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climberjohn Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1840 Location: Portland Orygun
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: DIY - gray water drain enhancement |
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Today I made a very simple modification/enhancement to the gray water drain in the underside of the van. I'm sure I'm not the first person to do this, but I did a search and did not find anything.
When I pull into a campsite, I regularly forget the “setup the camp” chore of unscrewing the gray water drain plug. The sink gets used for a minute or so, and then the water backs up into the sink. “Oh, fiddlesticks,” I say, and then go outside to hunker down and unscrew the drain plug . . . and receive a gush of skanky water running from my wrist to my elbow, no matter how deftly you try to remove the plug.
This was getting very tiresome. Because the threads on the drain water plug on the same as a common garden hose, I hit the hose accessory section of the local hardware store for solution. I bought a simple female fitting with an on/off valve that just threads onto the existing drain plug. Now, no more skunk water runs down your arm, because you open the valve 90° and drain out your water, as opposed to unthreading the cap. Best of all, the existing drain plug cap screws on the other end of the new fitting, protecting the threads from road grime.
If you are camping in a popular area, good etiquette is to catch your gray water in a bucket/tub of some sort and properly dispose of it. Or, if you wanted to attach a short hose and run it off into the bushes, this fitting should accommodate that too. This project was just a few dollars and about 30 seconds installation time, and I think it's well worth it.
The fitting you need looks something like this:
In place, it looks like this (sorry about the lame image from my lousy camera)
_________________ '86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.
Last edited by climberjohn on Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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That's awesome John! I think we actually have a couple of those lying around. I can try it out this weekend! _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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j8 Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 575 Location: Minneapolis, MN
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for that tip, climberjohn! _________________ Julia
'89 2WD Westy (No end to names...) |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10379 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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neat fix man!
Personally I've never put the cap on. (it may even be missing.... I can't recall)
Anyone know of issues with just leaving the drain uncapped all the time?
Mice?
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Vanagon Nut wrote: |
neat fix man!
Personally I've never put the cap on. (it may even be missing.... I can't recall)
Anyone know of issues with just leaving the drain uncapped all the time?
Mice?
Neil. |
more likely a spider highway. Or cock-a-roaches! _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10379 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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Well so far so good. But all I need to do is some long term camping and maybe I'll get some unwanted passengers coming up the drain.
Ack!
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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Wolfie Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Coilorado Springs Colorado
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:36 am Post subject: Sink Drain |
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Fantastic! Thanks for the tip! |
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candyman Samba Trout Slayer
Joined: December 20, 2003 Posts: 2694 Location: Missoula MT
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:08 am Post subject: |
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Vanagon Nut wrote: |
neat fix man!
Personally I've never put the cap on. (it may even be missing.... I can't recall)
Anyone know of issues with just leaving the drain uncapped all the time?
Mice?
Neil. |
i have never capped mine in ten years. no problems. mice and spiders will find easier ways to get in, trust me! can't say about the cockroaches though, we dont have them here in montana, hobo spiders on the other hand... |
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MootPoint Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006 Posts: 862 Location: ABQ, NM
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:52 am Post subject: |
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I actually took it one step further and added a short hose extension from Lowes or HD that's designed, I guess, to make attaching a hose to a residential hose bib a little easier. Then I put the little valve on the bottom, thus:
It makes it easier to reach and since it flexes, it will only bend if you smack it on a rock. I did use the metal valve piece instead of the plastic for that same smack-a-rock reason.
It's been on for a couple of years now and still works great. _________________ 1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
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climberjohn Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1840 Location: Portland Orygun
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: |
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A note on unwanted critter entry . . .
Most all the time, the little valve is closed. Thus, no way for microfauna to enter the van. You only open it when you are using the sink.
If you are doing long term camping, the cap is likely off anyway so your sink can drain normally, so having this little fitting won't have an affect one way or another.
(Maybe some screen door material and a rubberband to block off the bottom of the hose fitting?) _________________ '86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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iiigoiii Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2008 Posts: 307 Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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a note on critters - the westy that i bought had been in use by a student in santa cruz for a couple of years, probably using the sink pretty often and (i'm guessing) leaving it parked in or near other student housing...where we all know that cockroaches hang out.
there were dead cockroaches in the sink and the drain (also some in and under the cabinets where the sink faucet was leaking - cockroaches follow moisture).
i decided that i'd keep my drain capped. _________________ 1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg Ed. w/ Subaru EJ22 power |
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sbclayton Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2003 Posts: 483 Location: A place where owning a VW and enjoying life are synonymous
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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I guess I don't need to mention that if you get this thing, buy two - one to drain the grey water and one to fill the fresh. As an RV'er, I can't count the times I've seen somebody using his sewer/grey water rinsing hose to fill the fresh water tank. Gross! Seems like typhus was invented for just such folks as that.
Keep them critters separate! _________________ Steve - Tampa Bay Area
Original Owner (12/1990) of
NavDog, a 91 Carat
Enlightenment came when I realized that any time in my life I was having fun, it was somehow connected with owning a Volkswagen. |
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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John, that's brilliant! And I mod I haven't done...yet! Let's see if I can get my act together by this weekend! _________________ '85 Westy |
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j_dirge Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 4641 Location: Twain Harte, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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sbclayton wrote: |
I guess I don't need to mention that if you get this thing, buy two - one to drain the grey water and one to fill the fresh. As an RV'er, I can't count the times I've seen somebody using his sewer/grey water rinsing hose to fill the fresh water tank. Gross! Seems like typhus was invented for just such folks as that.
Keep them critters separate! |
Oh but I think you do need to mention it.. Thanks!
in fact I'll say it again
BUY TWO! And mark them very clearly... or paint the gray water one primer gray.
The Gowesty site shows how nifty it is that you can use the same fitting for filling your water tank!
eek! |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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j_dirge wrote: |
sbclayton wrote: |
I guess I don't need to mention that if you get this thing, buy two - one to drain the grey water and one to fill the fresh. As an RV'er, I can't count the times I've seen somebody using his sewer/grey water rinsing hose to fill the fresh water tank. Gross! Seems like typhus was invented for just such folks as that.
Keep them critters separate! |
Oh but I think you do need to mention it.. Thanks!
in fact I'll say it again
BUY TWO! And mark them very clearly... or paint the gray water one primer gray.
The Gowesty site shows how nifty it is that you can use the same fitting for filling your water tank!
eek! |
c'mon, you have to be stoned to use the same thing for both purposes.... |
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climberjohn Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1840 Location: Portland Orygun
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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MootPoint wrote: |
I actually took it one step further and added a short hose extension from Lowes or HD that's designed, I guess, to make attaching a hose to a residential hose bib a little easier. Then I put the little valve on the bottom, thus:
It makes it easier to reach and since it flexes, it will only bend if you smack it on a rock. I did use the metal valve piece instead of the plastic for that same smack-a-rock reason.
It's been on for a couple of years now and still works great. |
Mootpoint,
I like your idea a bunch, thanks for posting.
And you have a very clear photo, too! _________________ '86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
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j_dirge Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 4641 Location: Twain Harte, CA
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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madspaniard wrote: |
j_dirge wrote: |
The Gowesty site shows how nifty it is that you can use the same fitting for filling your water tank!
eek! |
c'mon, you have to be stoned to use the same thing for both purposes.... |
You mean..
"Spill scalding McDonald's coffee in your lap" stoned?
or
"Objects may be closer than they appear" stoned? |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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Or drive away with your top up stoned... _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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GWTWTLW wrote: |
Or drive away with your top up stoned... |
I think I know who you are talking about |
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