used a long coat hanger to fish out the clog from the inside and then blew the crud out with the on board air when I bought this 95. Works fine now but not really as powerful as a home vac. We use it on the road and at the house I drag out the wet/dry shop vac to do a good cleaning. With two dogs we do accumulate some loose hairs. In addition it is very important that the lid on the vac unit in the bay fit tightly and that the bag be in its proper place.
Gary B

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