Grey water lever gone

[Schilly]

I’m getting ready for the next camping trip and realized that the gray water lever is completely gone and part of the pipe broken. Must’ve hit a tree stump or some thing and I didn’t notice it. I don’t have the money to bring it into the shop. But cannot find good instructions online. Any tips or tricks on either fix this or how could I still drain the gray water without the lever?

[muckinfuss]

a decent photo or two will may get you an answer. it sounds like you have two separate issues to solve, but guessing isn't good fixing.

[Schilly]

How the heck do you add a pic here?

[OnTheGo]

In the "Message" box (where you reply) there are icons on the top left. Stop your cursor over them for an explanation of what they are. The second from last is to insert an image.

The way you upload it from your device is how it will appear in your post. In other words, if it needs to be rotated, cropped, or whatever, do that first.

[Marcm157]

While we wait for pics, do you have an enclosed underbelly, or can you see your tanks?

[Schilly]

hmmm...the pic image gives me a url? I will try and send as attachment....

[Schilly]

sorry, all images are straight on my end but uploaded sideways.....

[Yooper906]

Originally Posted by Schilly

sorry, all images are straight on my end but uploaded sideways.....

Don't worry about pics going sideways. I talked to Janet, one of the tech folks on this site, she says their is no upgrade to fix the photo problem, have to wait till the web folks change the whole site to something newer. It's a known problem, has little do do with the orientation of your camera.
The only "fix" is to keep your current orientation, then edit or crop the photos.

[JFlightRisk]

You've lost the gray water drain valve completely. You have some plumbing to do, to replace it, and the connecting piping. Best to have a professional do it if you're not comfortable with the job at hand.

The connection into the 3" discharge is broken off also.

[Schilly]

Right. Damn. I know all the mechanics are booked out and I have a camping trip coming up. Is there anyway I manually can open that gray water valve when I crawl under there? I just don’t even see where I could do that

[muckinfuss]

If you don't see where the connection is....then it's gone. Can be an easy fix with a new valtrex gate or an incredibly difficult job depending on your skill set. Might be time to reassess the trip and look into renting until you can get square on your trailer. You don't want to be doing DIY brain surgery before entering a triathlon.

[OnTheGo]

Given that its gray water and not sewage you might be able to attach a hose and clamp and drain into a bucket. You would have to empty it more often, but you would be able to keep your plans and make a permenant fix later.

The water would flow from your sink / shower directly into the bucket without the valve being there.

[Schilly]

So, but where would I connect the hose? I cant seem to find where the lever used to be connected to open the drain. if I could find that then I could try and do it manually....

[ARoamer]

It looks like your grey and black connect together (or used to connect) at a 45 degree fitting right before your twist on connection for the dump hose. Even if you did connect a hose to dump grey your black wouldn't be dump-able, it will pour out the broken off 45 degree fitting for the grey water unless you could plug that somehow.
The mystery is -where is your grey valve located? It may be damaged from the handle being tore off. Probably not extremely hard to fix if you're a bit handy, have the tools, and get the parts.

[Jerry713]

Originally Posted by Schilly

So, but where would I connect the hose? I cant seem to find where the lever used to be connected to open the drain. if I could find that then I could try and do it manually....

You would have to cut the black pipe past or behind where the 45 degree fitting is (where the break is located) then you should be able to slide a sewer hose end over that pipe and tighten it with a hose clamp just make sure there is no fitting on the sewer hose. Then you would need a Y fitting where your hose connects to the PVC dump pipe and you would have to run 2 different hoses. One for grey water and one for black water. This is assuming your black water valve still works fine.
Here's a link to the y fitting I'm talking about
RV Camper Y Wye Adapter Sewer Hose Black Gray Tank Dump Holding Travel https://a.co/d/1wig3AD

[Gary207]

Use the rubber couplings sold at Home Depot & Lowes for household plumbing it might be easier for you to put together.

[Bill Johnson]

Right we called these no hubs for connecting pvc drain pipes

[CAG]

Actually, I think the connection above is a fix I would not do.



This involves cutting the line off prior to the connection, adding another joint with a line after and the dump valve.



This would involve a joint, glue, and additional line. Not difficult but a final fix. The floppy joint above is, in my opinion, a dangerous repair.

[Bill Johnson]

Anyone can put in pvc pipe, watch YouTube. Cut the fitting off and extend the pipe to the edge of the trailer and install a valve and the part your hose fits on, with the nubs. The other side clean out the fitting using a sander on a drill till you can put a piece of pvc into it and put a cap on the end till you can fix it right. Someone in your neighborhood should be able to help you

[Gary207]

Thanks Bill for the photo. I think I would use a no hub coupling with a plug to cap off the line and fill the tank to make Shure the tank contention is not damaged and leaking.