How to Replace a RV Black Tank....WARNING: IT'S GROSS! 

After being charged $200 for Camping World to tell me I'd have to have a tank custom made so they could charge me $700 to install it (custom fabricated tank would have cost over $1500) and then waiting for another rv service shop for a month with no quote because they couldn't get parts, I followed your video and installed a perfectly matched (blank on top) tank I found on Amazon for a few hundred dollars. Thanks for a great video! I would have never attempted this without your help.

I have no doubt why customers come from out of state for your expertise and attention to detail. Always willing to do any job with a smile and offer any help.

Every repair you make is detailed very much to help us average folks repair our own rigs. You also have an extreme amount of patience...which us average folks generally do not have. Thanks for your effort in putting these videos together. It is much appreciated!

I really like your videos - and your tolerance for discomfort is a credit to you. Cheers

Thank you so much! I'm still overwhelmed but I feel much better equipped as a new owner doing a restoration on an older model.

I'm about to build an RV out of an old short school bus. This has given me some direction! Great job, Thanks for the help!

Great Job. Not only on the replacement of the Tank. But also clearly explaining how and why on the step's taken. 👍😎✌🙏

Thanks for explaining as well showing how its done. So many people put some awful music to a "how-to montage" and we learn nothing. This video was great! Thank you!

4:30 "ok so apparently I've done everything wrong" sounds like my life summed up in one sentence :)

Awesome Video! I never understood how these work exactly? Now I know. I'm going to be doing a video on this and will refer to this video. You should see a pump in traffic 👍 Thank you, John

You're a saint. Do you know how many tech's would have just said no? And you did a first class job as usual. Also, I have long wondered how the connections were made, especially the slip fitting. This is the first time I have actually seen one. Do the glue-in fitting also allow you to slide the pipe through? Mine seems to be glued but pushed in too far. Thanks for a great video.

Thanks for the video! I plan to install a larger gray water tank and this really helped me understand what I'll need to do. Great video!

Always good to have a FREIND help.

Im glad I found this information, I was about to take those tanks out to repair it, but it is not easy job, I will separate a whole day to entertain and patiently do a good work on my R.V. Thank you Mister, That was a good help for us beginners .

Thank you for making a video anybody else would have been too intimidated to make. It benefits all who watch it. The 1x4 support was a great idea. Beside the needed support It should also keep the tank temperature from fluctuating wildly as wood does does thermally bridge hot and cold. You stayed upbeat and positive the whole way through. Great video! Congratulations.

I showered after watching this video.

Have watched you for a long time and always give you a thumbs up. Love your videos and expertise. You are a true and honest gentleman. I applaud you and your work. Yer awesome. Thank you my friend. Regards, Myk

Lack of support seams to be a common cause for tank cracks. Flexing of the material while cold or just repetitive vibration.

Great job! I hope you got paid very very very well! I really like how you placed the 1x2 wood supports under the tank. I think i need to check my tanks for that. Thanks

I like all your "bonus footage" at the ends of your videos!!! If a job is worth doing it's worth doing Right!!! 👍it is good to see your work in a world where 🤏👎the work motto is " good enough"🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Great job, might want to consider using a white paint marker on some of your projects, it will make seeing your lines/ trace mark easier.

Mine just had a partial blockage where the toilet pipe enters the tank, looked like just sewage that dried out during the winter and couldn’t be melted away no matter how much treatment chemical we threw at it. Didn’t realize there was a vent pipe till after I cut the toilet pipe. Pretty sure I got the blockage chipped away so if I can get the pipe sealed back together won’t even have to actually drop the tank. What a fun job.

This video is very detailed and informative! Love how you took the time to explain the necessary info. and not drag the video on like most DIY videos. Definitely subscribing to your channel!!!

Liked and subscribed because of your ability to maintain your composure and professionalism in the face of... well... THAT. Well done! :)

I watched your video before replacing my tank. Thank you very much it was very informative and detailed. I have a 41 ft toy hauler where the garage is separate from the living area. Once again thank you so much for the video, you saved me a lot of work. For now I have an outhouse thrown in the garage I have serviced weekly😊

Everytime I see one of your videos I learn. I had not idea about the fruit flies. thanks again for showing everything even if it is sometimes gross.

😱😱😱 Money Shot!!!!!!!!!!! Scary video James!!! I can't "unsee" that! Glad you were able to help out here! My 2nd Mod will be to add a Tank Flush, so it was great to see how the "No Fuss Flush" is installed! Take care out there! ~Big C in the DP 📢 ::: Air Horn 📢 ::: ::: Air Brakes! ::: 🚌🚌🚌

Great vid guy ! My rv had a large soccer ball crack I got hitting debris on trans 🇨🇦 hwy. I took out tank on my rv , hot steamed tank then dried. I used my wood burning tool too heat weld crack. Then used West system epoxy with fibre cloth & holds water great ! Waiting for none minus-40s temps to instal. 72+🍁 Manitoba hunter expat. Retired plumber

Horrible experience is right. Thanks for the video. Happy trails!

I felt sick just watching the job. You are a stronger person than me. I would have dropped by lunch many times.

Damn. I don't wanna have to deal with that spillage. I'm want to take mine out completely, and put in a regular toilet to hook up to regular plumbing with septic tank. I'm renovating and remodeling a 5th wheel into a permanent tiny home. But this looks like some work, and a mess to deal with.

Oh damn you poor guy every step of the way, the discovery of more complication! Luckily your million dollar smile fixes everything along with your tenacity and smarts!!! And great humor!😵😫😩🧐🤔😷👏👏👏👍

Your a master tech, your a big encouragement, to us do it yourselfers, THANKS YOU for the education.

that owner is a jerk. I couldn't imagine asking you to replace the black tank without flushing it for hours

Thank you so much for this! Ive been looking for a real professional to walk me through this and I've not found a one able to share of his time and knowledge. Seems like most experienced people have been treated so badly they just really don't want to deal with a newbie. I refuse to give a sob story to get help, i feel like it should be enough to just say hey I'm a new owner and I'll pay for your time if you can talk with me and walk me through this stuff on paper. I don't want to be a bother to someone on their own clock so if there's static I'm like mkay no prob man ty. I'm a married mom but I'm pretty much on my own with this stuff and I'm looking at selling the house and moving my family into our trailer until i can buy a new house in a better school district/different state. Four sons and a toddler plus my two large dogs in a travel trailer with a good salvage title. There's a lot i need to do but taking out the black tank is the highest and most dreaded of the repairs. I'm taking it out and putting in a compost toilet. I know once i crack that sucker I'm in it till the end and i have zero idea how to even start but like they're depending on me so i figured whelp- good time to learn lololol🤦‍♀️💀🙃. I can absolutely do this now. Thank you. Honestly thank you. If you were here in person id feed the shit outta you omg thank you so very much. God bless and keep you my friend.

A Noga deburring tool would come in handy after seeing the swarf left on the holesaw cut... Cheap tool kit lets you cut off sharp edges from lots of materials!

Dear Sir just for future reference the toilet flange sits on top of the tile and grout that is why this toilet was leaking and probably rocking. I see so many DIY people make this mistake. Happiness follows when the stink goes away.

You are an amazing RV tech.....

Stinky Job, but somebody had to do it. You did as always a great job on it.

I do sewer cleaning and inspections for sewer lines “not septic tanks “ in neighborhoods the smell is well not great but Rv parks are the worst smelling places I’ve ever been “as far as dealing with sewer access points” does not smell like money lol

I know this is post is old, but are some tanks bowed lower from end to end like a trough on my 2019 42' Riverstone? I'll be pulling the Bristol valve and checking the paddle for proper settings on open and close positions today. After dumping I can see a little water below the toilet drop and maybe it's designed that way to combat piling? I will know for certain today cuz I will use a depstech camera and look at the tank from the valve end and see how much water is not draining fully open. I could send a pic because there is a low "trough" down the middle, end to end; but; there are two angle brackets on the main trailer rails running below the trough yet only effective if a 1x2 pine board goes end to end. Then in the middle of the tank holding the middle is a 2" wide metal band but it hangs left to right 1.5" below the tank's contour holding nothing? I think the board should run end to end or strap it end to end so the bottom of the tank doesn't sag anymore. It could be the way they are designed?

Thank you. Simply amazing your skills. Thanks for giving us the tech's view so that we understand all this.

This might be a dumb question but, I know the tank has cracks in it and stuff but maybe you could temporarily seal the crack and use a camco tank spin washer to clean out the black tank and flush as much of the sewage as possible before trying to remove and replace the tank? I'd need a hazmat suit to keep from puking on myself doing it the way you did. Awesome work though. I appreciate the video.

This is so awesome, thank you for sharing!

If I were to hire a technician to replace a black tank, I couldn’t fathom not having the tank well flushed and dumped…

Great video. I am about to have to do the same thing. Thanks.

Loved the video Great information . Thank you for all the time you have put into this video for me !

Good job on a "bad" job... Also I use a silver marker, from Lowe's, for marking black plastic and other dark material. Much easier to see, especially for my old eyes.

Hook up to sewer pipe and flush the toilet and tank for 20 minutes to make this job a little less gross

Nice work as usual. The disgusting part of having a house on wheels. I see several videos now of people taking out the black tank for a composting toilet. I can see the attraction of not having to dump the tank or deal with this kind of situation ,but it seems to me the composting needs a lot of attention. Just my 2 cents

I know this was a nasty job but I learned a lot. Can you show us on the Beaver how you would get to the tanks if they had to be replaced?

Well your misfortune, our gain, now someone could attempt it? Thanks for your expertise and knowledge and video

Excellent Job! I’m sure glad it was you and not me, as I’m getting too old at 70 crawling around the belly. On my class A, I believe my tanks are sitting on a enclosed supported bottom frame, so I am good with that. If it needs to be worked on, it will be a night mare to get to the tanks, as it is right above the rear axle with 1/8” metal enclosed case, welded in place 😡.

I may be looking at doing the same job soon. The under belly is sagging from the weight of the sewage.

Thanks John. Another great video. Great instruction.

So they couldn’t empty and clean the tank before bringing it to you? That’s very nice of them

My 93 30 foot holiday rambler travel trailer just started leaking sewage into the underbelly. I gotta get it fixed because we live in it when we are not on rhe road in the semi truck. Having a hard time finding anyone to do the job

the best question is - where are you located so you can replace my tanks, and can you install a larger tank and are there higher quality tanks?

I have a 2007 Dutchmen Grand Junction I just bought that's going to be permanent on the property I was thinking about dropping the tanks and turning it into a park model that I have not dropped the bottom skin to see what I'm getting into

Well Done

Great Video! I am building my own camper and using a 1983 Fleetwood Terrry Trailer that I have demoed down to the trailer. I am changing the floor plan from the original one and that includes moving the bathroom around. I was wondering if you have ever covered the old 3" input hole and moved it to somewhere else on the black tank? I am trying to save as much on this build as I can and would rather not buy a whole new black tank. I was thinking maybe just using silicone and a thin metal sheet would do? Appreciate your thoughts!

Silver sharpie works great for marking abs

Love your videos you’re so handsome. I’m totally bringing my RV to ya when I come to az lol

Can I delete the black tank and just run a straight pipe, since im always at an RV park and never camping?

I have a 92 Dutchmen Classic and I have to replace my black tank, I am so scared to do so now. I can't afford a technician either, I hope this will be a bit easier then what you had to do.

How is the tank held up . Is it screwed to the bottom of floor ? I saw space between the tank and the rail .

Great video! Very informative

SHIT!!!! what a very nice detailed video____good job___ I have to relocate my toilet bowl, now I have the info I need

Thank you and I was wondering we’re doing you get your parts

amazing work 👊

I have a 2006 Gulf Stream 5th Wheel and my daughter has a 400lb power wheel chair, do you think my floor will support her or should I reinforce the floor? I love your channel and have watched most of your videos.

Thank you for this. I have a leaking black tank but it’s enclosed in some sort of winterized box. I spend winters in AZ. I’ve been dumping to a dump buddy so it doesn’t drip out as much. How much do you charge for replacing or fixing? And when might you be available?

Your a very brave man 😂💪👍

I have a black tank on a park model I had a tech look at it because there is septic drain on site he said no thanks .But charged me 100$ to close up for winter . He said that’s a shitty job .

Wow was that a wet toilet with a hand bidet as well? 😮 I've been looking for this for ages brother. Can you do a video how can one do this in there camper van? Everyone using composting or any other. Not this one. 🙏

No wonder people have so much trouble with these tanks. Is not deep at all. Very surprising.

I think composting toilets should be standard. Using a conventional plumbed toilet on an RV is insanity - so much to go wrong and SO UNPLEASANT to fix!

Oldgoat wondered when you would notice shipping damage

Could you please explain what you used to repair the tank where it was broken from shipping? It looks like you used some sort of fabric or cloth embedded with the stuff used to seal it back up. Thank you for your time. John

Million $ question for you. If I purchase an older working camper. Is it possible to gut it, and put the electrical and plumbing in a cargo van? I guess I’m asking if you would recommend doing it this way?

Excellent video, John. I need to replace my black tank and this showed me how. Are the grommets Uniseal? I not, what brand are you using.

Go buy some Silver Permanent Markers you’ll love them for working on black.

Seems like some flex seal before dumping the tank thoroughly would be an idea

Respect!…..The dirty jobs are the hardest for sure!

Thank you for the video! I am currently relocating the bathroom in my fifth wheel from the front to the back. Would I have to relocate the black tank as well?

It is a crappy job - pun intended. But the fact that you always try to do the right repair, even sometimes when it goes beyond the scope of the job at hand, says why you're a good RV repair shop, and I would be happy to bring my trailer in when something major is needed.

I don't think shit smells like roses lol

Please list your screw sizes and tools in layman terms and model names I can use for buying. Is there any tools I should try to rent? Thank you for your time and your help.

I want to put a composting toilet and get rid of my black tank entirely. how would i dispose of the old tank? is there any rules on that? Thanks RV Daddy.

Nice work yet again...Quick question for you...This tank looks like a roto molded style which has the tiny lip, for the strict ABS style with the 3 inch mold can that be drilled into to secure such a tank like those from Class A RV Parts? Trying a retro fit style application.

How difficult would it be to replace a black water tank with a fresh water tank and connected it to the other fresh water tank?

Ugh! But had to be done. Good work!

Do these toilets tanks vent to the roof some how cause purs smells terrible every time we open the ball when stepping on the toilet flush I've opened our septic tanks for 20 yrs an yes it's a poop smell but this brand new rv has a God offel septic/ methane smell this smell is only in rv s that I've noticed kinda seems like it should vent to the roof 24/7 an not just when we flush the toilet

I felt for you on this one.

How do you go about attaching the Fittings to the grommets? Just slide in or do you use a sealant too?

May I ask where you got the flanges for the new tank? Planning on replacing mine soon like this.

Great job thank you Sir

Have you ever installed an aerator a black tank?

Hey man good video very helpful, would this be the same work on a 1999 winnebago. Thanks

How much would a tank replacment repair cost?