Eze Kleen Sewer System - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Eze Kleen Sewer System

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Never used one but that's a whole lot of money when all you need is a regular 3" sewer hose and a Slunky (or similar).
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/slunky-sewer-hose-support/1862

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry,
When you are parked and connected to a sewer drain you keep your grey valve open and use it as you would your home sewer. The black tank remains closed till the tank is full to prevent the build up of solids which would build up if you kept it open all the time. When it gets full you dump the whole thing and close it up again.

If you are going to be in consistantly freezing weather, then you have to keep the gray closed also and only open it when full, but that is a very extreme situation. Most places rise above freezing during the day and there is no problem keeping the the gray open. Just close it at night when standing water might freeze.

The main thing to remember with freezing nights is to disconnect your input water hose and work off the inside tank. That hose will freeze up before anything else. We simply store it in the basement and hook it up again in the morning when the temps rise.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

You could buy a bunch of RhinoFlex hoses for that amount of money. I would recommend the RhinoFlex hose and sewer hose ladder. I like the RhinoFlex as it can be stretched to the exact length needed, so you can keep the run straight, and with the ladder should leave very little water behind to freeze. My backup idea would be the SaniCon macerator...slower to empty the tanks, but easy to get out and put away, and you won't get your hands dirty. My tertiary idea would be plain old PVC pipe.

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry,

We had a VERY cold winter in Kansas this year and used the pvc method...we had to make two trips away from our original site and had no problem getting back in "close enough" to reconnect to the pvc.

That amount of money for that system would not be worth it to us.

And ditto on what Luvglass said for winter living.

Doris

-- Edited by DorisandDave on Saturday 7th of May 2011 06:10:48 PM

motorcycle jack · RV-Dreams Community Member

Terry -

I have the EZ Kleen system and love it. I wouldn't do as suggested above about keeping your gray water open, since we have the heated belly and heated tanks they won't freeze. I use my tanks and valves the same no matter what the weather or temperature. I suggest you do the same, leaving the valve open invites cold intrusion from the sewer pipe into the tank. I don't know if you added the Canadian heated sewer pipe but if you did then you will have no trouble at all. Talk with you later -

John

-- Edited by motorcycle jack on Saturday 28th of May 2011 02:58:15 PM

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry:

Interesting concept. I showed, without any comment, the video in the link to the DW. She said, “Well, if you only move once every seven years it probably would be fine.”

I’ll just let her have the last word I guess. To each their own.

Safe travels

Bill

BTW, the edit was a typo.

-- Edited by Bill and Linda on Saturday 28th of May 2011 03:52:08 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

motorcycle jack wrote:
Terry -

I have the EZ Kleen system and love it. I wouldn't do as suggested above about keeping your gray water open, since we have the heated belly and heated tanks they won't freeze. I use my tanks and valves the same no matter what the weather or temperature. I suggest you do the same, leaving the valve open invites cold intrusion from the sewer pipe into the tank. I don't know if you added the Canadian heated sewer pipe but if you did then you will have no trouble at all. Talk with you later -

John

-- Edited by motorcycle jack on Saturday 28th of May 2011 02:58:15 PM

John,

Jo and I did order the Canadian Package for our Mobile Suites. We liked the idea of twin furnaces maintaining temperatures separately from the front and rear of the coach. The additional winter protection was also important since we will still be living full-time in the Oklahoma City area for a few more years. And it does freeze here.

I like the idea of the PVC, whether it is the EZE Kleen system for just plain PVC plumbed from the coach outlet to the drain. I like the idea of no buildup of ice in the "valleys" of a flexible hose.

Since we recently got our house sold, this winter will be the first test for us in cold temperatures.

Terry

motorcycle jack · RV-Dreams Community Member

Terry -

Thought I'd answer your question about the sealing gaskets here so it would be available to anyone looking at the EZ-Kleen system. I too had some concerns about how long the gaskets last before they leak but in the 9 months of use there is no problem. I do know that they can be replaced and that there are two o-rings at each seal point. I find the system much easier to use than the flexible type hoses but don't know how long the system will last. If I have a problem or failure I will let you know.

John

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

motorcycle jack wrote:
Terry -

Thought I'd answer your question about the sealing gaskets here so it would be available to anyone looking at the EZ-Kleen system. I too had some concerns about how long the gaskets last before they leak but in the 9 months of use there is no problem. I do know that they can be replaced and that there are two o-rings at each seal point. I find the system much easier to use than the flexible type hoses but don't know how long the system will last. If I have a problem or failure I will let you know.

John

John,

Thanks for the reply, and now I have a few more questions for you. I'm also asking here for the benefit of anyone else who may find the system of interest.

Did you go with the two 42" extensions (13 feet total) or the three 24" extensions (12 feet total)?

Have you felt the need to have one extra extension in addition to what comes with the system? In other words, have you seen a need to go further than 12 to 13 feet from the discharge spout?

Considering the spanner wrench, do you recommend the plyers for the system or has the spanner wrench worked out for you? My concern is that the spanner wrench looks like it is plastic, whereas the plyers look like they would be metal, thus perhaps lasting a lot longer.

Looking at the images online, it appears that the system comes with the spanner wrench and that the plyers are optional. However, the order form specifically states "plyers" as part of the systems. Did your system come with the plyers, of would I need to order them as an option?

According to the order form, it also appears that either system comes with 2 pipe stands. Is that true and have you felt a need for an extra one for a full extension?

Thanks again for any help. While it might be more expensive than a straight PVC system and replacing slinky hoses as needed, it also appears to be a more sturdy system to work with, thus I'm really interested in it.

Terry

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, It looks like you are going to go for it, keep us posted on your experience. I don't mind spending more for something if it makes life easier and is a quality product....G

-- Edited by GENECOP on Thursday 16th of June 2011 12:25:43 PM

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, you do know you can go to either Lowes or Home Depot and replicate the EZClean for way less money. And, you can have left over 3 inch pipe. Just a simple matter of buying a joint of 3 inch PVC, a couple of 3 inch rubber sleeves and clamps and putting it together. You already have the screw in elbow to go into the sewer pipe at your parking spot.
The only unique part they offer is the swivel joint and you can do the same thing with a couple of elbows and some grease. A short nipple, two elbows and grease to seal, wire the elbows together so they don't come apart and you are good to go. No leaks and a lot of money in your pocket.
I had somewhat the same setup while working as a gate guard. The guy hooked it up in about 3 minutes and plugged in the macerator, ready to go. You would not need the macerator.
If all else fails, go to a plumbing supply house and ask them.

RVPAINTER · RV-Dreams Family Member

53 Merc - sounds to me like Terry would be re-inventing the wheel and end up with some leakage as well - I don't think this solution would be a better mouse trap IMHO.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

You could definately reproduce with Reg schedule 40 PVC, however it will not be nearly as easy or convenient as the system that is designed already. The thing that makes this system nice is that multi directional elbow, and the telescoping lengths of pipe, neither of these features can be EASILY reproduced (Leak Free) with off the shelf items....G

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Gene,

That was my thought as well. While I may revert to the standard PVC because we will still be "permanent" in OKC until we retire, it would also give me the flexibility should we change locations for some reason. The telescoping straight pieces couldn't be replicated with regular PVC from the hardware store because there is too much of a difference between one diameter of pipe and the next to allow one to make a "sliding gasket" that would be leak-free.

I am no stranger to fabricating a line of PVC pipe, and I am fairly good at backing a fifth wheel. However, I also recognize the value of a drain line that has some flexibility because from one RV park to another, the distances may very well be much different. In 2009, we stayed in an RV park where the sewer was located at the back of the camper. Fortunately for that occasion, our camper was only a 26 footer.

If I understand this system correctly, I should also be able to have a slinky hose attached to the end of the Eze-Kleen system and be able to reach additional distances if needed.

While we haven't made the final decision yet, I am certainly leaning towards the Eze-Kleen.

Terry

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have been doing this for a long time and I can tell you that from time to time you are going to come upon a campsite where the dump connection is higher than the outlet from your tank. When this happens and I have a flexible hose I just raise the hose and walk my way back to the drain. This is not going to work with the fixed PVC solution so you might want to keep some standard hose available for those "special occasions".

motorcycle jack · RV-Dreams Community Member

Terry -
I got the three 24" with an extra 42" for those times I thought I'd need more length. Also I only received the spanner wrench in the kit I got, didn't know there were pliers available but the spanner works great. A 10' Slinky was in the MS when we got it from the dealer, it could be used to extend the length if ever needed but we haven' used it so far, but have used all 4 pieces at one time. As for what you said about the pipe, yes it is NOT standard schedule 40 size, it is their own extrusion size so that the pieces slide into each other nicely. The two supports are more than enough for lengths up to 12 or 14 feet. As far as recreating the "effect" of the system with standard pipe, it would be VERY hard to create so that each time you moved you had the correct length available, ease of hookup and the lack of using other tools to put it in place. If you had a 4',5',6' and 7' foot with rubber connector sleeves to join them, it would take you at least four times the length of time it takes to just hook up and extend. Also there is NO way to recreate the three flexible 90 degree joints. Also I've never been where the sewer was higher than the outlet of the MS tank, so never had to "walk" 75 gallons of sludge back to the sewer. If I ran into that, I'd ask to move.

What I really like about the system is ease of set up, ease of clean up (that hose connection works great for cleaning the pipe if you close your dump valve and then turn the water on for about 2 minutes) and the fact I never have to worry about the ridges holding stuff when I disconnect and put the hose away - I don't have any!

-- Edited by motorcycle jack on Saturday 18th of June 2011 08:16:43 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks, John.

When I measured the site where we are now, the sewer inlet is about 11 feet from the outlet on the coach. Since I am known as the "King of Overkill", I had the thought for the extra extension, and if worse came to worse, it looks like one could hook the slinky to the end of the Eze-Kleen extension pipes.

I was also considering using all four extensions, even on the 11 foot length, so that each extension would not be fully extended, thus giving each extension more "strength" because they aren't extended. For the same reason, I tend to put wood blocks under the pads on our Mobile Suites hydraulic cylinders. I don't like those fully extended either, because they would be more stable than if they were fully extended.

I really appreciate your answers to my numerous questions. I am now really serious about getting that system. With the right storage tub, all of the components should fit into one, making everything in one place. Well, except for the slinky that came standard with the coach.

I think that your experiences and answers to my questions will be helpful to others here on the forum. Thanks again.

Terry

motorcycle jack · RV-Dreams Community Member

Terry -

When I get time I'm considering putting a 6" PVC across the bottom so that I can just slip the extensions in it instead of taking up other useful storage space. Problem is I need two of them - 24 x 3 = 72 " and then the 48" would go in the second along with the slinky. Still debating that one. Did you get the extra 2" block on the frame so that your MS sits higher for the 450 (I did)? That gives me a little more ground clearance (2" more). That way I don't have to worry about the pipe sticking down.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

motorcycle jack wrote:
Terry -

When I get time I'm considering putting a 6" PVC across the bottom so that I can just slip the extensions in it instead of taking up other useful storage space. Problem is I need two of them - 24 x 3 = 72 " and then the 48" would go in the second along with the slinky. Still debating that one. Did you get the extra 2" block on the frame so that your MS sits higher for the 450 (I did)? That gives me a little more ground clearance (2" more). That way I don't have to worry about the pipe sticking down.

John,

Nope. Didn't go with any extra blocking on the frame, because at the time there wasn't anyone saying anything about needing to get it done for the F450. If I'd known, I might have ordered it that way. Can that sort of thing be done by a regular dealer, or does one have to go to Lippert or DRV?

At the moment for us, storage is not a problem. When Jo was moving everything to the coach and stowing it away, she got to REALLY worrying about what our GVWR was going to be on it. I told her I could take it by the feed store in Tuttle, Oklahoma (near our home at that time) and get the rig weighed. As it turned out, she had room for another 650-700 lbs.

At the moment, our basement looks crowded, but only because I haven't really gotten it organized like it should be. We get paid monthly, so after the first of July, I'll get some tubs and other storage media and start that process.

Terry

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
. As it turned out, she had room for another 650-700 lbs.

I sure hope you kept that data point to yourself. Women abhor any open space and will fill it to capacity.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

53 Merc wrote:
Terry and Jo wrote:
. As it turned out, she had room for another 650-700 lbs.
I sure hope you kept that data point to yourself. Women abhor any open space and will fill it to capacity.

Well, I told her, but she was too late. I had already taken care of it. But, if you've been watching my blog, the opening still exists because we bought a small (6' x8') plastic shed to store some of our stuff in. Next month, I hope to get the basement organized (including some of my tools currently resting in a cardboard box). I got rid of my metal toolboxes because they were just too heavy.

Terry