A Newbie mistake with the sewer hose and cap

[jstchilln]

After reading the manual and watching YouTube videos and lurking here on the forum I thought I was ready for our first time out and was confident we would have a good time with maybe a couple of small hiccups. Our RV Dealer, Four Season RV Acres in Abilene Ks has a small RV park and they give you two free nights to try out your RV or travel trailer and we decided that would be a good deal in case we had any problems they would be right there. We set up our new Imagine 2670 MKV started to get things ready and the AC started to cool things right down and we felt good that we had practiced and were prepared. Our first night was very nice and we woke up rested and ready for the day but while checking things I noticed that my # 2 grey tank was filling up and very close to full. We had a sewer connection and I had connected my sewer hose and had good drop with my slinky but when I pulled the tank drain nothing came out. I tried the other grey tank and nothing came out even though they both showed that they had water in them. I went back through the manual and re read the pages on the tanks and came up blank then I sat and looked at it thinking of every single little thing I could have done wrong and came up blank. I ended up calling up the hill to Four Seasons and explained the problem and they sent Steve down to help.Steve had done our walk through and was very helpful and I was glad that it was him coming to help. We went over everything I did and he pulled the drains and scratched his head and told me "I know they worked because I tested this before we sent it out". After going over several things he started to go to the hose connection and he pulled it slightly off and product came out and he quickly re connected it and we knew we had drainage and right then it hit me. I remembered when we unboxed the hose that these little hose caps fell out of the box and I put them into the ends of the hose so I wouldn't lose them. Feeling stupid I told Steve that i knew exactly what the problem was and he offered to stay and help but I told him thanks but no thanks and we thanked him several times for coming down to help us out. Steve told us to use a tub or a bucket but to be ready because 5 or more gallons might drain out and be ready because it might be messy. We had a tub but it was for the drain hose and I drove ten miles into town and bought a big enough tub and some Clorox spray for what I knew would be a very messy job. I got the tub under the connection and didnt get very much on my hands and only a few gallons came out which we poured down the sewer drain. I reconnected everything and pulled the drain and it started to flow just the way it should and while I still felt stupid I also felt relieved that everything was working.

I know this wont be our only Newbie mistake and it ended up alright but it just goes to show me that even when you think you are doing the right thing that you never know... LOL

Here is the culprit....

[D2Reid]

Thank you for sharing. And thank you for taking the extra steps to keep from making a mess at the campground. As someone who comes in after you to clean the campsite and prepare it for the next guest I really really appreciate you being diligent.

If someone hasn't mentioned it to you before you may want to get a twist valve to put on your sewer exit connection. Makes for a quick emergency shutoff in case things aren't going well.

[eodenc]

If someone hasn't mentioned it to you before you may want to get a twist valve to put on your sewer exit connection. Makes for a quick emergency shutoff in case things aren't going well.

I got one of these but found that when I would twist my hose off the valve would come off as well so returned it. How do you prevent that.

I had the same thing happen in a flying j dump station on my first trip. Realized it after a few minutes. Used the hose to spray everything down as best as I could. Caps have never been put back in.

[D2Reid]

I got one of these but found that when I would twist my hose off the valve would come off as well so returned it. How do you prevent that.

I keep forgetting that part, I installed the valve so long ago.... I had the same problem. I had just completed some trim modifications and had some self tapping screws on hand. I grabbed one and drilled it into the sewer pipe just in front of one of the tangs on the valve so it could not come off unless the screw was taken out.

I put the screw on the top of the sewer pipe not on the sides or bottom... after you put the screw in, if you decide to take the valve off you have to put the screw back in the hole or it will leak.

[WhittleBurner]

All in all you had a successful trip and walked away with new knowledge of removing those caps. Our hose will not connect with those caps in place, I'm suprised yours did.

Xs 2 on the twist on valve.

[vonzoog]

Xs 2 on the twist on valve.

Xs 3^^^^^. One of the smartest accessories that you can buy. If it saves your butt only one time you will never regret it.

[jstchilln]

Xs 3^^^^^. One of the smartest accessories that you can buy. If it saves your butt only one time you will never regret it.

Would you please post a link of a recommended twist on valve.

[vonzoog]

Would you please post a link of a recommended twist on valve.

In the second post (#2) click on the “twist valve”.

[jstchilln]

In the second post (#2) click on the “twist valve”.

Thanks, it didn't highlight very well on my screen. I will get one ordered.

Also, afterwards I bought a hose connection for the hose to spray clean it out and gave it a good flushing. They also sell one to hook to the trailer and the hose to clean out the pipe up to the valve. The salesman at the Rv sales said that he didnt know how far up the pipe went to the valve and he didnt know how effective it would be on my Imagine 2670. Any suggestions??

[vonzoog]

Or try this:

https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T58-...1030558&sr=8-1