Drilling the hole for shower drain?

[yamsack]

Hey all,<br>I need to figure out how to drill the hole for the shower drain in my future van.&nbsp; I've seen some YouTube videos about how to actually drill the hole.&nbsp; But, I need to know what to do after the hole is drilled.&nbsp; Should the hole be treated with something to prevent rust?&nbsp; Should the hole be lined with a rubber grommet?&nbsp; <br><br>Based on some folks suggestion regarding the shower drainage, I plan on just having the gray water drain directly out of the van onto the ground.&nbsp; I figure that the stuff that currently flows into gutters and storm drains is way more toxic than just a few gallons of soapy water.<br><br>Anyways, I was thinking about slipping some sort of cylindrical funnel (about 2-3 inches long) that would direct the water from the inside of the van through to the ground.&nbsp; If that is the right method, should the funnel be secured with some sort of caulking, so the water doesn't leak underneath the shower pan and be trapped inside the van, causing mold, mildew, etc.?<br><br>

 

[stude53]

Yamsack,<BR><BR>I am curious ...&nbsp; where do you plan to park your van, and for how long each time?<BR><BR>Depending on your intentions, it may or may not be a good plan to drain gray water directly out the bottom. Most campgrounds would not appreciate your making a muddy mess of their camp site, likewise if parking on friends property.<BR><BR>If you plan to park in the city, near a sewer drain, maybe it's okay.<BR><BR>Just asking ... <IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif"><IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif"><BR>

 

[MK7]

Yamsack,<br><br>I am curious ...&nbsp; where do you plan to park your van, and for how long each time?<br><br>Depending on your intentions, it may or may not be a good plan to drain gray water directly out the bottom. Most campgrounds would not appreciate your making a muddy mess of their camp site, likewise if parking on friends property.<br><br>If you plan to park in the city, near a sewer drain, maybe it's okay.<br><br>Just asking ... <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" align="absMiddle" border="0"><img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" align="absMiddle" border="0"><br>

<br><br>Common sense would work for any of these situations. <br>

 

[4x4tour]

<table class="nested_invisible_table" width="508" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="24"><tbody><tr><td colspan="4" valign="top" height="100%"><span id="post_message_1270104313">Common sense would work for any of these situations. <br></span> </td></tr> <tr></tr></tbody></table>

<br><br><br>MK, <br><br>Could you elaborate on that one, please?&nbsp; I'm thinking some examples might be helpful to the group...&nbsp; <br><br>IMO, a small low profile, rectangular water tank would be the most obvious to me (6" pvc tube running along the frame rail or something), or even one of my ingenious ideas of a slow-release, switched valve and plumb into the tailpipe (about 2' before the tip), thereby having people think its engine condensation (engine would be running).&nbsp; Since I have rear ac/heat, I'm going to build a coil assembly to tie into the rear radiator hoses, thereby having warm water, along with my PVC pipe holding tank.&nbsp; The beauty about PVC is that you can route it easily, or double/tripe stack it horizontally... <br>&nbsp;<br><br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br><br>

 

[Les H]

I like blackjack's preade drain. That is by far the simpleist and easiest approach, I made a grey holding tank for my old Shasta trailer out of a walmart 7 gallon water tote, and using something similar, I cut a drain into the bottom that goes to a regular hose faucet. I can dump the tank with a garden hose or into a bucket or a Rv dump station.
BTW, 4x4, I most Definatly would NOT use PVC pipe for any hot water applications. It can soften the glue ( leading to catastrophic failure) or leech chemicals into the water. A soft copper tube would hold up to the heat and pressure of a radiiator. My van has a second heater in the rear plumbed into the main system with copper tube and radiator hose, and I would love to do a small heat transfer tank for hot water. Someone on here or Cheaprvliving made one out of a 1/4 keg for example....
Les

 

[4x4tour]

Hey Les, <br><br>I wouldn't have thought that 100 degree water would melt the PVC glue.&nbsp; Ive been using Gray PVC tubing for my air compressor lines for 6 years now, and I know compressed air and accompanied hot condensed water coming from the 60 gallon air tank is hotter than that.&nbsp; <br><br>Ive read of many people using 6" pvc tubes. painted black, and mounted on roofs for use as hot water shower tanks etc... with no issues (that we know about)... lol<br><br>I'll have to find out about the possible leeching aspect, for my curiosity.&nbsp; <br><br><br><br><br><br>

 

[MK7]

<table class="nested_invisible_table" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="24" width="508"><tbody><tr><td colspan="4" height="100%" valign="top"><span id="post_message_1270104313">Common sense would work for any of these situations. <br></span> </td></tr> <tr></tr></tbody></table>

<br><br>MK, <br><br>Could you elaborate on that one, please?&nbsp; I'm thinking some examples might be helpful to the group...&nbsp; <br><br>

<br><br>Hi. I was just responding to stude53 nagging questions about where, when, etc. did the OP intend to dump dirty water. Basically it's just common sense and just a little soapy water. Not like a vandweller has the luxury of taking a bath in there and dumping a hundred gallons.<span id="post_message_1270104313"></span><span id="post_message_1270104313"></span>

 

[Les H]

4x4, a PASSIVE ( rooftop) solar system can get around 140• from my research. Be sure to check the glue bottle labor, some are listed for cold water only. On the other hand, an engine radiator can get 195-210• or more, so WAY too hot for PVC, it would soften or even melt. Mobile homes often used the grey PVC, so I'm sure it can be done. Me personally, I wouldn't use PVC for an air compressor. Most PVC that is sch 40 is good for 80 psi at 100• but sch 80 ( if you can find it) is good for much higher., but I have seen the jagged edges it has when it blows apart. I typically run my air at 120-135 psi and a steel 5 gal holding tank is cheap insurance.
Don't get me wrong at all!!! If it works , cool! I have seen more than my share of excellent solutions to things.
One last thought... I have seen and am guilty of having 100's of pounds of ladders, lumber, pipe, etc on my roof. But those don't have a " slosh" factor like water in a tube. 4" PVC holds 1 gal of water per foot@ 8 lbs. If you don't have some sort of baffle in the tube, it's easy to get 100 or more lbs trying to keep going when you stop.
Les

 

[yamsack]

Hey all,<br>In response to the dumping of gray water question, I plan on stealth camping in the city, so the water will just be draining onto the base of the sidewalk and will flow into the storm drains/gutters.&nbsp; Again, it will only be a few gallons of lightly soapy water.<br><br>@ blkjak&nbsp;&nbsp; Just to confirm, you drilled a hole using a 3.5" inch hole saw and inserted a 2" inch shower drain into the hole?&nbsp; I'm assuming the overlap from the drain was large enough to cover the extra 1.5" inch of the hole?&nbsp; Secondly, did the center pilot bit come with the hole saw, how large was the pilot bit, and did you have to purchase the bit separately?&nbsp; Lastly, did the drain assembly require any type of caulking either underneath or sandwiched between the drain and the shower tray?&nbsp; Thanks.<br><br>