My Low Priced TC Shower Drains Into the Street!

[Lexicon7]

Hi Guys, I picked up a 96 Lance Squire 4000 that had some cosmetic issues and have not left yet so I'm still on shore power outside my empty house. That being said, I'm still using the shower in the house but was cleaning the camper shower and noticed the drain was not draining! Opened the dump bay door and found the clear plastic drain hose had worked its way out so pulled it slightly and the end came tumbling down and there began to drain out my shower water on the driveway!
Obviously this is suposed to be draining into the gray water tank? What the hell? I have no idea how to proceed without paying my local RV dealer. Good thing I did find this now before leaving in a couple of weeks... Any ideas?

[Lexicon7]

Mkirsch, thanks for your response. Yes, that's exactly what happened.. The hose bounced out of there and took off under my truck thankfully away from my direction and out she drained.. I was so surprised but these are the lessons of a rookie with a "used" rig.. I'm learning and you all help a whole lot!
Your statement "fixed the problem" I am certain is humerously correct!
I was painfully aware that the tanks looked extremely low capacity so had been wondering.. OK.. I'll get it sorted out one way or the other then..!

[crabbin_cabin]

FreeLanceing wrote:
I modified mine so it will drain into the street. Mine drains into the black tank, or it used to. I put a valve in there so I can switch it from black tank to overboard. I have never switched it back. You could put a bucket under there. I normally shower late at night and the puddle is dry by morning. Mums the word.

Mums the word??NEVER when you post on this forum!! And shame on you for "street" draining - even at night!!

[mkirsch]

You have no idea what was changed or customized on your camper since 1995.

This camper has very small holding tanks. They cannot hold all the water from the fresh tank, plus your waste, even combined.

It is likely that the previous owner rerouted the shower and sink drains to the hose that you found, so they would drain outside into a bucket or a blue tote.

When you said, "tumbling down" did you mean a length of hose came out and water started running from it?

As long as the water is not draining INSIDE the camper, do not worry about it. Use a bucket to catch the water, or if the campground allows it, let it run on the ground!

You will be wishing you had NOT "fixed" the problem after one or two trips.

[Lexicon7]

Addendum: I should say not where the connection is since you actually told me that but how to access it? I'll bet the camper would have to be raised to access the top of the tanks where the influent connections are!

[Lexicon7]

Thanks for your responses: Travelnutz.. I'd like to respond to your post and update an error in my original post. The camper was built in June of 1994 and was sold to me as a 95 and not 96 as my post indicates.
The Systems Monitor on the wall over the range shows as you have indicated, "Fresh, Holding & Gray" holding being their polite term for "black" I assume! The manual with which I was provided says and I quote,

"Note: On the 8 & 9 foot models, the shower drains into the toilet waste tank. To prevent wastes backing up into the shower (especially when driving) keep the locking basket strainer in the shower drain except when showering."

So apparently the kitchen sink and possibly the bathroom sink use the gray water tank. What puzzles me is where the connection to the gray tank is located and perhaps why it was found hanging free?

Next time if ever I purchase a used RV I'm bringing a yellow pad on a clip board with all the systems pre writtin and ready for a full report including running all water systems into their appropriate destinatins (one of them not being the ground!) These days, California would have a field day with that!!!

Thanks again and I'll update you!

[Lexicon7]

Too funny... never heard of such a thing! Secret's save with me!!!

[Lexicon7]

FreeLanceing wrote:
I modified mine so it will drain into the street. Mine drains into the black tank, or it used to. I put a valve in there so I can switch it from black tank to overboard. I have never switched it back. You could put a bucket under there. I normally shower late at night and the puddle is dry by morning. Mums the word.

[FreeLanceing]

I modified mine so it will drain into the street. Mine drains into the black tank, or it used to. I put a valve in there so I can switch it from black tank to overboard. I have never switched it back. You could put a bucket under there. I normally shower late at night and the puddle is dry by morning. Mums the word.

[travelnutz]

Lexicon7,

We had a 1997 Lance Squire 4000 for 12 years and also have the original Lance brohures for 1996 models yet. Also have the big over 11' long floor 1997 Lance Legend 990 model we'd purchased/ordered new at the same time. I have scanned and saved the scan files on one of my puters in .jpg and I'd gladley email the files to you so you know exactly what the specs are for your 4000.

Your 1996 Lance Squire 4000 has a 33 gal fresh water tank, a 16 gal gray water tank, and a 14 gal black water tank. You may have pulled the tube that went from the shower basin drain to the gray water tank out or a water line. If I remember correctly, the tube would have gone from the underside of the shower base to a "Y" or "Tee" just above the entrance to the gray tank. 3 tubes go into that fitting and I can't remember if it was 2 "Y's" or a "TEE". One tube each that come from the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, and the shower drain. I seem to remember mine being black plastic fittings for drains and kind of resembled the plastic plumbing used in homes but smaller in dia. Some of the the lines for fresh water were translucent semi-ridged plastic. Could you have a fresh water line you pulled off?

At any rate, I'd give Lance Camper in Lancaster, CA a call and asked them about it as they had built it and have all the data and info. They are very good about helping. It will sure eliminate the guesswork!

[TucsonJim]

During that time frame, it was very common for shower water to be gathered through the hose into a bucket and carried to an appropriate spot or needy plant to drain.

[popeyemth]

Are you sure you have a grey water tank?
Many older TC's did not and drained on the ground or into a bucket.