Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2017 10:27:28 -0400
Reply-To: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject: Re: Options for Faucets
In-Reply-To: <CAKLYf11NyAMHsNFTE5xOJgc1G2hi529hOtcos2OCS2GGZ=PALw@mail.gmail.com>
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> Wanted to get some suggestions on options with faucets in
> the van. I currently have a SureFlo, I like it. But for some
> reason it no longer turns on when I twist the switch... This
> will be the second one that has gone out in as many years.
We offer both the original Delta Six faucet and the ShurFlo option, and can get the OEM German one by special order (although it does not work with city water).
The original Delta Six faucet has a long history. Original production was up to German Westfalia standards, but starting in the late 1990's the OEM supplier fell into an extended period of deep decline and started cutting lots of corners on their products. Several years ago Trevor Reid (better known here as the Skylight Guy) bought the molds and tooling and painstakingly restored them to original condition. Current production uses OE quality throughout, and some internals have actually been upgraded. It is a good faucet when made to OE specs; there are many Westies out there that are still using the original 30 year old faucet. As for the knob being somewhat hard to turn with wet hands, yes that has always been a drawback. (On a side note, it always surprises me to learn how many people don't know that the end of the spigot can be swiveled.)
Original Faucet:
http://www.busdepot.com/255070808
The ShurFlo option has advantages and drawbacks. On the plus side, it allows variable water flow, it is a bit taller, and the knob is easier to turn. Also, with the conversion parts we offer it is a direct swap for your original. One drawback is that unlike the original it does not have a check valve to keep water from pouring out of the city water inlet of your camper when the sink is running. The original Westfalia design had built-in redundancy, as both the inlet and the faucet had check valves. Using the ShurFlo means relying only on the check valve in the inlet, which in many cases has failed over the years (but you didn't know it because the one in your faucet still worked). If that ends up being the case you will have to buy a new inlet as well, with the combined cost far exceeding the cost of a stock replacement faucet. Another caviat with the ShurFlo is that most off-the-shelf parts that can be used to adapt the fittings are made for LP Gas use and have much higher lead content than is safe for drinking water. Our kits come with drinking water grade parts. Those sold elsewhere don't specify, and if you cobble parts together yourself at a hardware store you may have trouble finding drinking water grade parts.
http://www.busdepot.com/868123kit-335200
For those who asked about a foot switch, we offer that too, and of course it can be used with either faucet:
http://www.busdepot.com/j11694
Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com