Does anyone besides us have a problem with dump points. We have a Coaster with 2 x onboard black water tanks. One for toilet and one for shower and wash basin.
Now the outlets are fairly low to the ground maybe 500mm and the one in our town is built up so high that even after driving up on blocks the water still had to go uphill which it won't so I end up with it running down my arm etc.
I have rang the council about it and yet to get a reply, I have noticed that all of them are set high up and I can understand this as they wouldn't want rain water/Storm water seeping into it.
But surely they could provide a hump in the road that you can put your wheels on that bring you up to dump point height. Or am I asking too much???
I wonder whether the Councils have conferred with the RV industry as to a standard that they are built or did they just put them in without any thought to under slung tanks. It is one thing to be self contained but it becomes a PITA to empty them.
Edit: Spelling
-- Edited by Murraman on Wednesday 23rd of July 2014 05:09:41 PM
Yes sometimes we have problems because our tank outlet is lower than the dump point. Just a case of some of them being installed by people who never have to use them & don't realise the ramifications.l
I have the same problem with my Coaster and have often had to use a bucket and do it manually which is not pleasant. I have been thinking of installing a pump
on the underside to get around it. Has anyone done this?
I think the bottom line is they should have been done right in the first place to cater for all needs and they weren't. Obviously no consultation as to height distance from road etc. When the Council rings back I'm going to ask where did they get the specifications to the placement as height from road and distance.
In our town when they installed it first they put it right next to the lions park that people have their lunch in, So the Lions complained that nobody asked them was it a good idea. So the Council were forced to relocate it to where it is now.
I think it is a case of yeah we installed a dump point yipee for us, Who cares if some cannot use it. There needs to be a standard to comply with otherwise it is a waste of tax payers money.
I think the bottom line is they should have been done right in the first place to cater for all needs and they weren't. Obviously no consultation as to height distance from road etc. When the Council rings back I'm going to ask where did they get the specifications to the placement as height from road and distance.
In our town when they installed it first they put it right next to the lions park that people have their lunch in, So the Lions complained that nobody asked them was it a good idea. So the Council were forced to relocate it to where it is now.
I think it is a case of yeah we installed a dump point yipee for us, Who cares if some cannot use it. There needs to be a standard to comply with otherwise it is a waste of tax payers money.
My guess would be that the council will not ring back, if they do not then it is time to put your concerns in writing and register the letter.
This is a most opportune time for this thread to appear for me as I am just in the process of installing my fresh water and grey water tanks and working out the plumbing side of it. Vents etc.
It occurred to me that I'm not even certain of which side of the van is the norm to install this outlet on. It's been easy to spot other vans on the road and note where their power and water connections are (Drivers Side) but the drains aren't obvious.
Now I hear that 500mm off the ground is considered low. Thank you for pointing that out Murraman. Ouch! Mine will be more that 400mm. That's obviously going to be a problem.
I had pictured in my mind that dump points would be at ground level. Obviously not.
My plan was to run something like a 50mm pipe across (Under) the van and behind the tank with a "T" junction into it from the tank. I could cap both ends off with snaplock caps which would enable me to pick which side best suited depending on where I was parked.
Now from what I've learnt here I'd better start thinking about a pump. That's do-able.
My questions are, like Solo Steve, has anyone installed or even seen a pump on a grey water tank?
Plus, is there an accepted norm for which side the drains exit? And, how big are the inlets on your average dump point.
Do some caravan parks have points at each site?
Thanks
Jim
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There Comes a time in life, when you must walk away from all drama and the people who create it.
I don't see how a pump would solve the problem as the pump would be on the tank end and you would have the low section of pipe leading to dump point. When the pump finishes then you would still have spillage from the low point in dump hose if this makes sense. Once you uncouple hose off tank it runs out of their as it did with me.
The only way for it to work without being messy would be flushing water via the toilet at the time of pumping so only clear water would be left. But why should we have to do all this crap (pardon the pun) When they should have been done right in the first place.
