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Old 10-23-2016, 09:47 AM   #1
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Second gray water holding tank?

We often stay at state park campgrounds, and most do not have sewer hook-ups. The 41 gallon black-water tank in our FR3 30 DS seems adequate for our purposes, but the 41 gallon gray-water tank usually fills up first. This often requires a mid-stay trip to the dump station to empty the gray-water holding tank. Is there such a thing as a second (or larger) gray tank for an FR3 30DS? Where can I get one? Can this auxiliary tank be connected to the existing system? Any suggestions would be appreciated. TY.
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Old 10-23-2016, 10:01 AM   #2
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there are portable units that vary in size and price that might work for you, without retro fitting your rig. here is a link for ideas

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-RV_...FVFffgod51gFVA
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Old 10-23-2016, 03:09 PM   #3
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Portable RV Wastewater Tank

My husband uses a portable RV wastewater tank and it works great! He attaches the filled tank to the hitch ball on our toad and transports it to the dump station that way.
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Old 10-23-2016, 06:54 PM   #4
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Have you considered plumbing your toilet to flush from gray water tank?
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:03 PM   #5
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Do you have more information on how to perform that modification? Sounds interesting...pictures or links would be appreciated.
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:20 PM   #6
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Have you considered plumbing your toilet to flush from gray water tank?
Would require a complete plumbing change and the addition of another 12v water pump. Not very practical as debris in the grey water tank would also create problems with the additional pump and the toilet valve.
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:27 PM   #7
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I haven't done it. But seems you have a couple of options. Both would require a second water pump.
1. Tap into lower not bottom of gray tank. Run line to filter then 12 volt water pump then to toilet. Only run pump by switch in bathroom when flushing. Cap off existing water line to toilet.

2. Same as 1st except place quality 3 way valve and maybe a in line valve in insure you don't gray water into fresh. Which is a risk.

You could also do the 1st setup. And make it easy to switch connections and only use the gray system when dry camping.

I'm sure someone has done this.
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:38 PM   #8
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http://ideas.4brad.com/node/246
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Old 10-23-2016, 08:41 PM   #9
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Grey water stinks and is dirty. Wouldn't want that in my toilet.




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Old 10-23-2016, 09:31 PM   #10
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Another option, and one I've thought about doing, would be to switch over to using a composting toilet. Then your black/grey tanks can become one (grey) tank if you add another spade valve. But I think most will carry around that those portable holding tanks and make a trip to the dump site.
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Old 10-24-2016, 12:13 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by SeaDog View Post
there are portable units that vary in size and price that might work for you, without retro fitting your rig. here is a link for ideas

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-RV_...FVFffgod51gFVA
Just a word of caution... For our 2015 FR3 30DS I bought a large "blue boy" (as they are often called) for dry camping. First time I tried to use it, I realized my FR3 drain pipe was lower than the top of the larger "blue boy" tank. What a crappy design in my opinion. Sorry for the bad pun.

I didn't want to screw around with playing slinky with the sewer hose and the large tank, so I bought a smaller (lower height) "blue boy" 12 gallon tank. The flip side of that might be multiple trips to the dump station.
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Old 10-24-2016, 12:20 PM   #12
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Just a word of caution... For our 2015 FR3 30DS I bought a large "blue boy" (as they are often called) for dry camping. First time I tried to use it, I realized my FR3 drain pipe was lower than the top of the larger "blue boy" tank. What a crappy design in my opinion. Sorry for the bad pun.



I didn't want to screw around with playing slinky with the sewer hose and the large tank, so I bought a smaller (lower height) "blue boy" 12 gallon tank. The flip side of that might be multiple trips to the dump station.


I have a big 41 gallon Barker tote. During my research, I did notice the inlet on the tote is high. Lucky for me, my discharge pipes for my tanks are even higher. This is something I have started to watch for on other rigs. Some are surprisingly low to the ground.
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Old 10-24-2016, 12:26 PM   #13
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I have a big 41 gallon Barker tote. During my research, I did notice the inlet on the tote is high. Lucky for me, my discharge pipes for my tanks are even higher. This is something I have started to watch for on other rigs. Some are surprisingly low to the ground.
My guess is... your RV is not an FR3 ???
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Old 10-24-2016, 12:32 PM   #14
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We have a tote that we used where there was no sewer hookup and towed it with the pickup to the dump station. We made 2 trips.

The last time we camped for 5 days without a sewer hook-up, there was a gray water dump station very close to our campsite. I used dishpans for washing dishes and a small wash pan in the bathroom sink. We emptied them in the gray water station. It was kind of a pain to do this, but it worked. Of course we stopped at the dump station on the way out of the campground to empty both tanks.
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Old 10-24-2016, 12:46 PM   #15
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Grey tanks have 2 1/2 inches drain tube and black tanks have 4 inch drain tubes. If you use the grey tank for toilet use, you will have to replace the drain tube and gate valve to 4 inch. 2 1/2 inches is to small for toilet paper and poo to pass through. It will clog constantly .would not recommend doing that
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Old 10-24-2016, 01:21 PM   #16
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Grey tanks have 2 1/2 inches drain tube and black tanks have 4 inch drain tubes. If you use the grey tank for toilet use, you will have to replace the drain tube and gate valve to 4 inch. 2 1/2 inches is to small for toilet paper and poo to pass through. It will clog constantly .would not recommend doing that
I don't think that anyone was saying that. It was flush from not to gray tank.
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Old 10-24-2016, 01:42 PM   #17
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sorry, guess i read it wrong
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Old 10-24-2016, 02:14 PM   #18
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Draining to portable blue tote

[QUOTE=PeteAndEd;1349422]Just a word of caution... For our 2015 FR3 30DS I bought a large "blue boy" (as they are often called) for dry camping. First time I tried to use it, I realized my FR3 drain pipe was lower than the top of the larger "blue boy" tank.

When I hook up my tote to the camper's discharge the hose sags lower than either the camper pipe or the tote and when I open the flush valve not much happens. This is because there is now an airtight seal and the waste can't displace the air in the tote. Unscrew the tote valve and the tote fills as the air can now escape.
My old RV discharge sat lower than the tote opening, but still worked do to the siphoning action once I unscrewed the tote valve. My tote is a 28 Gallon Thetford.
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Old 10-24-2016, 08:23 PM   #19
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If we are getting full on grey water and cannot dump I simply drain some grey water in a five gallon bucket and dump in my toilet. Short term solution as black water tank will not normally be very full. Both of my tanks are 41 gallons
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Old 10-25-2016, 08:58 AM   #20
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Grey water stinks and is dirty. Wouldn't want that in my toilet.




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So does black water...
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