black tank questiion

Hey Ron,

I've never used extra water to chase the black (or the gray) water.

Generally, what you want to do is dump the black water first, letting it run down the hose until it's empty. Then close the black water valve, move the hose to the gray water tank and open that valve. The gray water cleans out anything left in the hose from dumping the black water.

After dumping, I always add a gallon or so of water back into both tanks just to keep stuff from drying out in there. I add a packet of black water chemical into the black water tank before adding that gallon.

Good luck with your upcoming full hookup!!

-- Steve

The pods are the only travel trailers I have seen or owned that don't have a combined hose connection point for both the black and grey water tanks.  The emptying process is so much easier when you only have to connect your sewer hose once.

Bob

IPodAlong wrote: So I must be missing something because I've seen this here before.....I remove the cap on my ONE discharge outlet and hook my sewer hose to it and when ready, open the black water valve.  After it empties, I open the gray valve.  Are you saying that on your POD you have to connect your hose to one and then take it off and hook it to the other?  If so, what a pain....why would that be the case since I also have a 2010? BTW, I too will have full hookups for the first time next week.

My 2010 173 definitely has 2 separate outlets.  The one for the black water is in front of the wheel and the one for the grey is behind the wheel.  I have only had the pod for about a month.  I would like to mod the pod so both discharge valves connect to a common outlet.  With the axle situated between them, it might not be possible.  This is high on my list of modifications I am considering.

Other than pop-ups, I have had 3 other TTs and 4 motorhomes.  All had a common outlet.

Bob

I bought my 171 (2010) from a private person who had only had it less than a year.  He had only used it a few times so I'm sure he wouldn't have done that as a mod so it must be the floorplan of the 171 vs the others.  Because of the issues I had with the dome/track, I do know that in the middle of the 2010 year, they made some changes to the Pods.  So whether it was just the dome or other changes; i.e. separating the outlets rather than just leaving it as one......or maybe it's the 171 model.  I will also say though that my outlet and release valves are extremely low and just behind the wheel.  I actually damaged some of that and had to have a pretty major repair.  Didn't remember running over anything that would have damaged it so I have to really watch.  I wonder if they were able to make it higher by separating outlets but can't imagine why that would help.

Rob, thanks for the link.  I looked at my drain set-up again and noticed that my 2 valves are in the same plane as the axle.  For me to make this modification, as shown, I would first have to install a riser kit.  Even then, the new length of pipe would probably set right on top of the axle.  Interesting.  I like the idea but will have to actually measure all the heights more precisely. 

Seanl, I believe you are absolutely correct about a single discharge depending on where the 2 tanks are located.  Probably because the axle obstructs a clear shot between the two drain lines.  Speaking of locations, I noted in the illustrations that the grey water tank is in front of the axle and the black tank is behind it.  On mine it is just the opposite. 

If all pods now come with factory-installed riser kits, perhaps all the newer models have only one discharge location.

Bob