MOD Added Banjo quick-couplers to the Sani-Con hose today!

[Neal]

One of the great things about the banjos that Bill showed me is you can screw the handle on the sewer hole 1st which makes it easier to get it nice and snug, then connect the hose to it.

Interesting ma'am! I never knew that darned thing ever screwed in as it seemed the threads were weird. I'll have to try that, that IS a benefit as this thing is never secure it seems.

You can reduce the length of the end piece on the hose a bit by cutting off one of the two barbs on the Banjo fitting tailpiece. It shortens the overall length by around two inches. Stay tuned for the prototype I am working on that will eliminate the OEM head completely. Top secret, hush-hush project at the moment.

I have clearance clarence, tell just me, go ahead, no one else will see it

---

This morning packing up I was a little let down in that I couldn't get the hose with the sewer end part connected up through the hole into the wet bay. I have a dedicated hole so there is no real reason for me ever to disconnect it, I like that it's always connected. However, I had the left side lowered to tilt towards the wet bay for a final cleanup as this is it for two months and that may have contributed to the problem so I'll reserve banjo critique until more time with it. For me though it would be so simple to not use the banjo and add the extension but barbs going in/out often is probably not good. The banjo's are cool, from a mechanical engineering standpoint I'm impressed with the design and function. We'll see how it goes.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I have clearance clarence, tell just me, go ahead, no one else will see it

Patience is the basis of all true knowledge, Grasshopper! You must allow time for the celestial objects to align properly in order that the path to true knowledge becomes apparent.

TJ

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Looks like it is back to installing an after-market sleeve on the Sani-Con Turbo hose! I called Thetford customer service a few minutes ago and ask about getting a sleeve or hose with sleeve. I was told that Thetford does not sell (or, otherwise provide) sleeves.

When I asked how I could get a hose with the sleeve installed, I was told to contact my local dealer and buy one. The Thetford rep offered to provide me with the Part Number (97663), but despite my being pretty forceful regarding the hose pinhole problem, he was unwilling to budge. He wouldn't even provide me with the price of a sleeved hose; "that would be up to the dealer." In response to why Thetford doesn't provide sleeves on all of their hoses, I was told "because some RV manufacturers don't pay for them."

All-in-all, I was not impressed with the tone of our conversation from start to finish. Maybe Monday is not the day to call. If I thought I wouldn't get the same person, I'd wait a couple of days and call again.

TJ

 

[ARD]

Looks like it is back to installing an after-market sleeve on the Sani-Con Turbo hose! I called Thetford customer service a few minutes and ask about getting a sleeve or hose with sleeve. I was told that Thetford does not sell (or, otherwise provide) sleeves.

When I asked how I could get a hose with the sleeve installed, I was told to contact my local dealer and buy one. The Thetford rep offered to provide me with the Part Number (97663), but despite my being pretty forceful regarding the hose pinhole problem, he was unwilling to budge. He wouldn't even provide me with the price of a sleeved hose; "that would be up to the dealer." In response to why Thetford doesn't provide sleeves on all of their hoses, I was told "because some RV manufacturers don't pay for them."

All-in-all, I was not impressed with the tone of our conversation from start to finish. Maybe Monday is not the day to call. If I thought I wouldn't get the same person, I'd wait a couple of days and call again.

TJ

Ohhhh no, that is terrible. I am so sorry you had such wretched experience. Wow, I wonder what's going on there. @NWIP how long ago was it when you got your hose from Thetford? This is where I get so angry with Newmar. I begged and pleaded with them that the Sanicon system should include the sleeved hose like Entegras. Why they skimp on that I have no clue. At the very least, sell it in the Parts Department, but Joe has yet to get the okay from the higher ups to even offer it. I have no more words.?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Ohhhh no, that is terrible. I am so sorry you had such wretched experience. Wow, I wonder what's going on there. @NWIP how long ago was it when you got your hose from Thetford? This is where I get so angry with Newmar. I begged and pleaded with them that the Sanicon system should include the sleeved hose like Entegras. Why they skimp on that I have no clue. At the very least, sell it in the Parts Department, but Joe has yet to get the okay from the higher ups to even offer it. I have no more words.?

Did I...maybe...call the wrong place at Thetford? I called the number listed for Customer Service in the Sani-Con manual: 1 (800) 543-1219. From the start, I didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling.

TJ

 

[ARD]

Did I...maybe...call the wrong place at Thetford? I called the number listed for Customer Service in the Sani-Con manual: 1 (800) 543-1219. From the start, I didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling.

TJ

Yikes, I got the number from their website. Same number. I would try again and hopefully you will get someone more helpful. I didn’t have any luck with their Dealer locator option on their website. I wouldn’t hang up with them until they could provide the name of a dealer that actually sold the sleeve or sleeved hose.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Just tried a new option; found a Thetford e-mail contact form online. Sent a message regarding a replacement hose. With my luck, the same guy I talked to earlier will get the e-mail. Hope not. We'll see what happens.

Interestingly, when I tried to use Thetford's "Find a Dealer" function, it showed a lot of Canadian options (the S&B is right on the US-Canada border) and one local dealer that closed last year. Even if I wanted to buy a new hose via a dealer, it wouldn't be easy. Fortunately, Amazon carries the unsleeved version, so I could at least get that and then add a sleeve.

Too much time on my hands!

TJ

 

[Neal]

Both of my hoses have what I posted in #25 above. I'm very pleased with it and would use it again.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

The Protec shows 2.25" ID. I believe the OD of my hose is 1.75" +/-. Is this covering a very loose fit on the hose, or when stretched out along the full length, does it snug up a bit?

TJ

 

[Neal]

It's a snug fit but once you get it on it works great.

 

[NWIP]

I harassed Thetford right after I got the new coach, so early December. I am going to look into getting the sleeve for my extension hose

 

[Neal]

Well, I'm out in the wild again, for a week, so I am giving the banjo fittings another chance. When I arrived I was ready to remove them as I had one leak as I didn't cap it securely. But @ARD mentioned that @NWIP liked it because he was able to screw the sani-con fitting into the ground sewer connection and I didn't think that thing was threaded properly to ever screw into anything. I was wrong and where I am now I was able to thread it in and secure it which is the first time I've ever been able to secure the sani-con connector and not need the sandbag. So it's a keeper. Thanks @ARD for telling me the little benefit I didn't catch in the beginning. Thanks @NWIP for discovering the ability to screw this thing down.

 

[lostinfla]

I usually take the end and twist it one turn to the left then put it on the sewer access and turn it to the right one turn. 80% of the time it locks in.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

The Banjo fittings and my home-brew adapter are working great here in Polson.

TJ

 

[ARD]

We bought a replacement Sani-Con hose via Amazon for $71; not throw-away cheap, but not horribly expensive either.

Amazon.com: Thetford 97521 Hose Kit: Automotive

It's that time again. I need a new hose and it's unavailable on Amazon. I called Newmar and they want $176.60 for it. Calling Thetford now....??

EDIT: Called the biggest suppliers of Thetford and none to be found and won't be in stock until August. Evidently Thetford is having some production problems. So, I guess I will smile as I get price gouged at Newmar.