I am a Product Design student at Derby University – my family and I are members of the Caravan Club. For my final year I had to think of a product I could improve. I am very interested in caravans and wanted to design something related to this.
I believe I can improve the wastewater container for touring caravans
Could I have people’s views on current containers already on the market?
Do you find them “very easy” or “very difficult” to transport to the wastewater point when full.
Is there anything in particular that you do or don’t like about your wastewater container?
I would be extremely grateful for as many people’s opinions and feedback as possible.
the release of the fluid is abit messy, and normally makes alittle mess, i dont find them hard to transport but they can be abit heavy, and i find that its hard to fill them right up due to odd shape.and cleaning them out can be hard to
It could be easier to clean, but as it is used for transporting grey water cleaning it is a waste of time. I just chuck a bit of Zoflora in it every now and then.
Think about how you are going to process your data. In your place I'd have a list of statements with a Likert scale - easy to process results and you can then talk about what wasn't said in your discussion. You need a viariety of methodology. How do you propose to check your data through triangulation? Talk this through with your tutor.
People use different ways of storing their waste water that drains from the caravan actually and there are different holding tanks on the market that you can purchase. The one I use which I think is the best is the 'Wastemaster' which is constructed as a one piece moulded tank which is robust in it's design and will also carry the toilet tank as well without any problems. The second favourite is the 'Waste Hog' which is also has a toilet cassette carrier which folds down by means of swivel hinges but this design in my view is weaker and will only carry the C200 and not the C4 cassette which the 'Wastemaster' will do. The 'Waste Hog' also has a built in gauge in the cap to show when the tank is full and although the idea is clever I know for certain that this method has a flaw in the fact that everyone I know their gauge has either broken or ceased up due to rust and no longer operates which could be something that could be improved by making a gauge that has internal parts that are designed to withstand water and impact. The other tank is the basic cube tank with two caps, one on the side and one on the top. There is nothing that can go wrong with these basically apart from the rubber seals being worn in time but usually they require a separate trolley to dispatch to the waste water drain on site which is an extra piece of equipment required to do the task. So overall in my own personal view and experience of fellow caravanners, the only item that really needs improving is the built in gauge in the cap. Although the 'Waste Hog' is manufactured by Pyramid Products I think the company when into administration earlier this year although I'm not absolutely sure whether they found another buyer or not.
I use the one not mentioned in previous posts, The Fiamma one, which has a metal handle that folds out for moving it.I find no problem using this (or the wastemaster I have had in the past) Two important considerations for me are 1. how easily the unit marries up with the waste pipe and locates under the caravan. 2. how easy it is to fit into the available storage space .
Instead of making another waste-hog how about giving the tenters something that everybody else has, from trailer tents to luxurious motor-homes they have a water system on tap without having to lift the water carrier. Have a look at Fresh water on clamp
But we also use the Wastehog and as others have said it does what it says on the packet. The Shelf/ hose section is great but could do with being stronger or even lowering. For keeping the bits in, it great. Fill gauge again good idea until it filled with waste water. Now changed for a solid lid. This one is heavy enough when full at it's present size. Hope this helps.
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
In times of drought we use our washing up water to water our plants ,so the waste water can not be toxic and I do not think caravanners pour heaps of fat through their drain pipes.So why can't we have a container about the size of a 5gallon one which can be split in half with some sort of replacable filter ,the waste water could then pass through the filter and be made safe and slowly seep out of the bottom via a pipe to slowly dissapear into the ground,this would be a boon to older and infirm caravanners .If this ends up on Dragons Den I want 10% of the company
Think about the weight when full and how the load can be counterbalanced to keep the weight off the handle and maximise any effort towards the movement of the carrier. Ensure that the handle at the top is wide enough so that the wheels are not so close to your heels they catch when pulling the carrier along. A cap that attaches to the waste pipe with a vent valve build into cap thereby making it a closed top and thus stopping mice, insects etc from entering the tank when in use. Small support legs to keep tank slightly off ground to prevent damage to grass and also helping to keep outside of tank a bit cleaner. Removable wheels to facilitate stowage as required. Under caravan storage rack (could be in place of existing spare wheel carrier or similar location.
There are probably loads of other ideas but the above are just a few that came into my head and they may not all be good ideas!
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
Quote: Originally posted by lunarlexonds on 30/10/2011
Hello,
I am a Product Design student at Derby University – my family and I are members of the Caravan Club. For my final year I had to think of a product I could improve. I am very interested in caravans and wanted to design something related to this.
I believe I can improve the waste water container for touring caravans
Could I have people’s views on current containers already on the market?
Do you find them “very easy” or “very difficult” to transport to the waste water point when full.
Is there anything in particular that you do or don’t like about your waste water container?
I would be extremely grateful for as many people’s opinions and feedback as possible.
Thank you - Alex
this my version of a major improvement to the water carrier.i designed this mod in 2006 the pdf will explain.and offered it to the big two,one of these has gone bust now.it makes it easy for a child or disabled person who can hook it onto the chair to pull it full to the waste point.the mod could be designed into the finished item.the only drawback was the wheel i fitted being noisy,a rubber one will sort this.the other thing was these things stink unbelievable if no additive is put in.i use a strong bleach to keep it fresh.it needs a bleach tablet of sorts you can just drop in after emptying or a stick into the water that dissolves or a period of time.this could be added as a separate location on the container.thanks to papa pip for doing the pdf for me.
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Topic: Waste water help & advice
