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09-12-2015, 12:46 PM
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#1
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Water Heater Bypass Access
A couple months ago there was a thread asking for ideas to gain access to the water heater bypass valve without having to disassemble walls or partitions.
I described how I installed an access port in the panel that forms the rear wall in my fifth wheel basement storage area. At the time I didn't have a way to unload the basement to take pictures. Today, while cleaning things up a bit, I thought about those pictures, so here they are. As you can see, to access the bypass valve required removing a panel that is almost 4' long and 18" high. That meant unloading the roadside half of the basement and crawling into the basement to unscrew the center screws that held the panel in place.
After installing the port, it's a simple 1/4 turn, the plate comes off, turn the valve and reinstall the plate. No need to unload the basement and remove the panel. Total cost was about $6 for the access plate and about an hour to cut the hole, install the port and reinstall the panel in the basement.
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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09-12-2015, 03:04 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 172
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great clean job......just added to my list...probably will do a trap door style for water pump access just cause I need more space!!!!thanks
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Ross & Bonnie
2014 Keystone Alpine 3535RE
2014 Ford F-350 Diesel DRW 4x4
US Navy Retired Master Chief Petty Officer
Gryphon the 240lb American Mastiff
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09-12-2015, 04:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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Very nice, looks good.
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2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
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09-12-2015, 04:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Nicely done, wish my water heater was closer to the bulkhead like that. Unfortunately it's more than a arms length away.
I have discovered that there is a cavernous void behind the basement bulkhead on the 333MKS.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
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2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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09-16-2015, 05:28 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Oregon
Posts: 783
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Oh, I like that idea! Great workmanship as well.
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Jeff & Jan - Retired & Full-timing since 2013
2019 Ram Big Horn 3500 Aisin 4x4
2012 Alpine 3450-RL
Double Coin 235/75R-17.5/16 J rated 125lb
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01-07-2016, 07:22 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Montana
Posts: 41
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Great idea. I noted during my PDI and walk-through that this would be a pain.
This will be one of my Spring mods before I load my basement for the first time.... I might try to do something similar in the way back for my water pump and winterization access.
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RAM 3500 Cummins HO
2016 Cougar X-Lite 28RDB
Kawasaki Teryx 4 LE
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01-09-2016, 11:16 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Pleasant Hill, IA
Posts: 54
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JRTJH looks good! How large is the access? And where did you find it. I would love to find it in black.
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Marc and Evon
2015 Passport 23RB
2019 Ram 1500 Limited
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01-09-2016, 01:02 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swanson
JRTJH looks good! How large is the access? And where did you find it. I would love to find it in black.
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The inside dimension of the hole is 5 1/2". I've seen several similar deck plates in colors from white, gray, tan, black, etc. I'm sure if you look around, you'll find one in the color you want. Here's the link for what I ordered: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o09_s00
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-09-2016, 01:31 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Guelph, On
Posts: 308
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Great idea. Those same access covers are used in marine applications. Any marine supply store will carry them in various sizes.
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01-09-2016, 06:26 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pike Road, AL
Posts: 8
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Very nice. I was thinking about using Velcro to hold on the access panel for my outside fridge plug but I may use this setup instead.
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2015 Keystone Cougar 31SQB
2015 Ram 3500 DRW 4x4 H.O. Cummins w/Aisin 3.73
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01-09-2016, 07:09 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Pleasant Hill, IA
Posts: 54
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Thanks for the come back JRTJH. My access is inside, but I have to take a panel off to get to it. I think this would be a better setup.
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Marc and Evon
2015 Passport 23RB
2019 Ram 1500 Limited
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01-11-2016, 05:04 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Livermore Ca.
Posts: 138
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When i winterized mine for the first time , after reading many post's on the subject. I found my water heater bypass behind a return grill in the kitchen area. I had to remove the grill to access it. I realized that if I do this to many times the holes will strip out. So I went to Lowes and ordered a filter grill to replace the regular grill. That way all I have to do is open the grill and not have to remove it from the wall.
I have a 03 3280 RL
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01-19-2016, 03:40 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pa
Posts: 75
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Nice job. As many others have said my wh bypass is a pain in the butt to get to, but I could use your idea to make it much easer.
Thanks for posting!
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2013 Laredo 240MK
2008 F250 4x4 lariat 5.4
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05-16-2016, 04:12 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Montana
Posts: 41
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I copied what JRTJH did... Easy and helpful.
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RAM 3500 Cummins HO
2016 Cougar X-Lite 28RDB
Kawasaki Teryx 4 LE
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