Weird grey tank overflow
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10236
Printed Date: 30 Jun 2025 at 6:05am
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Topic: Weird grey tank overflow
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Subject: Weird grey tank overflow
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 8:42am
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Ahoy, Podsters: Okay, took out our new-to-us 178 for it's first shake down cruise. I'd fixed the delaminating trim and diamond plate with solid deck screws--seems tight. We get to the campground, hook up the city water, all systems are go. We leave to attend our event and--thank goodness!--a friend at the campground calls us and says there's water pouring from underneath the trailer and water on the floor inside. The CC host had seen the leak and shut off the water connection--a great help. So, we cancel our plans and race back to the CC. Not much water on the floor, but the shower pan is totally full, and it seems to have been leaking/flowing over the small gap where it meets the wall. I go outside and pull open the grey tank--and that bugger is totally, totally full! So how the hell does a city water line flow into the grey tank? And, more to the point, how do I fix it? We were able to put water into the regular water tank and use the on-board pump, and everything worked fine for the remainder of the weekend. Help! Thanks. Scott |
Replies:
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 10:54am
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One of the water faucets is leaking, and water is going into one of the drains. Since the shower pan was full, that is where I would start looking. The shower is letting water run into the drain until it fills the gray tank. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 11:30am
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Campgrounds may have water pressure that far exceeds the Pod plumbing pressure capacity. A couple of suggestions. 1) Use a https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BZD08U/ - water pressure regulator 2) Turn city water spigot off if leaving the pod for any length of time. I would suspect the fresh water supply of the toilet. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 1:52pm
If the toilet supply valve is faulty it should be obvious since the toilet bowl will be full. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 2:08pm
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Thanks, guys. I don't think it was a drip. This was A LOT of water, and we were only gone for a few hours. The pressure issue could be the key, and FOR SURE, we'll turn off connection any time we leave the trailer. So, there IS some sort of pathway that allows city water to get into the grey tank other than a dripping/running faucet or shower? This seemed really weird. Why have this for a tank that is for runoff, not fresh water? Thanks. Scott |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 2:35pm
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You should have a pressure reducer on the city water inlet. We usually attach ours to the spigot that the campground supplies. This will reduce the pressure to both your rpod, as well as the supply hose. We also have a filter on the city water inlet that goes between the hose and the rpod. So the hookup goes like this: city water -> pressure reducer -> supply hose -> filter - rpod. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 3:13pm
+1. This is how we run our water as well. Another advantage to having the filter at the Pod end is it will filter out any sediment that might have gotten into the hose. |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 3:29pm
Charlie, I was thinking the pex connections behind the toilet and before the valve?  Mr. Scott, no there is no direct path from FW system to grey tank. Least not that I'm aware of. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 3:56pm
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Boy, this is a real conundrum. The problem is that we didn't see any faucet's on when we left. But maybe the sound of the AC and not looking closely enough led us to miss a flow in the shower. That really seems to be the only place it could get in. Later, I hooked up the city water again--after making sure ALL faucets were closed--and the grey tank appeared to be taking on water again. I believe I had fully drained the tank. I've got a message into rPod. I'll definitely get that regulator! Scott |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 4:05pm
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This is a really, really silly question, but you didn't accidentally hook hose up to your tank flush instead of city water? Told you it was a silly question. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 4:15pm
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Hey, Fred: No worries. I'm capable of some pretty dumb stuff! On this trip, I left the keys to the trailer behind--Doh! Fortunately, we had keys to the trailer we're selling, and it turns out the storage locks are the same--and we hadn't locked the main door--so all was saved, included any $$ for a locksmith. I'm sure there is/was something pretty simply going on. I just wasn't there to see it. Scott |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 4:26pm
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I have a note on my dash that reads 9' 6"!!! Afraid I might forget and drive under a low bridge!  One other place to check is behind the access panel to the bathroom sink. Bedside of bathroom wall. Look for wettage. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 4:28pm
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Will do, Fred. Thanks. Scott |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 4:48pm
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I think of 10' as the lowest I will go. Allows a couple inches of bounce space. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 4:51pm
Gotcha. Good thought. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 4:54pm
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If you put city water to the backflush you will fill the black tank, if the water pump check is failing to close you will put city water in the FW tank. Do you have the common drains, where the gray and black drain from same drain? Normally the gray tank gets water from the shower and two sinks. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 5:01pm
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There SHOULD NOT be any path from the FW supply to the gray tank that doesn't involve a faucet. That said, never underestimate the creativity of the FR shop assemblers. We've seen strange wiring and loose/backwards plumbing but this is a new one. Keep us posted.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 5:16pm
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+1 and true reply. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 6:31pm
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Yeah, got the BW flush figured out. I'm thinking a faucet must have been maybe a little open and I didn't hear it because of the AC. With high pressure on the line from the hose, that might have pushed a fair amount of water out, eventually filling the tank. Now, some water did flow out over the shower pan, but virtually all of it seemed to drain out underneath. The floor inside the trailer only had a small amount of water visible--like easily mopped up with a towel. Is there a secondary drain under there? Should I worry about water damage? The weather has been hot and dry, and we did a three + hour drive home in 90+ temps the day after the incident. I think it's pretty darn dried out now. What should I check? Thanks. Scott |
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 1:14pm
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Hey, Podsters: There IS a potential pathway for freshwater to the grey tank. Dig this hot off the presses from Forest River: Scott, It sounds like the check valve in your water pump may have gone bad. Typically if the check valve in the water pump goes out, the city water will end up filling the grey tank. So, folks, any tips/tricks/guidance to accessing and servicing this valve? Will I have to replace the whole pump? Thanks. Scott |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 2:00pm
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Not to be nit picky, but a bad check valve in the pump will fill the fresh water tank, not the gray. The symptom is an overflow of the FW tank out the overflow or city water connection. Sounds like an answer from the marketing dept. The pump check valve is inside the pump and most problems arise from some dirt or sand preventing the valve from seating. The first attack is to cycle the pump several times (with city water disconnected) to try and dislodge the dirt. If this doesn't clear it I believe the valve can be replaced but it requires disassembly of the pump. Search the internet for help on your pump model.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 2:05pm
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Hey, Charlie: Hah, figures. I don't think this rig has seen enough use for the pump to be malfunctioning like this. We'll see. I'm still leaning towards the high pressure/open shower sink explanation. I just wish we'd seen it! Grrrr. Thanks. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 2:21pm
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Scott, FR is notorious for loose plumbing fittings. Seems their assemblers are either weak or untrained. Lots of folks have had massive plumbing leaks after the first road exposure. I had shower water running all over the floor and found the P-trap not even hand tight. That's probably not your exact problem but there could be a loose connection on the supply side of the shower sink. It may be possible for water to run down from there to the shower pan and into the gray tank. Water, especially under pressure, can do strange things. If there is a loose fitting it could be spraying somewhere and following a circuitous (engineering term) path to the shower pan. As I recall there is a small access hole below the sink or you might have to remove the sink. Easy enough to do. I no longer have my Pod so I can't be exact. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 3:45pm
NO. There is NO direct path for water from the city water inlet to the GREY tank. There is to the FW holding tank. Whoever "Scott" is, he is not understanding the question/problem, or he is a dumbass. ------------- |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 5:07pm
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+1, there is no path from fresh water to gray tank. I have reoccurring issue with city water going to FW tank. I spent 4 days at the ERU and on final day my fresh water tank was 1/4 full. Before that it was empty. My next step is to pull water pump and inspect. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Mr. Scott
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 6:13pm
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Hah! Sorry about the font confusion. I am "Scott"! It was a message directed to me from FR. I didn't switch out the font when adding my comment at the end. Doh! Yeah, I think the person--Samantha--just shot an answer off. It turns out there WAS a pressure regulator on the line, so that is out as part of the equation. My wife remembers that there were some drops of water on/in the shower/toilet sink, so that must be the culprit. I'm going to check out the pump area and look at the connections for the sink in the wall. I'll see what I can see. I'll correct the FR person! Thanks so much, guys. Scott--THE Scott. |
Posted By: blimey
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 6:30pm
ditto
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2017 at 10:15pm
Don't bother. It's been tried before to no avail. If they can't understand something as simple as FW/GW/BW systems there's little hope. However, she might have a bright future at an RV dealership. BTW I recommend the Fairview WR-RV55 pressure regulator. A lot higher flow rate than even the so called "high flow rate" regulator from Camco. It assures a full flow shower when you're at a CG with water and sewer connections. See my post at http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8690&title=water-pressure-regulators-and-flow-rates - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8690&title=water-pressure-regulators-and-flow-rates ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |