Re: [VAL] Pre 65 thetfold valve

["Fred Coldwell" <agrijeep@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Rics:

    Been there, dumped that.

    Like Shari, I also have a 1964 19' Globe Trotter with the same
obsolete Thetford dump valve you both have.  I made a simple extension
attachment that solves the problem.

    At Home Depot, in the pipe repair section of the plumbing
department, I bought a ~4" long section of flexible rubber repair pipe 
that has a 3-1/2" inside diameter (ID) and a bulge in the centermost 2 
inches, like a raised donut.  These rubber pipe sections are used for 
temporary repairs to broken cast iron pipes, among other things.  They 
have a 3/4" or so bordered area at each end for very large hose clamps 
that tighten the rubber repair pipe to the broken pipe it slides over.

     Go to the service department of a large RV dealer and ask to look 
through their selection of plastic pipe parts and sections they use to 
repair various RV plumbing problems.  You will likely not see what I 
describe below on the retail shelves of RV dealers.  You got to get into 
the "back room" to find them.

    Buy the shortest, tightest, smallest section of hard black plastic 
pipe that has a 90 degree sweep ell (continuous curve 90 degree bend) 
and a 3-1/2" outside diameter (OD) and a 3" inside diameter.  One end 
will be plain and the other end and have a raised collar into which 
other hard black plastic pipe section is inserted and cemented in place.

    Buy a short straight section of black hard plastic pipe that has 4 
exterior lugs for connecting a modern sewer hose.  It too will have a 
3-1/2" OD and 3" ID.  We'll cut this later.

    Put one end of the 4" long rubber repair pipe connector over your 
old thetford drain coming from the black water tank.  The raised tapered 
plastic "keepers" on the old Thetford drain pipe will fit inside the 
raised donut on the rubber repair pipe when it's properly installed. 
There is enough room forward of the raised donut, on the tank side, for 
the large pipe clamp, which you tighten securely.

   Slip the plain end of the hard plastic 90 degree ell into the rubber 
repair section.  It should go in far enough in so the collar end can be 
swung down through the bottom door in your rear bumper storage area and 
come out at a 45 degree angle towards the street side.  Insert the new 
hard black plastic end fitting into the ell and measure how much of the 
straight section of the end fitting you will have to cut off to allow it 
to swing up through the bottom door and into the rear bumper for storage 
when traveling.  Cut it, dry fit it, and make sure everything clears and 
fits.  Only after you have double checked all cuts and measurements, 
cement the cut-off end of the 4 tabbed end fitting into the collar of 
the sweep ell.

    This ell with as new end fitting is stored inside your rear bumper 
storage area for travel.  To use, loosen the rearmost hose clamp on the 
rubber section, swing down the hard plastic sweep ell toward the sewer 
fitting in the ground, and retighten the hose clamp.  Attach the sewer 
hose to the end fitting and you're good to go.

    I'll take some photos and upload them later today so you can better
see what I'm talking about.   It's hard to describe in words.

Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO.
WBCCI #1510