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Thread: Pumping Black/Grey Water Tanks

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    23

    Default Pumping Black/Grey Water Tanks

    Greetings:

    I have an '06 Marathon conversion. I will be in a situation this summer where I will have to have my tanks pumped out rather than dumping in the usual manner. I have heard stories of people have had their tanks collapse during the pumping process. I was told that the key to to make sure that your "toilet" valve is open during the pumping. Not sure if this is even necessary or how to "hold the toilet valve open".

    I am looking for advice on the proper way to pump the tanks.

    Thanks in advance.

    John Emmett
    John Emmett NØMHz
    Aberdeen, SD
    2006 Marathon

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Tavares
    Posts
    1,088

    Default

    Hi John,

    We were faced with that last year at the Balloon Fiesta - I talked to a few people who said " You should be ok " then talked to Leon at Marathon who HIGHLY advised Against it.

    Looks like the issue is if it is not done 100 % correctly by someone who knows what they are doing you will have a situation you do not want to deal with.

    I choose the safe route - did not let them pump it out - had to go into " conservation mode " the last day but as it turned out we had plenty of space left at the end of the event.

    Jamie
    2005 Marathon H3-45 # 0867

    2013 Chevy Avalanche

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Kansas City, MO
    Posts
    497

    Default

    Do not let anyone talk you into pumping your tanks if you have a Marathon conversion. If some one with the expertise of Leon at Marathon says NO that's enough for me.

    One thing I have seen is dumping into a kids swimming pool then the honey wagon pumps from that pool.

    Someone holding the toilet valve open is total nonsense. Another point ....if you have a Tecma toilet worth $2K and all electric operation, that's another problem.
    Last edited by BoaterAl; 05-11-2018 at 09:47 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    23

    Default

    Thanks to all. You have confirmed my suspicions.

    John Emmett
    John Emmett NØMHz
    Aberdeen, SD
    2006 Marathon

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    3,988

    Default

    I'm very curious how this could be.

    3 questions come to mind.

    Shouldn't the vent prevent this? What is the correct way to pump out? Very slowly?? and what is the explication for the phenomenon? Vent is only big enough to release vapors?

    Al I couldn't in a million years imagine a prevo in a site next to me pumping a holding tank into a kids swimming pool. Not something I'd expect to see the average Prevo owners do. What of the pool when you're done, burn it? Yikes.
    Last edited by Joe Camper; 05-15-2018 at 12:00 PM.
    1990 Peterbuilt 377
    3406 B Caterpillar
    13 Speed Roadranger
    No Norgrens


    1 day on paper no machines

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Beverly Hills
    Posts
    4,652

    Default

    I saw so many coaches being pumped at the balloon fiesta. This is a valid concern given the discharge is so much larger than the roof vent for the black tank. The gray tank should not be a concern given the number of sinks and roof vent should be enough venting.

    A fix would be easy. Make a T with the same size PVC pipe as your sewer hose connection. 2 ends will have standard hose connections. The other will be open and 3 feet long or so. Connect the coach and the pumper truck to the T. Leave the open end pointed straight up. Turn on the pumper and then the storage tanks. This would be an easy solution that guarantees the tanks won't be harmed.


    Gil and Durlene
    2003 H-3 Hoffman Conversion

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    3,988

    Default

    Gill u r a knuckhead sometimes.

    If you know you're going to be out boonien get a macerator.

    Couldn't u just pump it to the honey wagon with a macerator? Which poses the next question all you Marathon guys.

    Don't marathon's have macerator pumps? Does this mean every time I go boondocking and I get next to a guy with a marathon I run the risk of him pumping his holding tank into a kids swimming pool every evening around cocktail time???
    1990 Peterbuilt 377
    3406 B Caterpillar
    13 Speed Roadranger
    No Norgrens


    1 day on paper no machines

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Jasper
    Posts
    3,775

    Default

    Al,

    No problem pumping out Marathon’s, remember the Rally in Quebec, Leon supervised the sucker truck and pumped out about 30 Marathon’s with no issue.

    Joe - Most Marathon’s, mine included, don’t have macerator’s, I use a portable that works great.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Beverly Hills
    Posts
    4,652

    Default

    Joe, I've had a macerator before. No thanks, don't want or need one. They are good for pumping uphill, that's about it.


    Gil and Durlene
    2003 H-3 Hoffman Conversion

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    3,988

    Default

    I saw this online somewhere years ago and copied it it works really good and it was $69 or something plus Hardware. Everything that you can buy that's preordained macerator is a lot more dough than that and these have just slightly more powerfull bigger motors.

    20180516_085434.jpg

    20180516_085500.jpg

    Big end waste tank little end hose.



    I can run a garden hose from in front of my house through a basement window and shove the end of the hose not just in the toilet bowl but shove the end of the hose all the way down into the closet flange in the bottom of the bowl and you can pump into your toilet that way and it won't stink up the house. It's always worked good. Just beware if you allow it to accumulate in the bowl you're going to smell it. Run clean water through for rinse.

    It's quick too, not slow.
    Last edited by Joe Camper; 05-16-2018 at 10:08 AM.
    1990 Peterbuilt 377
    3406 B Caterpillar
    13 Speed Roadranger
    No Norgrens


    1 day on paper no machines

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