help with getting started

[popmize]

Help! We're new. We have a 71 31 foot Excella and we've figured out all but the critical part of working our trailer--dumping the tank. We've found in the VAC list where to order an owner's manual, but in the meantime, do we look for valves, buttons, or what? Thanks for your advice with this clearly newbie question!
Thanks, too, to Andy for welcoming us in!
Tom and Glenda

[thenewkid64]

Welcome to the forum,

Based on your model your dump valve should be in the rear trunk.
The trunk is the rear compartment on the back over the bumper. There should be a lable that says Black water or main holding tank by it. Be sure to have a hose connected to the outlet and in an appropiate drain before pulling the lever. I belive it will pull straight up. It is a gate type valve.

Good Luck

[davidz71]

My '77 31' Excella has a rear bath configuration with a rear outside compartment. The blackwater (toilet) valve is visible on the left hand side and the greywater valve is on the right hand side. You will see what looks like a black wooden dowel on top of a metal rod. There may be wire loops which fit snugly over each end of the dowel looking handle. They are there to prevent the valve from opening while you are traveling. The idea is to hook up a fitting to the exterior valve fitting, slip a sewer hose over the end, attach a sewer fitting to the opposite end and screw this into the dump station sewer fitting. Pull the blackwater valve first then close it when it has finished dumping. Pull the greywater valve and allow this to flush sewage from the system. It is now time to fill the tanks again and do your final flush. Hope this helps.

[jcanavera]

One additional tip that you can add to Craig's instructions. Dependent upon the slope of the sewer hose, you may want to "walk" the remaining black water sewage into the sewer prior to opening up the grey water valve. This gives you a better cleaning of your hose as the grey water flows through.

You "walk" the sewage into the sewer by lifting the hose higher than the sewer outlet. You do this over the length of the hose which effectively empties it out. Be sure you close the black water valve prior to "walking" out what's left in the hose.

Jack

[thenewkid64]

popmize,

If you are confused by discussion of grey water dump, don't be. Most of us have an additional tank for holding grey water(shower and sinks) Once you complete your black water dump you will want to turn on a faucet in your trailer to put additional water down the sewer hose to "rinse" it out and walk the remainder of the mixture to the sewer.

Jack,

Geat description on the "sewer walk" I just do it out of habit, and did not even think to describe it in this thread.

[popmize]

Thanks for your help! We'll try it this weekend.
Tom