Posted 2010-11-08 2:45 PM (#126815) Subject: Installing a bathroom in LQ
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: Ohio
Hey everyone,
I am looking for tips on how to install a bathroom in my LQ trailer. It has a 15' box LQ and a 3' mid tack accessible only from the horse area. It's current set up is a 50 gallon barrel water tank, water pump, sink, and cowboy shower (1st stall) that I hook up to an On-demand propane water heater.
Today I picked up a 45 gallon fresh water tank and 2 37 gallon tanks (one for gray, one for black) an additional pump, sensors, valves, info panel, and thetford RV toilet.
My plan is to put in a fully functioning bathroom/mudroom in the midtack area and make a hall or doorway to the LQ area. I plan on continuing to use the on demand hot water heater for the shower and permanently mounting it w/ a vent. Not worried about hot water at the sink. My main questions are as follows:
1) Does it matter which side of the trailer the dump valves are on?
2) If someone could re-do theirs, what are some things they would change to improve it? Not talking size or storage, but more tank systems, dumping, ease of use, etc.
3) How do I go about mounting the tanks? Angle Iron? Steel straps? ??
4) I know the vent for the black tank is important, but is it a must for the other tanks?
5) How does the black tank get fully rinsed out?
I'm pretty handy and understand the general idea of this, but it always helps to get tips and ideas from the people who have done this before!
Posted 2010-11-09 8:03 AM (#126848 - in reply to #126815) Subject: RE: Installing a bathroom in LQ
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: Ohio
Thank you for the above links.
What is the diameter of the hole for the toilet?
Does it matter if there is piping <5' off the black tank to the dump valve? Ex. If I need to put the toilet on the opposite side as the dump valve, can I simply put a connection pipe between them or does the dump valve have to come directly off the tank?
Thanks again. Please keep the suggestions coming! :) I'm really excited to embark on this project..stinks that I couldn't have done it sooner so it wasn't cold.
Posted 2010-11-09 8:05 AM (#126850 - in reply to #126815) Subject: RE: Installing a bathroom in LQ
Location: Central Arkansas
Dump valves should be on the drivers side. 99.9% of all dump stations and sewer hookups are on that side. If, you can only install them on the passenger side, then you will need alot of extra sewer hose and a extra person every time you dump your tanks!
I love the new style troughs where you don't even have to use a sewer hose! I will drag a full sewer tank halfway around the world to use one! Just uncap, pull the lever, and jump back!
Posted 2010-11-09 8:48 AM (#126852 - in reply to #126815) Subject: RE: Installing a bathroom in LQ
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: Ohio
Thanks Brushy Creek! After doing more reading, that's the general rule, so I will do what I have to to make that happen. This "dumping tanks" is new to me. I've never done it before.
Would it be worth the extra work to make a seperate pipe and valve from the gray tank to the black tank to "flush" the black while dumping? But also having the seperate gray dump valve incase it gets full and would need to dump some of the gray while at camp?
Any mounting recommendations for tanks, pipes, and valves? straps? angle iron? Some pictures would really help...
Posted 2010-11-10 11:44 AM (#126904 - in reply to #126815) Subject: RE: Installing a bathroom in LQ
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: Ohio
Went to the local Lowes and Home Depot to start putting together some prices and parts I am going to need only to find out that they don't carry black ABS piping.
Question: Does it matter if it is black, white, gray, green, purple?
PVC vs. ABS? Does thicker = better?
I know gray is sunlight resistant.
If black is a MUST where can i get long (er) sections of it?