Chinook RV

Hi All,

I finally found a reputable place nearby that can start the work I know she needs. I’m also having them do full diagnostics of everything since I have no clue what else may be happening inside the coach and the motor. I can make an educated priority list then and start bleeding myself dry! Whee!

The toilet is probably the original and I found out the hard way (phew) that the seal doesn’t work. I’ve decided I want a whole new toilet, not just a new seal.

I expect I will avoid using the black tanks as much as possible and if I get a standard replacement toilet it will be primarily or only used for #1, toilet paper into the trash.

However, maybe there’s another type of toilet that you would recommend? I know a little about composting toilets (besides that they’re pricy). I know that I do NOT want a cassette toilet.

Any suggestions or advice? Thank you!

Are you going to toss the TP into the trash after you get a new toilet? I only heard people doing that if their septic problem can't handle anything other than liquid. But my feeling is that if the tank have issue with TP, it probably won't work with #2 either.

I would just bleach the old porcelain one instead, but I understand why anyone what to get a new one. No experience with compost, sorry.

I would reconsider, especially if you have the Traveller 511+ that (at least) came in the late 90's Concourses. The seals are replaceable, easy to come by, and a common maintenance item. The newer version of that toilet is 2" taller, and at least in the one I know (friend's RV) it was molded with a flat spot on the bottom of the bowl where "stuff" tends to sit unless you use more water to flush.

Said friend replaced that toilet (the newer taller one) with a current model (forget model number now but non-elongated short bowl toilets are few these days) that doesn't have a rim. Oh great, you'd think, no cleaning under the rim! But as many reviews attest, that also means those who sit to do #1 find out that liquids don't have any reason to not just head on out over the rim (into the room).

If you do replace a 511+ short bowl, consider offering it up to others for parts, namely the short bowl.

PS: I've used porta potties, outhouses, marine toilets, groovers, etc. and I think the black tank is great. Huge capacity and dumping is easy and usually free (or cheap). Plus I'm already there to dump the grey tank.

Blue~Go wrote: May 13th, 2019, 4:36 pm PS: I've used porta potties, outhouses, marine toilets, groovers, etc. and I think the black tank is great. Huge capacity and dumping is easy and usually free (or cheap). Plus I'm already there to dump the grey tank.

X2

Personally, I don't see how it is better to have to take out the trash can in the bathroom and dumping the black tank with all liquid, compare to just dumping the tanks with TP in there. It is not like there are tons of space in the wet bath. I am sure you will have an air-tight lip on the can, but if you don't and you took a shower, you will end up with something more messy than dumping the black tank with TP.

I only been to two places that I was told to trash the TP into a can. One was in Oregon where the owner was having problem with redo the septic due to how close the property is to the creek (He told us after we swim in the creek ) The other was someone's house with a sewage problem. Frankly, I feel that since my #2 is more difficult on the pipe than TP, I was about to do my business right *into* the can.

chin_k wrote: May 13th, 2019, 2:21 pm Are you going to toss the TP into the trash after you get a new toilet? I only heard people doing that if their septic problem can't handle anything other than liquid. But my feeling is that if the tank have issue with TP, it probably won't work with #2 either.

I would just bleach the old porcelain one instead, but I understand why anyone what to get a new one. No experience with compost, sorry.

Thanks for the advice. I was told that if there was a problem with this black water tank that using TP could make the odor problem worse. May not be true but that’s why I tossed the TP in the trash. I know the toilet seal is not working, which makes odor problems to begin with. It’s old and if they can easily repair it maybe I’ll reconsider.

I am not a big fan of RV parks and hope to boondock as much as possible. There’s only one dump site near me that is open to the public anymore, and it costs $25 to dump. It’s just me, and my initial trips will probably be 2 day weekend trips twice per month.

chin_k wrote: May 14th, 2019, 7:52 am Personally, I don't see how it is better to have to take out the trash can in the bathroom and dumping the black tank with all liquid, compare to just dumping the tanks with TP in there. It is not like there are tons of space in the wet bath. I am sure you will have an air-tight lip on the can, but if you don't and you took a shower, you will end up with something more messy than dumping the black tank with TP.

I only been to two places that I was told to trash the TP into a can. One was in Oregon where the owner was having problem with redo the septic due to how close the property is to the creek (He told us after we swim in the creek ) The other was someone's house with a sewage problem. Frankly, I feel that since my #2 is more difficult on the pipe than TP, I was about to do my business right *into* the can.

So the TP tossing was because I was told the ever-present urine odor may not just be because of the leaking seal- it may indicate problems in the tank and in that case, using TP could make the odor problem worse. I don’t mind tossing the TP, but that was the reason I was doing it.

I rented my favorite all time rustic cabin for many summers, and they always asked me to toss the paper because it was hard on the septic. I don’t mind that at all. But again- I was doing it in the Chinook per advice to possibly cut back on the smell.

I dumped my tanks for the first and only time on Friday last week which was fine and they weren’t at all full and had more blue chemical stuff coming out than pee and water, without a doubt.. Unfortunately the second I step foot inside her My rig STILL smells like a urinal . Which is why I’m wondering if the 25 year old toilet may be a part of the problem? If so, bye bye. I want fresh and clean! LOL I am not approaching this from a scientific POV, I know. It is emotional. I can deal with lots of things not being perfect, but this bathroom smell is making me nuts.

Blue~Go wrote: May 13th, 2019, 4:33 pm I would reconsider, especially if you have the Traveller 511+ that (at least) came in the late 90's Concourses. The seals are replaceable, easy to come by, and a common maintenance item. The newer version of that toilet is 2" taller, and at least in the one I know (friend's RV) it was molded with a flat spot on the bottom of the bowl where "stuff" tends to sit unless you use more water to flush.

Said friend replaced that toilet (the newer taller one) with a current model (forget model number now but non-elongated short bowl toilets are few these days) that doesn't have a rim. Oh great, you'd think, no cleaning under the rim! But as many reviews attest, that also means those who sit to do #1 find out that liquids don't have any reason to not just head on out over the rim (into the room).

If you do replace a 511+ short bowl, consider offering it up to others for parts, namely the short bowl.

Good advice on a new bowl- thanks. It’s all in the details, isn’t it? I’m going to have my fantastic fans replaced and I’m going with the basic model because the ‘newest latest greatest’ seem to have lots of issues. This is exactly why these forums are so wonderful and I love being able to utilize this wealth of information from folks who have been there, done that.

If I change the toilet out, I will definitely keep it if it’s in good shape and give it away to someone who wants it. I hadn’t thought of that (yet) but I know parts are hard to find.

Just a note, and this applies to grey and black tanks both. They stink, but that's basically normal and fine. The city sewer stinks too, but your house doesn't. Why? It's the magic of water, forming an odor-proof seal. This is the function of a "trap." Trying to keep the tank from smelling is backwards, IMO.

The sinks and shower have a normal type trap, which is a U-shaped section of pipe that traps water, which does not let odor through. So your tank can smell like rotten fish or tutti-frutti and no matter to you - you won't know. RV traps can dry out (evaporate) due to non-use, so you may want to pour a little water down the sinks and shower if that's the case.

The toilet works a little differently. It's basically an outhouse with a seal (why if you look down the toilet drain you can check your black tank). There is no U-shaped water holding trap, but instead the bowl has a seal which traps a bit of water in the bowl between uses. This functions in place of a U-shaped conventional trap. If your seals are bad, that water will drain away, and you can then get a whiff of the black tank. If the seals are good, the (clean) water stays in the toilet and you won't know what the black tank smells like (just like you don't know how the municipal sewer smells when you are in your house).

With good seals the only time you should be able to get a whiff is the moment the valve is open while you are flushing the toilet - especially if you have the roof fan on blowing outward (sucks the air up from the tank while you flush). So better to flush and THEN turn the fan on, if you are going to turn it on at all.

There is a concept that the tank should smell fresh, but really that shouldn't matter (and good luck anyway) as long as you have functioning traps (which we all should). This is for health and for odor
blocking.

TP in the tank will take up some volume, and could conceivably make clogs, but not in the conventional way. The down tube on the toilet is a straight, 3" pipe into the tank. Not much is going to clog that! But if you are very parsimonious with the flush water, and go a while between dumps, the toilet paper could contribute to "poop rocks" on the bottom of the tank that could be a bit hard to get to leave the tank bottom and come out when you dump tanks. A bit more flush water will solve that. Or its possible it can get hung up on the dump valve. I can't see how TP could affect odor.

I boondock pretty much all the time, most often solo. I can get three weeks on the black tank without being too awfully careful. Two weeks is easy peasy and I can be generous with the flush water. Grey tank will go longer than that (but I don't do long showers).

I'm trying to imagine where there is only one $25 dump station. Not saying it's not true, but that's unusual. You said near Redwood City, right? Quick look on Sani Dump shows more possibilities. If this link doesn't work, just google sani dump redwood city, then click on the google map icon once you get to the link.

https://www.sanidumps.com/maps/index.php?id=18

https://www.sanidumps.com/rvdumpscity.p ... tyradius=2

In general some municipal sewer places have free or reasonable dumps. Also some gas stations (may be cheaper or free if you buy gas at same time). RV parks often let you dump for a fee if not camping there. State parks etc. also and they can be cheaper or free depending on state. Rest areas may have a dump station. Granted I don't hang out in the Bay Area too often, but I probably haven't paid $100 per year in the last four years. I don't go out of my way to be cheap either.