Bend radius of trident hose

[Chris & Lenore]

Is it realistic to assume I can bend 1 1/2 inch trident hose in a 6 inch radius? That would eliminate a 90 degree elbow. I have read that a heat gun will soften it enough to bend easily?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Rick D]

Don't Think So...

Is it realistic to assume I can bend 1 1/2 inch trident hose in a 6 inch radius? That would eliminate a 90 degree elbow. I have read that a heat gun will soften it enough to bend easily? Chris

Not in my experience. Double that. I would not recommend heat either. Better an L fitting. Trident 101/102 is durable but does not like small radius bends and I have actually had fittings crack which were under too much stress trying to fit a turn where it was too tight.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

NEVER heat a hose to bend it further than it will bend willingly! That will result in a tear in the skin on the outside of the radius and can result in a kink. Instead, break the hose and insert a 90 or 45 radius (not a sharp elbow) fitting. You'll find that this is actually easier than trying to force a hose around a bend...'cuz instead of wrestling with the hose, you're simply connecting two ends to a fitting.

Any time a hose will be under stress if pulled to one side or up or down, break it and install a radius fitting instead. If you're coming directly off the toilet or tank, replace a straight fitting with a 90 or 45. 'Cuz a hose that doesn't come straight off a fitting is almost guaranteed to leak...if not immediately, sooner or later.

Chris, my offer to help you get this project done right the first time remains open...all you need to do is send me an email.

 

[Chris & Lenore]

NEVER heat a hose to bend it further than it will bend willingly! That will result in a tear in the skin on the outside of the radius and can result in a kink. Instead, break the hose and insert a 90 or 45 radius (not a sharp elbow) fitting. You'll find that this is actually easier than trying to force a hose around a bend...'cuz instead of wrestling with the hose, you're simply connecting two ends to a fitting.

Any time a hose will be under stress if pulled to one side or up or down, break it and install a radius fitting instead. If you're coming directly off the toilet or tank, replace a straight fitting with a 90 or 45. 'Cuz a hose that doesn't come straight off a fitting is almost guaranteed to leak...if not immediately, sooner or later.

Chris, my offer to help you get this project done right the first time remains open...all you need to do is send me an email.

Hi Peggie,

I may take you up on your offer. Sometimes there is just too much "advice" that really isn't advice. I guess this is a typical story:

A surveyor who also specializes in marine plumbing originally helped me figure out a "reasonable compromise" design (as he called it). It kept standing sewage out of the hoses and little strain on the fittings - but required a 45 degree at the tank.

Then the "dock experts" then came out of the woodwork with comments like "you don't want a top dip tube", "you don't need 1 inch for the vent" and even "just use that sectioned sump pump hose from Rona for everything". I know the right answers to those questions but several kept saying that pre-forming a radius was less restrictive than a 45 or 90 degree fitting. That one sort of made sense - but no way I was doing it without asking.

And I'm glad I did. It's strange how most people don't ask questions - I keep thinking of those people (for example) using sump pump hose because someone at the marina said it's ok. Hate to be them when it fails...

Chris

 

[thinwater]

All good input above.

The only use for heat (and very hot water work better than a hair drier) is to help white vinyl sanitation onto standard hose barbs rather than more appropriate smooth barbs. With the Trident you won't need that, the heat doesn't soften it appreciably anyway. Do use glycerine or K-Y as a lubricant, not oil.

 

[dparilla]

Hi Peggie,

I may take you up on your offer. Sometimes there is just too much "advice" that really isn't advice. I guess this is a typical story:

A surveyor who also specializes in marine plumbing originally helped me figure out a "reasonable compromise" design (as he called it). It kept standing sewage out of the hoses and little strain on the fittings - but required a 45 degree at the tank.

Then the "dock experts" then came out of the woodwork with comments like "you don't want a top dip tube", "you don't need 1 inch for the vent" and even "just use that sectioned sump pump hose from Rona for everything". I know the right answers to those questions but several kept saying that pre-forming a radius was less restrictive than a 45 or 90 degree fitting. That one sort of made sense - but no way I was doing it without asking.

And I'm glad I did. It's strange how most people don't ask questions - I keep thinking of those people (for example) using sump pump hose because someone at the marina said it's ok. Hate to be them when it fails...

Chris

You hit it right on Chris. I installed a one inch vent line with a wide open through hull, only to have a neighbor tell me that he could smell sewage from my boat the next weekend. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I hadn't even installed the new tank assembly yet.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Chris, if you don't take Peggie up on her offer, you should consider not asking anyone, anywhere, anytime.

You have an opportunity to listen to the BEST source on the planet about this stuff and you're still even hearing those dock bozos?

Sheez...

 

[dparilla]

Chris, if you don't take Peggie up on her offer, you should consider not asking anyone, anywhere, anytime.

You have an opportunity to listen to the BEST source on the planet about this stuff and you're still even hearing those dock bozos?

Sheez...

+1

She literally wrote the book on it, and designed the gear, and is one of the best people I have worked with in quite a while.