Gray tank will not drain

j1251b · 07-31-2012, 06:44 PM

I have a 2011 36RL fifth wheel. I can not drain the gray tank. When I
pull the lever to open the valve nothing comes out. The cable valve
feels like it is working. The status panel says the tank is full. With
the gray tank valve opened I ran the shower to see if the water would
run thru the tank and out the sewer hose nothing comes out. About a
week ago I drained the gray tank and it drained slow. We are full time
camp host and I need to fix this as soon as possible.

Campers · 07-31-2012, 07:48 PM

Ok. Time to call the factory. Sry, that's all the help I can give. We have a FL and We only have 1 grey water tank as the other one is for the laundry, which we do not haveEdited by: Campers

COLJDM · 07-31-2012, 09:47 PM

We have a 36 FL and we have two grey water tanks, one for the kitchen and one for the bath, did I misunderstand something as you should have two tanks as well.

5th_Time · 07-31-2012, 10:18 PM

John, according to the schematics, FL owners who don't have a washer/dryer have access to only one of the tanks. That is what all the blade valve modifications threads have been about.

Adamsvr · 07-31-2012, 10:36 PM

I'd go out and buy a 25' drain snake, put on some rubber gloves, and fish the snake through the connection where the sewer hose comes out. Messy, stinkey job, but it should clear any clog. Run the snake through both grey tanks keeping the black tank closed. Good luck.

TravelinAnderson · 08-01-2012, 08:28 AM

We have a 36FL and this is the mod I made to enable me to equalize the gray tanks.

I just close the new valve and open both gray tank valves. The water will drain from the full tank and back into the empty one.
The factory plumbing is a real head scratcher because, like COLJDM mentioned, only the washer drains into one tanks while the other handles the kitchen and bath. It's doesn't take long to fill a 45 gallon tank.
Edited by: TravelinAnderson

COLJDM · 08-01-2012, 08:29 AM

Ours was prepped for washer and dryer but we did not order one. We have 3 valves on the side of the coach, one marked black, one marked galley and one marked grey.

wvpel · 08-01-2012, 12:52 PM

We do too. Any idea what the capacity is for each of the two grey tanks? Galley seems to fill up quickly.

Adamsvr · 08-01-2012, 01:01 PM

104 gallons fresh, 45, 45, 45 gallons for each of the black, grey, and grey. That's why COLJDM and TravelinAnderson put the extra value in the sewer line. Gives them 90 gallon combined grey when they close the sewer valve.

Campers · 08-01-2012, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLJDM

We have a 36 FL and we have two grey water tanks, one for the kitchen and one for the bath, did I misunderstand something as you should have two tanks as well.

Our 1 tank is for the galley and bath room the other one is for the washer anddryer.We only have 45 gal of gray water usable, unless we ad the valve that Travelenanderson put on.

**Dave&Ginny** · 08-01-2012, 05:01 PM

I added the extra valve on my RL so the grey water tanks would equalize.

Campers · 08-01-2012, 05:08 PM

Hey Dave. Did you cut the line or did you get the valve that just twists on like a sewer hose?

TravelinAnderson · 08-01-2012, 05:38 PM

The Valterra T58 Twist On Waste Valve is a good option for those of you that don't want to cut your existing drain pipe or don't camp without full hookups very often.

Edited by: TravelinAnderson

wvpel · 08-01-2012, 07:56 PM

Thanks, makes sense. Does anyone know the psi range for the plumbing in Redwood? The standard regulator (40 psi) produces a weak shower. I have an adjustable regulator but do not want to blow the system out.

Campers · 08-01-2012, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravelinAnderson

The Valterra T58 Twist On Waste Valve is a good option for those of you that don't want to cut your existing drain pipe or don't camp without full hookups very often.

Were did you get the valve?

**Dave&Ginny** · 08-01-2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campers

Hey Dave. Did you cut the line or did you get the valve that just twists on like a sewer hose?

I first bought one that I had to cut into the system with, but after I took the black flexible covering off I found that I couldn't cut the pipe due to a connector "Collar" was all I had to work with. I took that valve back and bought a twist on valve. I'm tempted to try to glue it on and see what happens.

BradPAjax · 08-01-2012, 10:06 PM

On our 38 BR there is only 1-2" before the twist connection... we would have to use the twist on valve to equalize the "greys" as well. May give it a try while away for the next month.

**Dave&Ginny** · 08-01-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradPAjax

On our 38 BR there is only 1-2" before the twist connection... we would have to use the twist on valve to equalize the "greys" as well. May give it a try while away for the next month.

It sure can't hurt to give it a try.

I'm concerned with the possibility of the extra valve getting knocked off while on the road by a curb or something. So I make sure both of the original valves are closed while I travel just in case. That way if it did get knocked off, I'd only spill about 5 gallons of grey water.

KR2011 · 08-02-2012, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j1251b

I have a 2011 36RL fifth wheel. I can not drain the gray tank. When I
pull the lever to open the valve nothing comes out. The cable valve
feels like it is working. The status panel says the tank is full. With
the gray tank valve opened I ran the shower to see if the water would
run thru the tank and out the sewer hose nothing comes out. About a
week ago I drained the gray tank and it drained slow. We are full time
camp host and I need to fix this as soon as possible.

OK guys you are getting way off topic.

It sounds like you have a valve that is not opening, you will probably have to call a service tech and drop the belly to get access to the valves so that you can replace the bad one.

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