Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

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January 25, 2018, 10:12:01 am

The part of our driveway that we hope to store our LD coming this summer floods badly when it rains and we are thinking of redoing it. I was thinking this would be a great time to run a 30 amp conduit and a 4”? sewer pipe underneath it.

Have any of you done this before? We are hoping someone might have any suggestions/ideas to consider. How high/low would you put the sewer connector? Can anyone tell me what is the bottom measurement of a newer grey/black tank hose connector?

If I do this correctly I’m hoping to dump at home, keeping my tanks empty and ready to camp. Also if I have company for a week or two sometime, they can use the LD bathroom normally and not have to come inside right? The city sewer pipe is on the driveway side of my house, I’m thinking this is a good sign, a shorter connection

I thinking I should get any RV carport up, and the footing dug/poured in advance of the new driveway concrete pour

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #1 – January 25, 2018, 10:27:13 am

Don't forget cable and ethernet, too...

Are you shooting for a clean-out style fitting, with a screw-on cap? I'd make it as low as possible, but allowing for an eventual resurfacing (assuming blacktop). If you have flooding issues now, I would think a 'pit' style opening would be out. There may be a depth requirement for freezing, (depending on your geographic area) and definitely a drive-over depth/reinforcement aspect.

I'd also run a standard 20 amp circuit while you're in there, so you don't have to stack on adaptors to run tools or a battery charger.

I've been considering a similar setup, but the clean-out fitting would be just inside an existing, opening basement window. I'll definitely have a clip or bungee setup to ensure nothing comes un-done during critical phases of the process!

Chip

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #2 – January 25, 2018, 10:36:53 am

Lots of rules in California as you know so check with your city, permits, etc. etc.

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #3 – January 25, 2018, 10:54:03 am

Clark,

I do commend you on your willingness and gracious hospitality of allowing your guests to use your new LD as temporary housing.

I did that once. And while I enjoyed having the close proximity of my guest, it put me in what I felt was an uncomfortable position. LD’s are not inexpensive and the luxury of keeping one in the driveway is a privilege that not all communities enjoy.

Long Beach has Municipal Code Chapter 21 (21.41.276) I know this code due to a very unpleasant neighbor who likes to pretend she can control the goings on in the block. LB residents are allowed to “park” an RV such as our beloved LD’s in our driveways. However, residing in the RV can run the risk of having the city require you to move the RV to a storage facility. Another expense that many of us can not always afford.

When speaking with LB Code Enforcement, I was cautioned not to have a power cord or other devices such as plumbing attachments connected for an extended period of time or I may run the risk of having to store my LD elsewhere. No thanks.

My clean out is behind my home and I frequently empty and service my tanks while the RB sits in the driveway which is along the side of the house.

To accomplish this, I use a Flojet Macerator and run a standard 50’ garden hose (single purpose only) around to the cleanout. It is a simple solution to home dumping and far less expensive than plumbing a dedicated cleanout to the front yard (easily a $1500 add-on).

This is just a bit of a cautionary tale and what I do. Your situation may be different.
Best of luck.

Kent

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #4 – January 25, 2018, 11:26:05 am

Clark,
I like your ideas.

I also seriously considered running an extended sewer connection line to the gravel driveway where I back the Lazy Daze onto my property. One of my neighbors did the job on his property and after watching the process, decided that it was far more digging, trenching and smelly plumbing than I wanted to do. I even considered digging and installing a bootleg septic tank just for the Lazy Daze, but one of my contractor friends discouraged me with tales of nosy neighbors and city inspectors who lack a healthy sense of humor and like to write substantial fines. Like Kent, I also have an unpleasant, nosy, busybody neighbor who has complained about my other (legal) activities to the city. So much for that idea!

After reading several posts, including some of Kent's previous posts, I decided to get a macerator pump and when CW had a sale, I ordered one. The $250 for the pump and a few more dollars for a dedicated poopy hose is a tiny fraction of what the sewer extended line would have cost.

As far as the pad, outlet, and carport idea; putting this in was some of the best money I have spent! I trenched and put in the conduit for two separate 30A circuits, poured a 24X40 foot concrete pad, erected a 24X35 foot, 16 foot tall enclosed pipe barn, and plumbed in water, lights, and electrical outlets. I LOVE it! There is some room for storage for adult children's crap and the Lazy Daze and trailer live inside, out of the rain and sun. I'm out there every day working on projects. The Lazy Daze stays inside plugged into power and best of all, is out of the sun. If you have the room, the barn is money well spent, IMHO!

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #5 – January 25, 2018, 11:32:19 am

Quote from: HiLola - January 25, 2018, 10:36:53 am

Lots of rules in California as you know so check with your city, permits, etc. etc.

My rule of thumb for my home state (California), El Dorado County, and the community in which I live is,
"If you do anything, or even nothing at all, you are in violation of some law, ordinance, or HOA restriction".
I've thought about doing the same if and when I need to replace the driveway. If the area is subject to flooding, I'd make sure the drain is sealed when unused.

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #6 – January 25, 2018, 11:59:49 am

Thanks Kent, now I really need to come visit to see your set up. I do understand what your saying, and no one will be living in my LD.

Once I had a nosey neighbor (seriously crazy, for example he mowed his lawn at midnight in his underwear) caledl the fire department/code enforcement to come inspect my BlueBird Bus, claiming someone was “living in there” ....I told the Inspector he was being used to hassle me for no reason, but he would get one courtesy look, if he promised not to ever come back, as no one was living in it, obviously. My driveway at the time was over 100’ Long and double wide so it was way tucked away in the back of my property

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #7 – January 25, 2018, 12:10:10 pm

My Dad used to say that good neighbors are your best allies and that only a fool fights with their neighbors.

True then, true today.

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #8 – January 25, 2018, 12:27:34 pm

Quote from: Tiger (Clark) - January 25, 2018, 11:59:49 am

Once I had a nosey neighbor call the fire department/code enforcement to come inspect my BlueBird Bus, claiming someone was “living in there” ....

A HOA in Auburn Calif 'discovered' someone was living in someone's garage. The passed an ordinance, subject to a $200 fine, that everyone must leave their garage doors open between 8am & 4pm. They reconsidered after the story went nationwide.
Homeowners association says residents can close their garage doors again |...

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #9 – January 25, 2018, 12:48:46 pm

Our previous home didn't have a large driveway and the 1983 LD was difficult to park.
When looking for better place to live, RV parking was a must and we found driveway wide enough to park two LDs and still get a car into the garage.
What is didn't have was access to the sewer, being 50' away and 10' deep but there was a washing machine drain in the garage that was a suitable substitute.
At the time, RV macerator kits were not yet sold, so I bought Jasco macerator pump, at West Marine, and built my own.
This is what we have used for over twenty years to dump at home and when we 'driveway' camp.
Macerator pump | Flickr
We carry 75' of hose, a large pipe wrench, with a cheater, useful for opening sewer clean outs.

At home, we dump into the washing machine drain, using a dedicated 50' 3/4" red hose.
A water faucet is near, perfect for flushing wile dumping..
A separate white, hose, hooked to another faucet is used to fill the fresh water tank.

Since the LD is parked next to the garage and near the electric service panel, the first weekend we lived here, I ran 10-gauge wire and installed a 30-amp plug, where a LD has been plugged in for the last 22 years.
Having a level place to park your RV at home, with hookups, is the perfect way to store your LD.
It has been used many times as an extra bedroom or as place to hide.
The second parking spot has had a lot of visiting LDs use it, through the years.

Larry

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #10 – January 25, 2018, 05:06:01 pm

Great discussion & things to think about, even though we don't have HOAs/etc. in our dinky town. Parking at the house has not been an issue with the city--despite cranky neighbors who have even complained about the lawnmower blowing clippings the wrong direction, a clothesline that only went up on laundry days, & getting another neighbor's grass clippings to use as mulch (it turns brown & ugly over time)...

I have been thinking through some changes, though: a detached 2-car sized garage/shop area with guest space above. The LD would still nest out at the farm when not in use, where I would continue to fertilize the pasture just as the cattle do (so no need for a sewer connection), but I'd like to have a dedicated spot at the house with 30 amp service for when I'm prepping for/returning from a trip, or for guests.

When I called our city code office, a poured concrete pad would count as additional household space on my property tax assessment, and must be beyond the 25' utility easement from the center of the street; if it's just gravel or dirt, no extra tax charge & no easement issue. I once saw something on This Old House where they wanted additional/temporary parking for a home, & wanted something "ecological" due to concern about storm water runoff; they installed a heavy interlocking plastic grid over gravel which was then filled with topsoil & seeded with a particularly resilient playground grass. When they showed shots at the end of the season party, it looked like just a nice lawn (though I realize a lawn is can be problematic for those without adequate rainfall--if I were really digging up that big a space & paving over, it might be a place to put a cistern for collecting roof run-off, to save H2O for landscaping uses/etc.).

Lots of good ideas here that help me think of different options. Thx, all,

Lynne

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #11 – January 26, 2018, 03:36:28 pm

This one kept me awake last night. I got the impression from the first post that the rig would be stored with empty waste tanks. That might not be a good idea, BUT I have never stored mine. So, if I am way off base, feel free to ignore, laugh, point, whatever. :-)

Here is my concern. Dry waste tanks will never be completely clean. Some material will remain on the walls and bottom of the tank. Over time in storage, that material may dry, making it all but impossible to remove. I think if I were to store my rig, I would dump, flush the tanks, then store them with the waste tanks mostly full of clear water. If guests are coming and will use the rig, you plan on having the ability to dump, so dump the storage water and you are ready to go. Now, if I am storing in a climate with conditions that might freeze that volume of water, I would have to dump them, refilling when the cold weather has passed.

Just a thought...

Ken F in NM

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #12 – January 26, 2018, 04:17:39 pm

Hi Ken. I routinely empty my tanks every time I get back from a trip, and store them completely empty, no make up water or treatment. I've been doing this for 19 years and haven't had a problem yet. I did replace the black dump valve because of an o-ring problem a few years back (it stuck to the blade and tore). No sensor problems. San Diego is fairly dry, so I'm sure the tanks had a chance to dry out. After the o-ring incident, I lubricate the tank o-rings, cap o-rings and sliding ss shaft every now and then with silicone spray. Of course my tanks don't hold much either. RonB

Re: Putting 4” sewer pipe under new driveway idea

Reply #13 – January 26, 2018, 04:57:25 pm

Ken F. New Mexico

"Over time in storage, that material may dry, making it all but impossible to remove."

This is where an enzyme type of tank treatment comes in... if used diligently and continuously there will never be any effluent to dry or cake on the tank walls. I've used Ecosave in all of my RVs over the years and have had zero issues. When I dump my tanks there is never any solids to be seen, just a brown liquid. Those little critters in the tank treatment do a very good job of emulsification.

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January 25, 2018, 10:12:01 am

Reply #1 – January 25, 2018, 10:27:13 am

Reply #2 – January 25, 2018, 10:36:53 am

Reply #3 – January 25, 2018, 10:54:03 am

Reply #4 – January 25, 2018, 11:26:05 am

Reply #5 – January 25, 2018, 11:32:19 am

Reply #6 – January 25, 2018, 11:59:49 am

Reply #7 – January 25, 2018, 12:10:10 pm

Reply #8 – January 25, 2018, 12:27:34 pm

Reply #9 – January 25, 2018, 12:48:46 pm

Reply #10 – January 25, 2018, 05:06:01 pm

Reply #11 – January 26, 2018, 03:36:28 pm

Reply #12 – January 26, 2018, 04:17:39 pm

Reply #13 – January 26, 2018, 04:57:25 pm

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