Welcome friends to another episode of RV tips And Trips.

Today we are going to talk about “Finding an Easy Solution to a Broken RV waste Tank Valve”

My RV has 3 waste tanks. One is a black tank and the other two are gray  tanks. One is for the kitchen sink and the other one is for the bathroom sink and shower.

The problem is with the kitchen tank valve. It got stuck in the open position. Over Time the valve did get more difficult to operate until finally, it seized. When I tried to close the valve by the handle the metal rod bent. The rod passes through a bushing which then connects to a cable which then goes to the valve. There is no way to straighten it out. So now it won't pass through the bushing. So besides replacing the valve you would also have to replace the cable assembly with the new handle. The valve itself is not located near the valve handle. This means I would need to open the underbelly of the trailer to get at the valve.

 I called keystone to ask where the location of the valve is. They said it can be as far as 100 inches from the handle. I then asked them if they could give me a diagram of the plumbing but they denied me. They said that information was “proprietary”. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. I really didn't feel like just arbitrarily cutting open the underbelly to trace out where the cable goes.

So I decided to get a valve that just connected to the outlet pipe temporarily, this way I could close off the outlet. I got the Valterra Twist on waste valve.

What an easy way to solve a problem that could be a headache. I guess I was pretty lucky that the valve got stuck in the open position rather than closed.

All three tanks share the one common outlet. So I drain the kitchen tank first by opening the add-on valve first and leaving it open till I have finished emptying the other tanks and then closing it when I'm done.

It was a simple and cost-effective solution to the stuck open kitchen valve. It really has worked out well and who knows? Maybe I will eventually replace the actual valve.

 Welcome friends to another episode of RV tips And Trips.

Today we are going to talk about

Being Prepared For Emergencies While Living full Time in An RV!

With all sorts of possible catastrophes looming can you be prepared while living full time in an RV? let’s face it, there are many things going on right now such as Weather, worldwide supply chain issues, trucker issues, food recalls, and possible low crop yields due to fertilizer shortages. You also have fuel prices going through the roof and possible diesel fuel and DEF shortages. DEF is Diesel Emission Fluid. It is used on all diesel trucks since 2010 to reduce emissions. 

          Did you know that in Washington state the gas stations are adding a digit to the price per gallon to accommodate a possible $10 per gallon price? Wow! There are a lot of things going on right now.

         So it does make sense to be prepared for these iffy situations.

         Let’s take a look at what we can do as full-time RVers.

         We need to store as many food staples in our rigs as possible. But weight is a problem for us RVers. Your best bet is to store food that is powdered or condensed.

          Emergency food kits are one option but very pricey. So it is a lot more cost-effective to build your own food kit. It’s easy and way cheaper.

 

    

          Minimize canned goods as much as you can but you will still need to keep some. I like having canned potatoes, tomato sauce, condensed milk and condensed soups.

          Pasta and rice and beans are also good items to have on hand. I like the Knorr soups because they come in a lightweight package. They are in a powder form so they are very lightweight.

          You can also grow your own herbs. We keep a few herbs in small flower pots. They are compact and fairly lightweight.

          Fresh water will be needed to be kept on hand. I have two 5-gallon water jugs of purified water. I refill them at water stations and at Walmart. This is for cooking and drinking only. I have a Rechargeable pump which makes dispensing it very convenient.

          Some sort of water filtration system will possibly be needed as a backup.

          Power generation is something else to consider. Power interruptions can happen during storms. Yes even at RV parks. 

          We have both a solar system and a gas generator. We have a pure sinewave inverter to run our electrical appliances off our batteries. We recharge the batteries via our solar or by running the gas generator. But if gasoline is in short supply then solar will be your best option.

          Keep some cash on hand because banking interruptions are possible in certain emergencies.

          As being RVers we are mobile. So if it’s winter then stay in the south. Summer, you may want to move to higher elevations to stay cool.

          I always keep my gas tank full. If the power goes out gas stations can’t pump gas. Also, there is a shortage of gasoline-qualified truck drivers, causing intermittent fuel shortages.

          Being prepared really doesn’t cost you anymore. You will always have food handy for a rainy day. Just watch your expiration dates and be constantly cycling food through your stock.

          Like the old Boy Scout motto

          “Always Be Prepared’