Keystone Springdale - Very Low Drain Pipes

[jetski559]

Hello All,

We just got a 2022 242RK Keystone Springdale travel trailer.
This has the Arctic Package.

I noticed the black and grey tank drain pipe outlet is VERY low to the ground. I haven't taken a tape measure, but it seems like it is like 6 inches or 8 inches... Way lower than our last trailer. It worries me to the point that a rock or something at the campsite is going to crack it if we run it over.

Maybe this is normal for the arctic package because the whole bottom is covered in insulating sheets so they had to stick the drain pipes out further?

See picture attached/below.

[bucky]

I have a tote that is also higher than the outlet. It was fine on our former 5er. Now we carry the tote and a macerator pump. If the site is elevated we can use the tote by itself sometimes.
South Carolina was the first place we went with the higher dump pipes. We went to Lowes and got a 12 foot piece of plastic gutter and used it as a bridge. The camp hosts said it was the biggest complaint from campers.
I'm not sure that a 4 foot storm surge is going to be contained by a 6 inch rise but remember "We're from the government and we're here to help you."

[jetski559]

Planeteer wrote:
It's always a bummer when the park hookup is higher than the sewer hose discharge.

Yeah, minor details. Although 'nothing got snapped off' having to fight this ain't very fun if not impossible. Trailer mfgs probably wanted a nice slope for the pipes to drain from the tank, but they forgot we still need a slope from the outlet pipe into the park hookup!

[jetski559]

Huntindog wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Maybe cut them both back and install separate connections.

My first TT 30 years ago had this problem. Some sagebrush caught the pipe and it ended up cracking the black tank. There were several issues with that TT causing it to hang low. My first fix was to replace the tank and pipe making as high as possible, which wasn't much of an improvement. I then broke out my welder and made a skidplate for it. Later when the axles needed attention, I replaced the 6" drop axles it had with straight axles.
Of course your TT will probably need a different approach. My comments are to let you know that the low pipe can cause a lot more damage that most think....Fixing that after it cracked the full tank was a real crappy job.:(

This is about exactly what I was worried about / thinking about...

[Planeteer]

It's always a bummer when the park hookup is higher than the sewer hose discharge.

[Huntindog]

dodge guy wrote:
Maybe cut them both back and install separate connections.

My first TT 30 years ago had this problem. Some sagebrush caught the pipe and it ended up cracking the black tank. There were several issues with that TT causing it to hang low. My first fix was to replace the tank and pipe making as high as possible, which wasn't much of an improvement. I then broke out my welder and made a skidplate for it. Later when the axles needed attention, I replaced the 6" drop axles it had with straight axles.
Of course your TT will probably need a different approach. My comments are to let you know that the low pipe can cause a lot more damage that most think....Fixing that after it cracked the full tank was a real crappy job.:(

[dodge_guy]

Maybe cut them both back and install separate connections.

[afidel]

The two problem I had with too low a drain were insufficient slope to sewer pipes that were ~6" above grade which are required by code in some areas due to trying to keep storm water out of the septic system. Second was trying to fill my Barker tote when I was on a site sloped towards my drain, there wasn't enough clearance to get the tote entrance under the level of the drain.

[Boon_Docker]

goducks10 wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
I would cut the end as close as possible and still be able to get a coupling on it. A 22.5 or something would bring the tip of the pipe up a bit.

x2

X3

[jetski559]

All great answers guys! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

[Second_Chance]

Our drain pipe was very low to the ground on our new Solitude fifth wheel (although it was directly behind the middle hydraulic strut on that side which gave it some protection). I cut the drain, shortened it a bit, and installed a 30 deg. elbow at the cut to increase the ground clearance.

Rob

[goducks10]

KD4UPL wrote:
I would cut the end as close as possible and still be able to get a coupling on it. A 22.5 or something would bring the tip of the pipe up a bit.

x2

[valhalla360]

nickthehunter wrote:
I had a Jayco a number of years back. Everyone that saw it commented on how low the black pipe drain was. I had the trailer for 12 years and it never was an issue.
Just my experience with a similar issue, yours' may vary.

Seems fairy typical and like you no issues.

Being in front of the trailer axles, if you go over a 6-8" high rock, you already knew you ran over something big.

Far more common is to drag the rear corners.

Your average RV is not intended for serious off roading. If you want to take it into rough country, expect to do some upgrades.

[KD4UPL]

I would cut the end as close as possible and still be able to get a coupling on it. A 22.5 or something would bring the tip of the pipe up a bit.

[nickthehunter]

I had a Jayco a number of years back. Everyone that saw it commented on how low the black pipe drain was. I had the trailer for 12 years and it never was an issue.
Just my experience with a similar issue, yours' may vary.