A Newbie mistake with the sewer hose and cap

JS

jstchilln

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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.... Untitled 1ff.jpg
 
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.
 
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.




 
jstchilln said:
Would you please post a link of a recommended twist on valve.
Click to expand...
I bought this valve as well and it's great at saving you from a mess. However if it's any consolation, I've messed up with it as well. You do have to remember to pull open the gate valve once your sewer hose is hooked up. Ask me how I know lol! :rolleyes:
 
vonzoog said:
In the second post (#2) click on the “twist valve”.
Click to expand...

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??
 
Some people like the hose backflush connectors, but I have not really felt a need for it.

Consider this method: when you know you will dump the black tank, be sure you have taken a couple of showers and stored the water in the grey tank. Always dump the black first, then the grey will flush out the nasty stuff in the system. I usually "walk the slinky" between the black and grey dumps, but lifting it up and "chasing" any contents toward the drain ensuring that it is as empty as I can before the grey flush.

Also remember that you were given a blue hose with a sprayer on the end. Turn on the pump and spray some in the hose when you take it off the camper (always disconnect the camper side first!). "Chase" that clean water out the slinky before putting it away.

Those little plugs they usually sell with the drain hoses? Those are to plug the hoses when you store them to keep the smell and nasty stuff inside until your next trip.
 
Not sure which type you are talking about. If it is the type that fits on the end of the sewer hose and then connects to the fixed sewer pipe exit on the RV itself and has a water hose fitting so that you connect the water hose and "back flush" up the sewer pipe to attempt to flush out the tank, then I'm not too impressed with it. Others may have a different opinion, but I do not feel that it actually get much clean out up the sewer pipe and anywhere near the tank. Especially if you have any bends/elbows before it reached that tank. It may help flush the sewer pipe itself, but again that would depend upon the elbows in the pipe.

Does your unit have the black tank flush on the control center? It would be a black cap fitting next to the white hose fitting for your city water hose connection. That is a much better way to flush the system.
 
vonzoog said:
Not sure which type you are talking about. If it is the type that fits on the end of the sewer hose and then connects to the fixed sewer pipe exit on the RV itself and has a water hose fitting so that you connect the water hose and "back flush" up the sewer pipe to attempt to flush out the tank, then I'm not too impressed with it. Others may have a different opinion, but I do not feel that it actually get much clean out up the sewer pipe and anywhere near the tank. Especially if you have any bends/elbows before it reached that tank. It may help flush the sewer pipe itself, but again that would depend upon the elbows in the pipe.

Does your unit have the black tank flush on the control center? It would be a black cap fitting next to the white hose fitting for your city water hose connection. That is a much better way to flush the system.
Click to expand...

I am not sure about the flush but it does have a black cap connection. I will have to check next week when we pick up our TT. We left it at the dealer to fix a few minor repairs. Also, sorry for taking so long to get back to read the replies to my post but I am building a wall and an area to back the trailer onto and in the heat and my age it's kicking my butt.
 
If you have the Black Tank Flush (which I believe you do) then you have a good system for taking care of your black tank. First you can fill your tank with water before you head out. You want to keep water in the black tank at all times. I prefer at least a half tank. If you don't have water in the tank solids will collect on the bottom of the tank and become difficult to clean out. When I dump the black tank I also connect a water hose to the black tank flush fitting. This will aid in flushing the tank while you are dumping the tank. You can also repeat this process several times every now an then to assure keeping a clean tank.

It will also help if you post in your signature what make and the model number for the Grand Design that you have. NOT just the number ,but PLEASE the name of the model also. Example: Many, many people here on this forum will put something like "my 376TH" and expect everyone to know exactly what they are talking about. If you pul "Momentum 376TH" then everyone know exactly what you are talking about. Even better if you add the model year. I spend so much time going to the Grand Design web-site to research a number to fine out what kind of trailer they have. Another thing, if you have a Reflection it also helps it you say it is a TT or 5th-Wheel. You will find that you will be getting more help from others if you do this. Also you will get less useless help from those that are confused about what you actually have.

Sorry for my rant, it is not address at you.
 
LOL............Dallas, we know what you have without even looking. You've been around too long.:)
 
It happens. I think dealers pull the plug to show how it works on an empty system and then leave it out. It's happened to me on two new trailers in ten years. Open I tnn nn up to hook th ebb hose and out she it flows. Think I would have learned, but apparently not everyone has a sewer experience. Well om to the club!
 
vonzoog said:
If you have the Black Tank Flush (which I believe you do) then you have a good system for taking care of your black tank. First you can fill your tank with water before you head out. You want to keep water in the black tank at all times. I prefer at least a half tank. If you don't have water in the tank solids will collect on the bottom of the tank and become difficult to clean out. When I dump the black tank I also connect a water hose to the black tank flush fitting. This will aid in flushing the tank while you are dumping the tank. You can also repeat this process several times every now an then to assure keeping a clean tank.

It will also help if you post in your signature what make and the model number for the Grand Design that you have. NOT just the number ,but PLEASE the name of the model also. Example: Many, many people here on this forum will put something like "my 376TH" and expect everyone to know exactly what they are talking about. If you pul "Momentum 376TH" then everyone know exactly what you are talking about. Even better if you add the model year. I spend so much time going to the Grand Design web-site to research a number to fine out what kind of trailer they have. Another thing, if you have a Reflection it also helps it you say it is a TT or 5th-Wheel. You will find that you will be getting more help from others if you do this. Also you will get less useless help from those that are confused about what you actually have.

Sorry for my rant, it is not address at you.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the input, I'm going to update my signature right now
 
It happens, but your story is priceless and no matter what happened, you handled it like a pro. We all make mistakes, and many different ones, but we all learn from them and move on. Get the twist valve, its a great investment and inexpensive. Well worth it and I would not be caught without it :) Stay Safe!
 
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