Gray water backing up while towing

[mglyons]

Just finished a 2000+ mile road trip in my '00 Burro. It towed beautifully and I am very happy with things with one exception. Seems that if I have more than a couple gallons of gray water in the tank, it sloshes up through the shower drain when I travel. I arrive at my destination with a wet and sometimes stinky shower floor. Very unpleasant. Anyone have the same experience and a solution? I often boondocking so will end up carrying gray water for a while before I can dump.

[floyd]

Check the drain, if it is the same as the typical sink drain it will have internal threads which are made to accommodate a screw in plug.
You should find the plug at any RV shop. If it is not this type it might be a simple matter to switch. They are not at all expensive.

[Carol H]

Have had it happen in my Scamp but the grey tank needs to be pretty full before it happens when driving.

Only answer I have to it is as Floyd suggests making sure you have the shower plug screwed down tight.

I actually carry a smallish tote to drain off the grey water a little bit if I believe its getting close to full as I hate walking into the bathroom in the middle of the night and getting my feet wet

[Mary F]

A more involved but excellent solution is one we did to our Casita: replacing the trap with a HEPVO valve.
HEPVO Waterless Trap on Casita.

[ThomasE]

I don't have a solution but the same thing happens to me if when the gray tank is fairly full. I always try to dump the tanks when possible before leaving a camp site. Since I never use the shower, I'm even thinking about capping off the shower drain so this doesn't happen.

[Steve Outlaw]

Oliver installs a blade valve downstream of the shower drain to prevent this. It is controllable from within the shower/bath. That might be an option for you.

[Dennis mn]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

I don't have a solution but the same thing happens to me if when the gray tank is fairly full. I always try to dump the tanks when possible before leaving a camp site. Since I never use the shower, I'm even thinking about capping off the shower drain so this doesn't happen.

My response is exactly as yours!

[Glenn Baglo]

Why wouldn't you just get the plug for the drain? Why make the shower inoperative?

[The Minimalist]

Are you towing with the trailer level?

[Joe Romas]

Casita uses a blade valve on the shower drain.
As mentioned the installation of a Hepvo valve eliminates the rubber "J" trap and is maintenance free. Here's a U-tube of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QV6drbFbK0

Joe

[floyd]

Originally Posted by The Minimalist

Are you towing with the trailer level?

Don't forget that you go up hill and down hill and accelerate and brake.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Joe Romas

Casita uses a blade valve on the shower drain.
As mentioned the installation of a Hepvo valve eliminates the rubber "J" trap and is maintenance free.

The Hepvo valve would not be relevant to Scamp since the drain/trap which I pictured above is all there is. It is connected to Tygon tubing from there to the gray tank.( a filter and a pump are used in line from the front bath)

[The Minimalist]

Originally Posted by floyd

Don't forget that you go up hill and down hill and accelerate and brake.

So true, but if the trailer is way out of level some of those actions could be accentuated.

Leaving no stone unturned............

[mglyons]

Thank you for all the good input. The trailer tows impressively level....except for all the bumps and lumps and hills that we encounter along the road. I'm going to start with the simplest solution, the cap. I also thought of trying the small flexible silicone "lid" that is designed to cover a drinking glass. Hopefully no more stinky wet mess.

[redbarron55]

I would think that the pump's check valves would keep water from running from the tank to the shower pan.

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Why wouldn't you just get the plug for the drain? Why make the shower inoperative?

I thought about a drain plug but I don't see anything that would fit, what I have appears to be a standard household shower drain. Also what ever I use to plug it can't stick up much above floor level as the drain is right in front of the toilet and could get stepped on or tripped over.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

I thought about a drain plug but I don't see anything that would fit, what I have appears to be a standard household shower drain. Also what ever I use to plug it can't stick up much above floor level as the drain is right in front of the toilet and could get stepped on or tripped over.

If it is a standard household shower drain you can purchase covers for them.
Amazon.com Silicone TUb Stopper and Drain Plug at most hardware stores.