Tank capacities

[brroberts]

Wrestled with this issue. Had a Bigfoot pickup camper with 50 gallons fresh water and only 14 gallons grey. I have a wheeled 10 gallon blue jug, but not tow hitch. The key is, it has a float level gauge. I know when that float gets about 3/4 up, it’s time to stop so there is room for what’s in the hose. That’s my system. I don’t like wrestling 85lbs into the back of the truck, but I can still do it if I have too.

[gbaglo]

I presume when it spills, the expletive is OH S%!#

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by stephen99

Too funny. I can picture it happening.

Unfortunately, I can remember it happening. Long enough ago that I can laugh about it now.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by kathytony1985

The very reason to use the "see through" attachment, but still imagine that would get messy as there would be no gray water to flush it out.

The problem is that even with a clear fitting it would be hard to see into the portable tank, so the clear part would mostly just let you know exactly what is going to spill out.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by MichaelS78

Ideally one would have a portable black larger than the 13.2 gallon in the 21NE and just empty it when full and follow with a few gallons of water. So you have a clean hose to put back. The Barker 16 gallon portable tank could work.

I agree.

Originally Posted by MichaelS78

But then as people have mentioned you are lifting 130lbs or so into the back of a truck...

If you're just taking the portable tank to a dump site within the campground, you don't have to load it into a vehicle when full. Many of them are designed to be towed (at a walking speed) on their own wheels behind a vehicle as a tiny trailer, and between uses the empty (and therefore light) tank is carried on a bracket on the outside of the trailer (normally the back, and often attached to the ladder which larger RVs often have).

[diannelgraham]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I presume when it spills, the expletive is OH S%!#

[felix2]

I crawled under my 21 NE to check things out and noticed that to clear the angle iron frame that surrounds the grey tank, the drain line from the shower and bath sink p trap enters the side of the grey tank about 3” below the tank top (to the top of the drain line).

This means that the tank will start backing up into the shower when it reaches around 2/3 full, or approximately 18 gallons. This gibes with my experience using my 28 gallon wheeled waste tote.

If the shower drain were located directly in front of the toilet, the waste could enter the top of the tank, increasing the capacity, however that’s not the case.

So for my E21NE, I’d put capacities at:
Fresh: 28 gal
Grey: 18 gal
Black: 12 gal

No wonder I need to dump the grey so often…I thought we just used too much water when showering. But it’s all good, now that I know why.

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by felix2

I crawled under my 21 NE to check things out and noticed that to clear the angle iron frame that surrounds the grey tank, the drain line from the shower and bath sink p trap enters the side of the grey tank about 3” below the tank top (to the top of the drain line).

This means that the tank will start backing up into the shower when it reaches around 2/3 full, or approximately 18 gallons. This gibes with my experience using my 28 gallon wheeled waste tote.

If the shower drain were located directly in front of the toilet, the waste could enter the top of the tank, increasing the capacity, however that’s not the case.

So for my E21NE, I’d put capacities at:
Fresh: 28 gal
Grey: 18 gal
Black: 12 gal

No wonder I need to dump the grey so often…I thought we just used too much water when showering. But it’s all good, now that I know why.

I wonder if the 19 is that way? mine is foamed over so everything is out of sight.

[Eggscape]

Yes the shower and sink drain enter the grey tank under the angle support in the 19 so it also is 2 to 3 inches below the top of the tank.
However the tank is vented through the top which lets the air out of the top of the tank and there is no reason why water will not fill right to the top.
Below are a few pictures taken by someone else of the 19 vent pipe.

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

I wonder if the 19 is that way? mine is foamed over so everything is out of sight.

This is what it looks like under the shower of a 2018 - 19.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by felix2

I crawled under my 21 NE to check things out and noticed that to clear the angle iron frame that surrounds the grey tank, the drain line from the shower and bath sink p trap enters the side of the grey tank about 3” below the tank top (to the top of the drain line).

This means that the tank will start backing up into the shower when it reaches around 2/3 full, or approximately 18 gallons. This gibes with my experience using my 28 gallon wheeled waste tote.

If the shower drain were located directly in front of the toilet, the waste could enter the top of the tank, increasing the capacity, however that’s not the case.

So for my E21NE, I’d put capacities at:
Fresh: 28 gal
Grey: 18 gal
Black: 12 gal

No wonder I need to dump the grey so often…I thought we just used too much water when showering. But it’s all good, now that I know why.

Originally Posted by Eggscape

Yes the shower and sink drain enter the grey tank under the angle support in the 19 so it also is 2 to 3 inches below the top of the tank.
However the tank is vented through the top which lets the air out of the top of the tank and there is no reason why water will not fill right to the top.
Below are a few pictures taken by someone else of the 19 vent pipe.

Eggscape is correct as long as the tank is vented and the shower drain is above the tank (it is) it doesn't matter where the pipe enters the tank. Water seeks its own level. The pipe could come in on the bottom of the tank and as long as the tank is vented the tank will fill up.

[felix2]

Interesting…but I’ve had my shower backing up and then have dumped both black and grey into my 28 gal wheeled tote without overflowing it. Guess a measured test is in order.

Another peeve is that there is a ‘bulge’ low spot in the tank bottom that must hold a gallon or so that won’t drain - also due to the location of the side drain coupling (the bottom of the drain line is above the bottom of the tank). I’d hate to see what’s in there!

Also, I seem to remember someone swapping the 1.5” grey waste drain for a larger (3”?) line to speed up the s-l-o-w drain time, but that seems like a nasty job that I’ll probably never do…now that I think of this all, a blocked or partially blocked vent could be the culprit for low capacity and slow drain time. Hmmm.

[Eggscape]

I also don’t like the bulge in the bottom of both tanks…not it has been a problem.

Later this year I hope to post my multi purpose solution.

[stratos175]

No way I would take the risk of black tank being stored inside the living area of a trailer.

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by stratos175

No way I would take the risk of black tank being stored inside the living area of a trailer.

don't all escapes have the black tank inside?

[Eggscape]

Yes the black tank in a 21 extends inside your trailer under your pillow.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by stratos175

No way I would take the risk of black tank being stored inside the living area of a trailer.

Your profile states " 2014 21' Escape" and you're unaware you sleep on top of the black tank that's right under your bed?

I think most all-molded towables have the black tank inside. AT least the brands that use a marine toilet....

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by felix2

Also, I seem to remember someone swapping the 1.5” grey waste drain for a larger (3”?) line to speed up the s-l-o-w drain time, but that seems like a nasty job that I’ll probably never do…now that I think of this all, a blocked or partially blocked vent could be the culprit for low capacity and slow drain time. Hmmm.

It's a diminishing return as it drains below the diameter of the drain pipe. It approaches infinity at the slowest which is why I long ago gave up waiting for every last drop to drain.

Many dumps are poorly graded. We routinely stop a foot short, Throw two short blocks ahead of the outboard wheels and pull up on them. The time to do that is more than made up by much quicker draining.

Ron

[YakRV]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Many dumps are poorly graded. We routinely stop a foot short, Throw two short blocks ahead of the outboard wheels and pull up on them. The time to do that is more than made up by much quicker draining.

Ron

We do the same with our Andersen levelers. It works.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

don't all escapes have the black tank inside?

Yes, every Escape black tank sits on top of the floor, under the toilet and extending into an adjacent interior cabinet. And yes, that's a common practice, especially in trailers that were originally designed to have a low floor (which means most moulded fiberglass trailers).