Plumbing

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 06:19 PM

Just purchased a 2014 Crossroads Monticello RF35MC 3 weeks ago. Nothing but problems. Major problem now. Black tank full after being dumped (I thought) 2 times a week. Checked under and it is a 3” pipe from toilet but when it comes out under Coach it is a 2” pipe at best. It then hooks to a 3” connector for sewer hose to hook to. How can this be right? New to RVing.
Please help.
Mjumper33

**Lloyd** · 09-18-2018, 06:58 PM

I believe that is standard plumbing for these things.

Question for you. You say the black tank has been dumped two times a week.
Do you leave the gate valve closed until it's full and then dump?
Reason I ask is it sounds like maybe you have what we refer to as a "poop pyramid". Also when you flush are you using PLENTY of water?

Maybe the previous owner didn't use the bathroom and black tank correctly.

If that's the case you will have to get a water hose in there and hopefully wash/flush it out.

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 07:19 PM

Thanks Lloyd. I live in our camper at a campground that does not have sewer. They come around and dump the tanks 2 times weekly. He has a 200 gallon tank in a trailer he uses and then dumps it in a dump station in premises. I haven’t talked to the guy that has been dumping. I was concerned when I saw a 2” pipe for the drain. Gray and Black tank together. I am confused

**dagst1** · 09-18-2018, 07:22 PM

Hello and welcome. If you are on full hookups try to open all the valves to see if that will empty the black tank. I may be wrong but you should have remote valves operated by a cable. You may have to open the underbelly to see but the cable may be broken. Also then you could check which handle goes to which valve. My campers have all been older and the valves exposed but the black was 3" and the gray was 1.5".

And if all that checks out Lloyd may be correct as with the valve open the "liquid" runs out and leaves the "solids" behind. If that is the case you will have to remove the "blockage" either thru the outlet or down the toilet.

When we bought ours it was on a seasonal lot and they left the gally tank open leaving a grease dam that was very hard to remove but we got it. Very thankful it was not the black tank.

Probably not what you wanted to hear but its a place to start. Good luck!

**Lloyd** · 09-18-2018, 07:22 PM

What do you mean---Gray and Black tank together?
They each should have their own gate valve that closes off the tank.

**Lloyd** · 09-18-2018, 07:32 PM

I was wrong on my first post. It should be 3 in. coming from the black tank, and 1.5 for the grey. Just like dagst1 posted.

**dagst1** · 09-18-2018, 07:43 PM

One more thing You posted the black tank was full. Is this by the gauge or a visual looking down the toilet? Just be aware that sometimes the gauges are off - may show full when empty. If you can see a small pipe then a large pipe to connect the dump hose to that is probably the gray or galley tank.

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 07:43 PM

Thanks but I am not hooked to sewer. I have to wait for the maintenance guy to hook hie take up before I can open the black tank. But why is there only a 2” pipe for the black and grey tank.

**mark5w** · 09-18-2018, 07:45 PM

I know you are not mobile, but I would still try using the Geo Method to clean the tank. Worth a shot. https://sites.google.com/site/cbruni/

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 07:45 PM

I only have one dump hook up and the pipe is 2” max. What am I missing.

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 07:50 PM

It is full in the toilet. Not clogged I put a 6’ stick down the toilet so not stopped up at the toilet.

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 07:52 PM

Why don’t I have two hookups or at least one with a 3” pipe.

**Lloyd** · 09-18-2018, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mjumper33

Thanks but I am not hooked to sewer. I have to wait for the maintenance guy to hook hie take up before I can open the black tank. But why is there only a 2” pipe for the black and grey tank.

Are you saying where you hook onto the sewer pipe to drain it, it's only a 2in. pipe? That connection there is always 3in.

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 08:29 PM

It is a 2” pipe from under the coach and hooks to a 3” end that hooks to the sewer line. I know that sounds weird but that is it. I am confused.

**mark5w** · 09-18-2018, 08:36 PM

Can you post a picture? Now this is on the drivers side of the rv, correct?

**dagst1** · 09-18-2018, 08:39 PM

Just to be clear You only have 1 pipe from under your camper and it is 2" with a 3" connector for the sewer hose?

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 08:42 PM

I will go take a picture. It is a fifth wheel on the back side.

**dagst1** · 09-18-2018, 08:53 PM

Can you see any other pipes? How many dump valves do you have? Hard to believe that it came from the factory with a 2" line for the black tank. Could be the previous owner did some "custom work or a very bad repair job". Very odd! The only time I have seen that kind of set up 2" into 3" was with 2 dump locations one in front and one at the back of the camper for a gray tank. Rear kitchen and front bath. But they would have 2 outlets - sewer hose connections.
Also check where your handles for the dump valves are located there could be a sewer connection in that location.

And Yes some pictures would help.

Mjumper33 · 09-18-2018, 09:03 PM

Well I feel like more of an idiot that I already am. There is a 3” pipe coming down right on top of the 2” pipe connection. So the piping is correct. I am an idiot. But the tank is not dumping. I will talk to the maintenance guy tomorrow. Sorry I waisted y’all time.

**dagst1** · 09-18-2018, 09:22 PM

Hay look at this way looks like your plumbing is correct . You may have a broken cable to the black tank. Something to check.

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