I have been sort of free camping for about 5 weeks now, and am starting to find the faults in the systems, the grey water tank is not working as well as it could, and I have found, by using the trundle tank of 40lts, to empty it, that the Jayco 86lt water tank installed in its normal position does not hold 86lts, more like 75lt, and this is because the breather connection is about 30mm low from the top of the tank, and the outlet is about 30mm high from the bottom of the tank.
This means that instead of getting 168lts of drinking water into my other two tanks, I can only get at the most 150lt.
The grey water tank, which was origionaly installed on the standard fixing points under the van, I have moved and put between the suspension in the north south position, it has been slow to drain, I was suspicious of obstruction to the outlet inside, but now am sure its the breather and outlet ports in the wrong positions.
To cure this I need to either angle the tank, or somehow fit a sump to the underside of the tank, and a breather to the very top of the tank. This I hope will ensure the tank fills completely, and also empties completely.
The tank also needs some sort of hosing out or washing facility, as it gets pretty smelly in there, especially now that there is always about 30-40mm of fluid remaining because the outlets are two high.
I am contemplating the project, can't rush into these things, besides its under the van, messy and dirty. But the tank will have to be modified to make it work.
So anyone considering installing a grey water tank needs to consider very carefully the tank breather and the emptying of the tank, and also the cleaning.
On the plus side, the 40lt Fiemma trundle tank works well, but be aware the lugs on the caps are delicate, I have broken one already.
madaboutled said
11:30 AM Jan 4, 2018
iana wrote:The tank also needs some sort of hosing out or washing facility, as it gets pretty smelly in there, especially now that there is always about 30-40mm of fluid remaining because the outlets are two high.
The outlet for our Grey Water Tank is on the end of the tank very close to the bottom edge, I've angled the tank so it almost completely drains. For cleaning I put in a 150mm Inspection Port on the bottom of the tank in the middle, this allows me to thoroughly clean the inside of the tank when/if needed.
Yes, I think a visit to a boat chandler is on todays agenda, plus a visit to an irrigation shop to look over pressure fittings. After another crawl under the van, I notice that the tanks, both water and grey water, are sagging between the supporting straps, probably not an issue, unless one is planning on mounting a flange on that surface. I may have to beef up support under the tank as well.
Hey Jim said
10:40 PM Jan 4, 2018
Ian,
I have a simple answer. Stop wasting your time and get yourself, 2 x 200mm x 45mm x 1200mm planks of radiator pine and then run the left hand wheels of the van up onto them. Then open the **** valve.Gravity son, Gravity flow.
When finished, close valve and get a funnel and pour a few cups of Nappysan down your pipes. Flush same with a cup of water or two into the tank. Wallar all done.
Dose your van not have 2 Hypo one way valves fitted inline as dose mine.
You can buy extra gal straps to support the tank as well. Evil Bay.
Jim
iana said
10:17 AM Jan 5, 2018
Our van has those valves fitted, but the tank still needs to be washed out every now and then. Will go to Whitworths Marine and see what they have for inspection ports. Found the exact fittings for installing a port in the top and bottom of the tank.
To fit extra straps to support the tank, I still have to take the mounting frame off the van, will see how the job progresses.
aussie_paul said
10:58 PM Jan 5, 2018
Hey Jim wrote:
Ian,
I have a simple answer. Stop wasting your time and get yourself, 2 x 200mm x 45mm x 1200mm planks of radiator pine and then run the left hand wheels of the van up onto them. Then open the **** valve.Gravity son, Gravity flow.
When finished, close valve and get a funnel and pour a few cups of Nappysan down your pipes. Flush same with a cup of water or two into the tank. Wallar all done.
Dose your van not have 2 Hypo one way valves fitted inline as dose mine.
You can buy extra gal straps to support the tank as well. Evil Bay.
Jim
More weight to carry around Jim.
Aussie Paul.
Hey Jim said
11:28 AM Jan 6, 2018
Hi Aussie Paul,
Either you do or don't. Two blocks of pine = Lts x of grey water. = same weight.
Anyway I take 4 blocks 800mm each with us on All trips so I can run the tug up onto them, to allow me clearance, for my oil/ filter changes.
Ian, try this number. When we are in the outback and we pull over for Lambie , for a comfort stop. I will crossover onto the right hand shoulder, as the lever is on the right side,
( when it is safe to do so) and open the grey water lever to drain the remaining dribble in the grey water tank = a few Lts safely, onto a needy bit of vegetation. works every time. The Natives love it, the plants that is.
It takes all of the same time as Lambie does. Oups, now im in trouble yet again.
2018 Resolution is to, get rid of that dam rollin pin thing, she carries with her.
You can under stand why my head is bent.
Jim
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Saturday 6th of January 2018 11:29:55 AM
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Saturday 6th of January 2018 11:31:17 AM
iana said
11:50 AM Jan 6, 2018
Hey Jim, sounds as though you have the same grey water tank system my van had on delivery, i.e. one of the water tanks used, and a knife valve connected to a Bowden cable and handle for emptying. I never gave it a try, as it upset the weight and balance of the van. Also that knife valve would have been as scarce as hens teeth to buy and replace.
It was your suggestion of putting dump valves on each side of the van, so I replaced the knife valve with two ball valves. The tank was repositioned to sit between the suspension, and is now North south rather than east west. The front most water tank was moved back to where the grey water tank was, so I have a water tank to the front and to the rear of the wheels, and the grey water tank in between.
I have now purchased an inspection hatch and will be fitting it into one end of the gw tank, then I can clean it out and also see what is going on in there.
Hey Jim said
04:32 PM Jan 6, 2018
Hi Ian,
I rather not look myself. If you have a trail-mate jockey jack. You could Raise or Lower your van total, to drain, then you could place a hose with a jet nozzel on and let her rip.
I brought a high pressure Gerney off evil bay 3200psi for $109.00 delivered, after my Karacher bit the bullet. It has 5mtr's of hose to reach every corner of the van. G/w tank, Plus its brilliant on the roof of the van as well.
This new one,eats the competition.
Magic in the pool for getting into tight corners when cleaning as well.
I have fine strainers in the sink, vanity, and shower to stop body hair, which is Enemy No1 in your grey water tank. It becomes a hair ball, which then attracks all those little bactria and will float around in there, till removed.
I have been sort of free camping for about 5 weeks now, and am starting to find the faults in the systems, the grey water tank is not working as well as it could, and I have found, by using the trundle tank of 40lts, to empty it, that the Jayco 86lt water tank installed in its normal position does not hold 86lts, more like 75lt, and this is because the breather connection is about 30mm low from the top of the tank, and the outlet is about 30mm high from the bottom of the tank.
This means that instead of getting 168lts of drinking water into my other two tanks, I can only get at the most 150lt.
The grey water tank, which was origionaly installed on the standard fixing points under the van, I have moved and put between the suspension in the north south position, it has been slow to drain, I was suspicious of obstruction to the outlet inside, but now am sure its the breather and outlet ports in the wrong positions.
To cure this I need to either angle the tank, or somehow fit a sump to the underside of the tank, and a breather to the very top of the tank. This I hope will ensure the tank fills completely, and also empties completely.
The tank also needs some sort of hosing out or washing facility, as it gets pretty smelly in there, especially now that there is always about 30-40mm of fluid remaining because the outlets are two high.
I am contemplating the project, can't rush into these things, besides its under the van, messy and dirty. But the tank will have to be modified to make it work.
So anyone considering installing a grey water tank needs to consider very carefully the tank breather and the emptying of the tank, and also the cleaning.
On the plus side, the 40lt Fiemma trundle tank works well, but be aware the lugs on the caps are delicate, I have broken one already.
The outlet for our Grey Water Tank is on the end of the tank very close to the bottom edge, I've angled the tank so it almost completely drains. For cleaning I put in a 150mm Inspection Port on the bottom of the tank in the middle, this allows me to thoroughly clean the inside of the tank when/if needed.
Ian,
I have a simple answer. Stop wasting your time and get yourself, 2 x 200mm x 45mm x 1200mm planks of radiator pine and then run the left hand wheels of the van up onto them. Then open the **** valve.Gravity son, Gravity flow.
When finished, close valve and get a funnel and pour a few cups of Nappysan down your pipes. Flush same with a cup of water or two into the tank. Wallar all done.
Dose your van not have 2 Hypo one way valves fitted inline as dose mine.
You can buy extra gal straps to support the tank as well.
Evil Bay.
Jim
To fit extra straps to support the tank, I still have to take the mounting frame off the van, will see how the job progresses.
More weight to carry around Jim.
Aussie Paul.
Hi Aussie Paul,
Either you do or don't. Two blocks of pine = Lts x of grey water.
= same weight.
Anyway I take 4 blocks 800mm each with us on All trips so I can run the tug up onto them, to allow me clearance, for my oil/ filter changes.
Ian, try this number. When we are in the outback and we pull over for Lambie , for a comfort stop. I will crossover onto the right hand shoulder, as the lever is on the right side,
( when it is safe to do so) and open the grey water lever to drain the remaining dribble in the grey water tank = a few Lts safely, onto a needy bit of vegetation.
works every time. The Natives love it, the plants that is.
It takes all of the same time as Lambie does.
Oups, now im in trouble yet again.
2018 Resolution is to, get rid of that dam rollin pin thing, she carries with her.
You can under stand why my head is bent.
Jim
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Saturday 6th of January 2018 11:29:55 AM
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Saturday 6th of January 2018 11:31:17 AM
It was your suggestion of putting dump valves on each side of the van, so I replaced the knife valve with two ball valves. The tank was repositioned to sit between the suspension, and is now North south rather than east west. The front most water tank was moved back to where the grey water tank was, so I have a water tank to the front and to the rear of the wheels, and the grey water tank in between.
I have now purchased an inspection hatch and will be fitting it into one end of the gw tank, then I can clean it out and also see what is going on in there.
Hi Ian,
I rather not look myself. If you have a trail-mate jockey jack. You could Raise or Lower your van total, to drain, then you could place a hose with a jet nozzel on and let her rip.
I brought a high pressure Gerney off evil bay 3200psi for $109.00 delivered, after my Karacher bit the bullet. It has 5mtr's of hose to reach every corner of the van. G/w tank, Plus its brilliant on the roof of the van as well.
This new one,eats the competition.
Magic in the pool for getting into tight corners when cleaning as well.
I have fine strainers in the sink, vanity, and shower to stop body hair, which is Enemy No1 in your grey water tank. It becomes a hair ball, which then attracks all those little bactria and will float around in there, till removed.
Have fun. Jim