Dreaded LE1 Black Tank dump valve replacement FIX!

[bugeyedriver]

To all single axle Ollie owners, have you ever needed to have the black tank dump valve replaced?  How much fun was that?!  There is virtually NO room underneath to wrangle a wrench into in order to remove the bottom bolt.   I’ve owned The Wonder Egg for 18 years now and it seems about every 9 years, the black tank dump valve begins to seep “water”. The first time I took it to my local, reliable, RV repair shop, Boerne RV, the technician stated that job was so difficult he almost quit being an RV tech!  Well, here it is, 9 years later and I just had Beorne RV replace that *!%#! Valve again,  I told them to feel free to make any modification to the trailer to simplify the process.  Here’s the brilliant idea they came up with . . . A sealed, water-tight exterior access panel directly underneath the valve. 

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, bugeyedriver said:

…my local, reliable, RV repair shop, Boerne RV…

Pete, Ron does great work at Boerne RV!  Our go-to shop as well.  Mike

[Olive2Roam]

Makes me thankful we went with the composting toilet! 🙂

[srthomsen]

On 7/7/2026 at 5:40 PM, bugeyedriver said:

To all single axle Ollie owners, have you ever needed to have the black tank dump valve replaced?  How much fun was that?!  There is virtually NO room underneath to wrangle a wrench into in order to remove the bottom bolt.   I’ve owned The Wonder Egg for 18 years now and it seems about every 9 years, the black tank dump valve begins to seep “water”. The first time I took it to my local, reliable, RV repair shop, Boerne RV, the technician stated that job was so difficult he almost quit being an RV tech!  Well, here it is, 9 years later and I just had Beorne RV replace that *!%#! Valve again,  I told them to feel free to make any modification to the trailer to simplify the process.  Here’s the brilliant idea they came up with . . . A sealed, water-tight exterior access panel directly underneath the valve. 

Can you provide a pic that is taken from a bit further away from that panel?  

[Geronimo John]

Many owners with years of service of their Gray, Blalck and Vent valves find them more difficult to operate.  Mine got to that point and I learned that the problem with mine and others on the internet is not with the cables, but with the slde valves themselves.  I have attached a DIY for the effort that is a simple fix that can be done almost for just your time and likely tools and supplies you already have.

Hope you find the below helpful.

GJ

DIY - Sanitary Drain Valve Cables.docx

Edited Friday at 10:29 PM by Geronimo John

[bugeyedriver]

On 7/24/2026 at 8:21 AM, srthomsen said:

Can you provide a pic that is taken from a bit further away from that panel?  

Here you go, taken with a little wider perspective. in order to find the position from below, Ron first positioned a long, skinny drill bit next to the valve above and drilled a pilot-hole which he measured from before cutting from below.

[srthomsen]

bugeyedriver

I'm a bit unclear. Your pics appear to be hilighting the valve and your fix to be in an area at the rear of the trailer.

Our 2023 Elite 1 has the black tank valve up front, street side just aft of the interior bulkhead in the bottom of the compartmet that also houses the furnace.

 

[ScubaRx]

7 hours ago, srthomsen said:

bugeyedriver

I'm a bit unclear. Your pics appear to be hilighting the valve and your fix to be in an area at the rear of the trailer.

Our 2023 Elite 1 has the black tank valve up front, street side just aft of the interior bulkhead in the bottom of the compartmet that also houses the furnace.

 

Your 2023 is very different from a 2008.

 

[ScubaRx]

On 7/7/2026 at 5:40 PM, bugeyedriver said:

To all single axle Ollie owners, have you ever needed to have the black tank dump valve replaced?  How much fun was that?!  There is virtually NO room underneath to wrangle a wrench into in order to remove the bottom bolt.   I’ve owned The Wonder Egg for 18 years now and it seems about every 9 years, the black tank dump valve begins to seep “water”. The first time I took it to my local, reliable, RV repair shop, Boerne RV, the technician stated that job was so difficult he almost quit being an RV tech!  Well, here it is, 9 years later and I just had Beorne RV replace that *!%#! Valve again,  I told them to feel free to make any modification to the trailer to simplify the process.  Here’s the brilliant idea they came up with . . . A sealed, water-tight exterior access panel directly underneath the valve. 

Very cool underbody lighting system.