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08-15-2019, 10:15 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 20
THOR #16209
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Tanks not draining.
I have a travel trailer that is permanently hooked into a sewer system. Today when my guests left neither the grey or black water tanks will drain. There is not an obstruction that is visible. Seems odd that they both will not drain. I reached a 9ga wire into the gray water tank and didn't seem to hit any obstruction. A little water came out while I was working the wire around. I have two vent pipe that don't seem plugged. Any ideas?
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08-15-2019, 10:59 PM
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#2
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Are you sure that your vents are free from obstructions?
Have someone hold down the flush valve on your toilet, and see if that makes a difference on the blackwater tank.
Good luck!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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08-15-2019, 11:30 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 20
THOR #16209
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Thanks for the toilet idea Bob. I turned off the water opened the black water tank valve and step on the toilet lever. No luck. It is full too. Not into the toilet full but close. There are two separate vents for grey and black tanks. I looked into both with a flashlight then ran #9 wire down them. The wire stopped after a few feet but I don't think there is a blockage in both vents.
The 9 wire goes into the grey tank easily and there seems to be no blockage. I haven't tried reaming the black water side for obvious reasons. I may try that next but why would both tanks not drain. Sounds more like venting but there are two vent pipes that would have to get plugged at the same time. I don't know what my last guests may have done or put in the system. They were here for 3 nights.
Anymore ideas?
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08-15-2019, 11:50 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.5
State: Florida
Posts: 278
THOR #12686
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Is it possible that you have some "hidden" valves like the Axis/Vegas do on the black tank? Look underneath the trailer just to be sure. That's all I got...sorry.
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Mike & Diane
2018 Thor Vegas 25.5
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
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08-15-2019, 11:56 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 20
THOR #16209
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I just came in from looking for something the guests may have shut off. I also emptied the P-trap in the kitchen sink. Wouldn't this allow the grey tank to vent if the main vent was plugged? There is a foot of 3 inch ABS from the tank to the valve. It's not plugged and the valve is open, my wire goes into the tank at least. Sure has me baffled. Im going back out and look some more.
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08-16-2019, 01:07 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 20
THOR #16209
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OK I don't know why the grey tank is not draining but the black tank valve is not opening when I pull the lever. Any ideas on how to get it open without making a big mess? I have guests arriving soon and dont want to stink the place up.
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08-16-2019, 01:34 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 20
THOR #16209
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I was wrong the black tank valve is opening. I can run the wire into the tank but nothing comes out except a little stream for a few seconds. I am at a loss.
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08-16-2019, 03:01 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 20
THOR #16209
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Here is what I think happened to the black water tank. I think the seals on the valve allowed the liquid to pass but not the solids. I will stick a hose in it tomorrow and try flushing it out. I don't have much room in the tank. I put a small pump in the toilet and pumped all the liquid I could out and made a little room for tonights guests. Why in the heck is the grey water tank not draining? I can run a hose into the tank. I blew compressed air thru both vent pipes. I blew air into the gray tank and black tank. The monitor reads the grey tank as half full and it will not drain. It has a open valve and monitor reads empty usually.
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08-16-2019, 09:36 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2020 Magnitude SV34
State: Florida
Posts: 4,147
THOR #12751
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cantwell Troy
Here is what I think happened to the black water tank. I think the seals on the valve allowed the liquid to pass but not the solids. I will stick a hose in it tomorrow and try flushing it out. I don't have much room in the tank. I put a small pump in the toilet and pumped all the liquid I could out and made a little room for tonights guests. Why in the heck is the grey water tank not draining? I can run a hose into the tank. I blew compressed air thru both vent pipes. I blew air into the gray tank and black tank. The monitor reads the grey tank as half full and it will not drain. It has a open valve and monitor reads empty usually.
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Two separate tanks... each with their own valve... so lets assume two separate but coincidental problems.
Grey Tank...... Is it possible your sensor in the gray tank is giving you a false reading? Either a faulty sensor or debris on the sensor may be saying it is half full when it is actually empty. If you close your Grey Tank valve and run the water a bit and then open the valve, can you hear or see water drain to confirm it is a sensor and the tank really is empty?
Blank Tank..... Your leaking valve seals could be the issue. Do you feel any resistance when you try to open and close the valve? The other possibility is that the stem pulled out of the gate valve or the top of the gate valve snapped off and the valve is not really opening at this point to allow the tank to drain. Valterra actually sells replacement rods for their gate valves.
I know you have a mess on your hands but maybe you can call a mobile port-a-jon pump out service and have them put the hose down the toilet to pump out the black tank. Then you can take apart the valve to see what you are dealing with at this point.
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08-16-2019, 11:42 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite24FE
State: Texas
Posts: 542
THOR #12434
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My 24FE has a valve on the Door side
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Freedom Elite 24FE, Big Foot hydraulic levelers. Wife is Marilyn, I am called LC
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08-16-2019, 12:01 PM
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#11
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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I guess it's time to post the video...
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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08-16-2019, 01:49 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 Windjammer
State: Illinois
Posts: 1,179
THOR #7074
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What yr & model TT ?
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Rev. Jeffrey 2017 Thor Axis 24.1 E450 Windjammer.
Silver Safe-T-Plus Steering Control
SSF-106-40 SumoSprings Solo Front Bump Stop SSR-107-47 SumoSprings Rear Bump Stop
Hellwig 7718 Front Sway Bar & 7180 Rear Sway Bar
Koni FSD Front Shocks 8805-1042 / Koni FSD Rear Shocks 8805-1043
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08-16-2019, 03:49 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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If you left the valves open while hooked up "permanently", then you may have a tank full of nothing but solids. You need to keep the valves closed, even though you are hooked up, allowing the tanks to fill before dumping...each time. If this is the case, close the black valve and run as much water in it as you can...fill it up then dump it, multiple times, trying to dilute what's in there and get it flowing out. The hose/pipe from your camper to the ground may be plugged up with solids also, causing the grey tank no to drain as well either.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
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08-16-2019, 04:02 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.5
State: Florida
Posts: 278
THOR #12686
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton
If you left the valves open while hooked up "permanently", then you may have a tank full of nothing but solids. You need to keep the valves closed, even though you are hooked up, allowing the tanks to fill before dumping...each time. If this is the case, close the black valve and run as much water in it as you can...fill it up then dump it, multiple times, trying to dilute what's in there and get it flowing out. The hose/pipe from your camper to the ground may be plugged up with solids also, causing the grey tank no to drain as well either.
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I agree. I just spoke to someone that had that issue in his 5th wheel. Do as Gritz suggested, otherwise...see post 11.
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Mike & Diane
2018 Thor Vegas 25.5
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
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08-16-2019, 04:33 PM
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#15
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pavemike
...Do as Gritz suggested, otherwise...see post 11.
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And remember: always keep an umbrella nearby!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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08-16-2019, 05:12 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2018 24.1 AXISSIXxSIX
State: Arizona
Posts: 6,760
THOR #13932
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Tonight's guests, vs the prior nights guests...
Is this an airbnb type thing?
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08-16-2019, 05:34 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ducksface
Tonight's guests, vs the prior nights guests...
Is this an airbnb type thing?
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OR...are you AKA..."Dash Riprock"?
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
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08-16-2019, 06:22 PM
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#18
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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This reminds me of why I said "No!": when asked if I'd ever consider renting out my RV...
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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08-16-2019, 09:48 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 20
THOR #16209
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LOL Thanks for the suggestions and the laughs guys. I resolved the problem for now. I leave the black tank valve closed and only empty it after guest leave. Yes this is a Airbnb. I have two of them for rent and will be adding two more. I either didn't get the valve shut all the way or the valve leaked the liquid out. Regardless I had a tank full of solids. Plumb full. I stuck the hose down the toilet and started working her around. It is now empty and since I had the means I squirted some Dawn in the tank and filled it up out of the h2o heater in the house. Nice and clean now and I didn't even make too much of a mess.
The grey tank was empty this morning. Lucky for me my guests owned a RV so I had them watch the monitor for the grey tank. He said when his wife was showering the tank emptied.
Thanks for all the input. I am sure I will be back for more one day.
Troy
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08-16-2019, 09:52 PM
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#20
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alaska
Posts: 20
THOR #16209
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Bob would you rent out your RV for $150 per night 7 nights a week? I have a 110 day season and over a 90% occupancy rate. That pays for a used RV pretty fast. But yep there are plenty of things to keep up with. The lack of common sense the average human has shocks me.
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