We had our 1984 25' Sovereign out for the first time this weekend and everything went fairly well except for 1 problem. On our 3rd day we noticed a urine smell coming from the trailer. This only occurs outside, the inside is fine. The toilet was only used during the night if someone needed it. We are a family of 4 and the toilet at most got used 4 times a night to pee in only. We added chemical and extra water to try and dilute the smell but it seemed strange that we would encounter the smell only on the outside. There were no visible puddles anywhere and the bottom of the trailer seems reasonable solid. Any help or comments is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Hmm... Maybe you have a crack in a pipe or holding tank and have a slow leak into the belly pan? The insulation could be absorbing the liquid. If you continue to have this experience - you may have to drop the belly pan to Id and repair the issue.
Or as suggested earlier - maybe it came from somewhere else?
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77 Argosy Minuet, 6 metre
77 Argosy 24, Rear door
AIR 3181, WBCCI/VAC # 5575
It is possible there is no leak at all. A) The smell might be coming from the vent pipe b) You did not have chemical in the black tank to start
Try dumping and refilling with a few gallons of clean water and chemical. Is there now no smell? You might not have any leak at all. Mine smells horrible when I dump, but only outside, and it goes away once I refill 1/4 water and chems (No Smell is what I use). Good luck! Tim
They don't call the hoses "stinky slinky's" for nothing. If you use a slinky, replace it every 2-3 years --- or annually if it's a cheapy. They develop pinholes!
(I use a "Sewer Solution" The type of hose on that doesn't let any odors penetrate.)
Also, you didn't mention whether your children were boys. ... and then you must consider your neighbors too. Many men seem to regard the entire earth as their personal urinal. You might be having someone using a tree near your dump valve for that purpose.
Once you move if the problem disappears it was the neighbor. If your problem persists and a talk with your menfolk ascertains that they aren't going near the trailer, then drop the belly pan ASAP.
Paula
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Today is a gift. That's why they call it "the present"
If the smell is only outside and you have no leaks (and no male visitors using a nearby tree), it is very likely that the odor is coming out the blackwater tank vent. We have the same in a very controlled environment (our driveway) when I backflush the blackwater tank. In that case, odor appears when water is forced from the outside into the tank causing the air in the tank to go out through the vent. In your case, it might be than the tank is cold at night, warms up during the day, and the warming, expanding air in it comes out of the vent.
Of course, leaks of some sort are the first thing to look for.
Good news. We just got back from a 3 day camping trip and the advise to partially fill the tank and add chemical did the trick. No smell whatsoever. Thanks to everyones advice and I know I will be asking more questions as time goes on. Have a great week.
Good news. We just got back from a 3 day camping trip and the advise to partially fill the tank and add chemical did the trick. No smell whatsoever. Thanks to everyones advice and I know I will be asking more questions as time goes on. Have a great week.
Yes you will be asking the same question again. Filling the tank and adding chemicals did nothing. In 40+ years I have never added a single chemical or water to any of my tanks. That is the number one myth of camping.
There were 2 good suggestions noted above, some animal that liked your site or a leak. With the small amount of usage you claim I hope it was an animal but I lean towards the leak.
As for the vent pipe short of climbing up on the roof and taking a close sniff I doubt you would ever smell odors from it at ground level. Most problems with vents are when they are installed close to a roof vent and odor is blown back down into the trailer.
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