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07-05-2017, 08:52 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
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Combining black and gray water tanks
Is it possible to have only one tank for both the gray and black water? Thanks
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07-05-2017, 08:57 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Mountain Home Arkansas
Posts: 174
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I'm sure it is possible however it's not a good idea. Normal practice is to empty the black tank first, shut that valve, open the gray tank valve and that will flush the line out. If you had only one tank, the system could not flush effectively.
Why are you asking anyway?
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2007 Tiffin Phaeton 40QSH
2013 Ford Focus Titanium
Mountain Home, AR
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07-05-2017, 08:58 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Sedona, AZ
Posts: 3,023
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Why would you want to? Because of structural parts to most MHs undercarriages tanks can only be so big. So having only one would limit you in capacity. You probably can't replace two 40 gallons with one 80, for example. Also, you would lose the nice ability to flush the sewer hose with grey water after dumping black, although if you had a good spray system on your one tank I suppose that might suffice.
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Shell Bleiweiss
2014 1/2 Thor Challenger 37KT
Sedona, AZ
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07-05-2017, 09:50 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
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It's actually in a custom toter home that was just recently built. I have never heard of only one tank that's why I was asking. I'm guessing because of the size that's why it only has one 100gallon gray/black water tank. My concern was if the smell would come back through the drains in the sink and shower
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07-05-2017, 12:06 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: midwest
Posts: 962
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Don't be concerned about the smell. Gray water can turn septic and smell. The sinks drains are supposed to have a P-trap that blocks and prevents odors. Everything gets vented. Hopefully there is a flushing system in the tank...
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2016 Fleetwood Flair 26e gas Crossover
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07-05-2017, 12:36 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,565
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Only problem with p traps, bouncing down the road tends to empty them after some time.
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07-05-2017, 01:29 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 773
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bmracing
It's actually in a custom toter home that was just recently built. I have never heard of only one tank that's why I was asking. I'm guessing because of the size that's why it only has one 100gallon gray/black water tank. My concern was if the smell would come back through the drains in the sink and shower
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That tank will need some support under it I'd think. Full, it will weigh over 800 pounds. My 5er has two 45 gallon tanks mounted side by side and two supports mounted under them. Coroplast separates the tank from the supports.
The outlets are to the left.
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2012 Dodge C3500 DRW 4x4 Long Box, WeatherGuard 90 Gal transfer tank, B&W Companion Hitch
2012 Keystone Montana 3100RL, 520W Solar, 460AH batteries, Morningstar MPPT 45 CC, Bogart 2030RV monitor.
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07-05-2017, 01:38 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DFW, Tex-US
Posts: 6,196
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It's not a show stopper at all if handled correctly...
Many people that have two tanks and have one that fills up much quicker than the other use a third valve like this one to put on the sewer outlet,
they close that valve,
open both the grey and black tank valves so the liquids can seek their own level in both tanks, effectively giving you one large tank...
You can flush both tanks with lots of fresh water 
__________________
'11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT RR10R pushed by a '14 Jeep Wrangler JKU. History.. 5'ers: 13 Redwood 38gk(junk!), 11 MVP Destiny, Open Range TT, Winn LeSharo, C's, popups, vans, tents...
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07-05-2017, 01:45 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 84
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That's a scary thought at first. I guess it would be manageable if the one tank was plumbed for black water, 3" plumbing vs. 1 1/2" when exiting.
IMO, More chance of drying out p traps, evaporating the water by leaving it sit for long periods in high heat.
Not so bad to have just a gray water tank back up, not a combined system!
I would also think it would have to have a sani flush or flushing system built in.
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Bob and Better Half
2006 32' Crossroads CrossTerrain
2007 F-250 CC LB SW Power Stroke
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07-05-2017, 01:58 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,846
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For years many trailers only had ONE waste tank and NO flush system and everything worked just fine.
Separate tanks came about for added capacity and lack of large areas. Then more tanks for more capacity. Then flush systems cause it was needed ...
I have 3 waste tanks.black, grey, galley that all drain thru same common header.
I installed a valve permanetly in that common header and can tie the grey/galley together, grey/black together, black/galley together, black/grey/galley together.
I can dump black then run grey/galley water into black etc.
And flush system.......yeah nice but really not necessary.
Drain waste tanks (black/grey) when FULL. High level/weight-volume of liquids gives it that WHOOSH factor when draining. Then add couole full toilet bowl flushes back into tank and GO.
Water sloshes around,....keeps tank bottom wet...nothing dries out and tank is ready for more crap.
Doesn't need to be flushed/rinsed....worried over etc. It's just a holding tank and if kept wet it is good to go.
Stink/odors........
RVs have vapor & mechanical barriers. Maintain them and no stink.
Simple.......
RVng is NOT complicated.....folks make it so.
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Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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