I don't know who came up with the idea, but I sure salute them for doing so!!! Every time I dump, I marvel at that idea. So glad that I installed one.
Pat,
I agree, such a simple mod makes good sense.
Dave M
Me three! I no longer care that the black valve sometimes seeps through a bit.
I put one on my 99 right after I got it in 2000. I got a surprise and I did not want one again.
John,
What happened with the 3 rd valve that turned you off so strong ?
Dave, I think John means he had a problem prior to putting it on and he did not want that "surprise" again so he installed 3rd valve. Not that he took it off.
JohnH
Yup, that makes sense.
Yup, the surprise took a bunch of cleanup on a concrete pad. That prompted the first third valve. I know there were not as many of them when I put mine on but it should be standard I think.
Bought the third valve but can't install it. Will either have to redesign/change the cover and/or change how the black pipe comes out of the bay. :'( I'll continue to chew on it for a while.
Went with a removable third valterra valve and and a intermediate clear piece with a hose hookup to it upstream of the valve if installed temporarily that way.
Bob
Scott, if you figure out the redesign, please share. I have the third valve, added it two years ago, value it. But cannot close the bay door with hose attached, that your reluctance?
I cannot find a right angle fitting that will attach to the third valve plus the required adapter and then let the connected hose clear the bay door as it goes down ward thru the small hinged bottom door. If just had an adapter to go directly to a right angle out of the valve without the adapter that adds length between the hose and the valtera valve!
I can send a photo to explain if that helps.
I think about converting the black plastic tank exit tube to another size, maybe that needed but seems way too drastic, maybe I make some other change?
Mike
I can't close the bay door with the waste hose attached. I don't consider it to be a problem. I attach the waste hose, dump, and stow the hose.
Same here...or leave the bay door ajar. Beats having to open that fitting to a surprise mess. I tried at first to use a Valterra cap that has a hose fitting, so I could open the hose fitting and let the goo go into the sewer hose held up there to catch it. Doesn't work very well, so I cut off the Thetford end and installed the third Valterra valve. No more worries, and actually, I don't think the bay door closed with the Thetford connector that came with the coach.
I cut back my black pipe about 3/4s of an inch and the bay door closes fine.
Oh on my 2000 I had to not only cut it but I had to lift it a 1/4 of an inch. Stick a wedge of wood in and that worked to get the valve on. Then removed it once it was glued on.
John, great....that answers I think what I needed done when installed, now to see about a redo
Mike
I use a "twist on" Valterra valve. The waste pipe from the OEM valves is so close to the floor that the third valve must use some of the space in the floor port for clearance. That puts it close enough to the bay door that the bay door will not close if a dump hose or angle fitting is attached. I don't find it a problem to hook up the waste host, dump, and put everything away immediately. If I wanted to leave the waste hose hooked up, I could remove the third valve, connect the waste hose, and close the bay door.
There is probably a way to adjust the plumbing so the a third valve could be used with a waste hose while the bay door is fully closed. I have no plans to "improve" the current third valve installation.
I would like to attache the 3rd valve permanently. If I attach so the rod extends to the side my bay door does not close. I might be able to mount it on a 45 deg. angle but the rod may interfere with the removal with the cover plate. I had posted this pic once before hoping that one of you had the same pipe configuration and found a solution.
Different floor plans and waste tank layouts give different options for mounting a 3rd valve. In our 99' U270, there was just enough room to add the valve and a 45 or 90 degree clear adapter and still close the door. Here are a few pics... Now, I am going to change it again because I am going to put a waste master with a cam lock like Maz (Mark) that can stay attached. I think I will mount the third valve behind the stainless partition and run the pull handle up through my shelf with an extension rod.
Don
You would not believe the lack of room in a U225's utility bay. Will try to snap a pic and post it later when we get back from seeing Galveston sights. I had to mount the valve at just the perfect angle for the bay door to close and the valve to open. Also had to replace the other two valves cause they stuck so bad that one had to almost lay on his side to get them to open. I carried a old vinyl table cloth for that purpose. But now with new dump valves all around, they open with one hand. So much better than I started with!! I still want to do some modifying of the city water intake. It just recently cost me a small fortune, and I know it was not done properly.
Don - Love you SS cover panel. :D
Has anyone removed black & gray water tanks on a U225 any tips or tricks I should be aware?
During our last trip there was a small almost like a condensation water leak .. it was there now it is not there. I am thinking to remove them to see what is going on and depending on condition fix or purchase new. I believe it was from the gray water tank ... but.
During that time maybe i can also add a third waste gate valve.
I already remove the carpet covered panel from the back side of tanks, where the level sensor cables attached. that is where the leak was.
Thank you,
AL
I'm starting to think about adding a third valve. Don't know which brand of connection I have, but it is white and larger than the orange that seems to be the standard now. We're going to Springfield sometime next week (Sam's shopping, mainly) and I thought I'd stop in at Camping World to see what's available. What I'd really like is something that will just attach to the existing pipe and will let me then attach the orange hose directly to that. Is something like that available? I don't need the sewer hose attached when the door is closed, but I don't want to block the access door either, since the electric cord has to come in there, and it doesn't like to bend when it is cold out (neither does my back).
It sounds like you may have a Thetford fitting, which is larger than the more common Valterra fitting.
When I added the third valve, I cut off the Thetford fitting and glued on Valterra fitting. My third valve is a twist on valve with a Valterra female fitting on the coach side and a Valterra male fitting on the dump station side.
Yup. Thetford, I'm sure. I used a Dremel tool to get the old thetford cut off, then bought 3 separate Valterra pieces from Amazon to put together. A slip on fitting to glue to the black pipe, and then the valve itself, and finally, a fitting to take the twist-on Valterra for the hose. Care is required to make sure you put it together so you can tear it apart and replace the valve part if needed in the future, and ensure the valve handle goes where you want it to when it is pulled (not in the way of something).
Here's a picture of what worked for me in my 2002. See the exposed nuts for replacement, and the valve pull is out of the way of everything.
I haven't yet gone after mine with a saw and glue put, so I use a valtera to thetford adapter. Works well, but prevents me from closing the bay door with everything connected.
My recollection is that the twist on valve I used came with Valterra fittings on both sides. The input side is female, the output side is male. The body can be rotated to any position with respect to the alignment of the locking "grabbers" on the female side. The installation appears to be similar to Lang's.
The only possible problem with mounting them side ways is the chance of "stuff" getting into the upper slide area and causing build up problems down the road. If it dries hard in there will make moving the "gate valve" difficult.
JohnH
I bought a inline male/female Valterra valve. I had to take about 1/2" from both sides.(cut and re-glued) to get it to fit inside the door. Simple and pretty slick. I should have done this years ago!
Just finished my dump valve upgrade today. Replaced the two existing valves (which were mounted horizontally by the factory) and added the 3rd valve. Pretty easy to see why the black tank valve was leaking!
Did it take an odd connector size to the tank.
John,
If the above question is for me, I assume you are asking about the piping that connects the manifold to the tank outlets? If so, the answer is: all the pipe you see is original equipment. All I did was replace the valve bodies on the old valves, and added the 3rd valve by cutting off the old Thetford connector and glueing on the new valve. Pretty simple, and easy access once the cover panels were removed.
@Chuck nice job and nice pics. Thanks for posting.
see ya
ken
Where are you getting the parts for this project? We're planning a Sam's trip later this week, so a detour to Camping World would be reasonable, but I don't see what I think I need on their site. I did find a Thedford to Valterra adaptor, but I'm thinking that adding that and then a third valve might be too much for me to close the bay door. I think it would be better to just cut off the Thedford fitting and glue on a new Valterra fitting.
Most camping stores and parts departments at rv dealers have the parts
Thanks, Red Tractor. I suspected as much, but when I couldn't find it on Camping World's website I wondered.
If you are in one place for a couple days for Amazon to get it to you, this is what you need.
Cut off the old Thetford end, decide which way you want to position the handle pull, make sure the nuts will be accessible to replace the seals in the future, when sure of what you want, glue it on, enjoy.
Amazon.com: Valterra T50 3" Hub x 3" Bay with Cap Valve Assembly: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T50-Hub-Valve-Assembly/dp/B00594B1KA/ref=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&qid=1398044476&sr=8-40&keywords=valterra+valve)
Brad nailed it. That's what you want.
see ya
ken
Ordered. Should be here within a week.