Thor Ace Black Tank Clog RESOLVED

[Tbiblecg]

Bought the 2018 Ace 27.2 about a year ago and have been battling the known clogging issue and tank burps. Installed a toilet with a taller pedastle in the hopes the extra gravity would assist but had no luck. Santi flush works but I had a feeling it was not enough as the drain is opposite side of the flush so here is what I did that solved my problem.
I purchased a spray nozzle here Amazon.com which has a significant amount of pressure in all directions. Purchased a female hose barb and a water hose connector with the valve (1/2") threads. Cut a hole in the tank on the shelf and installed with 3 screws and marine fast cure 5200. The pic inside the tank is after I filled it with fresh water and flushed it 3 times, so I was correct that it was not getting everything. Now I know some will say just have a company come and flush the tank, but I wanted something I could do every time I dump to help break up the muck. For the last 3 days this has already cleared about 5 clogs.

 

[ghnl]

I'm glad the forum upgrade did not include smell-o-vision...

 

[Tbiblecg]

I'm glad the forum upgrade did not include smell-o-vision...

Very true, sorry about the view hahaha

 

[Mark54]

Bought the 2018 Ace 27.2 about a year ago and have been battling the known clogging issue and tank burps. Installed a toilet with a taller pedastle in the hopes the extra gravity would assist but had no luck. Santi flush works but I had a feeling it was not enough as the drain is opposite side of the flush so here is what I did that solved my problem.
I purchased a spray nozzle here Amazon.com which has a significant amount of pressure in all directions. Purchased a female hose barb and a water hose connector with the valve (1/2") threads. Cut a hole in the tank on the shelf and installed with 3 screws and marine fast cure 5200. The pic inside the tank is after I filled it with fresh water and flushed it 3 times, so I was correct that it was not getting everything. Now I know some will say just have a company come and flush the tank, but I wanted something I could do every time I dump to help break up the muck. For the last 3 days this has already cleared about 5 clogs.

O boy, another mod!! My grey tank shows full a lot of the time, and doesn't drain well either. I suspect a piece of plastic from when Thor made the holes for the shower drain, or other, inside blocking the pipe, and I have back flushed with special fitting on main drain, but nothing much comes out. Thanks for posting this!
I may install this as well on my grey tank- I have the san-t-flush on the black, which works well- so news when I do it later this spring to grey tank... this is the device:

Thetford RV Camper Holding Tank Flusher Sprayer Black PN 94232​

 

[Tbiblecg]

O boy, another mod!! My grey tank shows full a lot of the time, and doesn't drain well either. I suspect a piece of plastic from when Thor made the holes for the shower drain, or other, inside blocking the pipe, and I have back flushed with special fitting on main drain, but nothing much comes out. Thanks for posting this!
I may install this as well on my grey tank- I have the san-t-flush on the black, which works well- so news when I do it later this spring to grey tank... this is the device:

Thetford RV Camper Holding Tank Flusher Sprayer Black PN 94232​

yes sir, no problem and best of luck

 

[16ACE27]

Bought the 2018 Ace 27.2 about a year ago and have been battling the known clogging issue and tank burps. Installed a toilet with a taller pedastle in the hopes the extra gravity would assist but had no luck. Santi flush works but I had a feeling it was not enough as the drain is opposite side of the flush so here is what I did that solved my problem.
I purchased a spray nozzle here Amazon.com which has a significant amount of pressure in all directions. Purchased a female hose barb and a water hose connector with the valve (1/2") threads. Cut a hole in the tank on the shelf and installed with 3 screws and marine fast cure 5200. The pic inside the tank is after I filled it with fresh water and flushed it 3 times, so I was correct that it was not getting everything. Now I know some will say just have a company come and flush the tank, but I wanted something I could do every time I dump to help break up the muck. For the last 3 days this has already cleared about 5 clogs.

That's what the Santi-Flush is supposed to do. We didn't have that as OEM equipment so I did the same install you did on our 27.1. Works great.

But you have a passenger side toilet so you need to always be generous with water to the black tank when flushing and using the bathroom sink.

 

[Tbiblecg]

That's what the Santi-Flush is supposed to do. We didn't have that as OEM equipment so I did the same install you did on our 27.1. Works great.

But you have a passenger side toilet so you need to always be generous with water to the black tank when flushing and using the bathroom sink.

Ya I fill the toilet and use scott single ply but for some reason mine has always been very sensitive to clogs, terrible design.

 

[Mark54]

Ya I fill the toilet and use scott single ply but for some reason mine has always been very sensitive to clogs, terrible design.

I installed a "Rinslet" (not unlike Toto 'washlet' for home use) in my RV, and we never put paper in the toilet- it goes into a trash can in the back near toilet. I did have to change to a different toilet with bolt-on-seat to do this. I also added a mixer behind the wall to get warm water to device.
At home only one wipe goes down, then washlet has heated dryer.
The Rinslet does not, so have to wipe dry, but lots less paper used and don't have to suffer the 'State issued half-ply' found in public restrooms! We missed having the washlet on trips, so this solves that problem.

 

[macdaddy1111]

Bought the 2018 Ace 27.2 about a year ago and have been battling the known clogging issue and tank burps. Installed a toilet with a taller pedastle in the hopes the extra gravity would assist but had no luck. Santi flush works but I had a feeling it was not enough as the drain is opposite side of the flush so here is what I did that solved my problem.
I purchased a spray nozzle here Amazon.com which has a significant amount of pressure in all directions. Purchased a female hose barb and a water hose connector with the valve (1/2") threads. Cut a hole in the tank on the shelf and installed with 3 screws and marine fast cure 5200. The pic inside the tank is after I filled it with fresh water and flushed it 3 times, so I was correct that it was not getting everything. Now I know some will say just have a company come and flush the tank, but I wanted something I could do every time I dump to help break up the muck. For the last 3 days this has already cleared about 5 clogs.

Nice job!

I have the turd man bast both my black tanks every year at nasa camp ground on the way south.

 

[blw2]

I think that I'd but a vacuum breaker on the hose bibb connection....maybe double up and install two! I wouldn't want any chance for backflow into the hose!

 

[Tbiblecg]

I think that I'd but a vacuum breaker on the hose bibb connection....maybe double up and install two! I wouldn't want any chance for backflow into the hose!

I was going to but I just close the valve before turning the hose off. If the water is on there’s zero chance of backflow, that nozzle is like a pressure washer.

 

[blw2]

I was going to but I just close the valve before turning the hose off. If the water is on there’s zero chance of backflow, that nozzle is like a pressure washer.

until the one time you forget and close the source before your tank valve
or until the one time when the water supply pressure drops to zero before you catch it...

it might be near zero chance, but there IS a reason why those things are required to be installed on every hose bib...even those that will NEVER be attached to anything in the same solar system of nastiness! (hint, the chance ain't zero)
The only reason I really care is that I might be coming into that campsite right after you leave.

 

[Tbiblecg]

until the one time you forget and close the source before your tank valve
or until the one time when the water supply pressure drops to zero before you catch it...

it might be near zero chance, but there IS a reason why those things are required to be installed on every hose bib...even those that will NEVER be attached to anything in the same solar system of nastiness! (hint, the chance ain't zero)
The only reason I really care is that I might be coming into that campsite right after you leave.

I won’t have to clean up for you because there’s a zero percent chance of failure but I’ll make sure your site is clean

 

[blw2]

Granted, it is probably extremely unlikely...like really close to 0%. But it's definitely not a 0% chance.
there is a reason that the building code requires them
Anyway, in the very unlikely event.... it's your hose....

I appreciate your assurance that you'll clean up but if it backs up into the campground water supply, how will you clean that? What if it happens and you don't even realize it?
They're like $5. Granted, those things are pretty chintzy and probably don't last forever so it wouldn't be a 100% sure thing prevention, but they're $5 and then at least you tried....

 

[Tbiblecg]

Granted, it is probably extremely unlikely...like really close to 0%. But it's definitely not a 0% chance.
there is a reason that the building code requires them
Anyway, in the very unlikely event.... it's your hose....

I appreciate your assurance that you'll clean up but if it backs up into the campground water supply, how will you clean that? What if it happens and you don't even realize it?
They're like $5. Granted, those things are pretty chintzy and probably don't last forever so it wouldn't be a 100% sure thing prevention, but they're $5 and then at least you tried....

At this point I’ll never install one out of spite, good night dad

 

[Beau388]

One of the major disadvantages of a coach with only one bathroom and a full wall slide on left is the bathroom is on the opposite side from the wet bay. There are toilets that contain macerators. My old Sanaware 1000 marine toilet had one.

 

[Tommyd-THOR]

Bought the 2018 Ace 27.2 about a year ago and have been battling the known clogging issue and tank burps. Installed a toilet with a taller pedastle in the hopes the extra gravity would assist but had no luck. Santi flush works but I had a feeling it was not enough as the drain is opposite side of the flush so here is what I did that solved my problem.
I purchased a spray nozzle here Amazon.com which has a significant amount of pressure in all directions. Purchased a female hose barb and a water hose connector with the valve (1/2") threads. Cut a hole in the tank on the shelf and installed with 3 screws and marine fast cure 5200. The pic inside the tank is after I filled it with fresh water and flushed it 3 times, so I was correct that it was not getting everything. Now I know some will say just have a company come and flush the tank, but I wanted something I could do every time I dump to help break up the muck. For the last 3 days this has already cleared about 5 clogs.

I like that. I use lots of water and installed

Bought the 2018 Ace 27.2 about a year ago and have been battling the known clogging issue and tank burps. Installed a toilet with a taller pedastle in the hopes the extra gravity would assist but had no luck. Santi flush works but I had a feeling it was not enough as the drain is opposite side of the flush so here is what I did that solved my problem.
I purchased a spray nozzle here Amazon.com which has a significant amount of pressure in all directions. Purchased a female hose barb and a water hose connector with the valve (1/2") threads. Cut a hole in the tank on the shelf and installed with 3 screws and marine fast cure 5200. The pic inside the tank is after I filled it with fresh water and flushed it 3 times, so I was correct that it was not getting everything. Now I know some will say just have a company come and flush the tank, but I wanted something I could do every time I dump to help break up the muck. For the last 3 days this has already cleared about 5 clogs.

I use lots of water and installed a Camco tank flusher. It has made this problem at least manageable. I send five gallons back into the tank a couple of times to rinse it out and put another five in before I finish. I like your fix.

 

[yukongrant]

This is an excellent mod suggestion. Ideas like this is why I like this forum. I'm seriously considering it. But I have a couple of questions:
1) I have a SaniFlush system already installed. It's OK. But I think it could be better. And the price is right! Would this mod make much difference?
2) Could I simply remove the SaniFlush and replace it with this mod?
3) I understand I would need a ICON Flusher Sprayer or similar. Is one better than another?
Thanks for your help.

 

[MJC68]

Curb side toilets on any RV are a known design flaw that apparently the whole RV industry continues to unfortunately ignore.
When we first bought our ACE, we had not heard of the dreaded poo dam or pile that is the bone of the curbside toilet. We continued to use our RV toilet the same as we had in our former class C.
First trip out we plugged it up. After rodding it out with a sewer snake, research brought me to several forums discussing why the clog happens in the first place.
For those that are unaware the black tank on most curbside toilets is sloped with the shallow end or shelf sitting under the toilets discharge pipe. The waste instead of falling into the deep end of the holding tank (where hopefully you have added your sanitizer and a several gallons of water) lands on a dry shelf where it builds up and clogs the toilet.
Adding "flushers" is one way to help with the clog.
However, if putting in an additional flush system is beyond your capabilities. The simplest fix is to alter how you use the toilet.
We have been using the following method and have (knock wood) not had a clog since.
1st we add several squirts of cheap dish soap to the toilet bowl. Fill the bowl and pre flush. This lubricates the shelf/slide prior to a deposit.
2nd we add another shot of soap and fill the bowl before we do our business, then flush with plenty of water.
Finally, we follow up with another bowl full of water to help chase the poo off the ledge.
So far, this has been working for us with no new clogs.
Our solution isn't conducive to long term boon docking it requires more frequent dumping, but it does work for us.
On the other hand, I prefer not to have to be jamming a sewer slinky down the toilet every few days.
Regardless of how you approach cleaning the black tank, always remember with any marine style toilet water, lots of water is your best friend.

 

[blw2]

to reinforce mjc68's post, here's a snip from the drawing of the tank and plumbing used in my rig
My rig has the toilet flange (item 38 on the drawing) on the end opposite of the shelf so I thankfully don't have the problem.
My toilet is driver's side.

Side note - I'd never heard or read of this issue being isolated to only passenger side toilet floor plans. I don't know of any, but I'd imagine it's a real possibility that it exists in rigs with toilets on either side. Just depends on if this type of tank is used and where the designer locates the toilet relative to the tank's location