Bighorn - sewer clog problem

[antiquenut]

Hi. I have a 2010 Bighorn 3670rl that has a clogged sewer line. I ran a plastic rigid hose about 1/4" diameter but had a larger nut on the end thru toilet into the pipe to try and unplug. At the time could see toilet paper. I pushed just a little at a time and kept pulling my push hose back up and it seemed to be pushing stuff thru. I got past the toilet about 2 feet and now I can't get the push hose back out. It has seemed to went past a valve or something as it will still push down, but hits solid when I try to pull it back out. How can I get this out and unplug the line as it is still plugged. Need help asap as we just started out as full timer's and this is our only home now. Thank you

 

[jimtoo]

Hi antiquenut,

Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum and to the family. We have a great bunch of folks here with lots of information and all willing to share their knowledge when needed.

I think on that unit you have a couple of 45* bends from the toilet down before it drops into tank. There should be no valves after the toilet. If your hose is rigid then it is pushing against the side of the pipe causing the nut to hang on the cut end of pipe. Sounds like you may have not been using enough water or had left the drain valve open to the black tank to cause the solids buildup in your tank. Maybe after a while of twisting, pulling and jerking, it will come out.

Moving thread to better area also.

Let us know how it goes.

Jim M

 

[ziggy]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry I cant give you any better advice than Jim has, but I can encourage you to use this forum to your greatest advantage and consider joining the club and attending rallies and campouts. There is no better source of help and information than this group of people and we like to have fun too.

Kristy

 

[antiquenut]

Hi Jim and thanks for your response. The hose isn't totally rigid as it does flex. It is just stiff. The owners manual says all units have a P-trap to keep odors from coming up. When I try to pull it back out you can hear it hit solid and stop. Is it possible it went thru the P-trap? If so, any idea how I can get it out? Nothing like learning the hard way.
Thank you again
Shawn

 

[TandT]

You can try one of these. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/flush-king/20522

Your local RV supply store or dealer should have them, or sell something similar. Hope it helps.

Worst case scenario, you can haul your rig to the dealer, or call a mobile RV repair. I have seen situations where the tank had to be removed from the rig to be flushed. If solids are extremely bad, the tank just might have to be replaced. Trace

 

[antiquenut]

Thanks for your reply. The problem isn't solids. Just emptied 2 days ago and it was empty. I could see toilet paper in the pipe when I first started. I was pushing it down when my pushrod won't come back out.
Shawn

 

[JohnDar]

On the 3670, it's a fairly straight drop from toilet to tank. The pipe elbows are more like 60*. If you got 2 feet past the toilet, then you are at the top of the tank and probably hung up on the end of the pipe. Try wiggling your plastic hose violently while pushing down slightly then pulling up. You might pull it free.

When you opened the dump valve, did anything come out?

Better than a piece of plastic hose to ream it, try a section of 4 or 6-gauge electrical cable wire a few feet long.

 

[antiquenut]

Thank you everyone. Tried the violent wiggling like John suggested, and got it loose. The clog is also gone. My wife is happy again. She has a working toilet. Happy wife.happy life.
Shawn

 

[Birchwood]

Try running a dowel through your "plastic rigid hose".You may have to cut the hose.

 

[MTPockets]

You probably already know this, but always leave dump valve closed and use plenty of water until nearly full, then dump and use flush system if you have it. I've had occasional blockage while dumping, but keep the flush going and it always starts flowing again. Welcome to full time.

 

[wdk450]

I would also strongly suggest giving the "Happy Camper" toilet chemicals a try. I am just beginning with them, but I was really impressed when I observed the dump out of my 2 grey tanks (through the clear dump connection adapter) which I had given 2 scoops each of the powder, then filled until they backed up into their respective sink/shower, and let sit overnight before dumping. These 45 gallon tanks that were all fresh water fill, had draining water sections where the water was BLACK! That means to me that the residues on the sides of the tanks were cleaned off.

I started using Happy Camper after recommendations on this and other RV forums, because I believe I have an air leak in my toilet vent pipe which gives me "toilet" smells occasionally; especially when I run the roof fantastic fans, which cause a negative air pressure in the rig, and draw these odors out from behind the wall. Happy Camper guarantees no toilet smells, as the waste decomposition with their product produces odorless Nitrogen, not smelly sulfur gasses like all other toilet chemicals. So far, I have noticed no toilet smells, and I do not have to tear a wall apart for a minor annoyance. The only problem I have with Happy Camper is that you cannot buy it in stores (that I know of), just from their website ( https://www.5starhappycamper.com ), or on Amazon.com .