I've been working on rehabbing an older sun lite TC and looking at the plumbing I noticed the 3/8 clear tubing line from the tank to sink is dark and gummy. I cut off a small section to test a strong bleach mix and I would say it removed 85% of the gunk but still left behind a pinkish slime in the clear tubing that wouldnt rinse out. If access was easier I would just replace the entire section but it looks as if it runs behind the refrigerator and under. The hole it runs through was sealed by some white hardened rubber preventing it from being pulled through. My guess is I will have to remove the refrigerator and replace the line but I'm hoping someone has another magical solution. Side notes, the 1.3gpm water pump was seized and water tank looked clean. I will bleach the tank to sanitize it.

It sound like the water line is not extremely long, especially being in a Truck Camper. So... any possibility of just running a semi-stiff bare wire through the pipe and let the wire break free the accumulated gunk? Kind of like running a cleaning rod down the barrel of a shot gut. In other words, snake it out? Perhaps the wire would break some of the gunk up, it might be enough to free up the remaining slime and it can be flushed out then. Maybe someone will come up with a better solution. This is just my initial thought and probably something I'd try first, before ripping the plumbing out and dismantling RV appliances.Edit:Another idea just hit me.You know, automatic dish washing liquid cleans dishes, lime, water spots, grease and a bunch of gunk from dishes, right? Maybe a strong automatic dish washing liquid solution poured through the pipes and then a good flushing afterwards might clean it up too. Here again, it's worth an attempt before dismantling the camper.

It would be better to replace the tubing .Most campers have an outside louvered access door to the back of the frig . Do you not have one? Can you remove the hard rubber seal to free up the tube ? If you can , attach a string to the old tube before pulling it out to use as a pull line for the new tube .

If you used bleach and it turned pink what you have done is killed what was in there BUT it is still in there just dead now. I would say either do not use as potable water or replace.

Dutchmen, the length would be approx. 5ft at max length. After I posted I was also thinking I should be able to find a wire brush with a good amount of length to it. I like the ideas. Figure brainstorming with a group is better than brainstorming by my self! :)Ticki2, I agree that the best solution is to replace the tubing. I may be able to get to it with out removing the refrigerator. The back access isn't the issue, the two vents that are required from Dometic are there but there is a plywood base the refrigerator sits on top of. The drain tube has a hole cut out and when I feel around, there is a gap between the plywood base and the bottom plywood base the camper is frame on. In this gap there are a couple wires that are fed through along with this 3/8 tube. I have tried breaking apart the hard rubber seal in a different location and the easiest way will be to drill it. I could cut out a 2" hole above the current tube to see if I can't free it from the rubber seal.Thanks for the tips so far, I'll keep it updated with what I end up doing. If anyone else has any suggestions, feel free to chime in! Likely will wait until the weekend to do the work. Lot's of hours have been put in to fixing this camper up. Thankfully it keeps snowing in MN so I don't have to feel bad about the hours I've put in!

I would replace it for sure. Some campers have access to the bottom, and you wouldn't have to take out the existing tubing if it is attached in an inconvenient way.

Freshwater line gummy | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

ticki2
Explorer
Apr 11, 2018
It would be better to replace the tubing .Most campers have an outside louvered access door to the back of the frig . Do you not have one? Can you remove the hard rubber seal to free up the tube ? If you can , attach a string to the old tube before pulling it out to use as a pull line for the new tube .
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Apr 11, 2018
It sound like the water line is not extremely long, especially being in a Truck Camper. So... any possibility of just running a semi-stiff bare wire through the pipe and let the wire break free the accumulated gunk? Kind of like running a cleaning rod down the barrel of a shot gut. In other words, snake it out? Perhaps the wire would break some of the gunk up, it might be enough to free up the remaining slime and it can be flushed out then. Maybe someone will come up with a better solution. This is just my initial thought and probably something I'd try first, before ripping the plumbing out and dismantling RV appliances.

Edit:
Another idea just hit me.

You know, automatic dish washing liquid cleans dishes, lime, water spots, grease and a bunch of gunk from dishes, right? Maybe a strong automatic dish washing liquid solution poured through the pipes and then a good flushing afterwards might clean it up too. Here again, it's worth an attempt before dismantling the camper.

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Freshwater line gummy

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