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Old 03-28-2011, 07:44 PM   #1
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Clogged up pooper

I tried to drain my black tank today on my 35rlts, it kind of trickles out and stopped. It is full all the way up to the toilet. Anyone have an idea on how to unstop it? THX
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Old 03-28-2011, 08:36 PM   #2
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You could try this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BUQOAE

which will backflush....just be careful since you are so full that you dont blow it out the roof vent....

Next I would raise the stabilizers and rock the camper with the drain open and see if it might break free....

Now worst case...and I am talking worst case....ok...now I am talking major worst case....I guess you could stick some sort of flexible wire up there and poke out the clog...but that is just not going to be good for anyone when it breaks free.



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Old 03-28-2011, 08:42 PM   #3
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I don't know what the temperature is where your trailer is currently parked so I'm "shooting from the hip" here, but it almost sounds like the tank's contents might be partially frozen. Urine should lower the freezing point some, so the tank might not be solidly frozen, but thick enough to keep it from flowing.

You say a small amount of liquid came out and then stopped? In normal use, I would think there would be a lot more liquid in the tank. If you turn off the water, hold the blade of the toilet open and shine a light to see down inside the tank, what do the contents look like (besides gross and stinky)? Liquidy? solid? mushy? Does the dump valve seem to open/close completely and operate smoothly? When was the last time you successfully emptied the tank?

The more information you can provide, the better chance that someone might be able to come up with an answer to your problem.
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Old 03-28-2011, 08:54 PM   #4
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W just pulled it 20 miles to the lake. It s 75 degrees. I drined it last time we used it, but I guess it did not really drain all the way. I think a flexible snake might be in order.
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Old 03-28-2011, 09:07 PM   #5
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If you can get a backflow flusher it would be best, but sounds like you are desperate. If you can get it somewhere on a roadside or something where you can lose a little blackwater it would sure be best....it is going to drop a few gallons before you can pull out the snake and shut it off....

Might want to watch the movie RV before you do it just for a little motivation

Let us know how it come out...(ok..that was a bad pun)



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Old 03-28-2011, 10:56 PM   #6
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Using a small sewer snake might do it. I would place a 5 gallon pail under the pipe. A friend was clogged up and used a maserator pump. It had enough suction to pull it out.
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Old 03-29-2011, 08:35 AM   #7
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If you can get a backflow flusher it would be best, but sounds like you are desperate. If you can get it somewhere on a roadside or something where you can lose a little blackwater it would sure be best....it is going to drop a few gallons before you can pull out the snake and shut it off....

Might want to watch the movie RV before you do it just for a little motivation

Let us know how it come out...(ok..that was a bad pun)

It's against the law to dump your black tank along the roadside.
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Old 03-29-2011, 09:30 AM   #8
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It's against the law to dump your black tank along the roadside.
yep..understood, I certainly would not normally do it and not a full tank worth...but sometimes when you are in a jam you have to do what you have to do and make a judgment call on how best to handle it.



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Old 03-29-2011, 12:22 PM   #9
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Camper 10

I had the same problem with my old camper. 2004 29 FBS, I bought a tool from the RV dealer, it was a fexible hose with jets at the end of the hose. I fished it down the toilet and pushed out the clog through the valve. I quess TP got stuck in the valve. Push your valve shut and if the valve does not close all of the way. The problem is the TP in the valve.
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Old 03-29-2011, 03:44 PM   #10
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Drop some Ex-Lax down the toilet!

Seriously, you might try some type of enzymatic septic tank treatment like Rid-X. Pour in a bottle and wait a few days for it to work. It might not help your current blockage, but it would probably be a good idea to treat the black tank with it after you get it flowing again.

I think the routine is to fill the black tank with water, add the Rid-X, and wait a few days for it to work. Driving around a little would help stir things up. The Rid-X will break down any solids, and hopefully clean the inner tank surfaces enough to prevent further plug ups.

I don't use any tank treatments, but sometimes I'll dump a cup of liquid laundry detergent into the black tank. I think it helps to keep things from sticking where they shouldn't stick.
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Old 03-29-2011, 09:01 PM   #11
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Well, I went to the RV today, dressed for battle. Used the flush king, back flushed it, still would not drain from the toilet. I used a plumbers snake down the toilet, and it drained right away. There is a 4 foot long pipe that goes down to an elbow, there must have been a clog at the elbow. The black tank was empty, it was just clogged from the toilet to that darn elbow. My wife does not run enough water thru it after she uses it, i guess. Anyway, all is well, and we are once again happy campers.
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Old 03-29-2011, 09:53 PM   #12
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Nice --- pretty impressive if you can clog that 4" pipe....lol.....

Well I am glad it all came out well in the end...

(ok...better stop before I get in trouble)



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Old 03-30-2011, 06:33 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by Come-N-Go View Post
...There is a 4 foot long pipe that goes down to an elbow, there must have been a clog at the elbow. ...
This is a problem that I've seen posted on other forums- clogging because the toilet drain has some bend in the pipe and does not empty straight into the holding tank. I have some camping friends complain about this same issue too; and it's happened to them enough times that it's become an annoyance.

At least you know what to watch for now. Don't be surprised if this problem raises its ugly head again.

You're right, though, the answer is to use more water. I have everyone trained that if they know they're to do more than a "number 1", to fill the bowl with extra water before they go. When finished, we only leave about an inch of water in the bowl so that the seal stays wet. The reason for doing this is so it's easier to see if the seal's leaking. With a lot of water in the bowl, it's harder to tell; especially if it's a slow leak.
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Old 03-30-2011, 08:31 AM   #14
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Come-N-Go - what brand of TP were you using? I am curious because it sounds like it may be part of the problem.



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Old 03-30-2011, 08:41 AM   #15
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This is why I really like the TST "Orange Power Granular" it really eats the TP.
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Old 03-30-2011, 02:01 PM   #16
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Try to siphon it out? ROFL!!! Good luck!
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Old 03-30-2011, 08:08 PM   #17
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Come-N-Go - what brand of TP were you using? I am curious because it sounds like it may be part of the problem.
We use RV toilet paper from an rv store.......
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Old 03-30-2011, 10:19 PM   #18
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If you use plenty of water then the TP really dosen't matter.
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Old 03-31-2011, 08:46 AM   #19
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We use RV toilet paper from an rv store.......
That is the worst stuff you can use.. very expensive and dont break down .. we did some tests at an RV class I was taking and the costco Kirkland brand broke down the best..
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Old 03-31-2011, 08:52 AM   #20
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Lotsa water before the business of # 2 is done, lotsa water in your tank when you dump your tank and you will be happy camper from now on.
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