Foretravel Owners' Forum

We bought in Nov. '12 a '01 U320 that has a passenger side mounted vacuum assist toilet in what is usually the clothes closet on a 320. This toilet uses a lot of water plus air which causes us to have to dump once a week with only a half tank of grey, no fresh water left and a full black tank.
We boondock almost all the time and that won't do!
As we brown bag our brown paper we feel that a deep bowl water only flush toilet will work fine eliminating the annoying aux air pump coming on to refill the air system and easing the strain on the fresh water supply.

Any advice especially from someone who has or had the same problem would be greatly appreciated.

Is this a Sealand VacuFlush?

If so (we have the "Magnum Opus" model), you can set the water level in the bowl.  I believe there are 3 different settings. 

  
If it is a VacuFlush, there's (almost assuredly) a reason for it - the outlet of the toilet (likely) isn't directly over the black tank, so flushing requires pumping (the vacuum generator) to get waste to the tank.  You can't just replace it with a standard model toilet.

Once you have the water level dialed in better, note that the duckbill valves of the vacuum generator and the seals of the toilet *should* be replaced every 3 years.  There is also an upgrade kit if the pump is noisy or fails.  Here's a tutorial thread on rebuilding the vacuum generator

VacuFlush Toilet Vacuum Pump Rebuild (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=13573.0)

ETA - I'm not sure exactly what you mean by the toilet using a lot of air.  The toilet's vacuum generator does use 12V power to create vacuum, but (at least on a VacuFlush) it's not tied into the coach air system in any way.

Michelle

Question is, where is the black water tank located? Is your toilet over the tank or offset from it?

Absolutely!!  You had better take a good look at the schematics for your coach and have a discussion with someone like James Trianna or Mark Harvey before you decide you are going ahead with this change. There is a REASON that the stuff needs help to go sideways!!

Michelle is also giving you valuable advice when she says that the air system that uses your auxiliary pump is totally separate from your toilet.  Time to get our your spray bottle of bubble solution.  You have a leaky connection somewhere.  It is not the toilet.  We have no issue with excessive water use when dry camping.  We just use the "low" water setting and keep a plastic jug by the commode for addition when necessary.  You just need to learn how to manage the device.

Don't be yanking stuff out too fast!!

The current toilet is a "Microflush model LF-210".
Made in Willitis, California by Microphor Inc.

If someone knows how to adjust the water level in this model toilet it would be a great help to us for now.  I have no manual on this toilet in my Foretravel Manual File.

We will be returning to Nacagdoches in February to have this problem sorted out.
Thanks for your help everyone. 

A quick internet search, and here's a link to the manual (dated March 2005):  http://www.microphor.com/pdf/Manual24563MicroflushGBH.pdf (http://www.microphor.com/pdf/Manual24563MicroflushGBH.pdf)

A troubleshooting section is included, which might provide some help...

Hi Jim ,

For the Microphor 210...lift the tank lid and adjust the small dial for more or less water as it refills. There is also an on/off rocker switch in there to shut off and hold the flapper open during times of storage (flush, then stop it with the switch). Cleaning with your (mother-in-law's) bent toothbrush and lubing with Teflon grease will help to maintain the seal as well.

Thanks folks that's helped with the water.
We are going to discuss some other options with the factory such as mascerating etc.. in Feb.
safe travels