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Topic: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach (Read 1374 times) previous topic - next topic

Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Jeff..stopped by for a few days for a visit, spend some time going over the coach and install a "third" valve. Great to have 2 U300 here in the back yard. Having a great time.

Hans


Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #1 –
Always nice to have help on these projects, and some experience too.  The third valve is a nice upgrade
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #2 –
Would have loved to join you guys, to have three Foretravels in the backyard!
The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #3 –


...and here is my new 3rd valve, all thanks to Hans! It's awesome seeing two classic coaches together. Many, many thanks to Hans and Marjet for the amazing hospitality.

I look forward to more tinkering tomorrow.

Thanks again!

PS. Hans directed me to a gas station along the way....1.94 for deisel!
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #4 –
Richard maybe we could have a mini mini vention...
;D  ;D
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #5 –
Quote from: LookingWest –
Would have loved to join you guys, to have three Foretravels in the backyard!

Richard, are you back 'home'? I was thinking of heading home your way, to say hello. (And perhaps,share a cigar)  ;D
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #6 –
The work looks great!  Congrats Hans & Jeff.  And Hans, thanks for the pointer to the same station Jeff probably used?  When Susan & I bought diesel last Saturday it was $1.92.9.  Amazing.

Would love to have a mini-vacation soon!  We're still in Knoxville at Tennessee RV, but we've had a great visit.  Nice people, as they always have been here.  And we've gotten several things done that are important to us — not mechanical, not essential, but just upgrades and/or changes that we've wanted.

The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #7 –
Dang, if I'd known there was another unofficial last-minute mini-un-rally even remotely possible, I'd have headed a whole lot further north today instead of back to storage! (left Lazy Days at 11am, storage was only 5 miles away but I wished I could just keep goin'.....already planning/packing for my next trip.....January).

Jeff, congratulations on getting that 3rd valve, you'll love it....Hans, you're a super star, (fixed my mirrors!)....& too bad the cigar date didn't work out, I know Susan would have loved that!!!  >:D

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #8 –
Either coach makes a nice picture..the 2 togeother even better.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #9 –
I love seeing these kinds of pictures on the forum. That's what makes this forum so great!
Greg & Nettie
1998 U320 40Ft Limited Edition
Build #5382
2014 Ford Cmax toad
Escapee #122299

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #10 –
What is the purpose of the third valve?
Rick Barna
St. Petersburg FL.
1998 U270 36'
Build # 5232
1972 CJ 5 Jeep

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #11 –
Quote from: barndog –
What is the purpose of the third valve?

It allows you to close the new third valve, and then use the grey water to get free back flush of the black tank.  I can do it a number of times before there is little grey left to dump.  Also, if ever the black or grey valve were to fail or leak, you still can shut off the third and continue your trip.

I carry a removable third valve, and have options now.


Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #12 –
It serves a couple of purposes. It is an added safety in case the grey or black water valves get stuck and can't be closed.

The main function is that you after you dump the black tank, you use the grey water to flush the black tank.



1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #13 –
The third valve is one of the best alterations I have done to our coach. It makes dumping the tanks much easier, faster and cleaner.
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: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #14 –
What Kent says! 
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #15 –
I agree- 3rd valve is super..................... ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
It makes dumping the tanks much easier, faster and cleaner.
It makes the job of dumping the tanks a much more 'positive' experience all the way around.  :))  A big "plus" is the you'll never have an ugly "surprise" again....I was lucky enough to get the 3rd valve in (thanks Gary O!) before I ever had to do the lovely chore... 

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #17 –
>>...and here is my new 3rd valve<<

Any details on the install (part numbers, etc)? Is this the "Foretravel size" or standard size?

Thanks
David
David & DC
97 U320 40' WTBI M11 450 #5153
01 Wrangler Sport
Near Palacios, TX

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #18 –
Quote from: oldgrayrider –
>>...and here is my new 3rd valve<<

Any details on the install (part numbers, etc)? Is this the "Foretravel size" or standard size?

Thanks
David

Hi David,

All the parts are standard sizes that I ordered on Amazon.  I'll look for the links and post them when I can.

Best,

Jeff
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #19 –

Here you go David.

Amazon.com: Valterra T1023 90° Clearview Adapter: Automotive
Amazon.com: Valterra Products, Inc. T1020 3" Black Termination Cap with...
Amazon.com: Valterra T1009 3" Bayonet Flange: Automotive
Amazon.com: Valterra T1003VPM Bladex 3" Waste Valve Body with Metal Handle:...
Amazon.com: Valterra T1005 3" Slip Hub Flange: Automotive

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Jeff & Sandy –
Here you go David.

Amazon.com: Valterra T1023 90° Clearview Adapter: Automotive
Amazon.com: Valterra Products, Inc. T1020 3" Black Termination Cap with...
Amazon.com: Valterra T1009 3" Bayonet Flange: Automotive
Amazon.com: Valterra T1003VPM Bladex 3" Waste Valve Body with Metal Handle:...
Amazon.com: Valterra T1005 3" Slip Hub Flange: Automotive
Jeff../ David

The clear elbow should be a 45 degree...as we noted on your coach the 90 degree not allow a hookup at that angle.

Hans

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #21 –
Just a question — because Susan & I thought hard about installing a third valve (might still). 

It seems that in the Foretravel community, ranging from the previous owner of our coach to most (all?) on the Forum, the idea of flushing the black tank with gray water via a third valve closing the output, but connecting the two tanks, seems encouraged.  We're new and we aren't smart — well, not about coaches anyway.  But the concept of flushing the black with the gray raises questions.

    • Why don't coach manufacturer's just install one big tank for black and gray, if the larger volume of gray is going to be used to dilute and flush the black?
    • Is anyone concerned about introducing microorganisms into their gray tank, as a result of it no longer being isolated from the black?
    • What treatments, if any, are you using in the gray tank after basically connecting it to the black?

Dirty topic (pardon the pun).  And I know Susan & I must be on the wrong side of this discussion, because I haven't seen anyone with the same concerns.  But after buying the parts to do the conversion to a third valve, we backed-off.  Our current approach is to empty the black tank, then dump two 5-gallon buckets of fresh water directly into the toilet to dislodge any remaining, umm, errr, "solids" and paper.  Inconvenient, but seems to work.

Finally, as a related question, while sitting beside the utility bay watching "the byproducts of our banquets" (is that a more delicate way to say "solids"?) flow through the clear elbow connected to our coach's dump pipe, I've wondered how the black tank is shaped?  Seems to me the initial design of black tank shapes might help with full expulsion of "solids" and maintenance of clean tanks?  What are our tanks shaped like?  We've even watched the YouTube videos of a guy who made a transparent tank, then introduced simulated solids, then tried all the usual solutions (including ice cubes in the tank while driving).  We're still in the dark.

Apologies for seeming dense on this, but we're truly interested in any feedback on the the questions asked.  Everyone we know and respect is doing a third valve, so we must be missing the point.  Thanks for your patience!


The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #22 –
Richard ...The primary reason for the third valve is to be a backup should either the gray or black tank valve(s) fail. It also adds the ability to back flush using the gray tanks content. You can still continue your current method and never back flush with the gray.

MHO

Hans

 :)
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #23 –
Hi All - Happy Holidays
Any chance someone could do a write up on the 'THIRD VALVE" installation? How are you plumbing the grey water into the black water tank?
Thought about it the first time I dumped the tanks. Admittedly I haven't had a chance to look into it yet.
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers - Ric :thumbsup:
Previously:'66 VW Bus"Turtle 1";'65 VW Riviera Camper "Turtle 2";
';'91 VW Syncro Camper"Syn";'92 Barth 30' -"The Big Easy"
Currently: 2000 FT U270 40', #5634 -
"Le Bons Temps"; 2003 CRV
Ric & Leslie
"Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

Re: Doin some work today on Jeff's coach

Reply #24 –
Jeff/Hans,

Thanks for details. I am now using a similar Valterra twist-on but it required an adapter to fit the Foretravel plumbing stub - not ideal with all the potential leak points. Is the stub different on your coach?

Thanks
David
David & DC
97 U320 40' WTBI M11 450 #5153
01 Wrangler Sport
Near Palacios, TX