[A/S] Holding Tanks

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Joy,

Since we are talking on-list about holding tanks today I'll reply to you
on-list with our ongoing discussion of tanks, tank hardware, and floor rot.

Trying to make up my mind whether to accept the new holding tank that UPS
attempted to deliver to me yesterday, I went to my shop again today and
studied the trailer from above and below, trying to figure a way to route
the gray water line around the tank cover to get the line into the rear
bumper compartment to attach the gray water line to the black downstream of
the gate valve.

Motivated by your suggestion that I could reroute it by moving other
fixtures, I looked hard.  You know how stubborn I am about refusing to
remove more parts and make more modifications than absolutely necessary.  I
finally decided that I could route the gray water line to the extreme right
rear corner of the trunk compartment, then down, then back into the bumper
compartment, !!! "IF" !!! (emphasis) I could find the PVC fittings to adapt
the line down from 2" schedule 40 (actually 2 1/4" OD) to approximately 1 or
1/4" fittings which will fit tightly between the tank cover and frame.  I
went to Home Depot and got lucky and was assisted by an old-timer who
understood what I needed to do, what parts they had, and where they were
located.  He showed me how to adapt down in several stages to 1" PVC
(actually 1 1/4" od) then run the line of 1" PVC.  I bought an armload of
pipe and adapters and am optimistic it will work.  If I can place the new
tank cover all the way to the street side against the frame rail, I think
the PVC line can pass down through the trunk compartment floor between the
curb side of the tank cover and the curbside frame.  I think I'll go to UPS
Monday and pay the $136 and pick up the new tank.  My gray water may drain a
little slower than the engineers intended but I don't see how the sink or
bathtub would ever require the flow capacity of a 2" line anyway.

I saw Melanie's photo images already.  Her tank cover looks very familiar to
mine, my daughter's, and yours.  Cancer of the holding tank cover must be a
genetically programmed disease in older Airstreams.

Later,
Harvey