What is this and What does it do?

[FlatsixV2]

Hello All,

I just recently purchased a 2018 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. It has this in one of the bays and I'm stumped...what is it and what does it do?

Thanks in advance for your help with my limited Fleetwood knowledge!

[ernest917]

Aqua heat for floors????

[1doodadd]

Vacu-flush system

[Dutch Star Don]

Vacuflush…..it's the thing that sounds like a little man tinkering in your basement, every time you flush!

[hattitude]

Originally Posted by FlatsixV2

Hello All,

I just recently purchased a 2018 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. It has this in one of the bays and I'm stumped...what is it and what does it do?

Thanks in advance for your help with my limited Fleetwood knowledge!

Looks like you have a VacuFlush toilet system....

That's probably the vacuum pump and the vacuum tank.... or as they often refer to it as the "vacuum generator"... to evacuate waste from the toilet, and then pump it to the holding tank...

Sometimes, the smaller systems, have the pump, vacuum tank, and holding tank as a one piece system....

Sealand also makes an overboard discharge pump, which is identical to the vacuum pump, but without the duckbill valves... so I guess it could also be a holding tank discharge pump... but that tank looks too small to be a holding tank.

On a second look, I'm pretty sure it is the vacuum pump and vacuum tank. The square thing on the tank, next to the pump, looks like the vacuum pressure switch ......

I had several SeaLand Vacuflush toilet systems on my boats... I even installed two myself, but I am unfamiliar with any of their systems that may be used in motorhomes....

[Domo]

I used to work in a biotech instrumentation company and sometimes the field sales personnel and marketing folks would come up with far flung ideas and then hand them to engineering. Engineering (before we purchased that company) would invariably accept that suggestion as the holy grail and design solutions - no matter how impractical or how few customers would actually want/use that feature. (The company later learned to talk to the customers instead of the salesmen and marketing dreamers.)

When I read what this was (vacuflush) I was immediately reminded of that company as this mechanical marvel appears to be another engineering solution to a salesman's casual desire to have the toilet far away from the black tank. (Perhaps a second toilet - which I also take umbrage with in a MH unless you have a football team on board).

I keep thinking that sometimes, just sometimes, the engineers should say, "No, that's just going add to the cost of the MH and be another thing that will break and take up precious space in the MH."

Okay - just remembering the old days - too much at-home time with this silly virus around.

P.S. Yes, I'm pretty sure floor plan variations drove the placement while chassis balance left the tanks where they fit easily.

[spuds]

As others have said, it's the vacuum generator and pump for a Dometic/Sealand VacuFlush system.

Basically, your toilet is not directly over the black tank, so the contents need to be "helped" to the tank when you flush.

There are 4 duckbills that need to be replaced generally every 3 years. Note their orientation - they should allow opening when there's flow to the tank and stop backflow otherwise. There is also a bowl seal that is part of the maintenance.

Our 2003 Foretravel had a VacuFlush system, so they've been used in coaches for a number of years, although not as common as in boats. Your best source for parts will be a marine sanitation supplier rather than an RV parts house.

[Bajanbounder]

Originally Posted by FlatsixV2

Hello All,



I just recently purchased a 2018 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. It has this in one of the bays and I'm stumped...what is it and what does it do?



Thanks in advance for your help with my limited Fleetwood knowledge!

As mentioned, Vacuflush......As the owner of a Fleetwood with Vacuflush for 8 years I suggest (if you are handy) to fully acquaint yourself with this system as pro-active routine maintenance is absolutely recommended to avoid a breakdown in the middle of trip...Lots of good info online and on this blog. I have twice proactively replaced the Duckbills and bellows to avoid failure. This was on the advice of those that learnt the hard way....Great system when working properly.
Dave A.

[GypsyR]

So is this one of those things like when they are saying newer isn't necessarily better? Our old coach uses gravity. Gravity tends not to break, wear out, or need service. This thing doesn't seem like something I would personally enjoy maintaining.

But anyway, I get that it allows the black tank to be elsewhere but people are speaking of it like there are other advantages or things they like about the system. Just curious really, what might those be then? Just because I am totally unfamiliar with these.

[hattitude]

Originally Posted by GypsyR

So is this one of those things like when they are saying newer isn't necessarily better? Our old coach uses gravity. Gravity tends not to break, wear out, or need service. This thing doesn't seem like something I would personally enjoy maintaining.

But anyway, I get that it allows the black tank to be elsewhere but people are speaking of it like there are other advantages or things they like about the system. Just curious really, what might those be then? Just because I am totally unfamiliar with these.

Obviously, in a motorhome, the gravity method, when the toilet is over the holding tank, is pretty foolproof..

In a motorhome, the vacuflush system is for a toilet not mounted over the holding tank.

I believe the VacuFlush system was developed for boats, where it has several advantages...

The vacuum generator is far superior to the old style macerator pumps... those macerators got clogged/plugged all the time and the impellers would burn out if run dry... in the vacuflush system, the smallest restriction in the system is at the bowl.. if it makes it out of the bowl, it will make it to the holding tank..

The VF system uses freshwater on a boat, most of the macerator systems use raw water (salt water in an ocean application) which lead to harsher smells...

Also the VF system uses far less water to flush than a macerator system. It allows for a boat holding tank to have a longer pump out schedule..

The maintenance isn't that bad really... just flush the hoses/pump with plenty of fresh water before you do the maintenance...

I lived aboard my last boat, a 46' Hatteras Convertible, for 16 years. It had two heads, that I converted to VacuFlush systems within 2 months of taking possession of the boat.

I used the head for the master stateroom the most... the guest head was used on dive/fishing trips by guests.. In 16 years I replaced the master head duckbill valves 4 times, and a pump bellow once. The guest head had the duckbill valves changed twice and the pump/bellow never needed service.. The vacuum tanks and and vacuum switches never needed service. The SeaLand pump used in the system was so good, quiet, and dependable... I used one (with just 2 duckbills controlling flow direction) for my overboard discharge pump.. It ran flawlessly for all 16 years..

That was my 2nd boat with a VacuFlush System... I won't own a boat without one..