My Epic Repair Project
Well, just finished my big repair project. I previously posted about my broken black water tank in my 3 year old 5th wheel. I first noticed this problem on July 29th and I finished today so 1 month...
Forum Discussion
Hi, I have a disaster here with my 2010 Cougar fifth wheel.
Went outside this a.m. and there was what appears to be black water coming out through the under belly covering.
It is a holiday weekend.
What kind of RV do you have?
I made a call to Porter's RV in Coos Bay, OR and they are open but no techs. I have an expensive repair contract I got when I bought my Cougar. I am hoping it will help me out, still don't know for sure.
I think it is the black water tank or it could be a pipe of some kind in or attached to the black water tank.
I maintain my black water tank as I should, it was a mess when I bought it second hand two summers ago, no one had ever cleaned it. Took a week and a lot of work but it finally got cleaned.
I can't understand how the black water tank could open up and expel all of its contents into the underbelly. I emptied it yesterday a.m. but used it after that. I clean it out with the hose/jets every time I empty it.
Today I closed the black water valve pull. I also closed the gray water pull and ran water in my kitchen and bath room sinks for ten min. Then I kept black closed and opened gray and lots of clear water came out (looking through the valve hose adapter clear plastic thingy). There is still water dripping from the underbelly but just drips, not streams. I can't smell a thing but neighbors said they smelled sewer, so I am guessing it is the black water tank or a pipe involved in the black water tank.
I am age 73 and by myself in an RV park (Bandon RV Park, South Oregon Coast). I have available to me the park's toilets/showers. I am wondering if it would be OK for me to use the faucets and shower since it appears the gray water tank/plumbing is OK. Any thots on that? Also, I have a nice toilet chair with bucket underneath used for people who can't sit on a regular toilet. I can use that at night since I don't like to go out at night. So if I can use the gray water system it would be very helpful, plus my chair I am good to go except for using the RV toilet.
What can I expect to see when the underbelly (not sure that that is called, it is a curved setup of some kind not sure of its name) is opened up? I wish I knew what it looks like under there. I do not like the fact that plumbing and other systems can't be accessed, such as the hot water tank, furnace, etc. I do not travel in my RV, just live in it full time. I had an Alfa before the Cougar, an older model. It was having problems and I decided to get a newer RV. There is NO REASON why this black water situation should be happening in a 2010 model of any kind of fifth wheel. Very upsetting to me.
So, not knowing what things look like under there, what are the scenarios that could be happening. And someone said something about there being lots of insulation down there. Would it actually be sitting on that sling underbelly and have to be removed?
Well, that is enough for now. I am trying to consider the good stuff and not the bad on this 3-day weekend when things always go wrong and you can't find anyone to help.
ANY and all comments are very very appreciated, anything you have to say is fine, I will take all I can get.
Went outside this a.m. and there was what appears to be black water coming out through the under belly covering.
It is a holiday weekend.
What kind of RV do you have?
I made a call to Porter's RV in Coos Bay, OR and they are open but no techs. I have an expensive repair contract I got when I bought my Cougar. I am hoping it will help me out, still don't know for sure.
I think it is the black water tank or it could be a pipe of some kind in or attached to the black water tank.
I maintain my black water tank as I should, it was a mess when I bought it second hand two summers ago, no one had ever cleaned it. Took a week and a lot of work but it finally got cleaned.
I can't understand how the black water tank could open up and expel all of its contents into the underbelly. I emptied it yesterday a.m. but used it after that. I clean it out with the hose/jets every time I empty it.
Today I closed the black water valve pull. I also closed the gray water pull and ran water in my kitchen and bath room sinks for ten min. Then I kept black closed and opened gray and lots of clear water came out (looking through the valve hose adapter clear plastic thingy). There is still water dripping from the underbelly but just drips, not streams. I can't smell a thing but neighbors said they smelled sewer, so I am guessing it is the black water tank or a pipe involved in the black water tank.
I am age 73 and by myself in an RV park (Bandon RV Park, South Oregon Coast). I have available to me the park's toilets/showers. I am wondering if it would be OK for me to use the faucets and shower since it appears the gray water tank/plumbing is OK. Any thots on that? Also, I have a nice toilet chair with bucket underneath used for people who can't sit on a regular toilet. I can use that at night since I don't like to go out at night. So if I can use the gray water system it would be very helpful, plus my chair I am good to go except for using the RV toilet.
What can I expect to see when the underbelly (not sure that that is called, it is a curved setup of some kind not sure of its name) is opened up? I wish I knew what it looks like under there. I do not like the fact that plumbing and other systems can't be accessed, such as the hot water tank, furnace, etc. I do not travel in my RV, just live in it full time. I had an Alfa before the Cougar, an older model. It was having problems and I decided to get a newer RV. There is NO REASON why this black water situation should be happening in a 2010 model of any kind of fifth wheel. Very upsetting to me.
So, not knowing what things look like under there, what are the scenarios that could be happening. And someone said something about there being lots of insulation down there. Would it actually be sitting on that sling underbelly and have to be removed?
Well, that is enough for now. I am trying to consider the good stuff and not the bad on this 3-day weekend when things always go wrong and you can't find anyone to help.
ANY and all comments are very very appreciated, anything you have to say is fine, I will take all I can get.
