Support for water pipes

Suppy
Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
edited June 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

hi,  I'm hoping I can explain what I mean correctly, so please bear with me 😀

We are leaving for France in a couple of weeks to a site we have stayed at before.  It's on a very gentle slope, barely visible to the eye but last time it meant that the waste water didn't drain away through the pipe to the drain very well, so we ended up using the waste carrier which we fortunately had with us!  

We saw some people had overcome this problem by using what looked like y shaped pegs that they pushed into the ground giving a gentle drop from the waste outlet to the drain.  I've had a look on line, but can't see any for sale anywhere... but that might be because I'm not calling them the right thing when searching!

I'd really rather leave the waste carrier behind if I can to free up space and weight, so if anyone has seen these can you let me know, although I have a feeling they might have been made by someone more ingenious that I am 😀

Many thanks, Sue

 

 

Comments

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited June 2017 #2

    You could use hard ground rock pegs & cable ties to secure you piping to them ........👍

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited June 2017 #3

    Like these .....👍

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
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    edited June 2017 #4

    Just an idea maybe cut/adapt old wire metal coat hangers if you have any.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #5

    Are there really no rocks or stones in France?

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #6

    similar problems at Troutbeck head where some of the drains for the service pitches are actually above ground level. You could try getting some household rigid waste pipes from B&Q or Homebase. If you have the larger waste pipes on the van (32mm) then they will connect by using the push fit connectors (L shaped, in line also sold there). Some people make their own supports using blocks of wood.

    like these http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/universal-waste-pipe---32mmx2m-480730

  • Suppy
    Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited June 2017 #7

    That might work...  I've got more than enough rock pegs when trying to pitch on a club hardstanding pitch... some of them are still straight too 😁 

  • Suppy
    Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited June 2017 #8

    Not enough where we were, unfortunately... plenty of wine bottles in the recycling though 😀

  • Suppy
    Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited June 2017 #9

    I was thinking along the same lines, maybe wrapping the tops in electrical tape or similar to take the sharp edges off though

  • Suppy
    Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited June 2017 #10

    Yes, it was the length of the run from the caravan to the waste drain that wasn't helping matters too... we have rigid pipes for using at uk sites so maybe investing in a few more might be a good idea...

    thanks for the suggestion 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #11

    Glad to help. Our local dealer sells L shaped connector that push into the van's waste outlet at one end and will accept 32mm caravan waste (flexible) pipes and those rigid pipes at the other. We angle it at about 30 degrees to the horizontal and have a long rigid pipe to the drain.  

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 666 ✭
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    edited June 2017 #12

    I purchased some cheap fishing rod rests and cut them to different lengths. I think that I got them from Go Outdoors.

    I now use rigid waste pipe from B&Q connecting lengths of pipe with straight, angled and 90 degree connectors.

    I support them on blocks of wood (cut up patio decking) of different heights.

  • Suppy
    Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited June 2017 #13

    I can see a trip out to explore the areas of outdoor shops that are unfamiliar to me might be a good idea... many thanks for the suggestion as can see how fishing rod supports might work, many thanks for the suggestion

    youd have thought that someone would have made something for the purpose by now, given all the other stuff that is you can get to aid us getting away in our vans!!!

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #14

    actually I remembered seeing on site once that a cheap support is to use a standard 2 litre plastic coke/water bottle. Cut off the tapered part at the top then cut a rigid pipe shaped groove to rest your pipes in them standing up. Fill the bottom of the bottle with stones, earth, water to add stability. Robinson's orange squash ones are made of sturdier plastic.  

    Take a photo and I'm sure you'll qualify for a blue peter badge!

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #15

    We too use rigid pipe when running the waste to a drain.  I made some X-shaped supports from old bits of wood, these can be adjusted to different heights.

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
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    edited June 2017 #16

    I use ordinary 28mm flexible hose with a 32mm push fit 90 deg elbow pushed onto the outside of the hose. The purpose of the elbow is to avoid the rise of the hose where it runs downwards into the drain. I find that this makes a big difference and don't bother with anything else. As long as it can finally run away, it will sort itself out.

  • Suppy
    Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited July 2017 #17

    Just thought I'd give you an update... from uni some cheap fishing rod supports in go outdoors and have cut them down a bit as way too long!!!

    just need to figure how much pipe to take now... leaving on Thursday, so will try and take some pictures one we are all set up and post in our return 

    thanks again for all the tips

    Sue

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #18

    good to hear, how much pipe will depend on where the drain is? so middle of you van you'll need a length to the back and along. The pipes are easy to cut with a small hacksaw.

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
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    edited July 2017 #19

    Recently we were allocated a 'Special' pitch at Le Brabois (Nancy) that had dedicated 'drainage' on pitch - unfortunately our pitch was well below the drain point and we would have needed a pump to get the water to run uphill! 

    We carry a long flexible waste hose - find it easier to store as it bends to fit in the front locker!

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
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    edited July 2017 #20

    There are drainage pumps available which filter the grey waste and pump it up to the drain. I've seen a couple.

  • lesbunny
    lesbunny Forum Participant Posts: 133
    edited July 2017 #21

    A solution we found was to knock a few pegs into the ground & attach the waste pipe to them using medium sized rubber bands. Quick simple & cheap. 

  • Suppy
    Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited July 2017 #22

    Well we've bought a few lengths of pipe and hope to be able to rig something up along with the flexible hose.  What we do will depend on the pitch and it's slope, how we put the van, relative position of the waste point... and probably a lot more besides 😀

    Many thanks to everyone who has posted their suggestions, it's been a great help

    taking the waste master just in case... ah first world caravanning problems... 😀😀😀

    still, hoping that there isn't a repeat of last year when someone was caught emptying their loo down the waste water drain 😷🤢  

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited July 2017 #23

    I have just made a ' Grey water disposal unit' Very simply, it consists of a plastic box (3Lt Really Useful Box ) inside is placed an automatic bilge pump and the box is drilled to allow the 'exhaust ' pipe which is 5 mts long,  to exit the box for the drain. You'll need a 12v feed to it. The waste inlet from the caravan comes in as normal from the top- as soon as the water in the box floats the switch, it starts the pump and all the waste water is disposed of. I am non EHU and it is useful for pumping waste water into the bottom of hedges etc but I can't see why the same system can't be used to pump the water to a drain.I am looking forward to not emptying the wastemaster any more!! 

  • Suppy
    Suppy Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited August 2017 #24

    Wow Merve that sounds rather ingenuous!!  I'll have to consider that for next year...

    despite being more prepared than is probably healthy, this year the waste point was about a two feet from the van... but justified taking half of Wickes to France by dishing it out to anyone that needed it.  Still have enough pipe and fittings to replumb half of the house though 🙄

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
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    edited August 2017 #25

    These are produced in a variety of sizes. The ones I've seen on tinternet were AC powered though. They have a filter to protect the pump. I believe they are fitted to some of the more expensive motorhomes.

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