lost--Need info on '86 Coachmen

[rmeusborn]

Our son just purchased an 86 (he thinks) Coachmen Class A and we're trying to help him get it up & running. The VIN is 1GBKP37W9G3323718. The owner's manual that came with it doesn't agree with reality. It shows 2 sewer hose connections, but we can only find 1. We can only see 1 tank under the rig. Suspect we have the wrong owner's manual. The control panel has a "gray" and a "black" indicator. The "gray" indicates "full" & gray water backs up into the shower. We've been told that model uses a common holding tank for gray and black. Is there a gray water tank somewhere, or do we have a stopped up gray water drain?

[Possum]

Try http://www.coachmenrv.com/OwnersManuals/14014387.pdf

It may give you some answers. I think the two tanks empty through a common collector but each has its own handle. Go to the second last page of the PDF to see where stuff is located.

[rmeusborn]

Try http://www.coachmenrv.com/OwnersManuals/14014387.pdf

It may give you some answers. I think the two tanks empty through a common collector but each has its own handle. Go to the second last page of the PDF to see where stuff is located.

[/QUOTE]

BIG HELP!!

Not only with the drain problem, but also parts & service info for our potty fresh water valve leak.

gray water problem:

We confirmed gray water plumbing is open between sinks & shower, but still looking for where it goes from there. The owner's manual shows 2 external sewer drain valves (owner's manual page 39, figure 10). Ours looks like the attached.

Anyone who has a rig configured like this, please let us know how it works.

Thanks

[xctraveler]

There is a possible owner modification where they have connected a single line and valve after the two connectors and left the original valves in place upstream of the modification.

This would be done if there was a problem with one of the original upstream valves rather than repairing the valve or some reason best known to the modifier. Have you traced the pipe you are illustrating back to the tank(s)?

I do not know your coach at all, but am guessing based on seeing an awful lot of variations and modifications over the years. There are only so many ways to layout a sewer drain system.

[Nick-B]

Hi rmeusborn and Welcome to the Forums!

Don't put too much faith in the Owner's manual. They are very generic and sometimes misleading.

I don't have a definitive answer for you - my '95 Coachmen has 2 tanks and 2 valve handles which combine to a common outlet. This is how most RVs are plumbed even back in '86. By the way, your VIN designates a chassis built in 1985. Don't be surprised by that as motorhomes often are built on a chassis from the previous year due to production lead times so it likely is a 1986 Coachmen.

Keep looking and digging to find eveidence of a second sewer outlet - OR evidence of modified or removed sewer drain lines. Previous owners sometimes do strange and unfathomable things to their RVs.

BTW, for your toilet valve, you'll need to see what brand and model it is then you can search for the parts.

Best of Luck!

[rmeusborn]

See attached for the solution. We just hadn't searched hard enough. Thanks to all for your help locating the gray drain and also identifying the potty, required parts, and repair procedure.

Richard