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View Full Version : Crystal Clear Water for Coach - Clever Option


MarkofSJC
11-30-2011, 12:36 AM
I wanted to share a great idea. I was chatting with Steve, the owner of California Coach Company, who owns a pristine Prevost that has a dark blue exterior, and even though it's an early 1980's, the paint is flawless. He was walking me through the custom upgrades he's done (and the list is very long) and I mentioned it must be hard to keep the outside of the coach clean, especially when he's on the road.

He just smiled and opened up one of the curb side bays. Inside was two cannisters, a bunch of braided hose connecting them and various connections to both the water tank and a hose bib connection. He installed a de-ionization system in his coach. Any water he brings in from any source he runs through it first, then into the storage tank.

Not only can he attach a hose and wash off the outside of his coach anywhere/anytime he wants (even in full sun) without having to dry it or worry about spotting:thumbsup:. But on the interior, no need to wipe down glass shower doors, faucet tips don't accumulate any grime, and even using water from the tap to wipe surfaces down with a rag works like Windex:thumbsup::thumbsup:.

He gets about 700 gallons from the two cannisters, and they're very cheap to replace (and just as easy, as his rack slides our for easy access). Plus all the plumbing in his coach is protected from hard or aggressive water.

There's an option I'm going to incorporated....just as soon as I get my dream Newell!!!

Hope someone else finds this useful!

Mark

LynnJeff
12-02-2011, 07:26 PM
Wow. Great idea. We talked to Steve..great system...but decided to spend the big bucks for http://www.portablewaterdi.com/deionizers.php as we think we can fit the dual bed or maybe the tri bed Deionizer Standard Model next to the old self sanitizing water treatment Pure Water Enterprises unit (that we just refilled with new charcoal). Steve is using one of his bays and we hate to give up bay space! Actually, if money gets tight, I'll be in good shape to run a carwash right out of our Newell!

Lynn (we're new at this!)
1991 Newell (upgrades by Newell in 2000 and 2008, exterior mostly) 43.5'
2009 30' ATC Stacker

All purchased in last 3 months and been renovating ever since!
The folks on this forum are the smartest and most experienced Newell folks around....special thanks to Tom for the blaupunkt subwoofer under the driver's seat and for the pulse tech battery tip and YES Bosch makes a 22' wide awesome dishwasher that puts to shame all those Fisher Payel dishwasher drawers.

MarkofSJC
12-02-2011, 09:59 PM
Lynn,

You're not as new as this as I am! (You have a Newell!).

Great source for the DI set up. Steve's doesn't take up much room at all. I'm going back there tomorrow to take another look at #1274, and I'm sure he'll let me take a couple of pictures. While it is mounted in a bay, I don't remember it taking up all that much room.

Silly question, but the web site doesn't address it either...I wonder when you know you need to replace the resin canisters?:unsure:

truk4u
12-03-2011, 01:02 AM
Just a couple comments on the the D I water systems. I've had the Invisible Chamois for years and it is not cheap. The amount of D I water available before a recharge is necessary will depend on the hardness of the water being used. I get about 10 wash jobs (rinse only) out of a tank and that's using it very sparingly. You check the condition of the water with a meter that tells you when you need to recharge. I have to send it back to the company UPS and they recharge and send it back for just over 100.00. So it cost me roughly 10.00 per bus rinse. Hey, it beats hand drying all that stainless.

There are other units out there that can be recharged by the owner with bags of resin and that's a better way to go. Just be sure to not only look at the cost to purchase the system, but consider the cost of the recharge as well. The companies always brag about getting so many gallons of D I water out of there systems per charge, but don't believe it.

And whatever you do, be sure to buy your next Coach from Steve!:thumbsup:

1280

LynnJeff
12-04-2011, 01:38 PM
As usual, Tom is right--the hardness of the water will affect how quickly you will need to put in more resin. Glad to know about Invisible Chamois and will check it out as well.

The On The GoŽ Mixed Bed Deionizers (http://www.portablewaterdi.com/deionizers.php#otg2sdi), Dual Bed Deionizers (http://www.portablewaterdi.com/deionizers.php#otg2ddi), and Tri-Bed Deionizers (http://www.portablewaterdi.com/deionizers.php#otg2tdi) manufacturers say 30 washes from the tri-bed ($875 + shipping) and 15 washes from the dual bed ($575 + shipping) and then a 'refill' is a kit that costs $90 each time. Yes, the tri-bed is cheaper and saves time over the long run but it uses an area of 30" wide by 22" high by 10" deep as compared to the dual bed that uses a 10" by 20" compact area. If we can't get it back with the water filter and have to use part of a bay area, we may go with the tri-bed. Of course, a 30' trailer PLUS a 43.5' coach, means we run out even faster...

[I thought it was interesting that Steve sells so many Prevosts but prefers to own a Newell...1992, I think.:rolleyes: Speaking for us (not Steve), some of the really new coaches are so electronically 'out there' that mere mortals like us are challenged to fix them...which might be needed when we are in Montana without a road, much less a soul, in sight.]

Best.
Lynn

Lynn (we're new at this!)
1991 Newell (upgrades by Newell in 2000 and 2008, exterior mostly) 43.5'
2009 30' ATC Stacker

truk4u
12-04-2011, 01:52 PM
Lynn,

Steve has a pristine 1992 Prevost Marathon that looks like it left the factory yesterday, but he is a Newell fan, I think. Folks couldn't find a better source for buying a Coach than Rhonda and Steve.

LynnJeff
12-04-2011, 01:53 PM
It's pretty bad when you have to correct yourself.....my better half just informed me that Steve owns a Prevost, not Newell, but it is around a 1992....

Best,
Lyn

LynnJeff
12-04-2011, 01:54 PM
thanks, Tom.....you are right again.

MarkofSJC
12-05-2011, 04:51 PM
Hey, I just spent a chunk of Saturday with Steve. Yes, his Prevost is quite old...and I would happily allow myself to have a surgical proceedure anywhere inside the coach, it's that pristine & clean!

I too have to correct myself, as I miss-heard him earlier (prompting my original post here). I thought it was 700 gallons per charge, but it's actually more like 70 gallons (whoops!).:blushing: He has a two cartridge system and he said it costs 70 ~ 80 bucks to re-charge it. On the other hand, the cost for just getting a coach washed makes this seem like a no brainer imo. He also noted that there's a large one cartridge system that could just be stowed and then pulled out and connected when needed (hmmmm).

He did show me on another coach they'd installed a small water softener that all water was run through prior to going into the fresh water tank. He said the biggest issue is to make sure the tray and areas around it don't get salt on them to avoid corrosion (I'm planning on potasium rather than sodium...not thinking it will be as corrosive, and certainly better for you. I believe that same coach also had a pressure washer, hose & real belt in (a guy after my own heart!)

Steve is just amazing. We're trying to see if we can purchase a 2009 Newell, Mid entry, bath & 1/2 with a murphy bed, that's exactly what we're looking for...right down to the galley on the driver's side, two couches up front, and a tv on the underside of the murphy for on-the-road viewing for the kids, and a internet sat for my work. It even has roof awnings on both sides for my time in the desert in summer. Keep your fingers crossed!

I'm thinking I can get the Newell, add a huge 3-tank DI system and pressure washer...and then stand outside RV sites with a cardboard sign "will wash your coach for food" lol!