Greetings huffypuff! We store our sewer hoses in the same place with a large piece of split drain pipe. However, I like your idea better. Ooops, another project...
Regarding the fresh water hose reel: Ours threw a cog one day and I was a little irritated to find that there was no easy way to R/R it. I've never liked the configuration of our service bay (2006 Monaco Diplomat 40PDQ), so out came the saber saw. The entire plastic panel is gone, along with the hose reel, about 10 feet of excess wiring, and three feet of excess pex. The entire area was re-plumbed and the open space above the holding tanks was captured for our fresh water hoses. The plastic panel was replaced with painted plywood and the fittings and valve that were saved from the old one. It took a few days but it was worth it.
