MACARATOR OPINIONS?

[Oasisbob]

As previously posted where I live finding dump stations is not easy. So I am looking at "macarators" that chew up solids and pump them through a garden hose to your home sewer clean out. I would like to hear from anyone who uses one. Is it reliable? Does it clog? How far can I expect to pump? Any thoughts?

[Bumpyroad]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I have never had a macerator but I have had and used a stinky slinky and a SS, both do the job at dump stations but the cleanout at my home is 20 feet away and about a foot up from the grade the hose sits on and the SS has been a money saver and made life easier. The biggest problem is the moving parts and the hook up mount are plastic and they do age and break.

I saw the garbage disposal macerator on this site some time ago and downloaded it for a future project. Because I will only use it at home, size, 120vac and storage is not a problem. At campgrounds with dumps o FHUs, the stinky slinky is all I need.

moving parts, you must be talking about a macerator as the sewer solution has none, other than a divertor valve?
bumpy

[D_E_Bishop]

I have never had a macerator but I have had and used a stinky slinky and a SS, both do the job at dump stations but the cleanout at my home is 20 feet away and about a foot up from the grade the hose sits on and the SS has been a money saver and made life easier. The biggest problem is the moving parts and the hook up mount are plastic and they do age and break.

I saw the garbage disposal macerator on this site some time ago and downloaded it for a future project. Because I will only use it at home, size, 120vac and storage is not a problem. At campgrounds with dumps o FHUs, the stinky slinky is all I need.

[Ron3rd]

SoundGuy wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
X2 on Sewer Solution, basically a water powered macerator. I dump at home through a clean out about 60 ft away through a 3/4" hose.

But useless for those of us who may want to also use the macerator while camping where no water under pressure is available to power a Sewer Solution, a problem not shared by the 12 vdc powered FloJet Waste Macerator. 😉

Quite true, they do require lots of water!

[Kayteg1]

I always plan to leave campground on Monday or Tuesday, so don't have to wait in dump lane or spend big money for extra pump.
Dispute shows as usual how different styles and different needs everybody has.
On my last 65 days trip, beside couple of days when having full hook-up I used Sewer Solution - it was always stinky at dump station.
In California usually you have full hook ups, or no hook ups.
In other states more common is water and electric, where you have to use dump station.
I always seek campgrounds at the lake, or on the beach, what could be the factor.

[Reddog1]

More often than not, I dry camp. There are times I dry camp simply due to my not having made reservations and a campground is full. One of my favorite campgrounds is dry camping only, but does have two free dump stations. On the typical big week ends, it can easily be an hour wait in line.

I can say, my Macerator will work anywhere my Stinky Slinky will. My Stinky Slinky will not work where the Macerator will.

As for waiting in lines, I prefer not to wait in any line if there is a reasonable way to avoid it.

[Bumpyroad]

Dtank wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

Jayco-noslide wrote:
My son has one and he'll tell you it's just great but, for the life of me, I can't figure out why I need this extra piece of equipment to haul, take up space and mess with dumping. I pull up to the dump, hook up the hose, pull the valves and it whooshes out in about 1 minute.

Simple - some of us have no interest in wasting our time lining up at a dump station ... ever. :W

"Some"...- (or "a few")....:h

Or none ..... 'cause -

Some (or a few) of "us" don't waste our time when there's a line .... ever.

Only difficult if you want it to be..:R

.

lets see, your tanks are full, there is a line, you can either wait or not use potty till next available dump station. I think I have used the public dump stations once or twice in my RVing days. so much simpler to spend the extra $5 every third or fourth day and get a FHU site and take care of utilities at your leisure, and it is not a timed event. makes life so much easier, if you can't afford the $5, perhaps you should have skipped that $8,000 FBP job that you got to impress the neighbors.
bumpy

[2oldman]

Kayteg1 wrote:

2oldman wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
..Condoms do.They are one of the biggest problem in city sewer treatment plants.Called "silver fish" by the workers.

Somehow I don't think that is a problem for the folks on this board. Maybe when their grandchildren visit.

Does it matter who dropped it in?
Just think what you'd do when that thing ends in your macerator pump.

No sense of humor today?

[toedtoes]

Kayteg1 wrote:

2oldman wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
..Condoms do.They are one of the biggest problem in city sewer treatment plants.Called "silver fish" by the workers.

Somehow I don't think that is a problem for the folks on this board. Maybe when their grandchildren visit.

Does it matter who dropped it in?
Just think what you'd do when that thing ends in your macerator pump.

Well I suspect that if anyone is using a condom in your RV, you'll know about it before it ever reaches the bathroom.

[Kayteg1]

2oldman wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
..Condoms do.They are one of the biggest problem in city sewer treatment plants.Called "silver fish" by the workers.

Somehow I don't think that is a problem for the folks on this board. Maybe when their grandchildren visit.

Does it matter who dropped it in?
Just think what you'd do when that thing ends in your macerator pump.

[2oldman]

Kayteg1 wrote:
..Condoms do.They are one of the biggest problem in city sewer treatment plants.Called "silver fish" by the workers.

Somehow I don't think that is a problem for the folks on this board. Maybe when their grandchildren visit.

[Dtank]

SoundGuy wrote:

Jayco-noslide wrote:
My son has one and he'll tell you it's just great but, for the life of me, I can't figure out why I need this extra piece of equipment to haul, take up space and mess with dumping. I pull up to the dump, hook up the hose, pull the valves and it whooshes out in about 1 minute.

Simple - some of us have no interest in wasting our time lining up at a dump station ... ever. :W

"Some"...- (or "a few")....:h

Or none ..... 'cause -

Some (or a few) of "us" don't waste our time when there's a line .... ever.

Only difficult if you want it to be..:R

.

[SoundGuy]

wa8yxm wrote:
now the macerator

The one and only comnplaint (And the solution) is that if it's not used often adn I mean often it develops "Sticktion" that is the impeller blades stick to the pump housing and when you turn it on POP goes the fuse.

Solution .. On the non-pump end of the motor is a slotted shaft.. Use a quarter or any flat tool to turn it one rotation, this cures the problem 100%

Which is detailed in the owner's manual. 😉

Imagine that, reading the owner's manual. :S

[toedtoes]

For at a dump site with a direct downward drop, you can't get faster than a stinky slinky and with just one hose for the needed length, issues are far between. I keep one in my clipper just in case.

However, I don't stay at FHU sites and few of the campgrounds I visit have dump stations. So, I usually dump at home. In this case, the macerator beats the slinky. No leaking at hose connections; no dealing with imperfect lengths, turns, or rises in elevation.

Between the SS and the macerator, it's this:

SS - needs a good amount of water and water pressure
Macerator - needs a good pull of power

For me, at home, the power is more convenient than the water/pressure.

I have the portable flojet - it's currently $207 on Amazon. The Valterra SS is $75. Not a huge difference in price. When not in use, the hose is on the reel (dedicated hose for this purpose) and the macerator is in its box (as shown in Reddog's photo). No issues with space concerns.

Neither is a bad choice and for those who don't like stinky slinkies or have a setup that makes them worthless or near so, then pick the macerator or the SS that fits your needs/preference best. It's not a competition with only one right answer.

[Reddog1]

wa8yxm wrote:
The one and only comnplaint (And the solution) is that if it's not used often adn I mean often it develops "Sticktion" that is the impeller blades stick to the pump housing and when you turn it on POP goes the fuse.

Solution .. On the non-pump end of the motor is a slotted shaft.. Use a quarter or any flat tool to turn it one rotation, this cures the problem 100%

When I need it.. I'm very glad I have it.

I have had that problem three or four times. Unfortunately, two times I turned the motor the wrong direction and broke the impeller each time. I learned that after using the pump, a half of teaspoon of any oil in the macerator prevents the impeller from sticking. I also painted a large white arrow showing the direction of rotation.

I have had my macerator since about 2005. I prefer not to wait in lines, prefer not to dump in the wind rain, or nasty facilities. The Macerator allows me to dump at Dump Stations or when I get home. I have a Stinky Slinky but seldom use it.

My Flojet 18555-000A, Portable RV Waste Pump, 12 Volt DC, Macerator, Includes Carrying CaseMacerator now cost about $210.



I also use a Camco 39572 5" Clear Sewer Hose Adapter. The adapter allows me to see that the tank valves are empty, and as you can see in the photo doubles as a Marguerita making machine.



I have a 12 volt connector near my dump valves.

I have two 25 foot black hoses in my TC and a 50 foot black hose at home by my clean out. I can sit in a chair in my garage out of foul weather and dump my tanks, or simply wait until the mood strikes me.

Wayne