Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Be grateful for what you've got, guys. :-) My Airstream has its dump valves joined together under the middle of the body--hidden inside the aluminum "belly pan," which is riveted in place (!). They're worked by long rods extending out to the edge of the trailer. To change a valve, you'd have to drill out all the belly pan rivets, remove the pan, replace the valve, and re-rivet the pan. Whoever designed this apparently thought that dump valves never clog, never jam, and never need replacing. Yeah, right.

So after about a year of use, I had the same problem as Bob: the black tank's valve wouldn't close completely, and it slowly leaked... and thus when I took off the cap, nasty-smelling liquid splashed out. I had that valve replaced under warranty, but while they were at it, I had them cut a rectangular access hatch, secured with screws, under those valves.

Now at least I could get to them... but I'd have to lie on my back under the middle of the trailer to do it. So a year later when the black tank's valve again refused to close fully, I just stuck a secondary gate valve on the outside of the sewer fitting. Yes, it's a kluge, but I just didn't feel like changing a black tank valve while lying on my back with the dripping pipes right above my face!