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Grey water tank poor design and mods ( for camp dad )
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68 Posts
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1
June 4, 2013 - 7:59 pm
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We started talking about this in another topic but here's  a few pics of the poor design of the Thetford 27 gallon tank.

First: take this thing off, gets in the way!
[img width=478 height=640]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e43/cmarques1/AA8EFA2E-2AAC-43A2-B65A-4DC60598D7E5-2658-0000050DB6E7E6DC.jpg[/img]
Now you have a more streamlined tank
[img width=478 height=640]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e43/cmarques1/74560D02-FE36-45B7-B7E0-69B03F18EEE6-2658-0000050DC5C2D564.jpg[/img]
It's hard to drain all the water out as the drain hose comes out the bottom of the tank almost a foot from the edge it should come out of. If you tilt the tank, almost 2-3 gallons ( maybe more) of water will go right past the hose and stay in the tank. I have to keep sloshing it back and forth to get drained.
[img width=478 height=640]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e43/cmarques1/E877E67B-1C23-4150-B0FE-B70679BF6008-2658-0000050DD1B2FDA0.jpg[/img]
[img width=640 height=478]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e43/cmarques1/68FF858B-1241-464A-BBC1-7E95A868D9E2-2658-0000050DDA560790.jpg[/img]
For taking the tank to empty, I picked up this bar at Pecos RV for about $20. ( Fire Capt Jim had one and I thought was neat) works great and hooks on hitch ball to tow.
[img width=640 height=478]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e43/cmarques1/EFF9EFF4-0A6F-4927-B401-F5E86ED28F86-2658-0000050DF3CC6B9D.jpg[/img]

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485 Posts
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June 4, 2013 - 10:13 pm
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Thanks Chris. My tank came with a metal handle. I will remove that thing you pointed out. I have just about decided to get rid of it and get a standard blue one, like Fire Captain Jim has. Simple design but works great.

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1263 Posts
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June 4, 2013 - 10:17 pm
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We've got the plain blue one but DH has trouble with it backing up in the drain hose since the collector hole is on top of the tank. It's hard for the gray water to flow upward into the tank unless you help it by lifting the hose whn it backs up. It's not a real big deal but it's annoying. The blue tank also does not empty completely, but it's only about a cup or two of water, not a large amount.

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68 Posts
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June 4, 2013 - 10:38 pm
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Ours came free with the pup so not complaining too much about a $230 freebie 🙂 I may add a larger vent at the top to drain quicker but otherwise can live with it. Other bad part is disconnecting the hose get spilled waste due to bottom fill. Have to be quick to reattach cap.

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131 Posts
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June 5, 2013 - 5:21 am
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[quote author=GA Judy link=topic=2510.msg24041#msg24041 date=1370398628]
We've got the plain blue one but DH has trouble with it backing up in the drain hose since the collector hole is on top of the tank. It's hard for the gray water to flow upward into the tank unless you help it by lifting the hose whn it backs up. It's not a real big deal but it's annoying. The blue tank also does not empty completely, but it's only about a cup or two of water, not a large amount.

To solve the hose lower than the tote problem. Camco makes a clear 90 degree fitting which on one side has a standard twist/pin connection ring and the other side is just a slip on so you can connect standard slinky hose with a clamp. I found mine in the Wally World mini RV section. You attach this elbow to the tote and make up your own small hose section for between this fitting and the tank outlet on you trailer. I bought a hose with the twist pin connection on both ends and cut off the one end. My section of hose is only 6 to 8 inches long. I don't know how low to the ground your tank outlet is on the Trailmanor, but mine is not all that high on my Passport and this setup works with my Blue Barker 30 gal tote. The small hose section is not long enough to dip down and hold any water.

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40 Posts
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June 5, 2013 - 5:34 am
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Thanks!  Wonderful post!

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1263 Posts
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June 5, 2013 - 3:43 pm
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Sounds great Jobn. Thanks much.

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