Hmmmm.  There is a cap on the drain that I always make sure to put in place when not camping.  But I suppose a mouse or a scorpion could find its way into the drain and up so far as the sink -- where there is a strainer that would keep a mouse, but not a scorpion from getting in.  I don't think I'll worry about it.  DMc

---- Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> 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

--
David McNeely