Holding Tank Location

[RandomAbstract]

I am thinking of doing a cargo trailer conversion with a bathroom. Where are the black and gray water tanks typically located? Are they normally positioned below the floor between the frame members? If so, how tall would you recommend? If not, do they go above the floor and elevate the toilet and shower?

Also, I presume that the three water tanks should be located close to the axle. Is that true or does it matter?

[dales133]

It wouldn't matter where they are located hight wise as long as they are lower than the outlets obviously.
Closer to the axles probably better if your weights pretty evenly distributed and if you need to travel far to empty them otherwise I don't see it matter.just put them where they best fit

[hankaye]

RandomAbstract, Howdy;

The best place for a Black tank (commode), is directly under the commode.
For obvious reasons it will end up, when full, weighting more than a full gray
tank of the same size. For that reason alone I would (personal choice), locate
it aft of any gray tank.

hank

[aztrooper]

I stewed over that for a couple weeks and then decided on this arrangement.

[abqlloyd]

I've seen newer commercial RV's using the portables now.

[RandomAbstract]

Interesting. So, a couple of questions.

• What do you do if you need to pee (or otherwise) in transit?
• Where do you store the "precious cargo" while traveling?

[lrrowe]

Me, I would look for the regular spots to stop at....rest stops, gas stops, MacDonald's etc. That may be the same thing all these big rigs think when you see them at these stops (well, maybe not the fast food joints b/c of space). Why fill up your tanks anymore then need be?

[abqlloyd]

The one I saw had a toilet with a small holding tank for use underway. I think it was Keystone toy hauler.

[abqlloyd]

I've got the Thetford Curve and it served me well on a 2000 mile trip in December. If you're driving, you're stopping for gas. If you're boon docking in the middle of nowhere, well then there's nobody around :grin:

[CoventryKid]

We carry a simple porta-pottie (http://www.cabelas.ca/product/3037/hassock-portable-chemical-toilet with us in our van, soon to be used in our CT. Happiness is a wife who does not have to use public facilities!!

[bc toys]

Doug do you like that port a potty I need a different kind then the one the lid just snaps (don't snap) on the bucket

[CoventryKid]

Bctoys:

Simple answer - yes! We have used it for a couple of years. We keep it in the van so it's ready to be used whenever. Just make sure seat is in place and away you go (pun intended!). Very handy and as I indicated, my wife appreciates NOT having to use public facilities.

When we drove across Canada last fall (23 days on the road), we emptied it each morning before we left the campsite. Suggestion: add a "splash" of Dettol to keep it smelling nice!

Hope this helps!

[RandomAbstract]

We carry a simple porta-pottie (http://www.cabelas.ca/product/3037/hassock-portable-chemical-toilet with us in our van, soon to be used in our CT. Happiness is a wife who does not have to use public facilities!!

So true! This is mostly about wife happiness. We carry a porta-potti and privacy tent with our teardrop trailer. It is mainly for late nights visits. For some reason she thinks that the privacy tent will protect her from grizzly bear more so than a tree.

Speaking of a happy wife, I would probably living in your neck of the woods except her kids and grandkids are here. She loves the ocean. I love the mountains. So we live in Minnesota. Hmmmmm.

[RandomAbstract]

Thanks to this forum, I discovered a cassette toilet. http://www.thetford.com/Home/Products/P ... fault.aspx. That is pretty interesting. One step up from a portable?

[Mike S]

We also use a Thetford Curve and really like it (love would be a strong word for a porta potty) But it's great.

But back to the tank discussion; Our 7x14 has axles in a position pretty far aft for my liking. If I'm not careful with the build, I'm worried that we'll end up with too high of a tongue weight. My observation of other trailers on this forum is that most of them look tongue-heavy, so maybe its not a big deal. But I'm going for maximum towability so my goal is a 15% tongue weight.

To help keep the tongue weight manageable I've taken an unusual approach and put my fresh and grey water tanks slightly behind the rear axle. The fresh water tank is 33 gallons and grey tank is 12 gallons. This equals about 270 lbs with the fresh tank full and grey empty. So I think this will balance the load and lighten up the tongue a bit without it being too light. How do I know? Well the weight is about the same weight as my dog and I combined. We all sleep in the back of the trailer with no appreciable change in the tongue height when its hooked to the truck....I had my wife check it.

I'm too lazy to weigh everything and measure the positions of everything in the trailer to do the actual calculations to give me 10-15% tongue weight. But I think my guess work will work out fine.

Anyone else have rear tanks?