7'*18' V-Nose Cargo Trailer Toy Hauler Conversion

[flboy]

Don,
How high of the ground is your trailer?

I'll measure tomorrow and let you know... What point do you want me to measure from (Frame, Floorbpards, etc.)?

I know it is too low for me. I have drop axles... and I am going to put the springs on top to give me more clearance. I want to go camping a few times before I do that so I can tell the difference in handling.

[flboy]

I got the Shower and Front Sink drain lines into the gray water tank. I also have the hole cut for the tank vent and the Bathroom Vanity which I'll hook up tomorrow. I need to get a few fittings from Home Depot. I'll take the final pic when all done.

The pictures kinda show how I made the connections. I really had to think how I wanted to do this and the lines needed to enter at floor level.

I also need to think of some way to seal the hole up in the floor around the plumbing and I don't want to blow in expanding foam as I may need to get back in there for repairs or etc.. I'l have to sleep on that.

[Hader]

Don,
From the frame down please.

I just started my build, and as you are ahead of me, I would like to be able to compare mine with yours when it come to the Black & Grey tanks. I been following your build and hope to learn more from you.
My build: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67319

[flboy]

Don,
From the frame down please.

I just started my build, and as you are ahead of me, I would like to be able to compare mine with yours when it come to the Black & Grey tanks. I been following your build and hope to learn more from you.
My build: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=67319

Hader, My frame is about 13" off the ground whereas my Axle is 7". No problem for the highway or a level dirt road, but I'll have trouble with ruts... I plan to flip my axles to get 6" more. we'll see. My trailer will never be an "off road trailer, but I'll like to be able to get down dirt roads with a few small ruts and dips.

[Hader]

Thanks Don you been very helpfull.

That's about how high mine is.

"My trailer will never be an "off road trailer, but I'll like to be able to get down dirt roads with a few small ruts and dips." ... Same here.

I will be watching when you do the axle flip! 6" is too much for me, but I can live with 2" or 3".

[flboy]

Hader, It may only be that a few inches on the flip.. I haven't really measure that out yet.. I have the drop axle instead of a straight axle, so it is lower by a few inches due to that.

I was pulling the trailer away from the house today where I had it stowed for the Hurricane. I also have to be able to get the motorcycles in to start measuring for the tire chocks. Can't wait until it is hooked up for a trip!

[Hader]

WOW Don!

Nice looking combination of rig & trailer. make that 2

[McDave]

That is a sexy, sexy rig. Inside and out. All, very well done. ... ..

Nice job Don!

McDave

[flboy]

Thanks Hader and McDave. It is not quite done yet.. but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[flboy]

I switched things around a bit for a better fit. I tested all the drains and found two problems. 1) leaks at the barbed hose fittings and 2) gurgling noises in the bathroom plumbing.

I fixed the leaks by wrapping the connector barbs with a few layers of black electrical tape. That was just enough for a snugger fit and something to compress for a tighter seal. I used the 1 and 1/4 inch flex hose which works great, but the are not a lot of options for connections that I could find.. so I improvised.

The gurgling, I think, is because I need a vent/air admittance valve by the trap under the vanity sink... which I may be able to get away without if I get the front kitchen sink line leveled out with no dips and air could draw from the air admittance valve there more easily.. I think air is being blocked by water staying in some dips like a trap.. I'll try that first and then the additional air admittance valve/vent under the vanity.

I also found that if I put a few gallons of water in the sink and opened the drain, water would back into the shower very slightly. I am assuming that is because all that water at once cannot all get down the smaller pipes into the tank fast enough and backs up some.... it does quickly drain out however. I am not sure what I can do about that other than not drain the front sinks so fast with all that water. In reality, they will only be a small stream of water unless I was to fill the sink for dishes.

I'll make a new (removable) bottom for the vanity than will cover the bottom I cut out to access the plumbing.



This is the type of barbed connectors I used. Not sure what else I could have used?

[m.colley]

Hey Don,
I used a air vent that T's off the sink to allow the sink drain to drain. Its just a spring loaded air vent. I ran my sink drain in 1-1/2" ABS though. No gurgling in mine and no problems with slow drain.

It looks like yours in coming along nicely. Keep it up, your almost done.


Martin

[flboy]

Hey Don,
I used a air vent that T's off the sink to allow the sink drain to drain. Its just a spring loaded air vent. I ran my sink drain in 1-1/2" ABS though. No gurgling in mine and no problems with slow drain.

It looks like yours in coming along nicely. Keep it up, your almost done.


Martin

Hi Martin, I believe a vent off the Vanity Sink will solve the gurgling problem.... I was trying to get away without putting that vent on, but may not be able to avoid it.

I used ABS on the sinks and traps... but I am using flex hose for the drain lines to make it easier to install/route. In particular, the front sink is running about 7ft through the front cabinet, water heater, under the shower, and has a few corners and odd angles to go around. I used flex on the shower and the vanity sink also for ease and to connect at a common point. Not really a great idea for large volumes of water the way I have joined them, but I think for the camper it will work fine once I work out the "kinks". Dumping a few gallons down all at once will not be the typical usage at all. Typical will be a small trickle given the volume from the Pex piping and water saving faucets.

[McDave]

Help me out here Don. I'm not sure what I'm looking at, but here's what I see. 1.25 looks to be vertical, so I'm sayin sink drain. Kitchen or vanity?
I see the tee with 2 elbows, looks like it is attached to a spud that goes into tank.
I see 1.25 horizontal, assume that's the shower.
I see black 1"? flex, the other sink?
What the heck is that white cap looking affair to the right of the drains?
And, while I'm asking stupid questions, I assume there is a vent pipe to roof that I don't see?



McDave

PS. You may need a diverter tee at the sink 1.25 to shower 1.25

[flboy]

Hi McDave... I know this plumbing drain system is non-standard.. trying to make things fit in the space neatly so it can be concealed.

Help me out here Don. I'm not sure what I'm looking at, but here's what I see. 1.25 looks to be vertical, so I'm sayin sink drain. Kitchen or vanity? Vanity... connects to a trap you can't see above. I may just use 1.25 Inch pipe and connect up directly if I cannot get the vent and gurgling issue resolved... no reason I can't get another rubber grommet fitting at 1.25" for the tank and there is room there for that if needed
I see the tee with 2 elbows, looks like it is attached to a spud that goes into tank. Yes.. this is where the drains converge and go into the gray water tank.
I see 1.25 horizontal, assume that's the shower.Kitchen Sink... runs to a trap... pic below
I see black 1"? flex, the other sink? Shower... I have a low profile trap and drain which was made for this hose. See pic below
What the heck is that white cap looking affair to the right of the drains? That is actually a tank vent needed when draining the tank. I may raise that up with some pipe higher in the vanity. I just have it setting there now
And, while I'm asking stupid questions, I assume there is a vent pipe to roof that I don't see?No Vent pipe on roof. If I regret that later, I'll plumb over and tap into the Black Water stack behind the toilet. The only downside of the internal vent may be odor... but I have heard two camps on that... since it will be 95% for showers and washing up in the sink...I am not expecting an issue... we'll see.. may be one of those "live and learn" things.


Pic of the shower drain used:

Drain.JPG (31.89 KiB) Viewed 2462 times

Picture of the Kitchen sink Drain hose connection.

[McDave]

Wow, thats some nice looking plumbing. So, I see air admittance valves, which work great to let air in to replace the water volume when draining tank, and should be odour proof. But, and you know where I'm going with this, Ya gotta let the air out as water displaces that volume when draining sink, shower etc. and filling tank. Also, that gives the funk somewhere to go as tank fills or heats up. That will probably solve shower issue as well. (path of least resistance) So, yeah. Just tap into the black vent and should be good. I'm not even sure it would take 1" or 1.25... just relieving the pressure with like 5/8 could be enough. You wont be filling at more than 3 gpm .
Is the vent under sink able to pass gas in both directions? That doesn't sound right. You can't have a beautiful stinky trailer.
All that awesome craftsmanship won't mean a whole lot if you got a funky bunk. You can't blame everything on the K9, you may need to use that excuse in an "emergency". Just sayin'...

McDave

Oh yeah,... Hepvo....