Transfer gray tank to black

Golfnbike13 · 09-08-2016, 09:21 AM

Since our gray tank fills up so much quicker then the black, is there any way to easily transfer water from the gray tank to black?
I have the 195bh with fairly small tanks and would love to extend the length of gray tank without carrying the portable.

Restcure · 09-08-2016, 11:03 AM

I don't know of a way to transfer it directly but with a twist-on valve installed you can open both dump valves and let the tanks equalize. So if you have 10 gallons in the black and 20 in the grey you'd end up with 15 in each (probably slightly less since the pipes behind the last valves will hold a bit.

JCCarr · 09-08-2016, 11:25 AM

MY first inclination was to say that's illegal and you can't do that, but it's rare to have separate dump facilities anymore and if the camper is working properly it will have traps to prevent sewer gasses to back into the RV. So I guess its OK...but I really don't know.

But I still wouldn't do it. Many of the RVs I've seen run a smaller size pipe from the gray tank to the valves. I'm afraid that it could clog with solids and not have the ability to clear because of lack of flow from the tank through where the clog formed.

Maybe in an emergency... But in an emergency there's other ways I'd deal with the extra gray water.

Just my random thoughts on this... I'm no expert here that's for sure.

**Bama Rambler** · 09-08-2016, 11:33 AM

Restcure's solution is good IF your tanks are at the same level. If you open the grey water valve first, and it's fuller than the black, you won't have any backflow into the grey tank, unless you flush the toilet with the valves still open.

mjones12 · 09-08-2016, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfnbike13

Since our gray tank fills up so much quicker then the black, is there any way to easily transfer water from the gray tank to black?
I have the 195bh with fairly small tanks and would love to extend the length of gray tank without carrying the portable.

When I had a smaller camper (17-foot Casita) I would sometimes take a small bucket, dump some of the gray tank contents into it and then pour it down the commode. Doing this a few times would accomplish the load-leveling your are talking about. It's a PIA, and you have to be careful toting it through the camper, but I guess it beats having to hook up the camper and tow it to the dump station.

Given the choice, I think I'd purchase one of the blue tanks that can be pulled behind the tow vehicle.

mdstudey · 09-08-2016, 12:58 PM

On our last trip and with no sewer hook up, we would run what ever water we need to run with a dish pan under it and then put it into the toilet. Since there were bathrooms and shower just a little way down with flush toilets, the black tank was not getting much use. I am a firm believer that having more fluids in the black tank then solids the better. Especially useful if you are in a hot climate.

Jesse · 09-08-2016, 01:00 PM

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Barker-42...&wl13=&veh=sem

Golfnbike13 · 09-08-2016, 01:01 PM

Jesse try reading the original post

Jesse · 09-08-2016, 01:09 PM

Oh yeah got it

Golfnbike13 · 09-08-2016, 01:10 PM

"Without carrying the portable"

RiderBloke · 09-08-2016, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdstudey

On our last trip and with no sewer hook up, we would run what ever water we need to run with a dish pan under it and then put it into the toilet. Since there were bathrooms and shower just a little way down with flush toilets, the black tank was not getting much use. I am a firm believer that having more fluids in the black tank then solids the better. Especially useful if you are in a hot climate.

X2

Golfnbike13 · 09-08-2016, 02:38 PM

We do the dish pan in the sink to catch everything and then pour out or in toilet. But with just a 25 gallon tank it fills quickly from just baths/showers, especially with kids.
Just seems like such an easy concept to release some gray water into the black tank....

ilmor · 09-08-2016, 02:46 PM

A good mod would be to add a pump which pumps grey to black; including a backflow preventer. It all ends up going down the same hole anyway.

Golfnbike13 · 09-08-2016, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilmor

A good mod would be to add a pump which pumps grey to black; including a backflow preventer. It all ends up going down the same hole anyway.

That's what I'm taking about. Have you seen this done or point me in a direction for more info?

swbouton · 09-08-2016, 02:55 PM

We've got a 2014 Silverback 33RL and I'm starting to think about buying a portable tank like this. Please tell me how you use it. I suspect it might make life a lot easier, but I don't know.

Thanks!

waiter21 · 09-08-2016, 02:57 PM

What is the source of your gray tank water? i.e. washing dishes, taking shower, etc.

Depending on your layout, you might be able to re-plumb and/or add a valve to send gray water directly to the black tank.

i.e. On my Mirada, I could easily re-plumb and add a valve under the kitchen sink to either send kitchen sink water to the gray, or switch the valve and send kitchen sink water to the bathroom sink drain, that drops in to the black tank.

bpa098 · 09-08-2016, 02:58 PM

another option is to have a bucket that you can dump some grey into and then dump out into the woods. I am pretty sure it is legal, no i have never done it but have seen it done many times.

now this to me depends on the site and campground on whether i agree with doing it or not. Deep woods camping, dumping well away from all sites.... ok. this summer i was at a very nice but very open campground. most site areas were circles with sites on the inside and out side of the road. This guy was on the inside of the loop and had a small bush ten yards away from him and other campers.... several times he dumped 5 gallons there. that was ticking me off, especially when another 30 yards away was a big nice bath house that had a room with a weird toilet looking thing and sign saying "grey waste dumping only"

Golfnbike13 · 09-08-2016, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waiter21

What is the source of your gray tank water? i.e. washing dishes, taking shower, etc.

Depending on your layout, you might be able to re-plumb and/or add a valve to send gray water directly to the black tank.

i.e. On my Mirada, I could easily re-plumb and add a valve under the kitchen sink to either send kitchen sink water to the gray, or switch the valve and send kitchen sink water to the bathroom sink drain, that drops in to the black tank.

The tub/shower is the main source or gray water. We only have one sink and catch most of that in a pot to pour out and save tank space.

ilmor · 09-08-2016, 03:11 PM

Funny - if I were to take an outside (concealed of course) shower with the water going onto the ground, it would be no big deal...but...don't dump the gray water from your RV shower that's bad!!

waiter21 · 09-08-2016, 03:13 PM

Another idea - buy a small water pump. Plumb it from the gray to the black. Find a low point on the gray to tap (maybe even your dump pipe) and if you can, pump it to one of the highest points you can find for your black, i.e. a bath sink drain or even the roof vent stack if you can get access to it.

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