Waste Valve Replacement?

[Courtney Sergent]

So it looks like at one point in time the gray water line was connected below the black water valve. I was looking for some advice, would it be better to get a whole new valve assembly or just get a new thetford valve and add a T for the gray water?

[Richard W. Cobbs]

I was hoping that somebody else would reply to this because I don't know just what I am seeing!  It looks like the dump valve is installed vertically, but I believe that a normal installation would be horizontal.  In this configuration the waste would dump straight down!  It doesn't appear that there is a short pipe extending from the valve.  Possibly, the previous owner had the camper in one place and attached to some type of septic system.  Possibly he stuck a pan underneath!  Does the gray water drain have a screwed on cap?  What does the valve go in to?  Is there a holding tank,or does it go directly into the toilet?

[Lakota Wolf]

Let me add a few cents and try and help a fellow RV'er out.... You can check to see if the BLACK drain actually goes to a tank, (Im thinking this because it looks like you have a cover belly pan).. Open the valve to a big drain pan and have someone pour some water down the toilet,, half a gallon should give you a rough idea. Also a good idea to look down the toilet hole with a flashlight and see if you can see a bottom to a tank,, and if not, the previous owner could have possibly gone with direct waste removal, (like a fema trailer), where the waste goes directly down a waste tube to the septic connection (Like a house would use).

If your close to a waste dump connection,,, Keep Black tank closed and add some water down the toilet hole and see if it fills up quickly,, verifying there is no holding tank. You can do the same with the GREY tank,, which hold the waste water from the sinks and tub.. Open the grey tank,, (I think you mentioned it might be a screw on cap,,, *weird). unscrew the cap and pour some water down the sink and see if water flows through... 90% of RV's will have had a belly pan under the rv,, BUT the holding tanks are usually exposed,, to make repair or replacement easier, and not having to remove the belly pan.

[Courtney Sergent]

Thank you all for the reply, the camper is a 1970 Forester. It has a very small holding tank right under the toilet inside. Looking that the drain from underneath there was another piece attached to the drain valve at one time which had broken off. The camper does not have a gray water take, I have done some research and they didn't add gray water tanks until 1973. The black drain actually comes from the kitchen and bathroom sinks.

[Lakota Wolf]

Ahhhhhhh,,, Now we gotcha,,,, and your right,, double tanks wernt added till the later dates.. single tank was the standard norm. And from what I can figure from the pics, is the previous owner had a direct hook up to a septic,,, possibly used the RV for a mother in law quarters or secluded get away and had it parked for extended periods of time., You can add seperate drain valves,, which wouldnt be feasable due to double the cost. I would configure a 2 into 1 drain valve.. A little imagination and creative plumbing, I think it would serve its purpose and look good,, plus keep it as high above the ground as you can for road clearance. On difficult connections,, they have the *rubber couplers which are the shadizzle in the plumbing world.

[Courtney Sergent]

Thats what my thoughts were, to remove the old assembly all together and just reconfigure it. Will definitely look into the rubber couplers! would make my job much easier. lol

[Lakota Wolf]

Rules of rebuilding,,, work smarter, not harder, and use your imagination,,

My Grand father used to joke and say,,,, What would MURPHY do? If Murphy can make a bolt fall to the center of a vehicle just out of reach, he can surely make the impossible possible.  Good luck,,, and we are all here to help ya if need be.

[Courtney Sergent]

Haha, that's a good one! Thanks!

[Courtney Sergent]

Here is a better view of where I believe the hose connection was but has broken off.

[True North]

side note but i purchased a used RV and discovered it has NO tank. the hard way.

looks like it was damaged or removed. no wonder it looked funky to me.  i'll be following this thread for any insight on what I need to do next.  good luck with your repair!

[Courtney Sergent]

That's a bummer! I haven't fixed it yet but I purchased a whole new assembly from etrailer.com and plan to cut off what is already there down to straight pipe and replace with the new piece that will connect the gray water right below the waste valve. I'll post pictures when I replace it.

[True North]

it was more of a bummer for my poor nephew wondering what the heck just dropped out the bottom of his Aunt's RV.  Although he did crack up for about an hour.  Live and learn.  Sorry street. It wasn't on purpose. Promise!  Look forward to your pics. :)

[Rick Faunce]

I don't know where your grey water pipe is coming from but it looks like you may have room under there to mount a medium low profile grey water tank and tie into the plumbing that is already there.