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Topic: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure? (Read 519 times) previous topic - next topic
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Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
I survived the Texas Icepocalypse 2021. Mostly.

Ran out of propane at some point (should have kept a daily diary of the adventure) but luckily still had enough gas for the generator and electricity returned before that ran out.

I finally decided that I wanted to install a Camco Extend-a-Stay. Watch a bazillion YouTube videos and it seemed very straightforward. Unfortunately, all the videos I watched showed regulators attached to flexible gas tubing. I have rigid tubing with very little room to add extra pieces.

I've seen that several members here have installed the system. What can I do to work around my rigid tubing issue?

BTW, I put everything back together as it was originally and tested with soapy water and all is good.
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #1 –
Quote from: debinvenice  - 
I survived the Texas Icepocalypse 2021. Mostly.
I've seen that several members here have installed the system. What can I do to work around my rigid tubing issue?

Glad you survived, we need to keep all the members we can.

Every floorplan is different, some have the room readily available, others need creative solutions
To overcome the rigid tubing, you, or someone skilled in tubing fabrication, will need to cut and flare the existing tubing and add horizontal length to it, allowing room for the Extend-a-Stay.  3/8" flared brass fittings help ease the design.
A flexible, propane-rated hose can be used in very tight situations. Find pre-made hoses at the hardware store, in the BBQ section.
Unless you are familiar with cutting and flaring tubing and have the tools,  it's best left to someone with experience.

Our 23.5' FL


Propane regulator change | Flickr

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #2 –
Thanks, Larry!

Looks like I'm going to have to find a propane pro. Bummer, it looked so easy.
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #3 –

Deb, if you need a new regulator, I suggest the Marshall Brass instead of Camco. Two links; same product, different sources.

Amazon.com: Marshall Excelsior (MEGR-298) Excela-Flo Two-Stage Compact...

Marshall Excelsior MEGR-298 Two-Stage Propane Regulator With 90-Degree Vent

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #4 –
Thanks, Joan!

The regulator is working fine. My problem is with the rigid tubing not having enough "give" to add the 4-port tee.

I'll keep your links in mind in case I should have a problem with the regulator in the future. :-)
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #5 –
On my 96 FL, there wasn't enough room to add an extend a stay.
I had Buddy's RV make me a fitting that would allow me to connect an additional tank.
Basically what they did was remove the hard line after the regulator and installed a T fitting on the regulator outlet.
Then, made a hose about 2 feet long with another regulator and an on/off valve. That went to the new tank, while the other side of the T fitting went into the coach.
I have a picture but it isn't very good at showing the way it is now.
Jota
96 23.5 FL
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #6 –
"Looks like I'm going to have to find a propane pro."

Deb

Which line is 'rigid'? Is it the one at the output end of the regulator?

From the looks of your photos it seems like you only need an inch or so. If the regulator is NOT fastened down perhaps you can shove it far enough to the right to make it work.

You've got the correct position for the Extend-a-Stay, on the high pressure side, or inlet, to the regulator. That's exactly where mine is and I had it put there by an accommodating tech at a bulk propane dealership.   ;)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Lazy Bones  - 
"Looks like I'm going to have to find a propane pro."

Deb

Which line is 'rigid'? Is it the one at the output end of the regulator?

From the looks of your photos it seems like you only need an inch or so. If the regulator is NOT fastened down perhaps you can shove it far enough to the right to make it work.



It is VERY rigid. I need to be able to move the regulator over about 5 inches in order to connect everything. The regulator is not fastened down. When trying to force a wider gap, I feel as though I'm going to break or kink the tubing.

It's too dark to take another photo right now, so I have made a very poor mock-up of the tubing using previous photos. Don't laugh at me (too loudly).
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #8 –
Deb,

Although I also had rigid copper tubing downstream, there was enough of a straight run out of the regulator that all I needed to do was cut that tubing several inches downstream, remove the short section coming out of the regulator, put a flare on the cut end of the existing tubing (after sliding on a flare nut, of course), and then connect it back to the regulator after installing the extend-a-stay. 

There was one more problem.  Moving the regulator to the right extended it past the end of the little shelf, exposing it to the ground below, so I also had to bolt a piece of metal onto the shelf to extend its length.

This worked fine for a few years, but then the regulator gave out.  While trying to remove the old regulator, I managed to twist and destroy the downstream tubing, because instead of loosening the flare nut on the tubing first, I tried to loosen the adapter that was threaded into the regulator.  This was incredibly stupid, and I should have realized what was happening right away, but the tubing was wrapped in plastic loom and I couldn't really see that it was twisting until it was too late.

To fix the tubing, I ended up cutting it pretty far downstream, after it curved up to the underside of the floor and curved again horizontally and to the left, toward the passenger side.  I had to come up with a new piece of tubing to replace what I had cut away.  This new piece had to have two fairly tight radius 90 degree bends in it, and 1/2" OD (3/8" ID) tubing is difficult to bend without crimping.

After poking around on YouTube, I found a couple of videos that described how to do this, by packing the tubing with salt, taping the ends, and then slowly working each bend across a padded knee.  I managed to do it: the result is in photo (2) below.

Once I had the piece bent, I inserted a flare nut on either end, and flared both ends.  I had already inserted a flare nut on the cut end of the existing tubing and flared it, so all that remained was to secure the new piece in place, and test it.  All was good, no leaks.

In hindsight, it would have been more cost effective to leave this to a professional, which I would recommend that you do.  But hey, I'm retired now: something to do, new skills to learn.

Photos: 1) An earlier, failed attempt at the tubing replacement; 2) New piece of tubing successfully installed; 3) Completed job.

Regards,

Tim

2014 Mid-Bath
2014 Honda CRV toad
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #9 –
This is how I did it with rigid tubing.

The regulator is at the same location left-right but a half inch lower. It works but I would try to raise it that half inch using a different vertical fitting on the right side were I doing it over.

Will post a picture of how it looks now. Dark outside at the moment.
Harry 2006RB
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #10 –
Quote from: hbn7hj  - 
This is how I did it with rigid tubing.

Don't you love a project where the costs for the "little stuff" are as much as what was paid for the new improvement?
We do what we have to do.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #11 –
Quote from: T&F  - 

In hindsight, it would have been more cost effective to leave this to a professional, which I would recommend that you do.  But hey, I'm retired now: something to do, new skills to learn.

Photos: 1) An earlier, failed attempt at the tubing replacement; 2) New piece of tubing successfully installed; 3) Completed job.

Regards,

Tim

Maybe *you* are the professional I need! :-)

That looks like a very intense project. Thanks for the detailed explanations.
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
 
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #12 –
Quote from: hbn7hj  - 
This is how I did it with rigid tubing.

The regulator is at the same location left-right but a half inch lower. It works but I would try to raise it that half inch using a different vertical fitting on the right side were I doing it over.


Your rigid tubing looks just like mine.

Question: It looks as though you are set up to use an external tank but not a grill or external propane heater or fire ring. Correct?

Whenever I find a pro, I will share all the solutions from this thread to figure out the best way to go.

Thank you all for your help and input. Lazy Daze people rock as usual!
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #13 –
Quote from: debinvenice  - 
Maybe *you* are the professional I need! :-)

That looks like a very intense project. Thanks for the detailed explanations.

Deb, I believe this pro lives in your neck of the woods. 😁

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FA__4fLBos
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #15 –
Quote from: debinvenice  - 
Your rigid tubing looks just like mine.

Question: It looks as though you are set up to use an external tank but not a grill or external propane heater or fire ring. Correct?

Whenever I find a pro, I will share all the solutions from this thread to figure out the best way to go.

Thank you all for your help and input. Lazy Daze people rock as usual!

Put whatever fitting you want on it. This is the way it looks today.
Can’t get the photo to post. Too large. Still trying to reduce it.
Harry 2006RB
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #16 –
try again.
Harry 2006RB
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #17 –
"Put whatever fitting you want on it."

Harry

Curious observation... I notice that your Vapor output valve/connection is facing left while mine and many others I've seen are all facing right. How do you account for that? Can that fitting be unscrewed?   ::)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #18 –
I unscrewed it 180 degrees. It didn’t leak. Slick, huh!
Harry 2006RB
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #19 –
"I unscrewed it 180 degrees."

Does it have a right or left hand thread? Which way did you turn it, clockwise or counter clockwise?  :o
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #20 –
counterclockwise
Harry 2006RB
Re: Extend-a-Stay Installation Failure?
Reply #21 –
Update:

I talked to a local propane dealer while having my tank filled. I explained my problem with the Extend-A-Stay and the copper tubing. They don't work on RV's but said they could fashion something (which I was told they do often) that would work for me.

I had to wait a couple of weeks as a few fittings were out of stock. I drove my LD over today and picked up my new hose. The basic setup allows me to refill (feed) my tank from just about any size stand-alone propane tank (5 to 100 lbs). I use the same port that is used for a normal fill. I had the gentleman walk me through the process on my LD and it seems very straightforward. My propane tank was already full so it was really a dry run without an external tank.

When my tank needs a refill, I'll borrow a tank from my grand nephew's travel trailer and make sure everything works properly. BTW, this hose is only for refilling or feeding the onboard tank, not using for using a grill (don't have one and don't want one).

I'll update again after the test. Here are some pics of the hose and fittings.
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty