From the "no stupid questions" file

[JDSquared]

I'm trying to narrow down my layout options and wondering which side of the bus should the shore power connection on. All of my camping has been with a van and a tent so I don't really pay attention to where the outlets are.

Also wondering which side is more common for water connections, both incoming and outgoing.

Hopefully the passenger side because it looks like that's the side my shower will be on.

[FamilyCircus]

I have a 30' FE and put the water and power inlet on the drivers side about 6 ft from the bumper.

The Propane tank is on the passenger side and the house batteries are just behind the front axle and the grey water tank is also on the drivers side.

[Ronnie]

Generally drivers side. However for electric it is easy enough to run the cord under or around to get to it.

[peteg59]

Most if not all commercially sold campers and RV's have utility connections on the driver side. Gray/black tank drains on that side as well.
Assuming for ease of connection in campgrounds.

You could certainly do either side, bearing in mind that if going to campgrounds on a frequent basis, you might have to move your rig accordingly...

[o1marc]

Campgrounds usually have the hook ups on the driver side. If yours are on the passenger side, it's only 8' more cord you need. Most have much longer cords so it's not an issue. Same with a hose for water hook ups.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Campgrounds usually have the hook ups on the driver side. If yours are on the passenger side, it's only 8' more cord you need. Most have much longer cords so it's not an issue. Same with a hose for water hook ups.

Same for your sewer hose.

I have had to deal with badly placed sewer drains that caused me to need 20'+ of sewer hose. Real PITA for me.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Same for your sewer hose.

I have had to deal with badly placed sewer drains that caused me to need 20'+ of sewer hose. Real PITA for me.

The sewer hose is not used in a camp space though, right?

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by o1marc

The sewer hose is not used in a camp space though, right?

Yes . Each camp space normally has a sewer hose hookup. Except for tent camping spots.

[Ronnie]

I would add that truck stops that have dump stations are on the drivers side and are not convenient to go through the other way.

[JDSquared]

[QUOTE=Ronnie;365298]I would add that truck stops that have dump stations are on the drivers side and are not convenient to go through the other way.[/QUOTE

Thanks for the replies y'all. I think I was mostly wondering about the drain. Walking my bus again today I had no problem with the fill hose and the electric on the driver's side. My shower is on the passenger side though, I think, and at the rear of the bus. I want the grey tank right below it.

Seems a bit difficult to run a drain line across the chassis from the shower to the grey tank and still keep a good slope. But I haven't been underneath enough to measure it out.

I'm still very early in the planning stage.

[Truthseeker4449]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

I would add that truck stops that have dump stations are on the drivers side and are not convenient to go through the other way.

Interesting. Every coach I've seen and worked on thus far has had the toilet tank on the passenger rear corner. The dump stations at the two shops I've worked at are also designed with this mind. I have always wondered what happens if the toilet becomes full out on the road. I guess stopping at a truck stop is not an option in that case.

Valuable information none the less, thank you.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

I would add that truck stops that have dump stations are on the drivers side and are not convenient to go through the other way.

Originally Posted by Truthseeker4449

Interesting. Every coach I've seen and worked on thus far has had the toilet tank on the passenger rear corner. The dump stations at the two shops I've worked at are also designed with this mind. I have always wondered what happens if the toilet becomes full out on the road. I guess stopping at a truck stop is not an option in that case.

Valuable information none the less, thank you.

That's because coaches usually dump at their yards, not at truck stops. As such, the yards are set up accordingly, also coach restrooms are usually located on the right/"passenger" side and it makes little sense to route the waste to the left side.

[Drew Bru]

Originally Posted by JDSquared

Thanks for the replies y'all. I think I was mostly wondering about the drain. Walking my bus again today I had no problem with the fill hose and the electric on the driver's side. My shower is on the passenger side though, I think, and at the rear of the bus. I want the grey tank right below it.

Seems a bit difficult to run a drain line across the chassis from the shower to the grey tank and still keep a good slope. But I haven't been underneath enough to measure it out.

I'm still very early in the planning stage.

Our grey tank is on the passenger side. I run the stinky slinky hose under and across the bus to the dump side. I think we've got a 15' hose? I've got a 10' extension just in case but I've only had to use it once or twice. If you need to put the drain on the passenger side, I say go ahead and do it and run the drain hose under and across when you need to dump.

[JDSquared]

Originally Posted by Drew Bru

Our grey tank is on the passenger side. I run the stinky slinky hose under and across the bus to the dump side. I think we've got a 15' hose? I've got a 10' extension just in case but I've only had to use it once or twice. If you need to put the drain on the passenger side, I say go ahead and do it and run the drain hose under and across when you need to dump.

I guess I hadn't thought about a flexible hose. Not a longer one anyway. That could work.

[Drew Bru]

Originally Posted by JDSquared

I guess I hadn't thought about a flexible hose. Not a longer one anyway. That could work.

I just checked and our normal hose is 15', the extension is 10'. It's not too much of a hassle to empty, really. I pull up as close as possible to the dump station, hook it up to the grey tank, toss it under the bus to the other side then put the business end into the dump station and go back to the passenger side and open the valve. It's a little fiddly but then so is everything else in bus life. People really don't like when you pull into the dump station the wrong way and I've been chewed out for it...but it does make it more convenient.

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur

That's because coaches usually dump at their yards, not at truck stops. As such, the yards are set up accordingly, also coach restrooms are usually located on the right/"passenger" side and it makes little sense to route the waste to the left side.

Just adding a wee bit of clarification here. The "coaches" mentioned are the type that haul people for a living. A coach that has been converted for RV style living has typical RV type tanks and connect/dump/fill location (drivers side).

[JDSquared]

Originally Posted by Drew Bru

I just checked and our normal hose is 15', the extension is 10'. It's not too much of a hassle to empty, really. I pull up as close as possible to the dump station, hook it up to the grey tank, toss it under the bus to the other side then put the business end into the dump station and go back to the passenger side and open the valve. It's a little fiddly but then so is everything else in bus life. People really don't like when you pull into the dump station the wrong way and I've been chewed out for it...but it does make it more convenient.

Originally Posted by Drew Bru

People really don't like when you pull into the dump station the wrong way and I've been chewed out for it...but it does make it more convenient.

Yeah I've noticed at campgrounds we can usually get it from either direction. But it looked like you're supposed to pull up on the driver side. Which prompted my question.

I think I'll actually be in the very back of the bus. I have a lot of room to drain the kitchen sink along the chassis to get back there. Then I wouldn't even be fussing with the hose crawling under the bus except under the rear door and maybe a tow bar

[Drew Bru]

Originally Posted by JDSquared

Yeah I've noticed at campgrounds we can usually get it from either direction. But it looked like you're supposed to pull up on the driver side. Which prompted my question.

I think I'll actually be in the very back of the bus. I have a lot of room to drain the kitchen sink along the chassis to get back there. Then I wouldn't even be fussing with the hose crawling under the bus except under the rear door and maybe a tow bar

Our is also in the very back of the bus, well behind the wheels. I don't have to crawl under the bus at all, just toss it under to the other side...even when hitched up to the towed. The key is to pull up so the dump valve is in line with the dump station. If the campground has double dumps (they're supposed to be accessed via the driver's side) sometimes I'll pull up the wrong way if I'm just dumping and not filling with water.

[ol trunt]

I expect the reason for hook ups being on the drivers side is to help prevent people from backing over the service connections while parking. I have 3 holding tanks ( 2 grey and one black) on my little bus--one of which requires a lift pump to drain into the other grey tank. My holding tanks were all "free to me" so I worked with what I had. This left me with the final drain outlet on the passenger side. I went with a macerator pump and a 5/8" dedicated garden hose so dumping is never a problem and hook up and clean up take only a few seconds.
Jack

.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by o1marc

The sewer hose is not used in a camp space though, right?

Sewer hose is used EVERYWHERE you dump.

I am a pretty laid back sort but if I see someone dumping on the ground we are going to have a problem.