Black & Grey tanks - Emptying uphill

[PSU1981]

A couple of times we have been at locations where the sewer drainage is uphill - not fun with the stinky slinky. We have a 2015 27FB FC and ran into this same problem last weekend. I am considering a product called "sewer solutions " that uses H2O pressure to pulverize the ugly stuff and supposedly can handle my problem... Any feedback on this method, tips, other methods??

Thanks,

Glenn

[Sphere Guy]

YEP, It'll do it uphill. Nice product in certain applications. 3 hoses to the trailer, 1 for Fresh, 1 for black flush and 1 for the SS. Also, with my 2 AC drain hoses, Looks funny.

Here we have a 30+ length and about a 10" uphill. It worked but man did it take a long time. Over an hour to get the black tank flushed real well. Went out and bought 30' of 4" PVC and a few fittings. Got approval from the owner and host. Now I have a 1' Rhino flex to the sewer.

Couldn't ask for better...

[Zymurbrian]

I also have a Sewer Solution that I purchased specifically for a couple of camp sites with sewer drains that are uphill. I concur. It works very well-over a long period of time. It works but it is not fast.

[dbj216]

I find low slung Airstreams often have this uphill sewer hose problem. Some RV parks have above ground extensions on the sewer access. I often see rocks around them to help elevate the slinky. And I see a lot of those plastic supports for the slinky which also helps keep it off the ground.

So I purchased a macerator pump that attaches to my waste water drain bayonet connection. It is made by Thetford and called a sani con "tank buddy" I have a 12v connection point to my batteries. So now I can connect the pump, open the dump valve, pump the waste through a 1" hose. And then I can open the gray and do the same which tends to rinse and clean the pump and hose. All very neat and tidy.

It is like a sewer solution, but 12v powered instead of water powered.

It is a lot better than trying to lift a full slinky to get it to drain uphill.

David

[ijustlee]

I'm a firm believer in Jabsco brand macerator pumps. Made my life better!

[Silver.Sanctuary]

I bought a Flojet macerator pump and I can empty my black and grey tanks into the clean out in front of my house. The clean out is 3 feet above the street, but it has no problem. I know folks who take the macerator and fill their blue boys set in the bed of the pickup so they don't have to 'tow' them across the terrain that will probably tear wheels off and dump contents in the street.

Macerator is the way to go. Pick your brand.

[PSU1981]

Do you hook the macerated pumps directly to the AS batteries? Do they come with a clamp on the end like jumper cables? Do they come with long enough wire to reach the batteries?

Thanks,

Glenn

[AWCHIEF]

I have been using the Sewer Solution for about 6 years on two different trailers. It is not the be all/end all solution. There are times and places where the slinky might be the better choice. I carry both and use as required.

Good thread
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f444...un-118769.html

[moosetags]

We have been using the Sewer Solution for 10 plus years now. We have used it extensively (1,800 nights/160,000 miles) and have found it to always work well. Uphill or downhill, it always works well. We use the Sewer Solution just about exclusively. We still carry a slinky, but use it only for a quick gray tank dump at a community dump.

Brian

[AnnArborBob]

We have used a Sewer Solution setup in the past and it will pump the waste water uphill to a certain extent. Certainly enough for any poorly designed campground sewer connection as you describe. We have stopped carrying the Sewer Solution system as we found that it takes too long to dump and since we spend 95% of our time in areas without sewer hook ups it means that we are using public or common sewer stations almost exclusively. In those situations, no one appreciates you taking 20 minutes or more to dump your tanks. So we use a Rhino stinky slinky and do flush our black tank when there isn't a line behind us and it seems to work well for us. Unlike some people we do not find the sewer dump task to be particularly horrible and haven't had any mishaps so far, even after well over 500 night of camping over the past two years.

[dbj216]

Originally Posted by PSU1981

Do you hook the macerated pumps directly to the AS batteries? Do they come with a clamp on the end like jumper cables? Do they come with long enough wire to reach the batteries?

Thanks,

Glenn

My macerator pump connects to the trailer 12v system. It requires heavy 8 gage wire to avoid excessive line loss. I rigged a + and - posts just outside of the battery box and then purchased a 20 foot long flexible cable with medium alligator clips to make the connection. Yes, it is more messing around than required with a slinky hose, and yes it takes longer to empty the tanks.

But it solves that age old problem: water don't run uphill.

David

[Koheleth]

Along with "hot is on the left" and "keep your hands out of your mouth," "sewerage runs downhill" is one of the three things you need to know to be a plumber.
A macerator pump can be mounted permanently to your drain and hard wired with a switch (as I have done) or used as a kit. A good one will pump waste up to the vent pipe on the roof of a house.

[dbj216]

zymurbrain would like a few photos of my macerator set up. No problem, here you they are. Hope it stimulates your creativity a bit.

David

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by dbj216

zymurbrain would like a few photos of my macerator set up. No problem, here you they are. Hope it stimulates your creativity a bit.

David

Interesting and creative setup. Do you cover those bolts/terminals with rubber when not in use? My luck, my keys (hanging from my neck when camping) would find them, or a dropped wrench, or....you get the idea.

[dbj216]

I did have a little cap plug that fit nicely over the + acorn nut, but it blew off on our last trip. You remind me I need to get another. I'll put it on my hardware store list. Yep, it's a 12v hot post just looking for an attractive ground to cause a little startling spark action and a couple of blown fuses.

If I had foreseen the need for a macerator pump while I replaced the belly pan on this trailer, I would have run my cable under the floor and side wraps to the sewer connection area. The macerator manufacturer wants a dedicated 8 gage circuit as I suppose the pump pulls some serious 12v amps.

David