Macerator pumps--how to spot one?

[coolmom42]

I plan to start looking for a used RV sometime next year. I do not need and do not want a macerator pump. They have too many problems, pull too much power, and I have a sewer cleanout at home downhill from my potential parking spot.

Many ad/pics of RVs for sale do not say or show anything about a macerator pump one way or another.

How can I tell which ones do or do not have a macerator pump? Are they standard on certain brands? Is this something I could tell by just looking at a RV from the outside?

I posted this in the class B forum because I am interested in a B/small C.

Any info appreciated.

[coolmom42]

TinyoneRV wrote:
Our 04 Roadtrek came with a previously installed after market macerator. It is the one thing I would repair at nearly any cost on the RT. Convenient and clean. Don't be too quick to discount the value of a macerator.

You still have to hook up the hose at both ends, don't you?

I don't see any benefit to one unless you need to dump uphill, which I should not.

[coolmom42]

toedtoes wrote:
If it has a macerator, it will be at the end of the dump valve and look like this: macerator.

As Trackrig mentions, they are not very common and I think most people who use them have added them after purchase. In those cases, they will most likely indicate it in the ad. If you really like the RV, I wouldn't let the macerator make it a no-go. You can easily have it removed.

I also think a lot of folks add the portable version (that's what I have), so they will likely keep it to go on their next RV.

Good to know. Thanks.

[TinyoneRV]

Our 04 Roadtrek came with a previously installed after market macerator. It is the one thing I would repair at nearly any cost on the RT. Convenient and clean. Don't be too quick to discount the value of a macerator.

[pickerel_cove]

I have a macerator on my Winnebago ERA. The sewer hose as mentioned is small at about 1" and there are levers to pull for gray water vs black water dumping. As mentioned above there is a button to push to run the macerator. This is all in a single running board compartment on the driver's side. They are expensive components and with the low clearance difficult to get at when there is a problem. There isn't a good way to drain gray water without the functioning pump in case it fails. Our 2010 pump failed.

[toedtoes]

If it has a macerator, it will be at the end of the dump valve and look like this: macerator.

As Trackrig mentions, they are not very common and I think most people who use them have added them after purchase. In those cases, they will most likely indicate it in the ad. If you really like the RV, I wouldn't let the macerator make it a no-go. You can easily have it removed.

I also think a lot of folks add the portable version (that's what I have), so they will likely keep it to go on their next RV.

[NoVa_RT]

My Roadtrek has a macerator, and it's been problem free, so far. The hose is a smaller diameter than the typical hose used with gravity-dump systems. There's also a button (on the drivers seat) that is held down when using the macerator. Shouldn't be hard to spot if you inspect whatever RV you're interested in. For anything recent, you can probably find the owner's manual on-line, too.

[Trackrig]

I think the reason you see so few for sale adds mentioning macerator pumps is because they're not very common. I personally never met any one using one. I don't think you have to worry about it too much, but if a MH you bought did come with one, just remove it.

Bill