RV owners are often familiar with chasing down mysterious odors. A common first step is checking if your floor drain P-trap has gone dry. While that’s a valid starting point, sometimes the source is more unexpected, like a faulty Travel Trailer Toilet Seal.
The Unexpected Culprit: A Cracked Toilet Flange
Initially, like many others, I suspected the usual culprits for the unpleasant smell in my travel trailer. I diligently checked and addressed the drain traps. However, the odor persisted. It turned out the real issue was a cracked toilet mounting flange. This crack, hidden beneath the toilet, allowed black water to leak slowly, dripping onto the black tank and between the trailer hulls. Over time, this seemingly minor crack worsened.
The problem became undeniably clear when flushing the toilet resulted in water leaking from under the trailer, specifically from the under-hull scupper below the bathroom. This pointed directly to a leak in the toilet system itself, closer to the source.
Cracked plastic toilet flange in a travel trailer, highlighting a common cause of black water leaks and odor issues related to the travel trailer toilet seal.
It seems Oliver trailers, like many RVs, use plastic toilet flanges. While common in residential construction, these plastic flanges can be prone to cracking in the mobile environment of a travel trailer. The constant movement and vibration, combined with the weight of a porcelain toilet bowl, can stress the plastic. Interestingly, some owners have even reported finding cracked flanges in brand new trailers, suggesting potential damage during initial toilet installation.
The Fix: New Flange and Dometic Toilet Seal
To resolve this, I replaced the cracked plastic flange with a sturdier alternative – a new toilet flange featuring a stainless steel ring. This metal ring provides significantly improved support for the toilet mounting bolts, reducing stress on the flange itself and creating a more reliable travel trailer toilet seal.
Upgraded toilet flange with a stainless steel ring for enhanced durability, replacing the cracked plastic flange and ensuring a better travel trailer toilet seal.
Along with the new flange, I also installed a fresh Dometic toilet seal between the toilet and the flange to ensure a watertight connection. After cleaning and disinfecting the affected areas around the black tank, the odor problem was completely eliminated. Limiting our toilet use to liquid waste only certainly simplified the cleanup process in this instance.
Conclusion: Check Your Toilet Flange for Odor Issues
If you’re experiencing persistent, unexplained odors in your travel trailer, especially in the bathroom area, don’t immediately assume it’s just a dry P-trap. Investigate further and consider the possibility of a cracked toilet flange and a failing travel trailer toilet seal. Replacing these components with more robust parts can effectively solve the problem and ensure a more pleasant travel experience.
