Maybe the P-trap helps keep mice etcetera from coming in through the drain
pipe?

On Sat, Jun 26, 2010 at 2:38 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:

> And why do these campers have a p-trap at all?  They do not connect to a
> sewer, they drain right out to the outside only.  there isn't even any
> provision for connecting to a sewer.  When I'm out in the boonies, I usually
> just let the sink drain onto the ground.  The water is gray water, but not
> very dirty.  At a developed campground, I put a bucket under the drain, and
> empty that in an appropriate place (usually into a bush or onto grass, if
> there is no reason not to -- which is what I would do with dish washing or
> hand washing water if I were doing outside what I do in in the camper sink).
>
> A trap just seems like unnecessary complication when something eventually
> goes wrong (and maybe promotes something going wrong, as mentioned with
> bio-growth in the post below).
>
> DMc
>
> ---- Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > Just replaced the P trap under the sink in my '90 Westy.  I had the whole
> > kit from Van Cafe.  First, there was some discussion a week or so ago
> about
> > the length of the replacement hose shipped from Bus Depot.  It was said
> to
> > be 24 inches long, to short.  I measured the one I had, almost exactly
> three
> > feet (36 inches) and actually to long!  I reinstalled the original big
> bulky
> > hose because first there was nothing wrong with it and second I didn't
> like
> > the replacement.  Even though it would take up less room and might be
> routed
> > more out of the way it would have had at least one kink in the flexible
> > sections and I don't want that to trap 'stuff' that might get washed down
> > the drain.
> > And thanks for the tip some time back from someone on getting the old
> trap
> > off.  Use the Dremel!  Don't leave home without it.  There was no way the
> > old trap was going to unscrew, the whole fitting was turning in  the
> bottom
> > of the sink.  Couple of cuts with the Dremel and some prying with a big
> > screwdriver/pry bar/wrecking tool and it was apart.  BTW, had to replace
> for
> > two reasons.  First, the bracket inside that the screw that holds the
> bottom
> > half of the trap attaches to was broken and the screw itself had rusted
> > away.  In addition the stuff growing in the trap had plugged the drain to
> > the point that it didn't (drain that is).  So it might be a good idea to
> > unscrew that little screw on the bottom of your P trap and do some
> > cleaning.  Water stands in the bottom there and nasty stuff grows.
>
> --
> David McNeely
>

--
Jake

1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'

Crescent Beach, BC

www.thebassspa.com
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27