Constipated Coach

[Calico]

Our Vegas has to "go", but a stop at the dump station didn't net results. Nothing has been out of the ordinary and we followed our regular procedures with regards to 'main gate' and then 'hidden gate'. Our black tank reads full-ish while the gray reads mostly empty... and I really don't know if that's accurate. We last dumped in Tennessee with normal results, but are now in Illinois with temperatures in the upper 20s to the teens. Been running the heat pads and been keeping the coach toasty during our stay. Any ex-lax advice?

[Bob Denman]

You could try to "test" your sensors by hooking up to a dump station, opening your valves, and dumping a five gallon can of water down the toilet...
See what comes out the other end.
Good luck!

[Calico]

We have been using the facilities for over a week now, so we do know the black reading is probably good.... But the gray sensor is questionable, and there should be some results at the dump station. Could there be an ice jam?

[ducksface]

The wiring to the heat pads is often spliced using wire nuts. They are prone to falling off and disconnecting at the merest mere.
How do you know your pads are really heating the tanks?

The light on the switch is an indicator of switch position only.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Calico

We have been using the facilities for over a week now, so we do know the black reading is probably good.... But the gray sensor is questionable, and there should be some results at the dump station. Could there be an ice jam?

Hmmmmmm...
You could try this:
Dump about a cup's worth of dishwashing soap down the kitchen sink drain...
Then you've got to get GALLONS of hot water into the gray tank.
Let it warm up, and slosh around for a while.... (twenty minutes or so), and then dump the tank

[Calico]

Originally Posted by ducksface

How do you know your pads are really heating the tanks?

We don't.....hence the question regarding the possibility of an ice dam.

I think that just as soon as I step foot out of my doctor's office today, we will hit the road back to our nice, mild Tennessee, and figure it out down there. We were just hoping to lighten the load for the return trip, and leave our sh*t (literally) in Illinois.

[ducksface]

You might be a literal snap of the fingers/twist of the wrist (while laying on your back) away from fixing this.
I fixed mine in about 30 seconds.

[Calico]

Absolutely on the list of things to check once we get home. We do want to make sure the heaters are... heating. We are rolling now and due in warmer climate in mere hours.

[Popfla]

Drop a few Taco Bell burritos down the loo. That should open things up. At least that works on me...

[Calico]

Originally Posted by Popfla

Drop a few Taco Bell burritos down the loo. That should open things up. At least that works on me...

Thanks Ed! Good idea, but lacking taco bells in our area, would white castles work as well...?

[Popfla]

Originally Posted by Calico

Thanks Ed! Good idea, but lacking taco bells in our area, would white castles work as well...?

Yup, a half dozen of those Belly Bombs should do the trick.

[Judge]

You can also buy a couple gallons of RV antifreeze (warm them up if you can) and pour it down the drains... that might help melt any ice.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Judge

You can also buy a couple gallons of RV antifreeze (warm them up if you can) and pour it down the drains... that might help melt any ice.

If you've got stuff frozen in the pipes: I'm not sure that RV antifreeze will thaw anything...
(It won't warm up what is already there...)

[revjeffrey]

Use an infrared thermometer to check your heat pads. They cost under $15.00. Can be used for many other things in Motorhome also. Hot wires, Hot calipers. Dogs temp. Soup. BEER. Etc.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

If you've got stuff frozen in the pipes: I'm not sure that RV antifreeze will thaw anything...
(It won't warm up what is already there...)

I'd warm it in a pan or the microwave and then pour it in. If I pour room temperature windshield washer fluid on my window it starts melting the ice some.

[revjeffrey]

Originally Posted by Judge

I'd warm it in a pan or the microwave and then pour it in. If I pour room temperature windshield washer fluid on my window it starts melting the ice some.

...agree! Traveling all winter I keep gal of antifreeze in shower. I use it for flushing, 20 years never an issue. Chicago area winters -0's.

[Bob Denman]

Yup! Get it nice and warm first!

[Lt Keefer]

I have never used the heater pads on any of my coaches, but then again, living in Central Texas I have only seen ice on the stock tank one time in my life. I would probably poor hot water down the drains and hope for the best.

[Calico]

Thank you for all the good advice, everyone. We are back home now in Eastern Tennessee, and the weather is supposed to be in the 50s, so I'm sure whatever might have been frozen will be thawed out very quickly. We are going to try to dump tomorrow and are hoping for some good results. We have to get the coach cleaned out because we have an appointment on Monday morning with Lazy Days RV. Going to find out what our coach might be worth as a trade in. It's been a wonderful little home on wheels for us but we would be a little bit happier with something we don't have to diet in order to pass each other in the kitchen.

[revjeffrey]

Originally Posted by Calico

Thank you for all the good advice, everyone. We are back home now in Eastern Tennessee, and the weather is supposed to be in the 50s, so I'm sure whatever might have been frozen will be thawed out very quickly. We are going to try to dump tomorrow and are hoping for some good results. We have to get the coach cleaned out because we have an appointment on Monday morning with Lazy Days RV. Going to find out what our coach might be worth as a trade in. It's been a wonderful little home on wheels for us but we would be a little bit happier with something we don't have to diet in order to pass each other in the kitchen.

...Send us a photo of your New Motorhome @ Noon on Monday Good Luck!!!!