Prostar 190
Crossett Arkansas
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Joined: 11/01/2005
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I guess that the weight police are going to jump on this one. The title is correct, 5 tanks added. I added 3-ea 36 gal holding and 2-ea 30 gal water tanks. Just a quick common sense comment before the WP start to flame me. I will never be out on the road “traveling” with more than a couple gallons of liquid in any of the tanks that I added. The only reason for the couple gallons is to clean the holding tanks on the trip home. But I will say that I always carry water in the original water tank. I took this tank out and modified the holding hardware because it was not strong enough to suit me. It was bent. Engineering on these campers is weak to say the least. The welding that was done underneath this camper was awful. I had to re-do the weld on the axle leaf spring brackets and shock mounts. I also moved the original water tank to a better location, which is much closer to the axle. The reason I carry water, is because you never know what is going to happen on the road. Most of my camping is at reserved sites at local lakes. When I pull into the campground, I will finish filling up with water, and I will dump before leaving the campground. The weight of components of the install is not a concern. Some will argue this anyway, but oh well my research of the numbers and my opinion is the only one that counts.
The reason for this addition, I am tired of filling jugs of water and pouring into camper and using the blue tote to go dump WHILE I am on vacation. I kept telling myself that it is just one of the things you have to do while camping. I am changing that way of thinking. I got a little carried away with the install, as I do on most of my projects.
Ok, I will try and explain some of the modifications I made. The water and sewer system had 4 valves. (I am not counting the hot water bypass valve or faucets) That would be the gray, galley, black, and the drain valve for potable water tank. I now have 28 valves.
I will start with the main sewer line valves. I now have 8 valves. I put a valve on each tank outlet, which is 6 valves. Gray, galley, black, and each of the 3 – 36 gal holding tanks. They are all connected with a 3” ABS line from front to back of camper. At each end is a 90-degree with a valve and hose hookup. With the valves on each end, this allows me to drain any of the 6 tanks to any other tank. The gray, galley, and black can be drained into one of the 3 holding tanks. Usually it will only be the gray and gallery, but I can drain the black if needed.
Next there is a nine-valve system for the vent/flush system for each of the tanks. In the main storage compartment in this fifth wheel camper there is a back wall that is removable. Behind this wall is the area where I installed the header for this vent/flush system. I installed a small access door to the outside so that I could reach these valves. I also added two more water hose hookups beside this access door. One of these is for the water hose at the dump station for flushing the tanks. They were labeled after the picture was taken. On the other side of the water hose connection I put a brass ball valve for the on/off of the water supply. Then the six valves for each of the tanks. I put bungs on each of the tanks, and run hose from the valves to the tanks. I can flush whichever tank by selecting its valve. Also these valves are for venting the tanks. There are several ways for venting, one being that when I drain one tank into another, one is pulling air and the other is pushing out air. Open the valve for each tank and they vent themselves. I also added the 8th valve to this header that is connected to one of the vent lines to the roof. There are a few other ways of venting, but you get the picture. The 9th valve on this header is connected to the other water hose connection (3rd). This connection is for adding chemicals to the tanks. That way I do not have to disconnect the water hose for flushing the tanks. Then I can put a couple gallons of water (remember the brass ball valve for shutting the water off) so they can be washed clean on the way home. Also this connection is for adding the pink antifreeze through all of the valves and lines to the tanks. This is done through an installed 12-volt pump. Ok that’s 17 valves and 11 more to go.
Since I moved the original water tank I put a tee in the fill line where you add water to the tank. One way goes to the original tank and the other goes to the added tanks. There are two valves at the tee so I can direct the water flow. On the added tanks I added a valve at each tank so I could drain easily. This valve has a water hose connection, which gives me more options. These valves can be reach just behind the rear bumper. The original water tank still has its drain valve. I ran lines from each of the 3 water tanks suction line to a header with 3 valves. This way I can pull water out of whichever tank I want. That’s 25 valves. Now we go to the camper water pump. I added 3 tees and 3 valves. One of the tees gives me a hose that I can put into the pink antifreeze jug. This allows me to pull out of the jug instead of the tank. With the other tees I can pump the antifreeze back through the suction line from the tanks and go though the valves and into the tanks. That’s 28.
I left a lot of info out, like how I designed the tank install so that I can take out any of the added tanks in about 10 minutes. Like how I put the chemicals in the tanks. Like how I pump antifreeze through the vent/flush system. Like the adapters I made for the non-potable water hookup. Like why I have 2 drains for the main sewer line. I guess I better stop and just show a few pictures.
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javaseuf
California's Gold Coast
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Joined: 03/30/2005
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Nice work!
I knew I should have bought stock in that ABS company when I had the chance!! 
* This post was
edited 09/13/09 01:24pm by javaseuf *
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2009 F150, 5.4 ltr.
1986 Palomino Hard-Side PUP
"Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill, but since we're on our way down, we might as well enjoy the ride". ("The Secret Of Life", James Taylor).
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mfoster711
College Station Tx
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Joined: 08/12/2006
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Holy crap!
2007 Ford F250 Lariet 4x4 Diesel
2009 Jayco Eagle Super Lite 30.5BHS
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USAFBILL
Alabama
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Joined: 09/20/2002
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WOW
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skylos
Issaquah, WA
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Joined: 06/10/2009
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once upon a time the sewage when camping was a latrine trench. Oh how far we have come.
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BusaGuy
N.C
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Joined: 08/17/2008
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My question is.......why? Your screen name suggests that you run the Pro Star motorcycle series, so I can understand an extra tank for potable water, and an extra tank for gray water, and even an extra tank for black water, because of staying so long at a race, but adding that many tanks and valves??? Seems like an awful lot of over kill. Not trying to put you down or anything. Just kinda curious. I will have to say that is some NICE work!!
* This post was
edited 09/13/09 10:13pm by an administrator/moderator *
2004 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
2001 Shasta Phoenix
DW, DD's, DS, and our 2 little dogs!!
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RVJohn
Florida
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Joined: 10/04/2003
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Well to say the least your very talented my friend.I bet their is a market for such work,and you would be the guy to contact for that work.My hats off to you for a job well done.
tow vehicle-2004.5 Dodge 3500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4-600 Cummins Turbo Diesel-4-speed automatic,48RE,short bed-SRW
Prodigy brake controllar
2001 3280RL Montana
reese 16K slider,roll&lock bed cover
Yahama EF300iSEB
Garmin 7200 GPS
5th Air Borne/sidewinder
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fordsooperdooty
Orange Kounty Kalifornia
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Joined: 08/13/2004
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Somewhere out there...Rube Goldberg is standing up from his grave and loudly clapping and cheering! 
Simular plumbing project!
This is our 7th new Jayco in 30 years! Loved 'em all!
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Prostar 190
Crossett Arkansas
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Joined: 11/01/2005
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BusaGuy wrote:My question is.......why? Your screen name suggests that you run the Pro Star motorcycle series, so I can understand an extra tank for potable water, and an extra tank for gray water, and even an extra tank for black water, because of staying so long at a race, but adding that many tanks and valves??? Seems like an awfull lot of over kill. Not trying to put you
Screen name has to do with a Mastercraft ski boat. Almost all of my camping is at lakes that we ski at. I have been camping all of my life. Started out in the back of a pickup and graduated from there to about every kind of camper they make. I no longer go to the bathhouse at these campsites. Sometimes we even take 2 showers a day. In one weeks time, I end up adding water twice and dumping the galley and gray twice also. Could we go to the bathhouse, why yea, but I just do not want too. Now I do not have to spend a couple of hours 2 different times during the week. Remember, I am on vacation.
Plus, I like doing things that other people will not do.
Here is the link to another project I did. I no longer have that camper, but it is just showing that designing and building is what I like to do. Make sure you go to the 2nd page to see the finished project.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/18689354.cfm
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lookinin
Southern British Columbia
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Joined: 06/11/2009
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Wow! That is some of the neatest work I've seen done to a lowly RV in a long time. Very nice attention to detail - so rare these days. Bravo!
Cheers,
Kevin
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