Oh Sh**

[Redsand]

Last thing before our 1st trip next month after the Norcold service was to check the gray and blacks. I drained the gray tank of maybe 2 gals and went inside to check the level monitor. Mine is labeled Tank 1 and Tank 2. When I bought the rig both levels showed empty. Tank 1 went from empty to full sometime over the summer and we've never the toilet other than to put in a few gals of water and some Dawn. Today the Tank 1 level show full. Out of pure curiosity I open the black tank valve a skoosh and nothing. I opened it a little further and nothing. Hence the Oh Sh**! I put a hose in the toilet and added 3 gals and now I can see suds when the toilet valve is open.

My thinking is that (1) the level sensor was not accurate or failed to operate all summer and started working and (2) the tank is full and blocked probably at the tank outlet fitting. Whatever is in there came with the rig and now I'm trying to decide the best way forward. The one thing I didn't check now is a problem.

Suggestions? Fixes?


Also would we not label the black water tank #2 but nope. It appears Tank 1 for for #2.

[Redsand]

Update. Now I feel a little foolish I crawled under my rig to see the layout and WTF? A second valve just after the outlet on the opposite side of the rig. Here I thought the manual would mention dual valve setup but nope. So now my question is anyone else have this kinda setup and do you normally leave both closed? Seems like a PIA to have to crawl under the rig every dump?

[paulwadley]

It is a common thing to have a second black tank valve on the passenger side especially if the toilet is on the passenger side. That black tank valve is a safety valve to prevent any spillage on the open highway in the event you drive over an object and hit the black tank crossover line before the wet bay black tank valve on the driver side. On my 2018 Thor Siesta 24SS, I found that when I dumped the black tank, I would open that passenger valve first and then walk over to the driver side and open that black tank valve to dump the black tank. I now have a class A and have two black and two grey tanks both situated on the driver side with no crossover line to deal with when I dump the tanks.

Paul

Paul

[Travelin' Texans]

Originally Posted by Redsand

Update. Now I feel a little foolish I crawled under my rig to see the layout and WTF? A second valve just after the outlet on the opposite side of the rig. Here I thought the manual would mention dual valve setup but nope. So now my question is anyone else have this kinda setup and do you normally leave both closed? Seems like a PIA to have to crawl under the rig every dump?

The sensors are normally one step above totally worthless, as they do have pretty red lights signifying nothing.
Don't count on any of the sensors regardless of magic potions or elixirs, repeated flushing & rinsing to do more than light those red lights.
I've had rvs for 45+ years & have yet to have one that the sensors worked past about the 2nd tank full.

[Redsand]

Thanks Danny. Still a old newbie at this. Last rig I had was 1987 and a little has changed since then.
What puzzled me was the thing showed empty all summer and yesterday it was full. Talk about worthless? I think I'll make a dipstick and have more accurate results.

[saddlesore]

No guesswork with these...
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...SAAEgIc5vD_BwE

[Redsand]

Thanks for the info. Since the monitor i have now is almost two decades old I may think about a better solution than a dipstick. It seems to be working at the moment so I''ll keep a close watch. So glad I found this before our first trip.

[gnach]

Use the forum search to educate yourself from the collective wisdom about that crossover (passenger side toilet) setup. But your on the right track.

[Msdpok]

Originally Posted by Redsand

Update. Now I feel a little foolish I crawled under my rig to see the layout and WTF? A second valve just after the outlet on the opposite side of the rig. Here I thought the manual would mention dual valve setup but nope. So now my question is anyone else have this kinda setup and do you normally leave both closed? Seems like a PIA to have to crawl under the rig every dump?

Yes! We have an 2018 Freedom Elite that has two valves on the black water tank! And then one on the gray water!

One valve is behind the right rear tire and the second is at the outlet along with the gray water valve!

[Federju]

Same thing happened to me in my 2018 Chateau - I couldn't believe that the dealership didn't mention this and no where on line did I find any information on a second valve. After 2 days of trying thing and researching I finally traced the black tank tube and found the second valve. Unbelievable that this was not in the manual!!

[roaddawg]

Haaaaa!!!! I suffered the same thing. I thought my black water tank was full since I could see it coming up the pipe beneath the toilet. Tried to empty it 2 times and nothing came out. Thought it was a blockage. I mentioned it on this site and the last of 38 responses mentioned looking for a second valve. Found it on the passenger side, opened it, and no problems since!

[10scDust]

Originally Posted by paulwadley

I would open that passenger valve first and then walk over to the driver side and open that black tank valve to dump the black tank.

Paul

Paul

Our 2016 Outlaw has the black tank on the passenger side (left), with the two valve set up. So, I oppose with the order you state to open them.

In my opinion: I open the driver's side first after hose hook up, this way nothing settles in the long, almost level, cross-over pipe. Then open the passenger side valve for the contents exit in a single rush.

This may not really matter much as the contents are ready for its trip.

However, if the passenger side was left open, say for convenience of not climbing under to open (I know, I do it every time, once to open & once to close it), I believe the contents, rather the more solid parts, could come to rest in there and pack, giving you a "real blockage problem" you were thinking you had.

I could be wrong. You could experiment to see.
Have a good one.

[Redsand]

Good to know I'm not alone with thinking the manual might mention the crossover setup. Had I bought this rig while still in my younger years I probably would have crawled under it and noticed the two valves. Now in my 70s with a brand new knee recently installed I have to rely on manuals and specs. Hopefully I've mastered the ins and outs of our rig so no surprises should crop up on the road. Thanks to all for comments and suggestions.

[The Gritz Carlton]

I have the half bath on the passenger side with full bath in rear. I've always just dumped the front black tank as usual. I've never looked to see if there is another valve on the passenger side. If there is, it must have been already opened when we bought the rig.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by 10scDust

Our 2016 Outlaw has the black tank on the passenger side (left), with the two valve set up. So, I oppose with the order you state to open them.

In my opinion: I open the driver's side first after hose hook up, this way nothing settles in the long, almost level, cross-over pipe. Then open the passenger side valve for the contents exit in a single rush.

This may not really matter much as the contents are ready for its trip.

However, if the passenger side was left open, say for convenience of not climbing under to open (I know, I do it every time, once to open & once to close it), I believe the contents, rather the more solid parts, could come to rest in there and pack, giving you a "real blockage problem" you were thinking you had.

I could be wrong. You could experiment to see.
Have a good one.

Except that if you open the passenger side second and there's a leak or hose blow-off on the driver side, you are not there to see it and close the outlet valve right there.

[Redsand]