My Toilet Tissue Woes

[dnystrom]

OK! We pee and Poop. That's the way it is. Our coach is pee paper goes in the wastebasket. Poop paper goes in the toilet. Kirkland is the best bet for the RV. Paper is hard on the dump valve if it's not the right kind. So, The less paper the better. This tearing off 3 feet of paper to blot or dab is fine UNLESS you are in a RV. Men just don't have the hassel that our women do

[Forest Grump]

Originally Posted by dnystrom

OK! We pee and Poop. That's the way it is. Our coach is pee paper goes in the wastebasket. Poop paper goes in the toilet. Kirkland is the best bet for the RV. Paper is hard on the dump valve if it's not the right kind. So, The less paper the better. This tearing off 3 feet of paper to blot or dab is fine UNLESS you are in a RV. Men just don't have the hassel that our women do

Way to much information!

[lanerd]

Originally Posted by Gadget Man

My motorhome's sewage system was poorly designed. My gravity discharge toilet dumps directly into a small portion of the black tank, which in turn drains into the main black tank
Craig

Nomad Mike A pre-black tank! That's just a really bad idea.

In all my years of rv'ing and the many different types of rv's that I've own.....I have never heard of this design. Exactly what do you mean by "small portion of the black tank" and how do you know this actually exists?

With all due respect, this just doesn't sound right to me.

Ron

[Forest Grump]

Our '91 Holiday Rambler was similar. It was a rectangular tank with a sloping bottom. Toilet at shallow end, drain at deep end.

[Gadget Man]

Originally Posted by lanerd

In all my years of rv'ing and the many different types of rv's that I've own.....I have never heard of this design. Exactly what do you mean by "small portion of the black tank" and how do you know this actually exists?

With all due respect, this just doesn't sound right to me.

No disrespect taken. I too have been RVing for a very long time. I know this tank design exists because I can see it with my own eyes. As Forest Grump eluded to, this design is on more than one brand of coach. I have met others with the same complaint.

I snapped a photo of the small tank portion that I referred too. It is accessible via one of my outside storage compartments. You can clearly see how small this portion of the tank is and where it attaches to the toilet flange. The tank slopes/drains into the main black tank on the opposite side of the chassis rail. As I said, not a great design, but something I must live with.

You can also see where one of my tank rinsers hits the area in question, but it didn't provide enough force to break through the build-up of Charmin.



Back on the TP topic, thanks everyone for the advice. We do use plenty of water so I can only assume it was my decision to switch to Charmin, since the clogging reared it's ugly head again only after immediately after switching brands. We will give Kirkland a try.

Thanks!

Craig

[Dasmoeturhead]

Scotts, the stuff in the Wally world RV section works for us.

[Dutch Star Don]

"Gadget Man".....I had a Fleetwood Terra with the same tank. It was very frustrating. When you tried to open the toilet bowl valve to wash down the plug, the water would run, so you had to go outside and turn the water off.

Here's what I did, that helped. First, the pipe from the toilet was too long. It was only about an 2 inches from the bottom of the that smaller tank which is slanted toward the main tank. You need to shorten that pipe so that it just fits, allowing more space for waste and TP to make the turn. I was also able to enlarge the opening under the toilet by using a house type flange and then installing a large pipe. It helped. I complained to Fleetwood and they denied any issues, even though I presented them with several internet complaints. I was so frustrated, I sold that coach and never looked at another Fleetwood product. A year later they recalled the tank.

Thinking about it now, I would remove the toilet, enlarge the drain hole and install a large 6" elbow that would provide a smooth drain into the main tank.

[mgscott4]

I just posted this on another thread.

I wonder if the use of bath salts like Calgon with help. I know when I use it, I let it sit for a while in a full bowl, scrub with a brush, then flush. After I use it, I notice that the bowl appears to be "more slippery" and stuff does not stick to the bowl. I wonder if it would work on the drain pipes too. Along with a lot of water. For me, the Calgon keeps the smell in my black tank down after a drain and rinse.

And I agree with DASMOETURHEAD the Scotts RV paper from Wally world breaks down and does not clog easy. I use a maceator with a clear section at the dump valve. I can see it broken down as it passes. I used to use Angel soft until about a year ago, they changed it, it no longer breaks down, so I switched to Scotts RV paper.

[hydro45640]

I have used Sams Club brand for three years and have not had any problem. When I flush my black tank I add water for 1 minute through the back flush hose. Make sure that you use plenty of water when you flush. I always add water before I #2. Stayed at Myrtle Beach State Park all last winter and never used any chemicals

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by Gadget Man

No disrespect taken. I too have been RVing for a very long time. I know this tank design exists because I can see it with my own eyes. As Forest Grump eluded to, this design is on more than one brand of coach. I have met others with the same complaint.

I snapped a photo of the small tank portion that I referred too. It is accessible via one of my outside storage compartments. You can clearly see how small this portion of the tank is and where it attaches to the toilet flange. The tank slopes/drains into the main black tank on the opposite side of the chassis rail. As I said, not a great design, but something I must live with.

You can also see where one of my tank rinsers hits the area in question, but it didn't provide enough force to break through the build-up of Charmin.



Back on the TP topic, thanks everyone for the advice. We do use plenty of water so I can only assume it was my decision to switch to Charmin, since the clogging reared it's ugly head again only after immediately after switching brands. We will give Kirkland a try.

Thanks!

Craig

A septic tank company told me that charmin was one of the worst to break down.

[spsm]

Throw your toilet paper in the corner like your neighbors south of you do. Problem solved.

[Brockx]

For what it is worth........Charmin Ultra is the only paper called out by name to avoid in my toilet literature. Sealand Dometic printed a special "yellow colored" page to bring attention to this, my system is the vacuum type.

[Gadget Man]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

.....Thinking about it now, I would remove the toilet, enlarge the drain hole and install a large 6" elbow that would provide a smooth drain into the main tank.

Good idea Don, thanks. I replaced my toilet two years ago and looked closely at the plumbing. The discharge pipe from my toilet does not extend like your Terra did. It is just long enough to attach at the top of the tank. We bought a pack of Angel Soft to get us by for the week, and so far no more issues.

Originally Posted by Brockx

For what it is worth........Charmin Ultra is the only paper called out by name to avoid in my toilet literature. Sealand Dometic printed a special "yellow colored" page to bring attention to this, my system is the vacuum type.

Figures! Like I said in my OP, it wasn't broke, so I shouldn't have "fixed it." Also, don't believe everything you see on YouTube, LOL!

Thanks.

Craig

[530ktm]

There is Charmin Ultra Strong and Ultra Soft and I have read the Ultra Soft is one of the best at breaking down and working properly and watched some of the tests. I guess everyone needs to do their own test and also think about how much paper they are shoving down the pipe.