Exterior mount the water tank drain cock ...

[freddo411]

Today I finally got annoyed enough with the trouble of draining my water tank for the winter. Draining my tank required the following:
* Lift up the bed
* Lift up the bed plywood board support
* unscrew the under-bed floor and remove
* fit my hand into the tiny, three inch space where all the water connectors meet the tank, then open the drain cock.

I figured I could do better with a simple mod. The idea: run a short pipe nipple through a hole drilled in the bottom of the camper. Attached the drain cock for easier access.

Tips:
* buy several sized parts if you aren't sure which size you'll need
* paint a mark to show the "open" position on your drain cock (before you install)

[freddo411]

Kind of tight working under the trailer. Here's the finished product...

[freddo411]

I drain my tank in the winter. I don't worry about freezing where I am (although it might) but I want to minimize mold and other unpleasant things in my water system.

I also put in a couple cups of bleach after I drain all the water. I flush the system in the spring.

[Reid Larsen]

Fred what a great idea! To drain the water tank on our 4500 I have to take off the fire extinguisher to open the hatch to get at the not too convenient drain valve. Good job showing as well as telling what you did. Thanks.

[Steve Outlaw]

Very nice work, and a well documented report.

[Bob Miller]

Gee, I guess the system on my 40 y.o. Hunter is really Old Skool. There is a petcock on the outside wall, I turn it, and it drains.

[Roger C H]

It didn't take long to get fed up with draining that 12 Gal tank in the fall, not to say adding RV anti-freeze and then flushing in the spring. So we did the following:

1. After adding anti-freeze I drained all I could out of the tank.
2. I no longer use the tank.
3. We carry a couple of apple juice jugs (sturdy) with water for drinking.
4. If we need water at a campsite, I obtain it from the spigot at the site.

Much simpler.

[Raz]

An excellent mod. Our old camper required access under the bed to drain as well. What a pain. Our Trillium came with the drain mounted to the frame. While very convenient, the valve was mounted higher than the tank bottom. I added a elbow and a short piece of flexible tubing to create a syphon. Raz

[bobby62g]

I just bought a 1979 4500 3 days ago. While exploring the trailer,I noticed that the carpet cushion under the water tank was wet. I had filled the tank & the drain was open & leaking water inside the tank well. I think I will use your mod when I reinstall the tank. Thanks Bobby

[JRTrillium]

Newbie here - Just got our '78 Trillium in the fall and have not yet had the pleasure of taking it out on a trip - it's in storage. However, I do not plan to use the tank at all - I'd like to remove it for storage - I plan to use a plastic jug with spigot for drinking water.