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Plan-B · 03-24-2016, 09:22 PM

I take delivery of a 26U in a couple of weeks. I have been an AS owner for 20 years and I never have used, maintained or repaired a macerator toilet.

Any feedback/advice on likes/dislikes with the 26U toilet?

Mrjkq · 03-24-2016, 09:56 PM

I have a portable macerator called Tank Buddy by Thetford. I like it for dumping into my home sewer clean out access but as a perminant built in system I have reservations. It's another power tool that can malfunction & then what, without an alternative dump like a bypass system it could be a massive headache.

Protagonist · 03-24-2016, 10:39 PM

Wait… are you talking about a macerator built directly into the toilet, or a macerator pump for discharging the waste tanks? Airstream has used macerator pump tank discharge on its Interstate B-vans for many years, but I've never heard of them using an actual macerating toilet before.

idroba · 03-24-2016, 11:48 PM

The toilet in the 26U has a macerator built into it. Factory original.

Plan-B · 03-25-2016, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Wait… are you talking about a macerator built directly into the toilet, or a macerator pump for discharging the waste tanks? Airstream has used macerator pump tank discharge on its Interstate B-vans for many years, but I've never heard of them using an actual macerating toilet before.

It's a built in macerator toilet, fancy buttons and all. The 26U comes with the Sealand 8100 series macerator. I walked through one at the dealer and sure enough there she be. And apparently not an option to retro fit to old school proven ones. Must be some configuration in the logistics of the combo shower/toilet bathroom.

Thomas31 · 03-25-2016, 06:18 AM

Not sure if ours is the same model, but we installed a macerator toilet when we did a complete remodel. It gave us the option of putting the toilet anywhere we wanted without regard to the tanks. It has worked great for the last year. In addition, we also have a macerator pump for our discharge, connected to a retractable hose reel. Redundant, but I wanted to be able to "pump" our discharge rather than gravity drain.

lewster · 03-25-2016, 07:01 AM

Macerator toilets work great…..when they work!

You have to be VERY CAREFUL about what you put in and how you operate them. Back in my days as a full-service RV tech, I had to repair many macerators that were not working. Just about everything from motors to pumps to hoses to electronic circuits.

NOT FUN!!!

Hopefully they have improved their mechanisms to be more tolerant and reliable, as they are a great idea.

andreasduess · 03-25-2016, 08:31 AM

We had a macerator toilet in a house we lived in - the previous owners wanted a bathroom in the attic. It was the most unreliable piece of bathroom equipment I've ever seen. I think we had three repairs in a two year period.

I am deeply suspicious of them and I agree with Mrjkq - it's another power drain that can break. Simpler is better.

rucos · 03-25-2016, 11:00 AM

3 years ago I installed a macerating/pump toilet in our house basement. It was below sewer level and it macerates and pumps thru about a 3/4id line into the sewer pipe. It is about a 7ft lift. besides the toilet it also handle the shower/sink water. It has preformed awesome for 3 years and i would recommend it. No experience with an AS one, but very happy with my house one.

mkr1950 · 03-25-2016, 11:24 AM

We have a 26U but haven't used the toilet yet. We take our maiden voyage in 2 weeks to Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary's, MD. I can tell you about it then, and take pictures if you want! jk

We were told by Patrick at Colonial that it has the macerator because of location, so the macerator pumps it to the black tank. He said many boats and yachts use macerator toilets too. He felt they're fine as long as wrong type things don't get flushed such as regular toilet paper, paper towels, baby toys, etc.

I figure if it goes up, we resort to what we did before RVs! Life won't crash and burn.

Here's to adventures!

Mike
Baltimore, MD

Two Peas · 03-25-2016, 11:54 AM

We also have the 26U. On our 3 week maiden voyage the toilet worked very well. However there were no instructions for the switches (dry & with water) and I had to look them up on Internet.

NY24 · 03-25-2016, 12:43 PM

I have a 2015 Dynamax DX3-37RB that has TWO macerator toilets. A Thetford rep I met at the Hershey RV Show last October stated that they used only 1.6 liters per flush but, I think they use quite a bit more. I can't figure out how I could check this. This past winter was the second time I winterized my Super C. No problems I could see. The Thetford rep also said to only use RV toilet paper but, Northern triple ply passed the "shake test" and, it's SO much nicer to use. I use a clear extension fitting on my dump pipe and, have never seen any clumps of paper (or any other material). As mentioned, if you have only one toilet and it "goes south", you don't have many options.

dkottum · 03-25-2016, 01:57 PM

Any toilet can fail so if concerned have a backup. We just keep a few kitchen trash bags to line the bowel if needed, and dispose properly when used. And there's the great outdoors, clean up or bury it appropriately.

Plan-B · 03-25-2016, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacnps

We also have the 26U. On our 3 week maiden voyage the toilet worked very well. However there were no instructions for the switches (dry & with water) and I had to look them up on Internet.

The dealer gave me all the documentation already and only the installation manuals were in the Airstream packet. Like you I looked them up on the Internet.

But I can't find any maintenance tips, like if it gets clogged from too much TP, in how to unclog. One person told me to by some long disposable gloves. That makes good sense.

garry · 03-25-2016, 04:11 PM

Had one for 10 years in our boat. Had a rotatory timer switch to flush variable up to 15 seconds worked great. I think I had to replace the timer switch only problem I remember.

Used regular TP but did have a warning sign in head warning not to flush anything you did not create except TP.

Wayne&Sam · 03-25-2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY24

they used only 1.6 liters per flush but, I think they use quite a bit more..

Yikes! A water hog!

knunut · 03-25-2016, 05:29 PM

We have been in our 26U since Jan.20. No problem's . It's a learning curve.But it's OK.
I do cut open the chemical packets and pour into the water, then flush it. Wasn't sure if packets would harm system.

sgschwend · 03-25-2016, 08:25 PM

One advantage of a macerater toilet is the black water line can be as small as 1", instead of the 3" we have in the trailers. A smaller line means the tank and toilet can be a distance apart.

larryglarson · 03-26-2016, 05:57 AM

Had our 26 U for a week, the toilet seems wonderful, will extra fuzzes today.

Left lever for urren right puss top to add water to bowel bottom to flush.

Will see when I dump if I can see a difference.

Plan-B · 03-26-2016, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkr1950

We have a 26U but haven't used the toilet yet. We take our maiden voyage in 2 weeks to Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary's, MD. I can tell you about it then, and take pictures if you want! jk

We were told by Patrick at Colonial that it has the macerator because of location, so the macerator pumps it to the black tank. He said many boats and yachts use macerator toilets too. He felt they're fine as long as wrong type things don't get flushed such as regular toilet paper, paper towels, baby toys, etc.

I figure if it goes up, we resort to what we did before RVs! Life won't crash and burn.

Here's to adventures!

Mike
Baltimore, MD

Let me know how she flows. If you figure out somewhere how to service a clog, let me know that too. Have a good trip.