Grey tank doesn’t seem to drain

[Ajrvtravels]

Usually we pull the 2nd grey tank lever and water comes rushing out. Today though, just a slow trickle. So we googled and read forum posts, and tried shoving a hose up the drain pipe to clear anything, tried hot water from the shower, checked roof vents, but still no major flow.
Grey tank lever 1 drains fine, black drains fine, but not the 2nd grey tank. Also not able to tell what feeds the 2nd tank. Shower and kitchen sink drained from the 1st grey tank. Any suggestions?
This is a Solitude 374th. TIA.

[Cate&Rob]

Usually we pull the 2nd grey tank lever and water comes rushing out. Today though, just a slow trickle. So we googled and read forum posts, and tried shoving a hose up the drain pipe to clear anything, tried hot water from the shower, checked roof vents, but still no major flow.
Grey tank lever 1 drains fine, black drains fine, but not the 2nd grey tank. Also not able to tell what feeds the 2nd tank. Shower and kitchen sink drained from the 1st grey tank. Any suggestions?
This is a Solitude 374th. TIA.

Does the pull cable "feel" normal? If much easier than normal, the cable may have become disconnected from the gate valve.

Another possibility . . . when the factory uses a hole saw to cut the openings for the inlet or vent pipes, the cut-out disc often ends up in the tank. It is possible that this plastic disc is partially covering the discharge gate valve opening.

Rob

[Ajrvtravels]

Does the pull cable "feel" normal? If much easier than normal, the cable may have become disconnected from the gate valve.

Another possibility . . . when the factory uses a hole saw to cut the openings for the inlet or vent pipes, the cut-out disc often ends up in the tank. It is possible that this plastic disc is partially covering the discharge gate valve opening.

Rob

Pull handle feels fine, or normal. I read about the cut outs, but no idea how to check that without pulling everything apart.

[Clanker24]

Something I’ve done on other trailers when this happens is to put an end cap with a hose connection onto your drain outside. Hook up a hose and turn it on. Then open your grey valve and this will backflush your grey tank. Watch your tank level so u don’t over fill. Then turn off the hose, close the grey valve and remove your end cap and reinstall your sewer hose. Then open the grey handle and see how it flows. You will need a hose with 2 female ends to do this. I made one up when this happened and have carried it with me ever since

[Ajrvtravels]

Something I’ve done on other trailers when this happens is to put an end cap with a hose connection onto your drain outside. Hook up a hose and turn it on. Then open your grey valve and this will backflush your grey tank. Watch your tank level so u don’t over fill. Then turn off the hose, close the grey valve and remove your end cap and reinstall your sewer hose. Then open the grey handle and see how it flows. You will need a hose with 2 female ends to do this. I made one up when this happened and have carried it with me ever since

I read that as something to try, but when we stuck a hose up the drain and turned the water on it all just came back at us. Possibly since the end was open vs. closed off. May have to pick up one of these connections and try it. Thanks!

[huntr70]

Do you have a washer/dryer installed?

One tank will be for the w/d drain.

[Ajrvtravels]

Do you have a washer/dryer installed?

One tank will be for the w/d drain.

We do. So one tank is just for the washer and dryer? Seems wasteful if you never install a washer.

[huntr70]

Well, you wrote this in your first post....

" Shower and kitchen sink drained from the 1st grey tank. "

The only thing left would be the w/d drain and bathroom sink. They plumb the bathroom together. Usually the galley sink is on with the w/d.

[boyscout]

We do. So one tank is just for the washer and dryer? Seems wasteful if you never install a washer.

You said that water used to rush from your #2 gray, so chances are it's not for a washer/dryer you don't have.

If you think there's waste water in the tank (what do the indicators in the control cabinet say?) then before you buy a backflush adapter consider flushing a cup or two of Borax or Calgon (water softeners) and a cup or two of Dawn dish soap down your bathroom sink or shower. Use lots of hot water, then take the trailer for a drive if you can with plenty of stopping and starting, otherwise just let it soak for hours. Then add more water until the shower won't drain anymore (it might take quite a while) and THEN pull the handle to drain it.

This advice is based on the "GEO Method", which counsels frequently flushing softener and Dawn into the tanks after they are drained and leaving it in there to break down the waste you add and then draining it out next time. I've been doing this for a while and think it's worth the effort. A Google will show you lots of discussion about it.

The advice is also predicated on your #2 tank being your bathroom tank; from your floorplan it looks as though it *probably* is because your bathroom is rearward of your kitchen. On our two trailers kitchen was/is rearward of the bathroom, so our #2 was the kitchen tank.

Good luck.

[gobama84]

You said that water used to rush from your #2 gray, so chances are it's not for a washer/dryer you don't have.

He said he had a washer/dryer.