Lance 815 shower bypass

[Tony1978]

Hi, My Lance 815 only has a 10 gallon black water holding tank and the shower water goes into it. I have heard of people installing a bypass valve so you can choose to drain the water directly to the ground or you can switch it back to continue using the black water holding tank. I'm strictly a boondocker so having this option would be great.

[dlduke01]

Thanks tony. That's exactly what I needed to see.

[sonora]

Clicky

[Tony1978]

I'm not sure what its called but it was readily available at my local camping supply store. I'm sure with a little googling you could figure out the name.

[Makingtrax]

thanks Tony. Excellent solution. What is that part called that attaches to the shower drain, and is it easy to find?

[Tony1978]

Solution: http://youtu.be/NNewxDTqE8I

[Tony1978]

Found the solution! Check out this video to learn how to easily bypass the black water tank. It's completely reversible too. http://youtu.be/NNewxDTqE8I

[FreeLanceing]

I would have to check but as I recall 3/4 pipe maybe 1/2 I will look. I just caution because if you damage the thing beyound repair you will have an awfull time finding a replacement. As I stated earlier I had a dealer bring it right too the main distibuter in Elkhart In and they could not provide one. They believe it was a special production run for Lance. I was able to get one from lance. Once I did this mod I was able to camp for at least week hauling extra water instead of the 3 days as before. I do tend to shower daily.

[Tony1978]

I figured out the best and easiest way to do this. It's completely reversible too. I will take a video and post it on YouTube then put the link in this thread

[dlduke01]

I'm interested in this also. Could any of you take any pics and post for us.

[Tony1978]

Also can I just use the existing trap to tap into or will I need to purchase a separate one? Or do you just mean don't break it bc it's hard to replace?

[Tony1978]

Thanks Freelance (great name) what size was the ball valve you installed?

[FreeLanceing]

I tapped a street 90 into the side of the trap. Then I installed a ball valve. If I open the valve the water runs out to a garden hose and beyound. Close the valve and it goes back into the black tank. Once I made the mod I think I only closed it one time. There is no y or other plumbing on the 815. The shower dumps directly into the BLACK tank. I did all my work through the little access panel Kohldad refers to. You need to be carefull that trap is not a common part. Its actually a Lance part #. The only place I could find one was from Lance. I went all over Elkhart In looking no luck.
Good luck

[kohldad]

Under the furnace on the bathroom wall, you will find a small access panel held in place with 4 screws. The drain goes into a trap, then over to the outside wall where the black tank vent pipe.

You can also work on it from the opening in the bottom of the camper.

Instead of trying to fit a Y in the pipe, I just capped the trap to seal the black tank, then I adapted the drain to a small 1/2" hose barb. Connected a hose and ran it to the back of the camper with a couple feet extra. At the end is a ball valve so it doesn't drain until I'm ready. When we take a shower, we just catch the water a bucket. Then we have the choice of dumping it back into the black tank, the gray tank, or campground disposal area.

Works for us because the TC shower has been our backup. we usually stop in a campground with decent showers ever third or fourth day and use it.

[Tony1978]

I just hope that there is a short pipe that I can install the Y fitting on before the drain goes into the holding tank. I thought the drain went directly into the holding tank.