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Topic: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes (Read 317 times) previous topic - next topic
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1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Recently purchased an 82 20 ft Lazy Daze, was curious if anyone has access to the old manuals or spec sheets? Looking for tank sizes for fresh, grey and black.

Just wrapping up an interior cosmetic renovation and so far loving this little RV.
1982 M20 Lazy Daze Chevy G30 Van in San Diego
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #1 –
Quote from: MetalSpine  - 
Recently purchased an 82 20 ft Lazy Daze, was curious if anyone has access to the old manuals or spec sheets? Looking for tank sizes for fresh, grey and black.

Just wrapping up an interior cosmetic renovation and so far loving this little RV.
We hope you will share some before and after photos of your renovation.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #2 –
The best way to determine the actual capacity of the tanks is to, starting empty, fill them with 5-gallon buckets of water, counting the buckets. It's a chore but you only need to do it once and then you will know for sure.
 I have found that some of LD's published capacities are off, sometimes significantly.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #3 –

I picked up one of these FLOW METERS  and used it to measure the fresh and black water tanks.   Since the fresh water tank is under the island bed and easily visible,  I marked each 5 gallon line with a sharpie - much more accurate than the led gauge.    Did the same with the black water tank watching from the toilet bowl until water was visible.    Didn't do the gray water tank.
YMMV
Joel

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #4 –
Quote from: joel wiley  - 
I picked up one of these FLOW METERS  and used it to measure the fresh and black water tanks.  Since the fresh water tank is under the island bed and easily visible,  I marked each 5 gallon line with a sharpie - much more accurate than the led gauge.    Did the same with the black water tank watching from the toilet bowl until water was visible.    Didn't do the gray water tank.
YMMV
Joel

Joel,  do you use this on a regular basis or did you just use it to check volume of the tanks? And since I have a 31', how did the tanks measure out on your 31'?

Chris
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #5 –
Quote from: joel wiley  - 
I picked up one of these FLOW METERS  and used it to measure the fresh and black water tanks.   Since the fresh water tank is under the island bed and easily visible,  I marked each 5 gallon line with a sharpie - much more accurate than the led gauge.    Did the same with the black water tank watching from the toilet bowl until water was visible.    Didn't do the gray water tank.
YMMV
Joel

I got two myself.

One I use when filling the fresh water tank, and one for back flushing the grey and black tanks.
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2001 MB
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #6 –
Quote from: Chris Horst  - 
Joel,  do you use this on a regular basis or did you just use it to check volume of the tanks? And since I have a 31', how did the tanks measure out on your 31'?

Chris
One time only.  I didn't think RV gremlins would swap tanks in the middle of the night.  :D  Fresh water has the last mark at 45 gallons with a little space left.  Black water tank showed visible water at 25 gals - which meant the tank would be overflowing at that point.  Didn't have a way to visually check the gray water tank so did not test.
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #7 –
Thanks for the comments, I left right after my post into the Mountains for a 4-day dry camping trip with my family of four so I did not get to read replies until now.

Our water lasted almost the entire trip and was out by mid-morning on day 4 while dishes were being washed.

I used a 5 gallon bucket to add water to the tank with a fluid transfer pump and saw the water raised 2 1/2 inches. Did it a 2nd time for the same results so it looks like 10 gallons is 5 inches /  1 inch equals 2 gallons, The height of my tank is around 20 inches so I have about a 40 gallon tank.

I then filled the grey water tank until it came up through the shower drain and measured how much was missing, about 8 inches or 16 gallons for the grey water tank. When I go to do a black water drain I will do the same test for it to get the measurements.

I have marked the side of my freshwater tank in 2 1/2 inches so I now have a gauge of how much water is being used each day.

Still learning and loving the process. More importantly, I was able to take kids fishing and caught a nice size catfish in a lake, caught a frog in a creek, and a Pacific Gopher Snake in a woodpile. Teaching them all kinds of things about nature in the process. They even built a Dam in the creek with me and learned about water flow, pressure, friction, and volume.

Spending quality time with my wife and teaching my children while dry camping in a Lazy Daze was priceless.







1982 M20 Lazy Daze Chevy G30 Van in San Diego
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #8 –
For all you folks marking your tanks, gotta again recommend the SeeLevel system. Unaffected by contamination in the tanks, and digital readout at 4% increments. Check on this site for links.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
 
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #9 –
"Unaffected by contamination in the tanks..."

Steve

As much as I have admired your knowledge over the years I am going to have to disagree with this one!

Even though the SeeLevel capacitive sensors make no physical contact with the effluent as did the older 'thru the tank' contacts you can still get a buildup of contamination at any given point on the inside wall of the tank.

For example, I do not always have an opportunity to dump my tanks as I head for home and have experienced 'buildup' a number of times, usually around the 40% point. I contacted the SeeLevel customer service people and their advice was a flush using the product "Happy Camper", saying it had been their experience that it was the best remedy for that 'known' problem.

I did as they suggested but unfortunately a short duration application was not sufficient. Then, as we were leaving Morro Bay this past March I once again applied Happy Camper just after dumping. That solution remained in the black tank for over six weeks. Since I needed to have some maintenance performed it was necessary to have my Service Facility do a dump in order to replace the two slide valves. Once that was completed the SeeLevel gauge read zero (0) for the first time in nearly a year.   :o
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #10 –
Quote from: joel wiley  - 
Didn't have a way to visually check the gray water tank so did not test.

When the water backs ups and comes out of the shower drain, then you will know the gray tank is overfilled by a couple of gallons.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #11 –
Quote from: Lazy Bones  - 
"Unaffected by contamination in the tanks..."

Steve

As much as I have admired your knowledge over the years I am going to have to disagree with this one!

Even though the SeeLevel capacitive sensors make no physical contact with the effluent as did the older 'thru the tank' contacts you can still get a buildup of contamination at any given point on the inside wall of the tank.

Steve

For years I have avocated a once each summer holding tank treatment to clean the tanks, preferably during a heat spell, the hotter the better.
Drain and flush the holding tanks and then refill them with fresh water, adding a packet of septic tank enzymes to each tank. Let them sit for a week or more, before draining and reflushing. 
The enzymes 'eat' the coating in the tanks and cleans the walls so our SeeLevel remains operational and accurate after 15 years. Try it, it works.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RID-X-19-6-oz-Professional-Powder-2-Dose-Septic-Tank-Treatment-19200-83623/206880315

Larry


Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #12 –
Quote from: Steve  - 
For all you folks marking your tanks, gotta again recommend the SeeLevel system. Unaffected by contamination in the tanks, and digital readout at 4% increments. Check on this site for links.

Steve

Thanks Steve!

I will eventually add something along those lines but will need them to talk to a network.

Teaching my boys about home/rv automation and programming using Home Assistant, Node Red and the Raspberry Pi.

Planning on having a high tech Classic Lazy Daze by this summer. It will be a fun project for them.
1982 M20 Lazy Daze Chevy G30 Van in San Diego
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #13 –
Larry

I also use an enzyme treatment, Eco-Save, and have since day one, 15 years past.  I make it a rule that after every dump the Eco-Save is added in the appropriate amount. Even before I had the SeeLevel system installed I was using this treatment and my black tank always read zero.

But it wasn't until, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to dump when I knew I should have. Over time that took it's toll, to the point where the SeeLevel gauge always read in the 40% range, even though I knew the black tank was emptied. That's when I used Happy Camper and even so it took as much as six weeks to dissolve the buildup.  >:(

Eco-Save Products, Green long before it was Fashion!!
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #14 –
Joel, we used Larry's method also.  When water came up in shower, grey tank was full.
Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: 1982 M20 Lazy Daze Tank sizes
Reply #15 –
Quote from: Lazy Bones  - 
I also use an enzyme treatment, Eco-Save, and have since day one, 15 years past.  I make it a rule that after every dump the Eco-Save is added in the appropriate amount. Even before I had the SeeLevel system installed I was using this treatment and my black tank always read zero.

Possibly a difference between your holding tank treatment and a bag of septic tank enzymes is the strength of the enzymes.
Holding tanks are not designed to or operate like a septic system, they are short-term  'holding tanks'. Your enzyme treatment is more for keeping the smell down, not to digest. The  Eco-Save didn't do the job but long-term soak in the Happy Camper did the job. Enzymes need time to work.

Septic tanks suffer from serious build-up issues and have a capacity many times greater than any RV's holding tank. I would assume the septic treatments have a much higher concentration of enzymes.
The septic enzyme treatment is done in the heat of the summer, which speeds up biological action, and it sits for a long time, up to two weeks. It works for us.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze