Grey Tank for Bathroom will not Drain

[abremer]

I have a 2007 Keystone 29RL with one slide out. It has 3 drain valves, 2 Grey tank valves and 1 Black tank valve. From what I've read, 1 grey tank is for the kitchen sink and the other grey tank is for the shower and bathroom sink. My grey tank for the shower and sink is the problem. It won't drain and has overflowed on top of the underbelly cover and is just sitting there. When I pull that grey tank handle (shower and bathroom sink) nothing happens. I think the gate valve is broken or the cable is messed up (see attached pics). It looks like a massive job to unscrew all the screws to that underbelly in order to locate the problem. I guess if I knew right where the valve was I could cut a small portion of that insulated underbelly covering (I wish I knew what it's really called), fix the problem, and then gorilla tape it back up. Can anyone help me with this? Thank you a ton!

 

[chuckster57]

It’s not that big of a job to drop the underbellly if it’s held in place by screws. Riveted underbelly’s can be a real PITA.

The cable may have pulled out or broken off at the blade. Since it’s the gray and not the black it will be a whole lot cleaner. You need to determine if the valve is a Valterra or Bristol. Contrary to some posts they are NOT interchangeable. Measure the length of the cable as there are several lengths. Changing it out should be somewhat easy, make sure the valve is closed when installing to keep the seals in place, I use red tacky grease on the seals to help hold them in place and lubricate them. I have found it easier to put the seals on the flanges and then insert the valve.

 

[abremer]

I just got through working on it and figured it out. Since I bought the 5th wheel about 3 months ago I never pulled the lever that shows, 'Black Tank' because we use a compost toilet in the unit and the previous owner mentioned that the black tank was empty. The problem was that when I pulled on the left lever that shows, 'Grey Tank' nothing would come out and I figured that that tank was for all bathroom drains and it was stuck. Come to find out, the labels were in the wrong place, the left 'Grey Tank' label in actually the 'Black Tank'. I tested all drains to find out what comes out of what tank. The right most lever labeled 'Grey Tank' is for the kitchen drain, the middle lever that is labeled 'Black Tank' is actually the 'Grey Tank' for the bathroom shower and sink, and the left label is the toilet only...the labels are in the wrong place! Sorry for the confusion. Has any one else ever heard of this?

 

[chuckster57]

It’s a recurring theme with Keystone.

 

[abremer]

Figures! Now that I think about it, when I look at the control unit on the inside of the 5th wheel - it shows the proper order: Black, Grey1, Grey2 (from left to right). That's how it should have been on the lever labels outside! Thank you for your help sir!

 

[terrythetech]

I have/had a leaking Galley tank connection on my cougar. The chloroplast was sagging with water as well. I drilled a small hole with my cordless drill in the lowest point I could see and let all the water drain out of the underbelly. My galley tank leaks at the top side of the tank, but only when very full. Since I am on a seasonal site year-round, I left my galley tank valve partially open, and because of the trap under the sink, no smells come out of the drain. The underbelly drained and dried out. I will dig into repairs soon.

 

[JRTJH]

I have/had a leaking Galley tank connection on my cougar. The chloroplast was sagging with water as well. I drilled a small hole with my cordless drill in the lowest point I could see and let all the water drain out of the underbelly. My galley tank leaks at the top side of the tank, but only when very full. Since I am on a seasonal site year-round, I left my galley tank valve partially open, and because of the trap under the sink, no smells come out of the drain. The underbelly drained and dried out. I will dig into repairs soon.

There is very little air circulation in the belly of most trailers. I'd suspect that you have a "wet belly" above the coroplast. That will lead to mold, mildew and potentially "wood rot" from the dampness. You might consider opening both ends of the coroplast, install (or temporarily set up) a small 10" fan to blow air through the belly, In at one end and out the other, to try and dry the belly. Otherwise, you're risking some significant potential problems as "stuff" grows in that warm, wet and dark environment....

Also, if you don't address the "leak when the tank is full" you are subjecting the underside of the trailer to repeated "dampness" that will occur every time the tank is full. Many "splits in the plastic tank" will spread as the weight of the waste water pushes against the sidewalls of the tank, causing the leak to get worse as time goes by... Fix the tank, dry the belly and hope that stops the problems before they get worse.

 

[flookk]

I have a 2007 Keystone 29RL with one slide out. (snip) .....
that insulated underbelly covering (I wish I knew what it's really called),
It's called coroplast or pp plate sheet (fluted polypropylene sheet); which is a corrugated plastic wafer and not to be confused with chloroplast which is a component of plant cells that contain chlorophyll which is responsible for photosynthesis.