Black and Gray tank issues

[Superkropp]

I have a 2018 Alpine 3800FK. My first problem is the factory plumbed my shower to drain into the black tank. Needless to say this requires dumping the black tank almost daily.

The next issue (not sure if related, but have to consider since they plumbed the shower incorrectly) is my gray tank failed and dropped out of its supports and through the plastic underbelly. It looks like there was a leak around the plumbing fixture into the tank because the wood looks rotted. This fifth wheel has only been towed maybe 600 yards since I took possession in February of 2018. It sits on an rv site 9 months out of the year and is not subject to your typical jarring from being towed.

Has anyone else had these issues from Keystone products?????

[LewisB]

Several things in your post don't make sense to me - of course, as George would say I'm the SPITT (shortest pole in the tent). So you might consider some elaboration. If I'm reading the keystone site correctly, you have a front kitchen, rear bedroom, and mid bath, correct? The spec sheet lists 66 fresh water, 44 black, and 78 gray, correct? The gray will typically be split between two tanks, so I am assuming 39 gray for the front kitchen and 39 gray plus 44 black for the mid bathroom.

Here's the things that I don't understand.

• I seriously doubt the factory plumbed the shower to the black tank. Since the bathroom sink and shower are in close proximity, they would have had to work EXTRA to mis-plumb the shower into the black tank. On occassion, the factory will plumb a 2nd (half bath) sink into a black tank, but that's normally because the half bath is on the opposite side of the axles from the main bath and/or kitchen.
• You say you are having to dump the gray tank "almost daily" after taking a shower! How long of a shower do you take? To fill a 39 gallon gray tank, you would have to be camping in the shower for an extended period.
• Due to this comment, I'm wondering if you might be overfilling the gray tank, not getting it dumped, AND you have a plumbing leak.
• How many T-handled dump valves do you have when you dump? You will need at least 3, one for black and 2 for gray. Have you found all 3 tank valve T-handles? Do you have 1 or 2 each 3" dump lines? Can you confirm all this?
• Have you personally confirmed the drainage to each tank? Empty all tanks, close the tank dump valves, then for each sink, shower and toilet, one at a time run one source of water into each allowing a significant amount of water to build up, then going outside and opening each tank dump valve individually to confirm where the water is being held.

Don't take this as criticism; we just need more info to be able to help. If you can address the above information, it might allow us to provide better troubleshooting assistance.

HTH

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by LewisB

Several things in your post don't make sense to me - of course, as George would say I'm the SPITT (shortest pole in the tent). So you might consider some elaboration. If I'm reading the keystone site correctly, you have a front kitchen, rear bedroom, and mid bath, correct? The spec sheet lists 66 fresh water, 44 black, and 78 gray, correct? The gray will typically be split between two tanks, so I am assuming 39 gray for the front kitchen and 39 gray plus 44 black for the mid bathroom.

Here's the things that I don't understand.

• I seriously doubt the factory plumbed the shower to the black tank. Since the bathroom sink and shower are in close proximity, they would have had to work EXTRA to mis-plumb the shower into the black tank. On occassion, the factory will plumb a 2nd (half bath) sink into a black tank, but that's normally because the half bath is on the opposite side of the axles from the main bath and/or kitchen.
• You say you are having to dump the gray tank "almost daily" after taking a shower! How long of a shower do you take? To fill a 39 gallon gray tank, you would have to be camping in the shower for an extended period.
• Due to this comment, I'm wondering if you might be overfilling the gray tank, not getting it dumped, AND you have a plumbing leak.
• How many T-handled dump valves do you have when you dump? You will need at least 3, one for black and 2 for gray. Have you found all 3 tank valve T-handles? Do you have 1 or 2 each 3" dump lines? Can you confirm all this?
• Have you personally confirmed the drainage to each tank? Empty all tanks, close the tank dump valves, then for each sink, shower and toilet, one at a time run one source of water into each allowing a significant amount of water to build up, then going outside and opening each tank dump valve individually to confirm where the water is being held.

Don't take this as criticism; we just need more info to be able to help. If you can address the above information, it might allow us to provide better troubleshooting assistance.

HTH

LewisB, I am positive that the factory plumbed my shower into my black tank. We have a definite knowing of when the black tank needs dumped when my wife takes a shower and screams. The sink on the other side of the camper from the tank dumps goes into my front gray tank. I don't have any plastic stuff over any of that part of the trailer and if I wasn't so fat, would crawl under and take a pic and prove it to you but as is, you will just have to take my word for this. Why does Keystone do what they do? As the Lord (and Keystone) say, MY WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS. Otherwise, I would guess it was just easier for them.



OP... there are lots of threads where it has been explained how to take down the plastic. The tanks generally will sit on lateral rails and are sandwiched between a couple of these L shaped rails. I suspect you will have to repair the plumbing (if it dropped, it is broke) and then shove the rail back into place and bolt it down securely as it likely wasn't previously.



Not sure about the rotted wood. Perhaps a picture or better description of its location might help. The floor? Where?

[rbrdriver]

In our Alpine we thought the plumbing was wrong or something at first also with what was going where. We have 2 black tanks and 2 gray tanks. I ended up taking down the coroplast (or whatever you call it underneath) to do some exploration, and discovered they had the valve handles mislabeled. All 4 valve handles are together in one spot, but it would have been nice to have had them labeled correctly. Anyways, they are NOW and life is good................