Question on fully self contained sleepers?
- Thread starter busop1
- Start date
MentalGiant
Seasoned Expediter
Streakn1
Veteran Expediter
Our 132" ARI sleeper is equiped with a holding tank for wastewater from the toilet. It also has an optional grey water holding tank for showering. This is an option with our sleeper manufacturer and in my opinion worth the added expense. Many times after tarping our loads at the shipper we will shower before leaving. As a courtesy to our customer we don't allow our shower water to discharge onto their property. Rather we retain it and dump it elsewhere.
Currently the only water that discharges directly to the ground is from our kitchen sink. As more states reclassify sink water from grey to black water I have decided to have our sleeper manufacturer add a holding tank to capture and retain our sink water also.
The flying Js that have RV dump stations (most do) have full service RV islands which include potable water. Another good guide is a campground locator. Most have RV dumps availible to the passerby for a small fee.
Currently the only water that discharges directly to the ground is from our kitchen sink. As more states reclassify sink water from grey to black water I have decided to have our sleeper manufacturer add a holding tank to capture and retain our sink water also.
The flying Js that have RV dump stations (most do) have full service RV islands which include potable water. Another good guide is a campground locator. Most have RV dumps availible to the passerby for a small fee.
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Streakn1
Veteran Expediter
The Js are free. Interstate rest areas with dump stations are free. Iowa is one state with dumps in their rest areas. RV parks vary from free to $5.00 or more. Most we've ever paid is $12.00.
Also, its not as hard to find a place to dump as it can be to find one that is not closed, frozen up, or unable to get to in the winter months.
Also, its not as hard to find a place to dump as it can be to find one that is not closed, frozen up, or unable to get to in the winter months.
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For those sleeper buyers considering a setup requiring pluming and storage of water. Remember this. You Must have a plan to keep the water from freezing during down times.
Shore power is one option I would recommend. Also consider what will happen when the truck has to be in the shop for repairs. System can freeze up while waiting for the tech to get it inside.
Failure to plan ahead, is a plan to fail.
Shore power is one option I would recommend. Also consider what will happen when the truck has to be in the shop for repairs. System can freeze up while waiting for the tech to get it inside.
Failure to plan ahead, is a plan to fail.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
DO NOT use the water at the J's RV stationsaccept for rinsing your toilet and then use a jug. As matter of fact don't use the ones at the rest stops for drinking water. There is no guarantee that the water is safe, as I found a long time ago the hard way.
Go out and get distilled water from walmart for 75 cents a gallon or get one of those refillable five gallon jugs and refill it at walmart. ALWAYS be careful with water.
AND remember that sometimes the j's don't properly maintaine the dump site and you may find it unusable.
Go out and get distilled water from walmart for 75 cents a gallon or get one of those refillable five gallon jugs and refill it at walmart. ALWAYS be careful with water.
AND remember that sometimes the j's don't properly maintaine the dump site and you may find it unusable.
mjolnir131
Veteran Expediter
One of the appendixes in the Road Atlas is a list of the rest stops that have dump sights
moose
Veteran Expediter
do you know it for a fact ?
can you post a link ?
I remember asking that very same question to the ARI and ICT sells reps. at the MATS last year , and got a defer answers .
not only with the sink water , but shower water as well .
same gos to most campgrounds , and that why many campers come with an outside shower ,
looks like a sells pitch to me ...
you will have to post a link to clear you name
Moose.
Home.
Streakn1
Veteran Expediter
As one example the State of California weigh station on NB I-5 heading towards Grapevine. Was pulled in right after we bought our tractor for a vehicle inspection. The officer was quite interested in our sleeper and what all was inside for ammenities since he owned a large motorhome himself. In the course of our conversation he mentioned that California no longer views sink water as grey water. Reason being that not only can it contain soap but also organic material such as food,etc thus changing the state's definition to black water. In his position I have to assume he was siting the law. He did indicate that California has not been fully enforcing that law to date.
Am I cleared? LOL
Am I cleared? LOL
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Yes, our truck has a blackwater tank, and no we do not find it difficult to empty it, even in the winter when many dump stations are closed. The tank is not what you see on large RVs where a hose us used to connect to a dump station. It is removable from the truck and has a spout on it. You remove the tank, open the spout and pour the contents into the dump station drain or any toilet.
If no dump station is available the tank is easy to handle and the contents can be poured into any toilet. To be discrete, we purchased a wheeled piece of luggage into which the tank can be placed. We often wheel it in with us when using a truck stop shower.
Once, being in a very high-rent area of Los Angeles, miles away from an RV park dump station or truck stop, and having a full tank; I put on my church clothes to blend in with the crowd, walked into a five star hotel with my "luggage," entered a rest room and serviced the tank there.
With the setup ARI provides, you are not dump-station dependent like RVs are. I have seen expediter trucks that have large tanks on them that are dump station dependent. I do not receommend that as the way to "go."
Yesteryear
Expert Expediter
Oh my, I have been arguing with my husband for 3 years now that there was no way there where showers in some of these sleepers. He just kept insisting there was. Now here it is! Why, I am just flabbergasted! Wouldn't having a shower in the sleeper take up too much of the weight capacity? I mean, the truck wouldn't be able to carry much freight would it if it's carrying a water tank large enough for showering?
If you click the truck specs link in my signature below, you can read all about our truck. Things like tank capacities and weight distribution are discussed. See the ARI web site for interior sleeper pictures and more infomation.
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Yesteryear
Expert Expediter
OMG! That truck is indescribably awesome! Oh, I love my truck but I am soooooo jealous of yours! (Not that I don't want you to have it, heeheehee, just I want one toooooo)
I am afraid it will be a while before it all gets written. Ongoing projects tend to get bumped to the back burner. Thank you for your interest, maybe I can bump the project up a bit. We put the truck on the road almost three years ago and the spec sheets you mention are not done yet.
moose
Veteran Expediter
Haredly !
why is it that you "let" the officer into you home to begin with ,
i know there are many "hero story" out there ,
my experience , was the 3 times in over a million mil. that officers have asked to enter my truck.
in all 3 occasions , i have told them that i will be happy to present any documentation to show that my truck is spect right , and that it past a DOT inspections.
they have no right to enter my home , and they know it .
it was my experience that just because they seems to know the law , dose not say they do .
i also find it hard to baleave that ARI will spec a sleeper that is not 100% legal , and that you will ask for accessory's just to be in compliance ,
same gos for the lower bunk safety net , they don't offer it as standard , because it is not necessary for the sleeper to be legal .
im in the process of specking my next sleeper , and it will be a well appreciate help if any one can present a link to any of those so called regulations , so i can present it to the sleepers manufacture .
Moose.
home.
packing.
babysitting...oh my...
moose
Veteran Expediter
393.76 , Sleeper berth :
(h) Occupant restraint. A motor vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 1971, and equipped with a sleeper berth must be equipped with a means of preventing ejection of the occupant of the sleeper berth during deceleration of the vehicle. The restraint system must be designed, installed, and maintained to withstand a minimum total force of 6,000 pounds applied toward the front of the vehicle and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Member Assistance Agent
Member Assistance
Owner-Operator Services, Inc.
800-444-5791
816-229-5791
Ext. 1470
[email protected]
nothing about safety net ,
Moose.
(h) Occupant restraint. A motor vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 1971, and equipped with a sleeper berth must be equipped with a means of preventing ejection of the occupant of the sleeper berth during deceleration of the vehicle. The restraint system must be designed, installed, and maintained to withstand a minimum total force of 6,000 pounds applied toward the front of the vehicle and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Member Assistance Agent
Member Assistance
Owner-Operator Services, Inc.
800-444-5791
816-229-5791
Ext. 1470
[email protected]
nothing about safety net ,
Moose.