The subject of waste removal from an RV is always a subject that stirs an emotional response. Most serious RVers, as well as, newbies have had an unpleasant experience while dumping waste from their RVs.
More patents have been issued for “better ideas” related to dumping holding tanks than any other area of RVing. Why would that be? I began looking into this and found some surprising answers.
The minimum standard by which RV manufacturers are governed is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard on Recreational Vehicles. It is the industry bible, if you belong to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). In reading the section on holding tanks and associated waste removal items covering direction of flow, pipe sizing, and venting, I found Section 7.5.7 Drain Outlets. Interestingly enough, the standard stops at the termination cap!
Have you ever wondered why there are so many choices at an RV accessory store relative to transferring waste from the RV to an approved sewer inlet? The reason is that RV manufacturers are not responsible “after the cap”.
Quick to observe this gap, a few accessory manufacturers began to design interface products and sell them to aftermarket stores. Until recently, RV manufacturers did not supply any method for the consumer to transfer waste from the RV to an approved sewer inlet. On the rare occasion when they did, the sewer hose and fittings would be the most cost effective they could find and mostly not fit to use, for the intended purpose.
Under the NFPA 1192 Standard, the RV manufacturers have to supply the RV with an approved electrical power cord and plug, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved. If they supply a fresh water hose, it must be approved for use with potable water approved by National Standards Foundation (NSF).
Surprisingly, no testing or listing standard exists for the safe and sanitary transfer of human waste from an RV to an approved sewer inlet. None of the fittings or hoses you buy are tested or listed to any standard at all. No wonder they are “Exclusive” to the RV industry aftermarket. No other type of business uses these fittings and hoses, yet we as the consumer, must use these products to remove the human waste from our RVs which carry diseases harmful to our health. When a fitting drips, or the hose leaks during the dumping process, an unsanitary condition at the site is created. Having to clean the inside of the sewer hose after dumping, creates a mess at the RV site. The next occupant has to deal with flies, mosquitoes and even rodents, all of which carry disease and viruses harmful to humans.
Whenever I discover a problem, I make it a practice to find a workable solution, prior to telling others about the issue. Don’t you dislike the person that finds fault with something and does not have a method to resolve it?
The solution in my opinion is simple:
1. Have the sewer hose connected to the RV at all times after the termination valves, using a threaded fitting to insure the interface from solid pipe to flexible hose is secure. This must be done at the RV manufacturer level. In lieu of this approach, we designed the Polychute system which uses the male bayonet pins and our compression Polylock fitting to the coach, minimizes any drainage issues. Having a proper compression fitting to connect the hose to the coach is a viable alternate.
In addition, using a “First In”, “Last Out” method of dumping insures no mess is left on the ground. Install the sewer inlet “First” and remove it “Last”.
2. Use a sewer transfer hose that is built to a testing specification, to insure the hose can stand up to the environment in which it will be subjected to.
3. The sewer inlet fitting must fit securely in the ground inlet and have a shut off valve, to isolate the end user from the liquid inside the hose. With a shut off valve on the business end of the hose, the environment will not be soiled and the hose will not need to be cleaned prior to storage.
Interestingly all other industries that transport liquids of any kind take full responsibility for the transfer process, only the RV industry does not.
The challenge it seems, is a good solution or a cost effective solution but how do we get the RV manufacturers to adopt this as a standard feature?
You are so RIGHT!! I have been fighting Lance Camper Manufacturer Corp., for close to a year. I purchased a Lance 2180, and soon found I could not drain the waste tanks completely. After I went under the RV I found that the tanks used were constructed in such a way that they cannot possibly frain completely. They did have an “approval stamp” from IAPMO, but after contacting them I was told that there is no record of these tanks being approved for that use by them. BUT they can’t do anything. I have complained to the California ATT. Gen, The NHTSA, and to RVIA since I also found NEC code violations in the wiring. But I get nowhere. I am contemplating going to the media, since all of this constitutes both a road and health hazard. I have extemsive photo proof of these violations. If you need more info please feel free to email me.
Bent.
Hi Brent,
The RV industry has a lot of regulations in place, but not much is current or up to date. My best advice is to fix the issues yourself if at all possible and move on. I would however write to the President Jack Cole and let him know that if he does not rectify this for you, the media will hear about it! All the best to you!