Broken Macerator - Tank Full

[Lakejumper]

My friend has an older (I think 2012) Roadtrek with a broken macerator. She wants to empty the tank but the emergency 3” caps are under the van and don’t have a valve gate on them. If she were able to open them, which is difficult because the van is so low to the ground, she would get a messy gusher! Have any of you pumped out through the toilet? We put a sacrificial garden hose down the hole, which wasn’t easy due to the bends in the pipe, yesterday to see if this is feasible. We’re thinking of using a shop vac.

[omjones]

how about camping world??? sometimes they can help in these situations.
john 'I am Canadian'

[Lakejumper]

First of all, thank you for all of your responses. she (the owner) doesn’t have to empty the tank, but wants to as she can’t get it serviced before some planned trips.. This will allow her to use it if she doesn’t have a bathroom close by on her planned trips. Regular RV repair shops don’t want to service vans. La Mesa is the only authorized dealer and they are two hours away and are booked for months. It’s becoming harder to find RV repair shops here. She called a pump out service but their hose won’t fit down the toilet. She does have valve gates and opened one until she found that the macerator was barely making a noise and only a trickle came out. She immediately closed the valve. We weren’t sure if that valve affects the emergency tank caps that are unreachable underneath the RV. Bob Nestor thanks for your answer on the macerator. The first thing I thought about is the impeller. Thanks for all of your help.

[garmp]

Please keep us posted on her choice of remedies and the results.
Good luck.

[bob_nestor]

Had the same problem on my 2010 Roadtrek. Not sure how the 2012 is plumbed, but on my 2010 I was able to remove the macerator pump and repair it without having to drain the full black and gray tanks first. The most likely problem with the macerator is that the rubber impeller has sheared the drive keyway from the motor shaft. It's a pretty simple and inexpensive fix to replace the impeller which can be purchased off Amazon.

[pasusan]

Can't they get the macerator fixed? Or get a new one? This must happen to others.

[LadyRVer]

Never heard of no valve gate. Is there a compartment right about the outlet that maybe the handle is located in? I had a Pleasure Way and yes, it was low to the ground, but I did have the handles.

If me, I would call a septic tank service and get a pump out.

[omjones]

try calling rt to see if they have a solution or a fix.
maybe a rt dealer can help.
john 'I am Canadian'

[Lwiddis]

…and a situation I’m glad not to have.

[PButler96]

A shitty situation.

[bgum]

Find a vacuum truck associated with portable toilet. Pay them to empty.