RP-179 Toilet Flush Problems
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6889
Printed Date: 20 Jun 2025 at 4:03am
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Topic: RP-179 Toilet Flush Problems
Posted By: Geos179
Subject: RP-179 Toilet Flush Problems
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2015 at 6:14pm
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I am new to this forum and a new RPOD Owner. We have a 2015 RPOD - RP-179. We purchased it about a month ago from a dealer far, far away.. The plumbing pipe connecting the toilet to the holding tank gets clogged rapidly and requires use of an old hose, with the metal end cut off, as a snake to break things loose. When it gets clogged, even water will not go through. After the clog is once cleared it will clog up again quickly (one use). Using the black water flush does not have any impact. This clogging occurs even after the black tank has been completely flushed and drained. We are using septic approved toilet paper and use 2/3 of a bowl of water per flush. Any information you can provide, tips or tricks or comments, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Geos179 ------------- Geos179 2015 - RP-179 |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2015 at 8:49pm
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Welcome to the group! Congrats on your 179!!Sounds to me like you need to use a lot more water per flush! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: NMJohn
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2015 at 3:18pm
| We just got a new 179 and discovered that there's a false sense of "flushing" when you push the flush handle forward a little ways. Instead, pull the lever totally forward (about 3") until it won't go any farther and see if that helps. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 8:21pm
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2/3 of a bowl would have been my first suggestion, but since you are already doing that my next guess is there is construction debris stuck in the pipe. Someone here had that problem a few years ago with the black tank drain pipe outside. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Geos179
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2015 at 8:30pm
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So what needs to be done to (1) determine if it is construction debris and (2) if it is fix the problem? Thanks for any information you can provide. George ------------- Geos179 2015 - RP-179 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2015 at 9:40pm
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Usually the sewer pipe is screwed and not glued together, so depending on how it is run in the 179 you may be able to disassemble it and fish out the problem. I'm not familiar with the 179 plumbing so someone else will need to confirm, but I know on my 171 the toilet's sewer pipe ran for about 2 feet before dropping through the floor. You could get to it via the vent under the bathroom and behind a false wall in a storage area. If that isn't an option due to the configuration and/or access you could rent a sewer video inspection system, or pay a plumber $20 to run his down there to confirm the problem. The plumber might be a better option since he will also have the tools to take care of the problem. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: jdpod2016
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2015 at 10:45pm
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We have a 2016 179 that has the same issue, the pipe down to the holding tank gets clogged almost every time the toilet is flushed.
I used a plastic pole to clear the paper, and Geos179 is right the blank tank flush does nothing to clear it. I think I'm going to take it to the dealer, I would think it would be covered under warranty. |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2015 at 9:18am
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We have the 182g and run into the same problem. For some genius reason, the pipe doesn't just drain down. The bend is where things get clogged.
We found that it was the kids going #2 and not flushing enough. The paper gets caught on the lip. As you flush more gets caught. We did the same with an old hose. Didn't remove the metal, but it works fine. Our correction was the kids walk to the campground bathroom for #2. Supposedly, the dealership said the problem is common as most kids don't know to hold the flusher down. We had them start counting to three in order to make it work. Not sure if it could be fixed, but I would love to have a straight pipe into the black tank. ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: Geos179
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2015 at 9:27am
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We had bought our 179 used though it is a 2015. After a lot of looking we figured out our problem. The previous owner had not flushed the black tank very well and it had sat in hot weather for a month or more, not sure how long. There was the classic pyramid build up of matter blocking the pipe and probably 2-3 inches of debris all over the bottom of the tank that was really crusted over. Maybe they did not use chemicals. At any rate using a flexible wand and filling the tanks with water and chemicals several times and flushing it out we got the problem corrected. There is a design issue in that the black flush is positioned closer to the outlet valve as opposed to the inlet pipe. Poor design in my opinion. The black flush does a poor job for what it is supposed to do. We just need to use a lot of water to flush and rinse the tank thoroughly. Glad to get the issue resolved and thanks to everyone with their replies and suggestions. ------------- Geos179 2015 - RP-179 |
Posted By: lblevins67
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2015 at 2:34pm
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We have a 2014 179 and have had this very same problem, and it sure can ruin a camping trip in a hurry...so far we have had the most success with filling the bowl 2/3 like you said, and only using teeny tiny pieces of TP. My next thing if it happens again will be to stop putting the paper down there at all, and start taking a doggie poop bag in there with me to put the paper in when we go. Seems like the paper is what gets caught in the bend in the pipe. Bad design for sure.
Lisa |