Opinions on macerator pumps and dump stations

[oldmansax]

I need advice/opinions. We travel a lot to relatives homes and there are no dump stations. What the story on macerator pumps? Anybody use them? Do they work well? Worth the money? How about just dumping at camp grounds? Has anybody just pulled into a campground and asked to dump? Do they charge? Are they mad you are not staying the night?

Thanks for the input!

[captain ron]

Macerator pumps are the sh!t  (sorry couldn't resist) Really they are nice to have. just make sure nobody puts female products in the toilet. Also the boat models are better, heavier duty. you can dump your waste tank through a water hose. BUT BE SURE NOT TO EVER MIX UP THAT HOSE WITH THE FRESH WATER HOSE

[Stan]

I have used macerator pumps, both permanently installed and portable. The simplest system is a 3" pump that you put on the end of your dump hose and pump though a small hose. They are very slow on a garden hose and 1" hose is a lot better.

Biggest problem is the rubber impeller sticking and tearing apart when you start the pump. In a permanent installation it stays wet and doesn't have the sticking problem. For a permanent installation a 1 1/2" pump  can be mounted in parallel with the dump valve so it is an either/or arrangement.

[gus]

Stan,

Why was yours on the hose? I thought the portable ones hooked on just after the dump valve?

Would storing the pump with water in it keep it from sticking?

I'm about ready to try the portable because I'm really tired of messing with that big floppy 3" hose. I haven't had a disaster with it yet but I always have the feeling that a disaster is just around the corner.

[TomC]

Granted the macerator pump comes in handy for certain types of dumping situations.  But in the 12 years I had my full facility truck and now with my bus, I haven't yet to feel I needed the macerator pump.  One of the nice luxuries we have is the weight carrying capacity (with all my stuff on board, I'm still 5000lb from max gvw).  Personally, when I visit a friend for several days, I just make sure to hit a dump before getting there.  With my 85gal gray, 45 gal black and 130gal fresh, I'm easily set for a week.
Driving my big rig truck, I had to dump the black tank once a week.  Alot of highway rest areas have free dumps, Flying J truck stops have free dumps, and sometimes I even went to RV parks to dump.  That usually was anywhere from free to $10.00.  Unless they are very crowded, I haven't run into problems with them scorning at me for using the dump without staying there.  Good Luck, TomC

[busguy01]

Due to a ground clearance problem on my eagle01 I went to a dual pump set up and have been very happy with it. I piped out of the tank to a shut off valve to the pump, then to a shut off valve near dump pipe outlet. Did both this way to a common outlet. Placed a center off switch nearby. To dump I use a 1" hjose (about 20 feet long) with a mating quick coupler on the outlet. Turn on the respective valve and turn on the switch. Dumos the black tank into 3 minutes and the gray tank in about 5. Keeps my hands clean! I roll up the hose and quick clamp it to itself so no smell and small storage area. I can run the hose anywhere includeing UNDER the bus to the other side to dump if it is convenient. Makes life easy. With an extension hose you could dump many, many feet away. Use Marine pumps!!! The newer ones have metal choppers and impellors that will not let you down. The only problem has been with female products in the system!!!
Just my way - your milage my vary
JimH

[Stan]

gusc: busguy01 gives a very good explanation for a permanent installation. Keeping the pump wet will keep the impeller from sticking to the housing. The Jabsco (there may be other manufacturers) pump comes as a marine unit with standard ABS 1 1/2" inlet fitting that you glue into your plumbing system. The RV unit comes with a 3" inlet that a RV dump hose fits over. It may be the same size as ABS 3", I just never had a reason to try it. For that reason I used a short dump hose to connect the dump valve to the pump as a portable unit.  I would not make a permanent installation directly to the dump valve in case of a pump failure, you would not have an alternate means of dumping.

Maybe tom has the right answer. Don't stay with a friend any longer than the capacity of your tanks. You might wear out your welcome.

[oldmansax]

Just to clarify, I have not found any dump stations at all along the route I usually take to see my relatives. There are a couple of camp grounds but I haven't looked at them yet. I have 100 fresh, 50 grey and 50 black but with no way to dump, they are full after a couple of trips. I have been dumping my grey in the ditch at home (way out in the county) but that still leaves the black. I could pump into my septic system with a pump setup. The only truck stops are about 40 miles one way off route.

I like the dual piping setup. Had not thought of that.


BTW, I am staying at my kids places. They lived with me for 18+ years so I figure I have a lot of time before I catch up! 

[sommersed]

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned http://www.phrannie.org/macerator.html for all the good info avail on the subject.

Ed

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

Most homes will have a 4" cleanout that you can dump a macerator into... if you can find it. Or go through one of the windows and into a toilet or sink (yes... really. Just don't tell 'em what it is!  ). And yes, you can dump the macerator into your septic system, no problem. Having a macerator and 50' of 1" hose will guarantee that you can dump just about anywhere you can find a sink/ toilet.

We're going to rig up a macerator in order to dump at home. There's a 4" cleanout near our front porch, about 20' from the driveway. Usually on the way back from a trip we have to find a rest stop dump station that's a few hours from home... and the kids get ancy "holding it" the rest of the way, and foul the black tank before we make it back. A macerator would mean we could avoid that whole stop... and any other "dump stop" on the trip.

HTH,
Brian B.

[gus]

Camping World has a portable that fits right onto the dump station just like a hose and discharges through a 1" hose. I like this setup because it leaves the present system intact. The only downside is the $260 (I think) price but I'm beginning to think it is worth it, especially when I have to dump on the opposite side.

[DrivingMissLazy]

Most homes will have a 4" cleanout that you can dump a macerator into... if you can find it. Or go through one of the windows and into a toilet or sink (yes... really. Just don't tell 'em what it is!  ). And yes, you can dump the macerator into your septic system, no problem. Having a macerator and 50' of 1" hose will guarantee that you can dump just about anywhere you can find a sink/ toilet.

We're going to rig up a macerator in order to dump at home. There's a 4" cleanout near our front porch, about 20' from the driveway. Usually on the way back from a trip we have to find a rest stop dump station that's a few hours from home... and the kids get ancy "holding it" the rest of the way, and foul the black tank before we make it back. A macerator would mean we could avoid that whole stop... and any other "dump stop" on the trip.

HTH,
Brian B.

Brian, why worry about a little left in the black tank. It is not going anywhere and will do no damage. I have had it sit for several months without any problem. Just dump as soon as you get to a dump station on your way out.
Richard

[jjrbus]

 On the free end of the motor shaft on all the macerator pumps I have seen there is a slot for a screwdriver. I have my pump permentally mounted but still give the pump a couple of turns with this befor turning on. It is also there in case something gets stuck, you can try working it out with this feature. I carry 50 ft of 1 inch hose and some 1 inch PVC pipe with some fittings. If worse comes to worse you can pump into a tractor bucket, drywall bucket,  50 gal drum, ex wifes car ect.

[Dale MC8]

I am a fan of macerators myself, but other dump stations you might find on your travels are U-Haul lots. At least in SoCal, the ones I've been to have dump stations and DO charge you. The Govt campgrounds also have 'dump only' fees, but you can pay only when they are open. Just FYI
Dale

[gus]

I never completely empty the black tank or wash it out for the simple reason that when you do that you are getting rid of the beneficial microbes that eat and convert the solid waste. They change the waste to much less yucky stuff to not too bad waste water.

This never works as well in an RV because it gets sloshed around a lot but in your home septic tank is that the waste becomes water that drains out the drain field and it doesn't really smell so bad.

Cleaning out the tank destroys all these useful little guys.