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Old 09-28-2014, 02:29 PM   #1
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Gray Tank?

Has anyone added a gray water tank to an early Argosy that didn't cone with one?
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Old 09-28-2014, 05:38 PM   #2
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Not in an Argosy, but an early Airstream. The process would be about the same...

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Old 09-28-2014, 06:45 PM   #3
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I guess a blue tank isn't the end of the world. I have two of them, an 18 and a 34 gal.
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Old 09-28-2014, 07:26 PM   #4
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Has anyone added a gray water tank to an early Argosy that didn't cone with one?
It has been done, but must have other modifications to the frame as well.

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Old 09-29-2014, 04:06 PM   #5
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Chi Blue is the tank color (in some cases), whereas black & gray describes the contents...


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Old 09-29-2014, 04:43 PM   #6
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I added both a new black and gray tank to my 66 Trade Wind. I did so as part of a project to replace the rotted rear bath floor. As you know, most pre '75 trailers don't have a gray tank and no one dumps gray water on the ground anymore.

It is a big, big project to add waste water capacity to an old trailer. My install doesn't represent the best designs, but it is functional.

David
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Old 09-29-2014, 05:33 PM   #7
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I added 2 gray tanks and a new black and tied it all to a single hookup. Just look for my posts. Spent a year planning, and don't think I would change a thing.
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Old 09-29-2014, 09:57 PM   #8
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Composting toilet in Minuet

Water storage seems to be something everyone wants to do a little differently. In a Minuet, space is at a premium. I added a composting toilet, removed the blackwater tank, moved the graywater tank from the rear to the area under the stove (where the furnace used to be), and upgraded to a catalytic heater.
I looked at Ronco Plastics' catalogue and found a suitable gray water tank to fit the new location. I replumbed under the floor so that the shower drains straight out (hello, Lowboy) and the graywater from the lav and kitchen gets the only remaining dump valve.

Plumbing is a pain, but when the trailer is gutted it goes faster!
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Old 11-04-2014, 10:21 PM   #9
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I have a scheme laid out to add a gray tank to my 1974 20'. The tank will go under the side bed (replacing the inoperative central heater). The bath tub will get a masicator followed by a pump to get water from the tub drain up to the gray tank, sinks will still gravity drain. I'll provide more details when I get around to it.
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Old 11-04-2014, 11:33 PM   #10
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I have done something similar to what you are planning. I now have 33 gallons of grey water capacity. Without tearing out the floor or belly pan.


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Old 11-05-2014, 04:55 AM   #11
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I like to promote Inca Plastics in California as a source for rotomolded polyurethyne RV tanks. They have a huge on line catalog with shapes and sizes of tanks to fit most applications. And they have a range of sealing grommets that makes drain pipe entry into the tank easier than spin welding a fitting to the tank. They have supplied the RV industry for many years.

It's another supplier of tanks worthy of consideration. They did well by me.

David
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Old 11-06-2014, 07:12 AM   #12
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I'm going to have to remove the bathroom floor and do some rot repair. The rear crossmember is rotted out. While I have it apart back there, I'll engineer a way to fit the biggest tank I can. When I get there. I'll post details.
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Old 11-06-2014, 07:42 AM   #13
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Be careful not to add too much weight that far beyond the rear axle. The frame is not very heavy.


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Old 11-06-2014, 08:44 AM   #14
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I moved my black tank one frame bay forward, so it is under the forward part of the bathroom. So I had to relocate the toilet. That frame bay was only 19" between cross members, so I decided to hang an 9" deep tank with 4" below the belly pan to get 25 gallons of capacity. I figured if it was good enough for my 86 Airstream, it would work on the 66 Trade Wind. The gray tank is forward of the black tank, and in a normal 24" frame bay. The gray tank is nearly behind the rear axle.

I didn't want any more weight than necessary in the far rear. Although I still have the battery back there in it's original location hammering away.

At least now I can look out the window while sitting on the toilet!

David
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Old 11-06-2014, 10:57 PM   #15
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I will second the praise for Inca Plastics. Their selection is incredible. I found a new GW tank to fit the ARGOSY that fits under the counter where the furnace used to be. They put the holes right where I told them to.
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Old 11-16-2014, 03:58 PM   #16
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Hello,

I added new fresh, grey and black tanks under the floor of my 24'.
By selecting carefully I was able to get 50 gal tanks that fit perfectly between the frame rails and has 2" shoulders to allow easy support via 2x2 angles across the frame rails. I did have to move one crossmember but ended up with a much stronger setup.
The cost is losing the belly pan. Not the banana wraps, just the bottom skin.
Purists may shudder, but it's a compromise I'm very happy about.

A brief discussion of the tanks on my blog at,..
Travels with Geordie: Tankage

I'll soon have video up of all the work to the coach.

Peter
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Old 11-16-2014, 06:14 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by ArgosyRover View Post
Hello,

I added new fresh, grey and black tanks under the floor of my 24'.
By selecting carefully I was able to get 50 gal tanks that fit perfectly between the frame rails and has 2" shoulders to allow easy support via 2x2 angles across the frame rails. I did have to move one crossmember but ended up with a much stronger setup.
The cost is losing the belly pan. Not the banana wraps, just the bottom skin.
Purists may shudder, but it's a compromise I'm very happy about.

A brief discussion of the tanks on my blog at,..
Travels with Geordie: Tankage

I'll soon have video up of all the work to the coach.

Peter
What provisions did you make to protect the tanks during freezing weather?

Andy
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Old 11-16-2014, 09:22 PM   #18
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It's interresting that you ask that.
I hadn't considered using the coach in freezing weather, but just today I'm considering a route to British Columbia that will put me in freezing conditions.
I'm in the midst of building a hot water space heating system that will use the hot water heater to drive both in floor radiant and heater cores.
I've dropped a loop of surgical rubber tubing into the fresh water tank to keep it thawed. I draw from this tank via a draw tube rather than a bottom fitting so as long as the tank is warm I'm safe.
The grey and black tanks are to risky as the dump pipes and valves would be too hard to guarantee safely warm so I'll use them sparingly with plenty of antifreeze until I get to balmy Victoria.

Peter
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Old 11-17-2014, 04:48 AM   #19
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Inland Andy asks the correct question. This cold wave has us at 5 degrees this morning. We Minnesotans are always thinking about heat! On my Trade Wind, I routed an under floor 4" duct to my insulated tank "box" so the tanks and valves receive warm air. I even routed a cold air return back to the furnace cabinet area so I didn't deadhead the furnace fan. This is the way my 86 is built. When the furnace runs, my tanks are warm.

Airstreams are built for 4 season camping. Water storage tanks are an important consideration.

David
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Old 11-17-2014, 06:37 AM   #20
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Inland Andy asks the correct question.

Airstreams are built for 4 season camping. Water storage tanks are an important consideration.

David
What provision is there for the grey/black tanks for freezing conditions? I am not sure what modifications (if any) have/were made to our trailer but see no ducting through the floor to vent warm air to them. When I replaced the copper plumbing with pex, there was a length of copper running under the floor from one side to the other for the center bathroom. It had frozen. When I ran the Pex, I put it all above the floor. Its hard for me to see the meager amount of insulation in the belly pan doing enough to prevent a gray tank from freezing without putting a heat source into or around it.
Would Inca install plug in heaters similar to a water feeder? Just a thought. Would need to be too much of a draw on power would it?
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