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Topic: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal (Read 794 times) previous topic - next topic

Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

One of the things I noticed about my sewer hose (brand new) is that it does not make a good seal when connected, especially at the primary fitting where the hose is attached. I wonder if any of you have had this problem, and how did you fix it?
 
I'm thinking about a three inch 'O' ring but do not know if it would compress enough to make a tight connection. I have also considered small thin wall tubing that I could form into a circle; maybe something similar to model airplane fuel lines.
 
Before I go inventing another wheel, I wanted to check to see if any of y'all had BTDT. If not, how would you handle the problem I have described?
 
Thanks,
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #1 –
Quote from: TulsaTrent –
One of the things I noticed about my sewer hose (brand new) is that it does not make a good seal when connected, especially at the primary fitting where the hose is attached.
 
I'm thinking about a three inch 'O' ring but do not know if it would compress enough to make a tight connection.

Trent,

Do you still have the original Thetford bayonet fitting on your coach?  If so, are you using a Thetford connector on your sewer hose?  The Thetford sewer fittings are a different diameter than the usual Valterra you find in RV stores and catalogs.  Thetford fitting is usually white and has a thick o-ring in it where it mates to the coach connection.  There are no pre-made sewer hoses that come with Thetford ends rather than Valterra.


Here is the fitting most Foretravels use with the OEM connection (picture showing the hose end, not the o-ring end) Amazon.com: Thetford 01665 Curved Hose Adaptor: Automotive

Some have cut off the coach Thetford fitting, glued on a Valterra one, and switched to the readily-available Valterra sewer equipment.  There are also Thetford to Valterra adapters  Amazon.com: Valterra T05-2285VP Thetford to Valterra Universal Adapter:  This might add length to the sewer connection which could interfere with the bay door.

Hope that helps!
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Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #2 –
Trent, a little plumbers grease did the trick for me.  I removed the original fitting and replaced with Valtera.  But from time to time would still have small leaks and drips at connections.  I have found periodic cleaning of the gaskets and a little plumbers grease takes care of the problem.  It is available at Home Depot and hardware stores. 
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Do you still have the original Thetford bayonet fitting on your coach?  If so, are you using a Thetford connector on your sewer hose?  ...  Hope that helps!

Michelle,
 
Yes,  Yes, and Yes, thank you.
 
On our trip home from the purchase in Southern Florida, we spent a couple of nights at Walmarts. We inherited a new in box hose and a standard straight connection for the far end. In addition to bedding (remember, we flew down there), three rolls of red Duck tape (yes, Duck Dynasty branded duct tape) and some edible odds and ends, we bought an attachment end. After four or five days (it is already a fading memory - therapy is helping), we stopped at a nice rest area in OK which had a very nice and clean dump station. We pulled up, got the hoses out and tried to connect; no joy. Made less pleasurable by the fact that neither of the gates seem to close all the way.
 
Eventually we purchased a universal ("an universal" just doesn't seem right) fitting and did our first dump (at a dumpy place) in Owasso. Replacing the gates is on my list, but at the moment I am trying to make this latch work so I can drive without constantly replacing the Duck tape. It doesn't seem to appreciate rain, or even heavy dew. After that will be the alternator, then the dash A/C, then ... .
 
Thanks for the helpful response.
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #4 –
Our Thetford hose fitting has a hose with a hose clamp holding it to the fitting. The last time we dumped we had been 4 days and the black tank was almost full to the brim. So we pulled into the park's dump site and set about transferring "fluids" from our little U225 to their tank.

The DW was squatted down (I don't squat well any more) and I was handling the gate valves. As soon as I got the gate valve for the black tank open the force of the "fluid" pushed the hose right off the fitting. The result could have been worse as this dump station had been well designed but the DW received the brunt of it.

Therapy hasn't helped.

One hose clamp is clearly not enough.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #5 –
Parts needed for permanently changing from Thetford coach sewer connection to Valterra:

FRUSTRATED WITH THETFORD CONNECTIONS

(we still have Thetford on our coach since we have several spare curved Thetford connectors.  Stocked up in preparation for the Zombie Sewer Connection Apocalypse when Camping World had them on clearance a few years ago ;) ).
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #6 –
I suggest you search this forum for "third valve" regarding the dump hose attachment. I replaced the Thetford fitting with a Valterra fitting and twist on dump valve. I've been pleased with the results.

I also bought a Polychute dump hose. It's expensive, but I've also been pleased with its performance. All dump hoses I ever used prior to the Polychute would leak a little bit somewhere. The Polychute does not leak. Other folk have good results with the more common hoses, so there are likely some "operator issues" associated with my actions. :-[
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #7 –
Third dump valve an essential upgrade.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #8 –
Yes, I agree that the Third Gate Valve and a Valterra connector conversion were two of the best alterations I have made to both of our coaches. It makes dumping much easier, faster and cleaner. I prefer the Rhino dump hoses and connections.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #9 –
+1 on the third valve.  I no longer care that my black valve doesn't always perfectly seal.  The third valve does, and even if I have to replace its seals one day, they are right where I can get at them.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Sewer Connections Not Making a Good Seal

Reply #10 –
I do not have a third valve on our coach. What I do is leave the hose connected to the coach discharge tube all the time. I use a Rhino Flex hose and the hose has an end cap that connects to the end of the hose and seals the hose. When I dump, I remove the end cap, extend the hose and connect to the sewer dump station. When finished, I collapse the hose, connect the end cap, and fold the hose up into the bay.
I do not have a picture but if you look at pictures of the dump bays on a 2009 or newer Foretravel that is what it looks like. Except I am using a different type of hose and end fittings.
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'