skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
Before doing too much exotic stuff to retrieve it I'd fill the tank with clean water (as much as possible) and simply drain it and see what happens. Since it will be floating it will likely be one of the last things to come out but there's a good chance it WILL come out.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
alexpinca
San Diego
Full Member
Joined: 05/26/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
Update: No luck, I didn't try the toilet route because the drop isn't straight. That left only trying the bucket route...it didn't work. It is still in there but the way the tank is draining, I sure don't sense a clog but then right now, it is primarily liquid without solids. The tank has a 90 degree coming out of the tank and then another 90 to the outlet...with just a little bit of luck, I thought the bottle was short enough to make those turns, but so far nothing. But the way the bottle is full, so doubt that it will float.
|
Texas Two Steppers
Beaumont, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 03/30/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
If gate valve is next to tank, break is loose there.
2013 Duramax 3500 dually 4x4
2013 Excel Winslow 31RSE
TST tire monitor
Magnum MS 2012 inverter/charger
3-135w solar panels
Tristar controller
Trimetric monitor
4-6v Trojan t105 batteries
B & W companion 3000 hitch
|
Popsie
Livingston, TX, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/04/2003
View Profile
|
If you have reasonable access to the outside or bottom of the tank, you can always cut a big hole and patch it after you extract your bottle.
I would pay an RV repair place to do this job rather than taking it on myself (I have built fiberglass boats, so I'm sure I could do it -- but I just wouldn't want to).
|
Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/20/2009
View Profile
|
Sometimes the cut out disc for vent/drain lines do not get removed during installation.
They are just a thin disc BUT do end up clogging tank outlet.
Your bottle will eventually get stuck in tank outlet/drain line/drain valve......Murphy's Law.
Maybe not right away BUT eventually.....and probably when the tank is FULL of stuff........Murphy's Law
It really does need to be removed.
You say you don't have a straight drop into tank......are you sure bottle made it down into tank and is not still in line from toilet?
Fill that tank up until water comes back up into toilet and see if bottle comes up.
Otherwise you will need to access bottom of tank.
Hopefully you have easy access to tank, piping & drain valve.
After emptying tank I would first remove drain valve and attempt to get bottle out that way.
If valve is not close to tank then you will have to remove drain line if not glued into tank (some use a rubber gasket/flange)
Or cut drain line just before first elbow then use a glue coupler to connect cut line after removing bottle.
2007 RAM 3500 QC LB SRW 5.9L CTD 48re 4:10 4K in bed 'quiet genny'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
Hit the Road Free & Clear April '07
|
|
|
Kiwi_too
Western, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/13/2003
View Profile
|
First, go to the feed store or vet and get some shoulder length rubber gloves.
May God bless your travels
Me, The Wonderful Wife 
and two Spastic Border Collies 
U.S. Army Retired 
2004 Coachmen Aurora, 3480DS
2007 Saturn Outlook, FROG
|
J Walker
Oakton, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
If the bottle got through the bend in the pipe from the toilet it probably will go through the bend in the pipe going to the drain. The chance that it is hung up in the bend from the toilet should be considered. Maybe an extension mirror could resolve that. If it is there there are some things you could do to retrieve it.
Jim Walker
2000 34' Damon Ultrasport DP
2009 Malibu
Brake Buddy
|
alexpinca
San Diego
Full Member
Joined: 05/26/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Not certain but my bet right now is that the bottle (which is full) is sitting near the outlet pipe....I ran a hose into the toilet to try to force it toward the outlet pipe. I have a flush king so if it gets stuck in the outlet pipe, I can probably force it back into the tank...when I get to my distination, I can probably play cat-and-mouse with it by forcing water into the tank and draining repeatedly...if I get a little good luck....maybe.
|
randrx2
Newport News, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/26/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
The 90 degrees you describe should be "sweep" 90s and not hard 90s. This is a requirement in drainage systems. The bottle should get through.
How about a picture of a similar bottle? Or dimensions?
You could fill the tank until the water starts coming up the pipe, then just wait until the bottle comes floating up (the filling of the tank will cause residual currents). You could also move the tank by walking around and rocking the trailer a bit.
When someone says, "I'm not book smart, I'm street smart." All I hear is, "I'm not real smart, I'm imaginary smart."
|
alexpinca
San Diego
Full Member
Joined: 05/26/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
The bottle is the Campa-Chem deodorant chemical commonly used by rv'ers. It is a white bottle, 2" in diameter and 5.75 inches tall. (it is full) You're right...the turns look like they could possibly allow the bottle through...but its close.
http://compare.ebay.com/like/270958347892?var=lv
* This post was
edited 04/25/12 04:03pm by alexpinca *
|
|
|
