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02-20-2017, 12:08 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: All Over the US
Posts: 22
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Combining black/grey tanks
I'm posting this under boondocking because I assume mostly boondockers will care about the subject.
I saw a video where, after installing a composting toilet, someone (Gone with the Wynn's) combined their black & grey tanks by simple adding a gate valve where the black & grey pipes meet up.
I have a 2014 Bounder 33C and I'd like to try this out, but it's winter and I've already drained everything.
I've contacted Fleetwood and (probbaly because of liability issues) don't want to comment on this practice.
Has anyone out there done this with an success?
Thanks!
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02-20-2017, 12:21 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, Ga
Posts: 581
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Quote:
Originally Posted by descour
I'm posting this under boondocking because I assume mostly boondockers will care about the subject.
I saw a video where, after installing a composting toilet, someone (Gone with the Wynn's) combined their black & grey tanks by simple adding a gate valve where the black & grey pipes meet up.
I have a 2014 Bounder 33C and I'd like to try this out, but it's winter and I've already drained everything.
I've contacted Fleetwood and (probbaly because of liability issues) don't want to comment on this practice.
Has anyone out there done this with an success?
Thanks!
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My husband did this on our American Coach. I'll see if I can get him to post the details.
.
__________________
2015 American Coach Tradition 42G
Name: The Olive U
TOAD: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit - Olive U2
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02-22-2017, 09:47 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,512
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You can easily purchase a gate valve that attaches at the sewer hose hookup, and combine the two tanks by closing that new valve and opening your other two valves. Personally, I've never had the need, but to each his own. The only downside that I can see is that you are introducing black waste into your grey tank, so odors through the sink if the water in the trap is lost (while driving) will more easily make it's way into the coach, although whether grey or black actually smells worse is debatable. Of course, if you're replacing the toilet with a composting unit, then you really have no issues with black waste anyway, so it would indeed be a simple way to increase your grey capacity.
__________________
You don't stop playing because you grow old...You grow old because you stop playing!
2004 Itasca M30W
'20 Can Am X3 X RS Turbo RR, '85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310
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02-22-2017, 11:02 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,674
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Keep in mind you'd still have to be diligent in when to empty the tanks. Have you ever had grey water back up into the shower because you were late emptying it? Think of sewage water backing up in your shower.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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02-22-2017, 11:21 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,834
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If you don't have a composting toilet, I would not do this. If you have replaced all your toilets with composting type, then it makes sense.
__________________
Randy - Manhattan, Kansas
2015 Vista 27N
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
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02-22-2017, 11:24 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, Ga
Posts: 581
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4x4van
You can easily purchase a gate valve that attaches at the sewer hose hookup, and combine the two tanks by closing that new valve and opening your other two valves. Personally, I've never had the need, but to each his own. The only downside that I can see is that you are introducing black waste into your grey tank, so odors through the sink if the water in the trap is lost (while driving) will more easily make it's way into the coach, although whether grey or black actually smells worse is debatable. Of course, if you're replacing the toilet with a composting unit, then you really have no issues with black waste anyway, so it would indeed be a simple way to increase your grey capacity.
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It's not been an issue the VERY FEW times we've done it. We also use happy camper in both the grey and black tanks and are diligent about dumping. My father in law's Newell only has 1 tank period, so both black and grey water go in it.
__________________
2015 American Coach Tradition 42G
Name: The Olive U
TOAD: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit - Olive U2
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02-22-2017, 11:30 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Freightliner Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Dallas, Ga.
Posts: 618
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blondiega1
It's not been an issue the VERY FEW times we've done it. We also use happy camper in both the grey and black tanks and are diligent about dumping. My father in law's Newell only has 1 tank period, so both black and grey water go in it.
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Plus, both of our toilets are Tecma macerating toilets so we don't have large chunks (lol) trying to get through the narrower grey water drains.
We also have grey and black tank flush with our San-T-Flush system. I flush both tanks after a weekend on merged tanks.
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02-22-2017, 12:48 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twogypsies
Keep in mind you'd still have to be diligent in when to empty the tanks. Have you ever had grey water back up into the shower because you were late emptying it? Think of sewage water backing up in your shower.
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Exactly!
__________________
You don't stop playing because you grow old...You grow old because you stop playing!
2004 Itasca M30W
'20 Can Am X3 X RS Turbo RR, '85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310
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02-23-2017, 04:50 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: All Over the US
Posts: 22
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Thanks for all the replies. If it's not clear, I'll be doing this to extend our time at state parks or BLM lands. The grey tank was always our limiting factor.
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02-23-2017, 05:34 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: South Dakota and everywhere!
Posts: 394
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As was mentioned above, there are after-market gate valves like https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T58-...rds=gate+valve
What I do is, when my grey gets full and I want to transfer some to the black, I attach it to the outflow of the whole system and close it. Then I open the grey valve and let the cavity fill (I have a see-through elbow, too) then open the black valve. I watch the grey flow to to the black and when the flow slows down, I close the black valve first and then the grey.
This approach has now done everything your original question poses but I have not incurred any of the downside mentioned in other posts above... like grey backing up into the shower.
Another reason to use this method rather than just having them combined openly is that, when you do dump, you still have grey water (without the black mixed in) so that you can dump it last and clean out your hose.
__________________
2004 Damon Escaper 4194 LX400
Freightliner XC Chassis,
Cummins ISL 400hp
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02-23-2017, 06:06 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: The Bluegrass State
Posts: 8,886
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blang
As was mentioned above, there are after-market gate valves like https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T58-...rds=gate+valve
What I do is, when my grey gets full and I want to transfer some to the black, I attach it to the outflow of the whole system and close it. Then I open the grey valve and let the cavity fill (I have a see-through elbow, too) then open the black valve. I watch the grey flow to to the black and when the flow slows down, I close the black valve first and then the grey.
This approach has now done everything your original question poses but I have not incurred any of the downside mentioned in other posts above... like grey backing up into the shower.
Another reason to use this method rather than just having them combined openly is that, when you do dump, you still have grey water (without the black mixed in) so that you can dump it last and clean out your hose.
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__________________
Good Luck, Be Safe and Above All, Don't Forget To Have Fun
Pete
Central Kentucky
2006 Fleetwood Discovery 35H, 2014 Honda CR-V, M&G Engineering Braking System
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02-23-2017, 06:17 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Spicewood Texas (West of Austin)
Posts: 4,511
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blang
As was mentioned above, there are after-market gate valves like https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T58-...rds=gate+valve
What I do is, when my grey gets full and I want to transfer some to the black, I attach it to the outflow of the whole system and close it. Then I open the grey valve and let the cavity fill (I have a see-through elbow, too) then open the black valve. I watch the grey flow to to the black and when the flow slows down, I close the black valve first and then the grey.
This approach has now done everything your original question poses but I have not incurred any of the downside mentioned in other posts above... like grey backing up into the shower.
Another reason to use this method rather than just having them combined openly is that, when you do dump, you still have grey water (without the black mixed in) so that you can dump it last and clean out your hose.
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This is a great idea. I follow everything except where the clear elbow is located. Mine has all black piping connecting the two to the outlet. There's no place to connect a clear plast elbow between tanks to monitor the flow.
__________________
Scotty and Kristen, Airedales Dagny and Wyatt
2007 Newmar Mountain Aire 4528, 450 HP ISM, Allison 4000, 8 Lifeline AGM's
2019 F250 King Ranch 4x4 Powerstroke - SOLD
2022 F350 DRW King Ranch 4 x 4
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02-23-2017, 06:26 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Hot Springs Village
Posts: 109
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blang
As was mentioned above, there are after-market gate valves like https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T58-...rds=gate+valve
What I do is, when my grey gets full and I want to transfer some to the black, I attach it to the outflow of the whole system and close it. Then I open the grey valve and let the cavity fill (I have a see-through elbow, too) then open the black valve. I watch the grey flow to to the black and when the flow slows down, I close the black valve first and then the grey.
This approach has now done everything your original question poses but I have not incurred any of the downside mentioned in other posts above... like grey backing up into the shower.
Another reason to use this method rather than just having them combined openly is that, when you do dump, you still have grey water (without the black mixed in) so that you can dump it last and clean out your hose.
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Do this too to extend grey capacity, also use method to rinse black when dumping. Just dump black then use same procedure to run some grey into black and and dump again.
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02-23-2017, 01:16 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: South Dakota and everywhere!
Posts: 394
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scottybdivin
This is a great idea. I follow everything except where the clear elbow is located. Mine has all black piping connecting the two to the outlet. There's no place to connect a clear plast elbow between tanks to monitor the flow.
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At the end of your outflow pipe, attach the clear elbow (or they make other configurations like straight long or short, too) and then the new gate valve. With the added gate closed and the other two opened, you will see the water moving through the clear. Again, just make sure to open the black last and close it first when the flow begins to slow... to keep the... um... black in the black tank.
Here are some examples of the clear I'm referring to. Basically, just use whatever your configuration and space calls for. And, by the way, there are more of these available. These are just to get you moving in the right direction. Um... no pun intended. Well, ok, maybe a little pun.
https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T102...words=valterra
https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T102...words=valterra
https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T102...words=valterra
__________________
2004 Damon Escaper 4194 LX400
Freightliner XC Chassis,
Cummins ISL 400hp
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