We were returning from a trip to AZ, north on Calif route 99 just past Merced when it happened. I was in the #2 lane of a 3-lane segment, towing the Jeep, a truck on the right side of the(that I was passing) and another RV on the left side. Speed about 60 mph. Just ahead an SUV swerved sharply and managed to barely avoid running over an intact retread from a semi truck tire casing. I had no time or distance to avoid it and ran over it with the left tires. I heard that impact. Pulled over a few minutes later to assess the damage. The retread had flipped up and smashed the sewer drain valve assembly. The gray water tank line snapped at the tank attachment, and the black line at the valve assembly. FORTUNATELY, I had dumped both tanks that morning!
I found several informative threads on this issue, and I thank all for the prior posters for recent and years-old advice. I am asking now if anyone can update said advice regarding informative threads, YouTube vids, parts resources, repair hacks, valve assembly protection (although this will be sort of useless unless a major relocation or remounting of the assembly could be done), etc?
By the way, I do carry a portable macerator, but I prefer to use plain old gravity. Pic to follow later today.
Please post several photos of the damage. Believe it or not, many have suffered similar problems. Most can be fixed.
The dump valves are available online, and the ABS plumbing parts are at any hardware store.
I recently replaced both dump valves on our LKD. One valve was seeping. I guess every 20 years or so, the valves need replacement.
Amazon.com: Valterra-T1003VPM Bladex 3-Inch Waste Valve Body with Metal... (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BGK22E?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title)
Amazon.com: Valterra T1001VPM Bladex 1-1/2" Waste Valve Body with Metal... (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BGM7LS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title)
Larry
Here are a few admittedly terrible pix that show the three main failure points: The bent gray water valve; the crack in the black water outlet from the tank (not actually on the tank, just the outlet fitting); the severed gray water tube from tank to valve after the bend.
This is the assembly I will order to replace the damaged one:
https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Waste-Valves/Valterra/T68.html