| Author | Message | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay) (208.34.240.68)
Rating: |
__. A question about real life. I'm doing the basic planning for layout of the blackwater tank on my bus. It appears that a dump valve outlet would work better for me on the right-hand side of the bus body but I've seen that most dump areas at truck stops and camp grounds are on the left side. Is this true? How does this work in real life? Thanks, Bruce Henderson, Wallace NC | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (67.136.241.239)
Rating: N/A |
Usually, but not always, the gray and black tank dump valves are located on the driver's side somewheres in the rear 10 to 15 feet of the coach. Many would suggest that this is required by some sort of RV building code, but I am not quite sure of this. May be, may not be. That plus the fact... ...that most RV parks and/or dump stations are usually set up for the valves to be on the driver's side to the rear. Perhaps others will clarify this. | ||
| Peter E (Sdibaja) (208.57.14.228)
Rating: N/A |
Left is the way to go, but also carry plenty of extra flex pipe for when you can not get close enough or have to dump on the "wrong" side... | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.145.141) Rating: N/A |
R.V. parks have sewer on drivers side...suggest you do the same..PLUS...when "just" dumping...you can see when the outlet is even with the dump station...tear those plans up & start over | ||
| Peter E (Sdibaja) (64.165.9.213)
Rating: N/A |
Bruce: second thought... it is all rather logical how almost all coaches get laid out... all hookups: plumbing, tanks, power , and genset, on "street side" view windows, awning, door on "sidewalk side" RV parks are laid out for this kind of setup, and it works good along the country lane too. Have a look at some factory jobs (trailers and murderhomes too) and you will see some logic to it all. Best of luck, Peter | ||
| don (Bottomacher) (66.216.217.11)
Rating: N/A |
I was told years ago that the left side requirement came from lawmakers' attempts to prevent dumping into storm drain collectors. Plausible, but I couldn't say for sure. | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.54.64)
Rating: N/A |
RVIA standards (not a code by any stretch of the imagination) specify that utility hookups should be left side, rear 1/3 of the vehicle. I have also heard the storm drain dumping scenario as having been the impetus for the standard. | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.144.229) Rating: N/A |
what do ya' do if there is no storm | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay) (208.34.240.23)
Rating: N/A |
2 Dogs said: "R.V. parks have sewer on drivers side...suggest you do the same.. PLUS... when "just" dumping...you can see when the outlet is even with the dump station...tear those plans up & start over" __. Yeah, the left sounds like the way to go. Thanks for the good info (everybody). Only problem is that's not my "driver's" side but I've got good mirrors. That outlet location is also right at the main door (I have two on the left, one across from the driver, and one amidships) but we can deal with that. __. And the entire plumbing "stack" on the left side just might work out really well. __. Thanks again, everybody. Bruce Henderson, Wallace NC | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (67.181.236.27)
Rating: N/A |
Bruce - What year, make and model bus are you converting? Is your coach a RH drive model, like those used in England and Australia, for example? Or do you have L & R corn-fuzzled? The left side of the coach is the side on your left as you're sitting in the driver's seat, staring out the windshield. . . Or am I missing something? RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay) (208.34.240.23)
Rating: N/A |
__. Hi, RJ. No, you aren't missing anything. I have a Daimler Fleetline double-decker bus, made in England in 1976. Leyland O-680 engine, auto transmission. It was made to carry 80 passengers -- it's 33 feet long. Plan is to have lounge, a small bunk room and master bedroom upstairs and kitchen and main bath/ shower and kitchen/dining booth downstairs. __. As I said, it has two doors on the left (British kerb side) - one across from the driver and one amidships. The amidships door will be the main entry. __. It's going to come out WAAY different from the Eagle buses common in this country but I think it should be a good platform to convert. Thanks, Bruce Henderson, Wallace NC | ||
| John that newguy (199.232.244.9) Rating: N/A |
Hey Bruce? Why not make provisions for two outlets, one on each side? A macerator would be nice also, with hose to reach any common toilet facility for dumping. I've been to a few parks that have some waste connections on the right side (Long Key State Park is one). Backing in is an option, but not desirable, since you would miss the Ocean view out the front window. | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.143.11)
Rating: N/A |
Drive straight into the campground slot instead of backing up? Install some electronic contraption like the two Garys would dream up in order to drive it down the road backwards? | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.252.9.119)
Rating: N/A |
Two Garys? WTF, Over. Gary (I don't know which one I am) | ||
| Marc Bourget (209.142.38.81) Rating: N/A |
Seems like there's always a need for a right side dump, but don't call it that, call it a clean out. Onward and Upward Marc Bourget | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay) (208.34.240.35)
Rating: N/A |
John said -- "Hey Bruce? Why not make provisions for two outlets, one on each side? A macerator would be nice also, with hose to reach any common toilet facility for dumping. " __. Yeah, the big difference for my bus is that (to get two floors in a 13'6" overall height) is that the lower floor has to be very low. I'm pretty sure that it won't be very practical to have crossover pipes. However, I have looked at the mascerator pumps for cleaning out the clean out and that looks good. I'll probably go that way, with the clean out on the left side. In fact, since my main door is midships on the left, it will probably be neater etc to do the mascerator pump thing anyway. Thanks, Bruce Henderson, Wallace NC | ||
| Derek (Derek_L) (24.83.196.239)
Rating: N/A |
Gary, he speaks of Gary Stadler... with the Crown... | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (67.181.236.27)
Rating: N/A |
Bruce - Does your coach look like this one: http://busexplorer.com/PHP/MidPage.php?id=1854 How'd it get into the States? RJ | ||
| TWO DOGS (63.185.80.249) Rating: N/A |
if that man is 6 foot the bus is OVER 13'6" | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay) (208.34.240.53)
Rating: N/A |
RJ said -- "Bruce - Does your coach look like this one:" __. Somewhat, this is a "Park Royal" body and the body on my bus was made by the "Northern Counties" company but overall it's pretty much the same -- the most notable features that differ is that mine has a flat windshield and the stair is a little further to the rear. Also, the bus in the photo is a "standard height" at 14'4" while mine is a "low bridge" model at 13'6". __. I bought the bus in England and I'm having it shipped over. It's due to arrive in Baltimore on about 25th of Sep. Since it's over 25 years old, it falls outside of NHTSA/DOT regs so there are no restrictions on import. Bruce Henderson, Wallace NC | ||
| Sojourner (68.60.169.142)
Rating: N/A |
Maybe this?????????? http://busexplorer.com/PHP/MidPage.php?id=2479 Interesting site about how they package and ship to India; http://motorbus.net/parkroyal4-2.php A interesting project to say the least. Wish you you well. Keep us inform what it like driving on highways. Sojourn for Christ, Jerry | ||
| DaveD (142.46.199.30)
Rating: N/A |
Sounds like this should be a pretty interesting conversion. RV standards require the waste tank dump connection to be on the street side. I imagine that's for the reasons cited above. Dave Dulmage | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.252.9.119)
Rating: N/A |
You can always put the dump in the middle, and dump over a bridge, after all, it appears that Enviro-centric rock bands can. Gary | ||
| John that newguy (199.232.244.9) Rating: N/A |
All this "assuming" about hookup "requirements" citing the dumping of sewage into storm drains as a reason..? That really casts all RVrs into a great shadow, doesn't it? Why doesn't anyone consider that all the RV hookups are now placed on -one- side (the driver's side), as sort of a manufacturing agreement, to make it easier for the parks to accommodate everyone? I would complain to a manufacturer and possibly avoid buying a unit that has all it's connections on the "wrong side"- or an electrical connection on one side and the TV on another - How about a water fill connection on one side and the city water on the other.... Since it's easier to back up to a connection using the driver's mirror, and considering that no-one wants to have a sewer connection under their awning (along with all the rest of the hoses and wires), doesn't it make plain sense to have all the park connections on the driver's side? That's essentially why we bus converters should follow that same scheme and add the other side as an added convenience for "at home" parking. Why in the world would any RVr want to generate the notion that RVrs would dump aside the road, if the manufacturer didn't take the time and trouble to put it on the traffic side? Egads. | ||
| Johnny (4.174.109.128) Rating: N/A |
Has anyone here ever tried to get a 40' coach into a dump station at an older campground or, Fates forbid, a nat'l or state park? I've seen a couple that gave a 28-30' motorhome trouble--with an extra 5-10' of bus, the word "impossible" comes to mind, even for an RTS. There are a few I've seen that would be MUCH easier with a right-side dump. I'm probably going to have dump valves on both sides--since I have a hi-clearance school bus, the crossover pipe (probably right behind the rear axle) is no problem. | ||
| DrivingMissLazy (66.168.175.51) Rating: N/A |
Johnny, I had my 40 ft. Eagle in every state and many city, county, state and national parks and never had a problem (that I can remember) getting to a dump station. BTW, several months ago this discussion came up on one of the boards and someone posted that in some states it was illegal to have a dump valve and outlet on the passenger side. Unfortunately I do not remember it actual law was cited or not. For some of you newbees, in the early days of camping it was not at all unusual for campers to dump their holding tanks in roadside ditches as dump stations were few and far between or actually non-existant in many areas. Also, the early campers generally did not have gray water holding tanks. Sink or bath water was dumped straight on the ground. As I recall, Oregon was one of the first states to require gray water holding tanks or some method of sealing the drain so that this water could not be easily dumped along the road or in the campground. Richard | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.145.134.133)
Rating: N/A |
Macerators- this might be the thing for you, Bruce. Macerator output can go through 1" copper tubing which will take up virtually no room under the bus. It also makes it possible to use 1" bilge line which is flexible boat hose. Slips right over the copper. It can be stored conveniently in a 1-1/2" conduit anchored under the bus. With a couple of ball valves, you could dump either side. Utilities on the left-- Nat'l Elec Code says on the left from the rear centerline around the corner to within 15' of the rear. ANSI plumbing code says the waste drain shall be on the left within 16' of the rear or within 12" forward of the rear wheel well (I guess they looked at the overhang of some of the stick & staple RV's and realized it exceeded 16'  )or within 18" of the outside wall if on the rear end. So, it is code that dictates the location of utilities. And NEC specifies campground electric locations. I assume the local plumbing/building code will specify sewer locations. Hope this clarifies it. Jim | ||
| Derek (Derek_L) (24.83.196.239)
Rating: N/A |
Richard, what of all the Prevost H3's, MCI Renaissance's, etc etc, with the dump on the passenger side, about 4~6 feet in front of the rear bumper? I've *never* seen one of these with the dump on the left side. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (67.181.236.27)
Rating: N/A |
Derek - What you're referring to are buses that are in commercial service, not RVs. In commercial service, it's SOP on the fuel island/washrack to pull in, start the diesel fueling, dump, rinse and refill the restroom holding tank, shut off the diesel when it's full, and then pull the coach ahead thru the washrack. Greyhound actually does this at major terminals, right on the boarding platform. Here in Fresno, for example, there are four boarding "gates" out of 12 that have a fuel nozzle and a dump station. Bus pulls in, service worker starts fueling the coach as passengers are deboarding, dumps the head, washes the windshield, recharges the head, puts some "squirt-squirt" in the holding tank, tops off the fuel tank, and the bus is ready to roll on it's next leg. All in about 15 minutes. When busy, bus will be pulled out of fuel island gate and moved to another empty slot by service worker to keep service lanes open for the next coach. I've seen one service guy handling four at a time this way. All this is done on the RH side of the coach, and all done this way as an efficient, time-saving service procedure. HTH, RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno Ca | ||
| DrivingMissLazy (66.168.175.51) Rating: N/A |
Thanks RJ. I was never aware of the commercial dumps being on the right side and I was never aware of the procedure that Greyhound uses. Thanks again for a good piece of information. Richard | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (67.181.236.27)
Rating: N/A |
You're welcome, Richard. Always glad to share useful trivia!! RJ | ||
| Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.58)
Rating: N/A |
Getting back to the original question, I also ended up putting my grey ang black tank dump valves on the right side of the bus. Not as convenient as having them on the left, but I use a 12v pump and garden hose if I can't dump from the right side. --Geoff '82 RTS CA | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (66.168.168.57)
Rating: N/A |
Geoff, are you by chance a Brit? LOL Richard | ||
| TWO DOGS (63.185.72.83) Rating: N/A |
have you figured out where the gray & black water tanks are going to go ? & maybe the fresh water...& the water lines...inside I guess...and water heater & propane tank ...and what kind of heating system & where will it go...hope you have fun,...but you have alot of work to do & no space to do it,without sacraficeing interior space...good luck | ||
| Johnny (4.174.103.205) Rating: N/A |
"hope you have fun,...but you have alot of work to do & no space to do it" I know THAT tune. It just takes a bit of creativity (and a friend who can MIG and TIG weld). |
