My Mods: Permanent Gate Valve added at Sewer Outlet
While I don't have leaky gate valves on any of my tanks, sometimes, I believe some "material" is held/trapped in a low spot between the valves at the output of my tanks to the combined sewer outlet on the side of the coach.
Many RVers will add a Valterra brand (or similar) gate valve at the sewer outlet. The traditional coupler is what is called a "Bayonet Coupler". This interface is "okay" but not amazing. Have you ever had to "hump the stinky slinky" and had your sewer hose spin off the sewer outlet? Yuck - been there, done that - twice!
As many know, since 2008, I've been using the Waste Master sewer hose with it's associated "Cam-Lock" fitting system. So on my coach, I don't have the bayonet barbs and sewer cap. I sawed off those 4 barbs, discarded that cap and glued on the 3" slip to female Cam-Lock adapter with plug.
Today, I added a gate valve behind the sewer outlet. I went with a Valterra (7301 -
Valterra site link /
Amazon.com link $22.11) 3" Slip x 3" Slip ABS Gate Valve with Plastic Paddle and Plastic Handle.
I've been told by another gate valve manufacturer that gate valves work best, long-term when the blade is oriented vertically where when open, the blade goes straight up and when closed, the blade goes straight down - guillotine-like. As such, I oriented mine this way. It doesn't show well in the images below, but I have enough space above the valve handle to easily open it fully and still have my hand on top of it.
No more dirty water surprises for me!
Here's the "before" picture showing the Cam-Lock adapter and plug that is on my coach permanently.
Here's the new Valve and Tools/Supplies I used for the install.
Here are some close-up pictures of the Valve. I blanked out the lablel on the first picture as the seller on Amazon mislabeled this item as 7301M instead of what I was shipped - a 7301. The M means Metal handle. Oh well...
Here I've marked the center point with a paint pen at various points around an existing straight section of 3" ABS pipe, I've scored around it with a saw and then I roughed the surface up with emory cloth.
After pictures.