sewer question from newbie

[Gillian]

This question stems from partial hook up vs preferred questions I've been seeing. We have a 2 year old and a 5 year old, and would like to be near the pool area.

we are getting a used popup from a family member, SIL-2 who got it from a family member, SIL-1. SIL-2 didn't use it much, maybe 2 times. It's difficult to ask the original owners questions because my BIL is very sick and in the hospital. SIL-1 is there a lot and SIL-2 is helping out. I don't actually have it or the manuals yet. It's a 2001 fleetwood santa fe.

I'm wondering about the waste water issues (from the sink). I know there is a gray water tank, but can you hook that up to a sewer connection? Or do you have to find a place to empty the tanks later on?

We are staying at another place before that does not have sewer hookups, just electric/water.

There is no shower. There is some kind of potty, but I hope not to use it.

 

[RocklandRVers]

Sometimes popups have portable tanks for gray (sink/shower) water and black (toilet) water. If you have permanent tanks for both then you will most likely have a single drain outlet that you attach your hose to and 2 separate valves to drain each tank.

If you have this type of set up always remember to drain the black first, CLOSE THAT VALVE, then drain the gray. The gray will rinse out any black tank residue.

We use our toilet during the night for liquid wastes rather than trying to make our way in the dark to the comfort station. We use the comfort station for showers and solid waste.

One thing you must not do is to drain any tank on the ground even gray water. Most campgrounds warn you that it is a violation of the law to do so. From what I understand in Fort Wilderness if you need to dump your tank(s) and don't have a sewer hookup at your site, they will let you go to a vacant site that does have one to dump. Other campgrounds have a designated dump station for this purpose.

 

[DJBounce]

We just bought our first popup camper and I found that there is a wealth of information on the Pop Up Explorer website. They have a message board where I have had a bunch of questions answered. They seem to be pretty knowledgeable. The web site is www.popupexplorer.com I hope this helps!!

 

[trlrboy]

We had a 2000 Santa Fe for 5 years and loved it. The porta-potty that you have needs to be emptied either down the drain for sewer at your campsite (be careful) or at the dump station in the campground. It's not a hard job, it's just unpleasant.

The gray water line that comes from your sink can go directly into the sewer opening. I would suggest wrapping the top of the opening with an old towel and sitting a rock on top of it so you don't get any aroma coming out of there. There is no valve to open to drain the sink. Just attach the hose to the outside of the camper and into the sewer.

The gray water tank that you mentioned is one that may be mounted under the camper but you cannot drain directly to that. You need to disconnect it and lay it by the side of the camper and then put your drain hose into that. With a sewer hookup right there, there isn't much point in using that tank at all.

Here are some pictures you might want to look over. If you skim down a little way you'll see albums about the popup. Maybe that will give you some ideas. Camping pictures

Feel free to email me any time if you have questions. TRLRBOY@SBCGLOBAL.NET