I am thinking of buying a Fiamma 24 litre portable grey water tank, are they permitted in most overnight free camps and National Parks or should I try and install one under my van? There is also a 40 Litre version but that could get a bit heavy to transport and empty.
Dougwe said
03:59 PM Aug 26, 2020
Welcome to the gang Noel, enjoy here and out in the playground.
You will get a mixed reaction to your question and I tell you that for free. I have been full time on the road now for 6 years and 3 for 8 months of the year prior to that. In all that time I have come across a few alternative camp spots that say you must have a fitted grey water tank that also has a shut of valve/tap.
I had a bucket with lid on when part time and was told to move on once so, when I went full time and got a full size aluminium teepee I had a 95lt grey water tank with tap fitted.
In the last 6 years I have been check 3 times and was OK. One place up in QLD, Waverly Creek rest area, about 160km nth of Rockhampton and beside the Bruce Hwy a Ranger in marked car pulled in and walked around checking everyone. One bloke argued his bucket was fine but he was moved on. Another didn't have anything and water was going on the bitumen ground, he also was moved on. Me, I was checked and told all good but if I could put a cap on the outlet when grey water hose was not connected as water could drip on the ground. I thought that a little petty but obliged him and was allowed to stay. The other 2 times no dramas.
So I am glad I had a tank fitted as covers all scenarios.
Keep Safe out there.
iana said
04:50 PM Aug 26, 2020
I too like Dougwe are full time on the road. I have both a fixed grey water tank, and the Fiamma 24 litre portable grey water tank. I use the portable tank to empty the main tank, if or when we are at a park that wants the grey water emptied down the drain or dump point, and we have no sullage point, its happened a couple of times.
The fixed tank is very convenient, just stop, use the water and all is well, when I reach a caravan park and connect to a sullage point, the tank is emptied. However I would suggest to anyone contemplating fitting a grey water tank, to buy just the portable instead. Cost wise you are miles ahead, and from what I have seen, the rear water tank is moved to a forward position ahead of the other water tank (assuming two are fitted), and the grey water tank fitted to the rear position. I think this would effect the balance of the van considerably.
If you have an SUV, the portable tank may not be welcome sitting in the rear of the vehicle, but a ute would be fine.
yobarr said
05:08 PM Aug 26, 2020
Luvtravelling wrote:
I am thinking of buying a Fiamma 24 litre portable grey water tank, are they permitted in most overnight free camps and National Parks or should I try and install one under my van? There is also a 40 Litre version but that could get a bit heavy to transport and empty.
Just install one under the van,between or above the axle(s). Absolutely no effect on balance. I carry 420 litre water in several separately plumbed tanks,so I can control ball weight,while the 70 litre grey water tank sits between the axles,so does not affect anything. Have 15 metre hose to drain it.Cheers
PeterInSa said
05:21 PM Aug 26, 2020
Re Grey Water Tanks for a Caravan, to me its more convenient to have a portable Grey water Tank for a Caravan as you do not need to move the van as required with a in situ tank. I carry the empty 20lt container on the rear bumper of our Tandem caravan, with the fittings in the front boot. The full (sealed) tank goes in the rear of the cruiser prior to an empty trip.
Our Long Wheel Base High Roof Sprinter Campervan has a fitted 45lt Grey water Tank, (with valves to bypass the tank if in a CP) with the empty hose, held in a tube underneath the vehicle.
Peter
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Wednesday 26th of August 2020 05:23:06 PM
Luvtravelling said
07:57 PM Aug 26, 2020
Thankyou all very much for your replies, I think I will purchase the Fiamma as it can always be used to empty a fixed tank if I decide to fit one at a later date as Ians suggested.
Cheers
Tony Bev said
09:57 PM Aug 26, 2020
Hi Luvtravelling
Welcome to the forum
I once had a caravan, with no grey water tank, and responsibly placed a bucket at the end of the drain pipe, when using the water
Unfortunately, some people do not place anything, under their drain pipe
It is not a pleasant sight, to see grey water, running onto a packed earth/hard stand, or bitumen, especially if children are around
Unfortunately as we are all tarred with the same brush, we can not blame the ranger, for doing his job, and moving some travellers on
I have been to plenty of sites, where the signs mention that you have to have a built in, grey water tank
Some sites I have never seen a ranger, at other sites I have seen a ranger twice a day
As we do not really know, what the new normal will be, in regards to future travelling, (Covid-19), I would be putting a grey water tank under the caravan
vince56 said
06:56 AM Aug 27, 2020
Hi Luvtravelling,
I had the same issue and went with a portable, I have mounted the tank under the van and have two screws to undo the bracket to use the portable tank. Much easier than a fixed tank for the minimal times you need to use it as it is much easier to empty, flush and remount.
dieseltojo said
11:12 AM Aug 27, 2020
Dougwe wrote:
Welcome to the gang Noel, enjoy here and out in the playground.
You will get a mixed reaction to your question and I tell you that for free. I have been full time on the road now for 6 years and 3 for 8 months of the year prior to that. In all that time I have come across a few alternative camp spots that say you must have a fitted grey water tank that also has a shut of valve/tap.
I had a bucket with lid on when part time and was told to move on once so, when I went full time and got a full size aluminium teepee I had a 95lt grey water tank with tap fitted.
In the last 6 years I have been check 3 times and was OK. One place up in QLD, Waverly Creek rest area, about 160km nth of Rockhampton and beside the Bruce Hwy a Ranger in marked car pulled in and walked around checking everyone. One bloke argued his bucket was fine but he was moved on. Another didn't have anything and water was going on the bitumen ground, he also was moved on. Me, I was checked and told all good but if I could put a cap on the outlet when grey water hose was not connected as water could drip on the ground. I thought that a little petty but obliged him and was allowed to stay. The other 2 times no dramas.
So I am glad I had a tank fitted as covers all scenarios.
Hi Doug. Your post is probably the best explanation I have ever heard. Straight up alright.
I have camped all my life and though I put in a grey tank the thought of a cap never entered my mind, or that some one would even consider that at all. But now I will install one for future reference. And yes I am an ex plumber. I would love to see them enforce that mod though.
You know I camped in a well known spot in a town overlooking a river and couldn't believe that they allowed vans to either maintain full overflowing buckets or the hoses simply dropping straight over the bank into the river.
I am thinking of buying a Fiamma 24 litre portable grey water tank, are they permitted in most overnight free camps and National Parks or should I try and install one under my van? There is also a 40 Litre version but that could get a bit heavy to transport and empty.
You will get a mixed reaction to your question and I tell you that for free. I have been full time on the road now for 6 years and 3 for 8 months of the year prior to that. In all that time I have come across a few alternative camp spots that say you must have a fitted grey water tank that also has a shut of valve/tap.
I had a bucket with lid on when part time and was told to move on once so, when I went full time and got a full size aluminium teepee I had a 95lt grey water tank with tap fitted.
In the last 6 years I have been check 3 times and was OK. One place up in QLD, Waverly Creek rest area, about 160km nth of Rockhampton and beside the Bruce Hwy a Ranger in marked car pulled in and walked around checking everyone. One bloke argued his bucket was fine but he was moved on. Another didn't have anything and water was going on the bitumen ground, he also was moved on. Me, I was checked and told all good but if I could put a cap on the outlet when grey water hose was not connected as water could drip on the ground. I thought that a little petty but obliged him and was allowed to stay. The other 2 times no dramas.
So I am glad I had a tank fitted as covers all scenarios.
Keep Safe out there.
The fixed tank is very convenient, just stop, use the water and all is well, when I reach a caravan park and connect to a sullage point, the tank is emptied. However I would suggest to anyone contemplating fitting a grey water tank, to buy just the portable instead. Cost wise you are miles ahead, and from what I have seen, the rear water tank is moved to a forward position ahead of the other water tank (assuming two are fitted), and the grey water tank fitted to the rear position. I think this would effect the balance of the van considerably.
If you have an SUV, the portable tank may not be welcome sitting in the rear of the vehicle, but a ute would be fine.
Just install one under the van,between or above the axle(s). Absolutely no effect on balance. I carry 420 litre water in several separately plumbed tanks,so I can control ball weight,while the 70 litre grey water tank sits between the axles,so does not affect anything. Have 15 metre hose to drain it.Cheers
Re Grey Water Tanks for a Caravan, to me its more convenient to have a portable Grey water Tank for a Caravan as you do not need to move the van as required with a in situ tank. I carry the empty 20lt container on the rear bumper of our Tandem caravan, with the fittings in the front boot. The full (sealed) tank goes in the rear of the cruiser prior to an empty trip.
Our Long Wheel Base High Roof Sprinter Campervan has a fitted 45lt Grey water Tank, (with valves to bypass the tank if in a CP) with the empty hose, held in a tube underneath the vehicle.
Peter
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Wednesday 26th of August 2020 05:23:06 PM
Cheers
Welcome to the forum
I once had a caravan, with no grey water tank, and responsibly placed a bucket at the end of the drain pipe, when using the water
Unfortunately, some people do not place anything, under their drain pipe
It is not a pleasant sight, to see grey water, running onto a packed earth/hard stand, or bitumen, especially if children are around
Unfortunately as we are all tarred with the same brush, we can not blame the ranger, for doing his job, and moving some travellers on
I have been to plenty of sites, where the signs mention that you have to have a built in, grey water tank
Some sites I have never seen a ranger, at other sites I have seen a ranger twice a day
As we do not really know, what the new normal will be, in regards to future travelling, (Covid-19), I would be putting a grey water tank under the caravan
I had the same issue and went with a portable, I have mounted the tank under the van and have two screws to undo the bracket to use the portable tank. Much easier than a fixed tank for the minimal times you need to use it as it is much easier to empty, flush and remount.