Replacing black water tank with freshwater tank.

[Clamrobot]

I am a new RV owner. I want to get a composting toilet. This would allow me to remove the black water tank and replace it with another freshwater tank. Has anyone done this, or have any advice? Thanks in advance.

1992 Fleetwood, Pace Arrow, 32'.

[cruzbill]

Here's another review on composting toilet. When I viewed the video, listening ening closley, I don't think I could live with a composting toilet. Just not for me.
I don't know how the Wynns do it on their catamaran.

https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/the-straight-poop-on-our-composting-toilet/

[theatremusician]

Here's a link to an FAQ the Wynns did on YouTube about the composting toilet…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CdnVZkCKXU

[supercub]

Like the above post suggested, go to Gone with the Wynns website. They've been using composting toilets for years in their RV's, they now have a sailboat and have them in it too. They have videos on installation, and what they did with their black tank. Lots of useful info on their website, might take a little looking, but it's there.

[supercub]

Like the above post suggested, go to Gone with the Wynns website. They've been using composting toilets for years in their RV's, they now have a sailboat and have them in it too. They have videos on installation, and what they did with their black tank. Lots of useful info on their website, might take a little looking, but it's there.

[coolmom42]

Dale.Traveling wrote:
Easy project. The hardest part is finding a ready made tank to fit the space the black tank has. Probably the simplest way to transfer water would be using a portable pump when needed. And also use the pump to fill the tank. If you find one with the same foot print it would also be a back up to the primary. Just try and stay with a tank of the same water volume as the original black tank for weight considerations.

An alternative to consider would be to just leave the tank in place, seal the opening for original toilet and cross connect the two waste tanks increasing the gray water holding capacity. Easy enough to carry extra water externally while dumping, even gray water, anywhere other than at an approved facility can get you into trouble.

As far as when the day comes to sell the modified coach I wouldn't worry as long as you're considering do the mod to the 1992 Pace Arrow in your forum signature. Now if the coach was a 2012 may not the best idea considering your target buying audience would be a pretty small focus group.

The is what I would do, and am seriously considering it.

[dave17352]

Sounds like a good cleaning and some sterilization and your tank is all ready installed. 🙂

[Mr_Mark1]

Toddupton wrote:
Also not sure about adding more water capacity than holding tank capacity. If you have 100 gallons of water but only 50 gallons of storage in the gray then what can you do with the other 50 gallons? You would have to dump it to keep using your other 50 or use the outside shower a lot.

^^^^^^ this makes so much sense to me. Keeping the 'fresh' and 'holding' tanks near the same size would allow for boondocking off the grid longer and would match the fresh tank (mostly).

Having three times the fresh water capacity vs. holding tank capacity would make you have to dump the 'holding tank' more often.

Safe travels,
MM.

[tatest]

On a Pace Arrow you will have to see if the tanks are accessible for replacement. Fleetwood went through a period in which they installed the tanks under the floor, atop the chassis framerails, in an enclosed heated space, for their "basement model" motorhomes. I've encountered this in Bounders and Stormies, have not dug into a '90s Pace Arrow.

[braindead0]

You may need a new pump if your existing FW tank is not below the floor at roughly the same level as the existing black tank. Also if you replace with a FW tank that sits lower then the pump pickup, might be a problem.

Resale value will likely be very poor without a black tank. If you can swap in a FW tank without making heavy modifications so that the black could go back in.. that would be good I think.

[guthriez]

FYI, the "Gone with the Wynns" couple put a composting toilet into their motorhome a few years ago. Might want to check their website for further info..

[Toddupton]

Also not sure about adding more water capacity than holding tank capacity. If you have 100 gallons of water but only 50 gallons of storage in the gray then what can you do with the other 50 gallons? You would have to dump it to keep using your other 50 or use the outside shower a lot.

[Tvov]

Clamrobot wrote:
I will find out if my sink goes to BW tank. Yes, I have used a composting toilet for about 3.5 months up in alaska,it worked just fine as long as you divert the urine into a separate container. Used with one other person it for 1.5 months before having to empty it. The waste just comes out looking/smelling of dirt.
...

Just to clarify, did you use the composting toilet in an enclosed living area - like a camper? Most all composting systems I've encountered smell eventually. If it is in a room off to the side or at then end of a house it is fine, but to have it basically right where you are living may not be ideal.

I am very curious, if you do this, how it works out! Keep us updated.

[gbopp]

Clamrobot wrote:
Dale. Traveling - I was also considering keeping it as a secondary grey tank, and you're right, it's easy to carry extra fresh water elsewhere in the coach. What was it you meant about the modification, and a forum signature? I am also quite new to the forum format,and that one may have gone over my head 🙂

I believe Dale was referring to removing the water toilet and replacing it with a composting toilet. When/if you decide to sell the RV, a prospective buyer may not want a composting toilet. It could limit the field of buyers for your rig.

Signature, below Dale Traveling (or any member's screen name) click on View Profile. That is where most members put a description of their RV/Tow Vehicle.

Then other forum members will know which RV they are talking about if they don't put it in the post.

And, welcome to the forum. There is a lot of information and experience available. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Someone will have the answer.
There is also a search block you can use to look up previous questions and posts.

[Clamrobot]

Dale. Traveling - I was also considering keeping it as a secondary grey tank, and you're right, it's easy to carry extra fresh water elsewhere in the coach. What was it you meant about the modification, and a forum signature? I am also quite new to the forum format,and that one may have gone over my head 🙂