Black Water Tank

[Greg Conly]

I have an Escape trailer and I would like to really clean the tank. The sensor also does no work in that tank. I have seen adverts at campgrounds for people who do this work. Does anyone know what they do, how they fix the sensor?

[Bob Miller]

In general, tank level systems don't age well and it may be more than a tank sensor problem. However, often the tank level systems stop working because the sensors are all crudded over and can't conduct. The way I keep my tank clean is every few months, before starting out on a trip, I drain and rise out the tank with hot water and then put in about a 4 oz of laundry detergent and several bags of ice cubes wih a few gallons of water. By the time I drive and hour or two the ice knocks everything loose and it flushes out when I get to my next stop with a dump. It's worth a try.

[Carol H]

As Bob indicated the sensor in blank tanks not working correctly is common - could be something as simple as a piece of TP blocking it.

After dumping the black water tank, using a wand down into the tank from inside the trailer often helps to avoid the problem but Bob's suggestion of dumping a couple of bags of ice cubes into the tank & driving around with it does the job even better! If it is indeed a simple matter of the sensor being dirty that should fix it & you will have a real clean tank as well.

[Kevin K]

Add some calgon water softener powder also (1 cup to the tank with gal water)


Ice cubes
Laundry detergent powder or liquid
Calgon water softener powder
1 gal water

[Greg Conly]

Thanks, I will try them all.

[Marv]

Greg,

Escape sells a modified wand cleaner. It has two sets of holes, one set angled to clean the black tank sensors and one for the gray sensors. I have used it to clean my gray sensors and it worked perfectly. If you can't buy one from Escape, you probably could modify one yourself. You would have visualize what angle the nozzle needs to be considering the location of the sensors and location of the wand. If you have questions, let me know.

The ultimate solution is to install a tank rinser. I put one on my black tank and it is terrific. No effort, just connect a (dedicated) hose to the external water inlet and let it go for a couple minutes.

Marv

[Marv]

Here are the pics of the rinser. The first view is inside the left forward cargo bay on the Escape 5.0, showing the rinser installed in the black tank. The second view shows the water inlet mounted on the outside of the trailer.

[bouwsmaj]

Have there been any posts or other sources of information about building a custom tank out of fiberglass and epoxy? I have been wishing for more blackwater capacity in my 16' Scamp, 9.5 gal only lasts a few days. It seems to me that the tank could be both wider and taller without sacrificing a thing. It's bound to be cheaper than a new tank too, not counting time of course. . .

[Carol H]

John if you have not already considered it a 12 gallon tote is one simple and fairly cheap option. I have used mine when dry camping to drain off the grey and black water when the tanks get to full.

[Marv]

John,

Check out West System (here). They have a ton of info about repairing and building using glass and epoxy. Browse their Epoxyworks online magazine at the same website. Also consider sourcing a tank from one of the trailer manufacturers. Many sizes to choose from, although price and shipping might be an issue.

[Donna D.]

Hi John, welcome to FiberglassRV... we're glad you found us.

I'm with Carol on this one. While you could make the tank a bit larger... not, that much larger. At least not as large as a tote. In fact, we've had members complain about the seat being too high on some of the toilets and their legs dangle (sorry if this is TMI). A tote can be used also for the gray water... so that makes it win/win.

[bouwsmaj]

Thanks to all of you. The tote idea is certainly the most practical. My first instinct is always to build things myself, but it's not always the best plan. I will investigate the Epoxyworks archives, and ponder the effort involved.
John

[Donna D.]

Well John, how about making your own Blue Tote?

PS: I used a Dremel tool to cut the threads in the neck of the container.

Some of the model numbers may have changed.....

[bouwsmaj]

Donna D,
That's brilliant! I may very well do exactly that. Your instructions are also excellent, and I am speaking as a former professional writer of assembly instructions.
John

[Carol H]

wish I had seen that before I spent the bucks on my tote.....

[Donna D.]

Carol, I used it at the NOG. I like it because I can carry it and for about 20 bucks, it's GREAT.

[Carol H]

I did see it but sadly I purchased my special tote about 5 years ago...... oh well its not a big one and I can lift it as well.... seem to use it mostly for bleeding off the grey water tank rather than the black....

[lpk49]

carol and donna...i have some questions about that tote...are either of you around?

[Carol H]

I am around ....

[lpk49]

i'll pm you-thx