Trauma with Truma induced water leak

We were just loading up to go off to Northumberland last week, first real trip out in the van. Then I found that the intermittent problems I had been having with the Sargent electronics had just got worse, but to cut a long story short I thought I had discovered a work-round, but I turned the heating on just to check that it was all working OK irrespective of the Sargent panel issues, in case we could stick to the plan and go away.

Next thing, there was water running over the floor.

The cause was that in our 2019 Kingham (with Truma under bed) the hot air duct hoses to the loo and the two under-bed outlets run across the van immediately inside the rear doors. The hoses rest directly on top of five water hoses, three cold, two hot, presumed supplying the shower, toilet and galley. There is a Y-piece where the air ducting divides and reduces for the hose to the loo outlet. The ducting joints are a weak interference fit and are secured by a single self tapping screw into the duct. (Rude references to the quality of workmanship deleted!). The joint had become displaced (don’t know when) and very hot air was being directed straight on to the hoses beneath. One hose melted right through, two more are damaged. Not a massive issue to fix but owners of similar vehicles might wish to check. If nothing else water running over the floor does nothing for the longevity of the woodwork. 

Our trip out was aborted and the van has now gone back to the dealer to stand to attention for Sargent (5 to 8 week lead time so not a happy bunny!) but when it returns I will be enclosing the hoses in a protective duct and re-routing the heating air ducts so that they are well clear of anything that can be damaged by heat, above and below. I have asked the dealer to verify that the heater is functioning properly since in my limited experience of hot air heating systems the air was indeed very hot, to the extent that I would perhaps worry that the hot air from the loo outlet could damage the Thetford toilet casing that it blows directly on to.

Others with similar installations might wish to check inside their back doors and perhaps separate the heating ducts from anything that could be damaged by excess heat. Perhaps also secure all unions/adaptors better, perhaps even tape the joints with heat resistant tape.