Steph: a word of caution on the "Sewer solution". I bought one, and yeah, it works. BUT....your trailer (like mine) only has 1 holding tank for the black water...no grey water tank. (unless someone has modified it). The grey water pipe(s) from the sinks and shower just by-pass the black tank, and enter the dump pipe below the black tank valve. if anything restricts the flow of poop when you pull that handle, even for a second, sewage could backup the gray lines and into the shower. (this happened to me a couple of times). a wad of TP came out the pipe and got stuck in the sewer-solution's connector. The high-speed jet did eventually pulverize it and send it on its way down the hose, just like they say it will....after about a half-second. that was enough time to send a dose of poopy-water into my shower pan. not pleasant.
not to bash the Sewer solution; I think its a neat idea. AND I had the same backup situation occur once when I was using the standard 3" stinky-slinky pipe (though not quite as bad). I didn't have a straight-line to the sewer hookup. the slinky was sitting on the ground, and went slightly uphill to the campsites sewer inlet. again, only a slight bit of back pressure that was created when the poop whooshed down hill quickly, then slowed as it started to go uphill caused a "surprise" in the shower.
Ultimately, I'd like to add a grey tank to my trailer and re-do the plumbing. at the very least, I'd want to cut the shower drain pipe, and install a valve to keep backups from happening. A shower drain plug has been suggested to me before in regards to this matter, but that would only keep stuff from getting all the way into the shower pan; it would still make it into the trap, and still "stink up the joint", so to speak.
anyway, be carefull, no matter what setup you use, and make sure its always a completely down-hill run to the dump. What they say in the military about "poop running downhill"...its true, most of the time. What I've found is that if there isn't any place for it to go but up, it WILL go up.
Sounds like good advice. The PO also warned us to keep the shower drain plug in while moving, because sometimes the motion of the trailer will cause a backup into the shower pan. I forgot about it when we hauled it home, and sure enough when we got it in the driveway there was some nasty brown stuff in the bottom of the shower - yuk! Probably didn't help that before we left he had turned on the water pump and run a little water into the sink to show it worked, with the dump valve cap on, so there was water in the pipes while under way. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.
How about pulling up to the dump station before heading out, unscrewing the lid then setting up your hose only to find out that the dump station tank is full after emptying only half of your black water. Yuck!
__________________ Craig
AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
Well, if truth be told, I'm an interloper, an A/S wannabe. Unfortunately, I own SOB but not by first choice. As the bumper sticker says "My next TT is an Airstream"
I can't comment directly on the size of the outlet on your A/S except that it was on an A/S forum discussion that I picked up the info on the Sewer Solution in the first place.
I just picked up the Sewer Solution hoses last week. We're going to go camping tomorrow to San Clemente State beach, so we will have a chance to try it out. I bought the extension hose as well, just to be sure.
My 1971 has an added on grey tank with it's own 1.5in valve, which then feeds to the 3in main dump hookup, so all the grey water flows to the tank first before hitting the dump connector. This would avoid the backup problem with the sewer solution so long that the grey tank valve is closed.
I will post and let you know how it worked on my trailer next week.
I carry a set of rubber gloves in the rear bumper kind of like the nice ones people use in the kitchen.
I was kind of bummed that I didn't get the flush out kit for the black tank, but I found that the system I have works well.
I fill my fresh water tank with some good ol Lake Michigan (triple filtered) and both empty holding tanks. If it is just a weekend trip and the black tank is low, I just blow out the remaining fresh water tank to minimize the weight and take the trailer home. Next to my driveway, I have a PVC poke through and I bought an extened hose and dump right at home.
I also have a water hose in the same area, so I can flush out the tank by filling from the inside and getting it all out.
I was wondering if it was better to run with fresh water tank empty for less weight or full for more stability? Perhaps it sould be another thread, but I put it here.
__________________
The Trumpowers
1979 SLY 31'
1979 GMC 4 door with s/c camper shell
With the weight distributing bars, having the tank full or empty didn't seem to make a difference when I towed it last time.
For me, the Bambi has a 24.5 gal tank. Black tank is 18. So at the very least I can save 50lbs if a gallon weighs about 8#s.
Also keep in mind if I kept the tank full at 8#s/gal, that's 196lbs. If I also haul a half full black tank, you can see that I have almost added the weight of two passengers.
I vote to blow the fresh tank if you can and any other tank if possible to save the weight and hopefully get a few less gallons per mile and work on getting to the miles per gallon side, gas being what it costs!
It is recommended that the fresh water tank be full. This additional weight keeps the center of gravity down, and helps trailer stability. I have witnessed this first hand this spring after replacing my axles and tires. Having a full fresh tank makes a BIG difference, at least in my coach.
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CP 9 miles off Exit 399, I75.
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce! Air # 283
It is amazing the "lead" this subject takes~! lol
On that note, I was just reading in my most recent issue of 'Coast to Coast' the subject about black water tanks and, folks being asked what kind of chemicals they are using in the black water holding tanks. Formaldehyde gets you a "Plse don't use our sewer dump" while you are here~!!
pick
We have made it a practice to carry fresh water in our travel and, dump the the black water as often as possible.
Our practice has been to dump the black water first, then use the gray water to flush out the black water residue in the system.
Then, just before leaving pour some fresh water back into the black water tank, adding chemicals to help break down whatever is in there. Also helps with the smell whenever you take a break while traveling.
Dr Becker
Thanks again for your input and, keep following your dream~!
It took me over 40 yrs before I realized what was missing in my life. Let us hope your acquisition (time wise) of your A/S is much shorter~!!
Originally posted by davidz71 How about pulling up to the dump station before heading out, unscrewing the lid then setting up your hose only to find out that the dump station tank is full after emptying only half of your black water. Yuck!
Just about as bad is to be at a full hookup site, go to dump the blackwater tank and also get about halfway dumped and find that the campground site drain pipe was not pitched correctly and you now have a geyser at your site. You report the problem to the campground office and they say, "oh yea that site wasn't run correctly and its always slow". Thanks guys for warning me when I came in.
Jack
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Jack Canavera
STL Mo. AIR #56
'04 Classic 30' S.O.
'03 GMC Savana 2500
'08 Vespa GTS 250
Uwe: your trailer isnt' a whole lot different than mine, I bet....did you add the grey tank yourself, or was it already done when you aquired the trailer? If you did it yourself, I'd love to hear about the job. I'd like to add one to mine, too.
I pulled up to dump when leaving Choke Canyon SP behind a big, old, old motorhome populated by a couple that had to be in their 80s. The old fellow pulled the cap and apparently he had left both handles pulled out because there was an instant flood and he was soaked to the knees. I was out of my truck to get my hoses ready and the only thing that saved me was jumping up on the concrete island before the flood got to me. I was barely able to make a big circle and get back into the passenger side of my truck with dry feet.
The saving grace is that Choke Canyon park has two sections, each with its own dump station. I had to pass the other section on the way home, so I dumped there.
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John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
Mine is not really a mishap. My 8 year old boy has decided that dumping is a "boy thing". He wont even say "stinky slinky" around girls, but makes a special point of pulling any boys aside and telling them what its called. When we are camping in a group, we have to dump last because he has to help everyone dump. Strange thing to attach to, but you know how kids are. Granma gave him a special pair of "slinky gloves" as a gift, they are in the hatch with mine.
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The Trumpowers
1979 SLY 31'
1979 GMC 4 door with s/c camper shell
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