How to pull the toilet 17' - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-24-2016, 01:50 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Trailer: 21' foot 2019
Posts: 64
How to pull the toilet 17'

Just filled the water tanks and plugged everything in. A flexible plastic hose connecting to the back of the toilet was completely unplugged. Sprayed water. I shut the power off at the breaker box and then tried to press the hose (which has a soft black rubber fitting at its end) into the appropriate socket behind the toilet. But there isn't enough room to see what's going on. My fingers barely have enough room to fit between the toilet and the wall.

So I'm thinking I need to pull the toilet to get the hose plugged into the toilet properly. How is that done? Do I twist the hole toilet clockwise? Counter clockwise? And then pull up?

Or are there hidden hold-down bolts? I'll keep looking.

Might have to make this first weekend trip without water.
pittendrigh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 02:25 PM   #2
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
It's extraordinarily tight, especially in the 17, but it can be done without pulling the toilet. Use a small mirror so you can see what you're doing. Some folks have used a long pair of needle nose pliers or suitable tool to reach the pipe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 02:29 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Trailer: 21' foot 2019
Posts: 64
I gave up on the mirror. It was wan't possible for me. I'm a retired builder too so I'm good with tools. There just wasn't enough room for my fat hands.

I pulled the toilet. There are two 1/2" inch hold down bolts on the bottom lip of the toilet, left and right, covered by snap off bolt covers. Removing the toilet is easy. Bolting the toilet back in place is easy too. Attaching the water supply hose properly is another story.

I see where there black plastic end of the water supply hose plugs into a matching black plastic socket on the underside of the upper edge of the toilet. But it won't stay. Slips right in.
Slips right out.

There appears to be a thin loose ring of broken plastic inside the socket. Perhaps that was a locking ring of some kind. Now broken.

I may need some new parts. Will have to go to plan B for this weekend.

Another question is "what caused this?" I had the sink faucets open when I started to fill the tank with water. But the pump was on too. Am I supposed to turn the water pump off at the breaker box while filling the main tank with water?
pittendrigh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 02:33 PM   #4
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
How to pull the toilet 17'

Quote:
Originally Posted by pittendrigh View Post
A mirror! I'll try that.

You've also illustrated a good reason for installing a toilet shutoff valve - for those who are looking at their build sheet. With a shutoff valve, the trailer could still have water.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 02:49 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
Quote:
Originally Posted by pittendrigh View Post
A mirror! I'll try that.
Hi: pittendrigh... Make sure you work backwards in the mirror!!! Good luck. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 04:16 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Trailer: 21' foot 2019
Posts: 64
Ok. Thank you everybody. This is a good friendly community.

I figured it out. The black plastic flange at the end of the clear plastic tube that feeds water into the toilet was broken. This was a winter freezing problem.

Last fall I drained the water supply tank and the gray water tank and the black water tank. And pulled the 1"
plug on the water heater. Opened all the sink valves until no more water drained out. And all the water DOES drain out of the system, if you do all of the above, with one exception.

The water supply tube to the toilet comes out of the wall and bends downward and then back up to the "water supply module" on the back of the toilet. That forms a trap that does not drain. So the water supply module still had enough water in it to freeze.

I see this a design problem. A design flaw in fact. I will soon put a petcock valve in the low part of the U-shaped water supply hose, so it will drain. This was a learning experience. The new water supply module was in stock at a local RV supply center. It cost me $36 USA dollars. And an afternoon of work.

Next time I'll know better. Soon I will fix that water supply hose to it drains properly at winterization time. So the entire water system can be reliably drained.
pittendrigh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 04:32 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
Quote:
Originally Posted by pittendrigh View Post
Ok. Thank you everybody. This is a good friendly community.

I figured it out. The black plastic flange at the end of the clear plastic tube that feeds water into the toilet was broken. This was a winter freezing problem.

Last fall I drained the water supply tank and the gray water tank and the black water tank. And pulled the 1"
plug on the water heater. Opened all the sink valves until no more water drained out. And all the water DOES drain out of the system, if you do all of the above, with one exception.

The water supply tube to the toilet comes out of the wall and bends downward and then back up to the "water supply module" on the back of the toilet. That forms a trap that does not drain. So the water supply module still had enough water in it to freeze.

I see this a design problem. A design flaw in fact. I will soon put a petcock valve in the low part of the U-shaped water supply hose, so it will drain. This was a learning experience. The new water supply module was in stock at a local RV supply center. It cost me $36 USA dollars. And an afternoon of work.

Next time I'll know better. Soon I will fix that water supply hose to it drains properly at winterization time. So the entire water system can be reliably drained.
Hi; pittendrigh... All you need to do at winterization time is get someone to hold the flush valve open till no more water comes out to evacuate the toilet supply line!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 04:45 PM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Trailer: 21' foot 2019
Posts: 64
Hmmmm. OK. I'll do that too. It's fixed now. I'm ready to rock'N roll.
pittendrigh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 06:47 PM   #9
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
I blow out the lines with an air compressor. Won't leave enough in the low spots to do freeze damage.
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 07:56 PM   #10
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
How to pull the toilet 17'

Something I never have to worry about, living in a place that doesn't freeze, but I'm with Charlie - blowing out the lines would insure it never happens again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 10:25 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
We pump anti-freeze through the lines, have never blown them out. Anti-freeze covers the toilet valve also.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 11:10 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Or you could pump ice cream through the lines since propylene glycol ( the stuff in RV antifreeze ) is an ingredient used to prevent ice crystals in frozen confections.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2016, 11:13 PM   #13
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Or you could pump ice cream through the lines since propylene glycol ( the stuff in RV antifreeze ) is an ingredient used to prevent ice crystals in frozen confections.
I gotta check the box of organic fudge bars I just got at Costco..............
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2016, 01:14 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Or you could pump ice cream through the lines since propylene glycol ( the stuff in RV antifreeze ) is an ingredient used to prevent ice crystals in frozen confections.
Both propylene glycol and alcohol are used (either one, or both in combination) in plumbing antifreeze... so maybe one of these: 18 Alcoholic Ice Cream Ideas - Recipes for Ice Cream with Alcohol
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2016, 06:24 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Trailer: 2014 17b/ 2012 Chevy Colorado
Posts: 736
Quote:
Originally Posted by pittendrigh View Post
Ok. Thank you everybody. This is a good friendly community.

I figured it out. The black plastic flange at the end of the clear plastic tube that feeds water into the toilet was broken. This was a winter freezing problem.

Last fall I drained the water supply tank and the gray water tank and the black water tank. And pulled the 1"
plug on the water heater. Opened all the sink valves until no more water drained out. And all the water DOES drain out of the system, if you do all of the above, with one exception.

The water supply tube to the toilet comes out of the wall and bends downward and then back up to the "water supply module" on the back of the toilet. That forms a trap that does not drain. So the water supply module still had enough water in it to freeze.

I see this a design problem. A design flaw in fact. I will soon put a petcock valve in the low part of the U-shaped water supply hose, so it will drain. This was a learning experience. The new water supply module was in stock at a local RV supply center. It cost me $36 USA dollars. And an afternoon of work.

Next time I'll know better. Soon I will fix that water supply hose to it drains properly at winterization time. So the entire water system can be reliably drained.
I think that using air pressure to drive all water out of the system would have forced water from that low point. Agree it is desgin flaw, however.
yardsale is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2016, 06:09 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Kountrykamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Middle, Tennessee
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19' #2
Posts: 1,441
I use the 12 volt pump to run antifreeze thru the lines then blow everything out and clear all the lines. Yeah I know I'm neurotic.
__________________
Tom
Kountrykamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.