Black / Gray Termination Valves

[chazzbear]

Hello,

Newbie-ish to full time living.

(Also newbie to posting, as I put this in the wrong group. Reposting here.)

Recently got a 2017 Jayco Pinnacle 5W. Having trouble locating all of the black and/or gray termination valves. According to the drawings I received from Jayco there should be 4, as I am supposed to have 2 black tanks and 2 gray tanks. I can only find 3.

There are only 3 release valves (1 gray and 2 black) on the panel by where the water goes in (can't think of the name of those right now).

And the tank indicator panel has lights for 1 gray and 2 black. When I dump, the gray light goes to empty, 1 black goes to 1/4, and the 2nd black has always indicated 3/4 full. Since I don't use the 2nd toilet and everyone says that indicator lights don't work anyway, I never gave it much thought. But now that I am preparing for winter, I want to be sure.

The entire underbelly is wrapped so I can't locate any other valves. Don't want to start tearing into that unless I knew where it would be.

Any ideas? Thank you.

[ARoamer]

Welcome!
I would guess that....
Possibly your grey tanks are both plumbed together and are drained by one valve.
Post your specific model and someone may have a solid answer.
And yes, the OEM tank sensors are unreliable at best.

[chazzbear]

Originally Posted by ARoamer

Welcome!
I would guess that....
Possibly your grey tanks are both plumbed together and are drained by one valve.
Post your specific model and someone may have a solid answer.
And yes, the OEM tank sensors are unreliable at best.

Thank you for the response!

2017 Jayco Pinnacle 36FBTS

[ARoamer]

Per Jayco's brochure-
https://www.jayco.com/uploads/rvs/br..._1.27.2017.pdf
Grey waste water capacity-87 Gallons**
**Split Tank

A call or message to Jayco Customer service with your VIN # would give you a definite answer, but likely it's 2 tanks, one grey valve.

[chazzbear]

Originally Posted by ARoamer

Per Jayco's brochure-
https://www.jayco.com/uploads/rvs/br..._1.27.2017.pdf
Grey waste water capacity-87 Gallons**
**Split Tank

A call or message to Jayco Customer service with your VIN # would give you a definite answer, but likely it's 2 tanks, one grey valve.

Ok. Clear about the gray tanks probably being combined. Just wondering about the 2 blacks still….. am I getting all the valves open and emptied? ( As the indicator lights are well, acting like indicator lights ???)

[ARoamer]

Originally Posted by chazzbear

Ok. Clear about the gray tanks probably being combined. Just wondering about the 2 blacks still….. am I getting all the valves open and emptied? ( As the indicator lights are well, acting like indicator lights ???)

As stated, the indicator lights likely won't indicate properly. Best to fill your tanks, even with water, and dump them one at a time. Get a clear elbow so you can see the flow. When dumping a 1/2 to full black tank, it should nearly fill the hose with flow and slow to a trickle when empty. IF you see less flow, there may be a blockage or valve opening issue. Most of the grey tanks use a smaller 1-1/2" gate valve and will flow less.

[chazzbear]

Originally Posted by ARoamer

As stated, the indicator lights likely won't indicate properly. Best to fill your tanks, even with water, and dump them one at a time. Get a clear elbow so you can see the flow. When dumping a 1/2 to full black tank, it should nearly fill the hose with flow and slow to a trickle when empty. IF you see less flow, there may be a blockage or valve opening issue. Most of the grey tanks use a smaller 1-1/2" gate valve and will flow less.

Very helpful. Thank you!

[Radar57]

On our 2019 36FBTS there 2 black tanks and the forward gray tank dump valve controls are in the convince/water bay area. The aft gray tank is down by the dump drain (where the dump hose connects).

[beergut82]

I have a 2017 36fbts. The other gray tank pull is next to your drain pipe on left side of it as your looking at it. Look in towards the underbelly. It is kinda tucked underneath.

[chazzbear]

Originally Posted by beergut82

I have a 2017 36fbts. The other gray tank pull is next to your drain pipe on left side of it as your looking at it. Look in towards the underbelly. It is kinda tucked underneath.

EDIT: I just re-read your response. Sorry, had a blonde moment. You said left of DRAIN pipe. Not left side of camper. Got it.

Yeah, so that covers 3 termination pulls. I think the 4th will remain a mystery!





Thank you for your response.

So you are saying, passenger side near the rear? The entire underbelly is wrapped, and it is impossible to see any pulls. Can you give an guess as to how far back? Before the slide out? By the rear wheels?

Also, if the pull is on that side, is there another drain to hook the sewer hose to? Or does it go to the main drain and sewer hook up on the driver's side?

[JB13502]

Originally Posted by chazzbear

Thank you for your response.

So you are saying, passenger side near the rear? The entire underbelly is wrapped, and it is impossible to see any pulls. Can you give an guess as to how far back? Before the slide out? By the rear wheels?

Also, if the pull is on that side, is there another drain to hook the sewer hose to? Or does it go to the main drain and sewer hook up on the driver's side?

It's quite possible that you've lost the handle that attaches to the pull cable (as I found recently on my fresh water dump valve). I've lost 2 handles this summer on my 2021 NP, probably due to the high cost of a drop of lock-tite on the screw.
Look around for a cable housing similar to the attached picture (minus the handle, of course). It may come from the underbelly, but it will be below the Coroplast.

[Radar57]

There is only one drain pipe from which all 4 tanks drain. It is just in front of the LH (driver side) front tire. The handle for the aft drain valve (galley and front bathroom) valve is just above the large pipe running forward. When I get back to the camper tonight I will take a picture of it and put it in a post.

[Radar57]

If you zoom in where the sticker that states Gray Water Holding Tank you should see a gray handle. That is the back gray tank. At least that is for a 2019 36FBTS.

[Starcityroa]

Originally Posted by JB13502

It's quite possible that you've lost the handle that attaches to the pull cable (as I found recently on my fresh water dump valve). I've lost 2 handles this summer on my 2021 NP, probably due to the high cost of a drop of lock-tite on the screw.
Look around for a cable housing similar to the attached picture (minus the handle, of course). It may come from the underbelly, but it will be below the Coroplast.

I have the same problem. I pulled the gray water handle on our last trip and it came all the way out, disconnected from the cable.
Did you find instructions from Jayco on how to repair it yourself or take it to a dealer?
I'd like to try to fix it myself.

[jetlag]

Originally Posted by JB13502

It's quite possible that you've lost the handle that attaches to the pull cable (as I found recently on my fresh water dump valve). I've lost 2 handles this summer on my 2021 NP, probably due to the high cost of a drop of lock-tite on the screw.
Look around for a cable housing similar to the attached picture (minus the handle, of course). It may come from the underbelly, but it will be below the Coroplast.

As a side note here, I had lost one as well, replaced it via Amazon. I then screwed it back on with a drop of blue loctite. Next day, and first time I pulled it, it crumbled in my hand. Was the loctite involved? The next one I made sure it was screwed on tight. On our pinnacle, the second gray valve is behind the dump pipe and in front of the driver side front wheel