Mercator pump

[Foldbak]

I'm kicking around the idea of buying one. Not so much for camping but to use at home to flush the tank at my convenance. I'm thinking of connecting the hose to the (we'll call it a clean out for lack of better nomenclature) It's a 4" rubber pop off cap just before the septic tank that would pop off when the tank if full.

https://www.campingworld.com/flojet-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thoughts?

[Lhinkle114]

If you look on Facebook, sometimes she can get them reusable. I found one that was used twice for 75

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Lhinkle114

If you look on Facebook, sometimes she can get them reusable. I found one that was used twice for 75

Well that doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy....if people are selling them are they worth it?

[Carl n Susan]

You say you want a macerator "to use at home to flush the tank". They will drain a tank, albeit slowly, but flushing is not their forte. To me, flushing means using the pressure from a nearly full tank to rapidly empty using a 3" hose to thereby forcing any solids out. The macerator doesn't move a high volume as it it limited by the grinder piece.

But is is very good at moving waste longer distance than a 3" sewer hose and moving it uphill. I use mine occasionally after having guests staying in the RV or not having a chance to dump before returning home. I don't bother to carry it anymore unless I know I will need it.

My RV lives in my back yard and the sewer clean out is located in front of the house. Rather than moving the RV to dump, the macerator enables me to dump in place by running the house into a rear bedroom bathroom toilet. The bathroom is higher than the RV but not a problem for the macerator.

I don't use it very often, but it is convenient when I do. I was given it some time ago. I would have to think more about it if I had to replace it today.

[RMcNeal]

I pretty much exclusively use my macerator in conjunction with the Rhino tote tank. This lets me put the tank in the bed of my truck, pump the waste into the tote tank, and drive to the dump station without having to lift/drag a full 300+ lb tank around.
Had open heart surgery a few years ago and I lost a whole lot of upper body strength. Haven't been the same since. This way, the heaviest thing I have to lift is the empty tank. That I can handle.

[Cat320]

We had a macerator that came on a motor home...it spent it's entire life in our storage building. Too slow and too much trouble.

[Foldbak]

Thanks for all of your input. Carl the closest clean out is 50' away and uphill. That's the only reason I was considering the pump. I would like to thoroughly flush the black tank at my convenience. Trying to flush at a dump site doesn't make and friends.

[bleedmichigan]

We have a flojet and it’s maybe 75-80 ft from the camper drain to the sewer dump at home. It does a great job. We do have to add water often to keep the solids moving but it’s done a great job. We have used it for about two years this way at least 6 times a year.

[DutchmenSport]

Foldback,
I've posted these photos before, so this is nothing new. But, we have a septic tank at home and a few years ago I put in a riser neck so we wouldn't ever have to dig the lid up again in order to pump the tank out.

That opened up the ability to dump the trailer there. Ours does not have a clean out. I wish it did.

The only problem with this was the fact the new "neck" was too tall. So, I built a ramp and use my Barker Blue tote. Like you, the trailer sits, probably 200 feet or more from the septic tank and anywhere near where a cleanout (should) be located.

Living in the country with nothing but a harvested corn field behind the house makes doing things like this a whole lot easier when you don't have nib-nib neighbors breathing down your neck:











These photos were taken about 6 years ago. The "ramp" is just simple cinder blocks with 2x4 and 2x6 -- 8 feet long on both sides. So, it's completely removable. What was suppose to be just a temporary trail and error, ended up staying there for almost 10 years now. For what it's worth, the lumber is now pretty bad. I've needed to replace it a couple years ago, then the little pandemic hit and the price of lumber when insane. I haven't had the heart to purchase new lumber since. I keep laying old sheets of plywood and 2x4's that still have some life left in them on top of all that. If I ever burn that stuff and finally get something new, I'll have one dandy bonfire going!

[dallasrules]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

Thanks for all of your input. Carl the closest clean out is 50' away and uphill. That's the only reason I was considering the pump. I would like to thoroughly flush the black tank at my convenience. Trying to flush at a dump site doesn't make and friends.

How much uphill would it pump? My son has a park model trailer that he wants to move into in the spring. Waste management has been an issue we haven't solved yet. This idea is interesting to me, but the trailer is 50 - 70' from the septic tank, but at least on overall 15' rise? Speed would not be an issue. Would this be too much? Is there a stronger pump?

[RMcNeal]

I'm certain the Flojet can handle that. I've seen it pump up to 100 feet with slightly over 35 foot rise. More than the specs show.

[dallasrules]

Originally Posted by RMcNeal

I'm certain the Flojet can handle that. I've seen it pump up to 100 feet with slightly over 35 foot rise. More than the specs show.

Thank you for the information. Very good to know.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by dallasrules

How much uphill would it pump? My son has a park model trailer that he wants to move into in the spring. Waste management has been an issue we haven't solved yet. This idea is interesting to me, but the trailer is 50 - 70' from the septic tank, but at least on overall 15' rise? Speed would not be an issue. Would this be too much? Is there a stronger pump?

Check YouTube. Lots of videos showing uphill pumping. The main issue with pumping up hill is obvious, once the tank is empty there is nothing for the pump to pump. But the hose is still partially full....

[RMcNeal]

The Flojet has a water hose connection to allow connecting a fresh water source to clean out the pump and discharge hose. If you buy a pump that does not have that, you could use a Flush King on the sewer pipe of your rig and accomplish the same.

[Foldbak]

Good point. Maybe I'm being a bit OCD but I think I'm going to order one and give it a shot. To me a clean black tank is worth the investment!

[MARK A]

Sort of a crappy subject, but I bought a Flo-Jet on Amazon. It pumps through a garden hose (dedicated one..it's even black)
About 60' to my clean out on my home septic tank. Works great!


Mark