At home in driveway dump station

mattpopp

Trouble Maker
So the wife and I will be building a new home very soon. I will be storing the Rv there once I build the barn. But what I want to do is put a dump station in the driveway. One that is flush and would have a lid you would remove to access the 4" sewer line. Along with having a water tap next to it.

Does somebody make such a thing? Something that must be installed during the forming of the pad for the driveway. Worst comes to worst I will just build one from 1/4" plate but I would much rather buy it.


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pegmikef

Well-known member
I have something similar. I don't have the water faucet next to it, but I have the sewer access. I actually got it by accident because in our city the code is that there has to be a sewer cleanout access every seventy feet between the residence and the city sewer line. When we had the sewer put in (mandated by the city) one of the cleanouts ended up right where we were planning on putting the garage. What I ended up with was the pvc four inch pipe with a screw on top and then I bought a brass topped cover deal that slips over the cleanout. When the contractor finished I ended up with a brass plate flush with the floor. I have to remove three screws to remove the brass plate. I am going to try to get a couple of pictures of it. I think I bought it a Lowes, but I am not sure because it was sixteen years ago. I only hook up to it when I need to dump my tanks and then I use a macerator so I can back flush my tanks.
 

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tomhank

Member
A set of measures must be followed in order to construct the optimal RV dump station at home. The research, planning, preparation, and construction of the disposal station are all critical steps in completing this project.
 

BLR

Well-known member
A set of measures must be followed in order to construct the optimal RV dump station at home. The research, planning, preparation, and construction of the disposal station are all critical steps in completing this project.
WOW reviving 9 year old thread.
Congratulations

Barbara

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taskswap

Well-known member
Spam bots do this with generic responses to old threads to build reputation for new accounts.
 

cookie

Administrator
Staff member
Your right about the spam bots.
Forum software has a spam filter along with other safeguards in place. However it is not always able to detect somee spammers. There could be a spammer in India but they are smart and can post with their iP address showing they are in Dallas for example.
I personally delete about a half dozen each month that sneak through.
Nothing is 100% but we do our best.
As far as tomhank, his/her 17 posts seem legit If there is someone questionable we keep an eye on them.

Peace
Dave
 
I'm not a spambot ;-) just trying to get some advice here.

My wife and I are getting ready to pour concrete for a driveway extension that will eventually accomodate an RV (Class A, 36 foot or larger) and I'm trying to confirm my plans for installing a cleanout with cover plate (flush with driveway) for dumping. The RV will be parked most of the time and used as a guest house so will be a semi-permanent connection but I want it to be usable driveway when the RV is not there.

Two questions:

1. Should I make my cleanout cavity large enough to accommodate something like the link below with a permanently attached clear coupler? I could plan room for this if I need to.


2. Should I also plan for a permanent hose flush connection within the cavity before I pour concrete (and I should plan on having a permanently attached water hookup in the same hole). Is it worth it to have that hose permanently attached for easy flushing and if so, should I have any additional backflow valves to prevent seepage.

I would appreciate any advice from those on the forum or links to any specific hardware that others have used or would recommend for these purposes.

Thanks!
 

centerline

Well-known member
you may be over thinking it....
a dump station consistes of 4" ABS sewer pipe, that needs to run to the sewer line.......

I would not put it in the driveway, but beside it so that when you are needing to dump you can stop in the driveway and work along side the coach to dump..

the pipe comes up from the ground and should be about even with it..... once this is done, if you want to you can dig down around the pipe 2-3 inches and pour a concrete apron around it, however long and wide you want it..... mine is 4 inches thick and 4ft square.......

for the freshwater supply, run a water line from the closest pipe and use a frost free bibb on a metal stand pipe to supply the the water.... personally I wouldnt incorporate the water supply into the concrete pad in the event that it should ever be damaged and it would need to be repaired....

I used an existing clean out point that was alongside my driveway and poured a skirt around it, with a concave surface to act like a funnel for any drips or spills.... and the fresh water faucet is on the corner of the house directly on the other side of the driveway from the "dump station".... so it was a simple task to set it up with everything I need for a "full service" dump station....

i used an internal threaded fitting with a plug for the closure for the pipe, but found that the next size smaller pipe fit down the hole nicely, so i just cut a 5inch piece, glued a cap on it, and just set it in the hole... easy, clean, simple and cheap......

for the
 
Thank you for those tips--very helpful. To clarify, what I'm looking toward is a fairly permanent sewer connection for the RV (it will be primarily used as a guest house with us traveling only 2-3 times a year for now). I may install some electric dump valves so I can easily dump the sewer from time to time. The other detail is that I will need to hide my RV cleanout in the driveway (not the lawn) because I have a tiny strip of grass beyond the area we are pouring and don’t want a pipe or hose constantly attached or having to mow around it.

One more fyi, we don’t currently have an RV—will be purchasing one in the next couple years but I’m pouring concrete now and wanting to plan ahead. Until we get the RV, the manhole lid will remain place, but once we get the RV it will be permanently open (attached to the RV sewer).

So I guess the follow-up questions I have are:

1. Is it possible to place my RV cleanout slightly UNDER the RV in the driveway for a permanent connection (if it’s parked over top) and just use a slinky hose to get from the RV to the recessed cleanout? It may have a very slight S turn under the RV but would be essentially straight down.

2. If I have a load bearing cover over my sewer connection (recessed in driveway), what kind of box or manhole cover should I use? I’m wondering if I can just use a non watertight box like the attached photo with soil around the pipe and let rain water drain into the soil. Or will it get yucky with leaked sewage etc. I could close off the bottom of the hold with concrete and an external drain if that’s a good idea.

I’m not trying to overthink, just exploring options and appreciate the advice.
 

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Et1958

Member
One more fyi, we don’t currently have an RV—will be purchasing one in the next couple years
One thing to remember, the dump outlets are not in the same place on every RV. Some rear, some front etc. - Just plan for that in your construction if necessary. Of course all are reachable with a longer hose.
 

centerline

Well-known member
Thank you for those tips--very helpful. To clarify, what I'm looking toward is a fairly permanent sewer connection for the RV (it will be primarily used as a guest house with us traveling only 2-3 times a year for now). I may install some electric dump valves so I can easily dump the sewer from time to time. The other detail is that I will need to hide my RV cleanout in the driveway (not the lawn) because I have a tiny strip of grass beyond the area we are pouring and don’t want a pipe or hose constantly attached or having to mow around it.

One more fyi, we don’t currently have an RV—will be purchasing one in the next couple years but I’m pouring concrete now and wanting to plan ahead. Until we get the RV, the manhole lid will remain place, but once we get the RV it will be permanently open (attached to the RV sewer).

So I guess the follow-up questions I have are:

1. Is it possible to place my RV cleanout slightly UNDER the RV in the driveway for a permanent connection (if it’s parked over top) and just use a slinky hose to get from the RV to the recessed cleanout? It may have a very slight S turn under the RV but would be essentially straight down.

2. If I have a load bearing cover over my sewer connection (recessed in driveway), what kind of box or manhole cover should I use? I’m wondering if I can just use a non watertight box like the attached photo with soil around the pipe and let rain water drain into the soil. Or will it get yucky with leaked sewage etc. I could close off the bottom of the hold with concrete and an external drain if that’s a good idea.

I’m not trying to overthink, just exploring options and appreciate the advice.
yes, you can do it the way you describe, but what you are doing is a customized installation, which deviates from "normal", so its impossible for anyone to give you advice that will parallel with your thoughts.... you will just need to do it the way that you think it will work in the manner that you would like it to.....

but where the drain pipe comes up thru the roadbed, you will need to have the concrete at least 6inches thick around the pipe for about 16-18 radius around the pipe so that it will be strong enough to survive when it gets ran over.... or if you reinforce the concrete with mesh, 4 inches thick should work fine....

the thing about sewer dumps are, if they arent easy to get to and use, you will not be a happy camper when you have to dump the tanks, especially when there is a problem, which does happen....
 

SLO

Well-known member
How we do it in the plumbing trade. If it’s in a driveway, sewer access is around 5” below finished concrete slab. The sewer pipe is surrounded with sand, not native soil or concrete. Place a concrete box around pipe set to level of finished slab. Put a cast iron cover on box, not concrete cover. Cast iron covers are used in auto traffic areas. Under your trailer is fine, just not convenient.


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centerline

Well-known member
How we do it in the plumbing trade. If it’s in a driveway, sewer access is around 5” below finished concrete slab. The sewer pipe is surrounded with sand, not native soil or concrete. Place a concrete box around pipe set to level of finished slab. Put a cast iron cover on box, not concrete cover. Cast iron covers are used in auto traffic areas. Under your trailer is fine, just not confident.


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the plumbing trade in your area seem to work a bit different than in most places...

for a sewer drain, this method is an unsanitary way to make the installation..... the pipe HAS to be surrounded by concrete, otherwise any spills will leach into the sand and cause a perpetual mess....

if you work for the city or state, the employees can and usually do have to deal with unsanitary conditions, OR, a homeowner may be ok dealing with it, but for a clean, sanitary installation that wont give problems in the future, the "drain zone" needs to be sealed so it can be cleaned up thoroughly in the event of a spill...
 
Thanks for the great advice.

I had one plumbing store suggest using something similar to this... I'm thinking it could work for my purposes, putting sand in bottom with my cleanout and possible hose bib protruding for flushing attachment.

I know concrete sealed would be better for the bottom of the hole, but the cleanout would be permanently attached and I could use the flush to clean somewhat before I detached.

The one thing I'm wondering if the metal collar will expand and contract with temperature and cause a problem with the concrete. We're in SC so don't have too extreme temps (RARELY in teens or single digits and then just temporary). I know that’s not an “RV” question per se but just trying to figure out my plan.

Anyway, appreciate the great advice on this forum and open to any thoughts or cautions.

 

david-steph2018

Well-known member
Thanks for the great advice.

I had one plumbing store suggest using something similar to this... I'm thinking it could work for my purposes, putting sand in bottom with my cleanout and possible hose bib protruding for flushing attachment.

I know concrete sealed would be better for the bottom of the hole, but the cleanout would be permanently attached and I could use the flush to clean somewhat before I detached.

The one thing I'm wondering if the metal collar will expand and contract with temperature and cause a problem with the concrete. We're in SC so don't have too extreme temps (RARELY in teens or single digits and then just temporary). I know that’s not an “RV” question per se but just trying to figure out my plan.

Anyway, appreciate the great advice on this forum and open to any thoughts or cautions.

When you drive down the road, the manhole covers are made of steel. Water cutoffs used by the city are made of steel or the same thing you are looking at to install. So, if you have questions, why not ask the city street/water department about it. At the campground, where we used to be a seasonal, in Ohio, these are out in the roads for water cutoff valves. Never seen any issues while I was there for 18+years.
 
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