Frankia vans often have a dedicated service locker which contains electric, a fresh water inlet and a waste water outlet, plus all the pipes etc.. a great idea.  Used on alot of the Frankia vans I have seen even the big Platin Plus.
[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IBvGUjLdeYo/V3DxalPJxZI/AAAAAAAARXU/mvrtH4hjtjogTXptrx5wYjhc7kmPPlyKQCHM/s144-o/20160625_105010_HDR.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108644642568672131092/6300801318980234193#6300801317665883538″ caption=”Frankia service locker” type=”image” alt=”20160625_105010_HDR.jpg” image_size=”4160×2340″ ]
One issue we have (and others) is that the waste water pipe is a long expanding pipe which is great for dumping waster water down a service point you cannot drive over, but is a pain if you want to use a container, also unless the slope and distance is right it can be tedious to get all the water out of the pipe and you can if not careful end up dragging it through waste water.
[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NAPum84YDMM/V3Dxaqb0ZOI/AAAAAAAARXU/zy-jT2ofdQ8irBMK_AwG-qfNFtIaPL4DgCHM/s144-o/20160625_105046.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108644642568672131092/6300801318980234193#6300801319061185762″ caption=”Original hose in use” type=”image” alt=”20160625_105046.jpg” image_size=”4160×2340″ ]
Recently on our first tour of France we met up we some other Frankia owners, all had there own solutions (other than just living with it), one being to detach the hose and let the waster water out into the service locker and drain through the outlet hole, then wash it out (!!), others made up a shorter bit of hose to use as and when required, one used quite rigid pond pipe another a spare vacuum hose.
[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1PJFDoeQFEs/V3DxaiAZYcI/AAAAAAAARXU/qJCfdWkjO-YzovuIZGbrgTuTvBJoiOs7ACHM/s144-o/20160625_105058.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108644642568672131092/6300801318980234193#6300801316798685634″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”20160625_105058.jpg” image_size=”4160×2340″ ]
Each had to buy a new connector, they are GEKA Plus couplings, costs around the group of people we met ranged from 40 to 15 pound when supplied by a dealer or Frankia.
[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sFhLNDejS9Q/V3DxavsQq3I/AAAAAAAARXU/EgeXr6Y8TXIFS1ThWQnIgG2VWGG4rrx2ACHM/s144-o/20160625_105751.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108644642568672131092/6300801318980234193#6300801320472324978″ caption=”GEKA Plus connectors” type=”image” alt=”20160625_105751.jpg” image_size=”2340×4160″ ]
The best option for us would be to have a long hose and a short hose, that can be connected together (longer hose) or used separately as required.  Rather than paying dealer and Frankia prices we sourced the GEKA connector from ESSKA, total cost inc delivery for 2 x 32 mm connectors (21 pounds) still a rip off but better than expected, delivery 7 days.
First step cut the original waste hose, the shorter length has the drain outlet fitting, this fits into the service locker drain hole and is easier to clean, the longer fitting retains the existing GEKA plus connector.
[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jh8SekQyTyc/V3DxahU1gBI/AAAAAAAARXk/ib97Cy208-UObzWRogWX6spAPGd3C0OVwCHM/s144-o/20160625_110145.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108644642568672131092/6300801318980234193#6300801316615979026″ caption=”Cut the hose” type=”image” alt=”20160625_110145.jpg” image_size=”4160×2340″ ]
Then add the new connectors to the cut ends, this now gives a short length which can be use alone or connected to the longer length. Â The long length ends can be connected together to stop any residual waster water from soiling the service locker when not being used
[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lUaCuy2GvoA/V3Dxan9JY_I/AAAAAAAARXU/ZPEixtSuQ-wxGc9trCCGwuqCXUKRQVz0ACHM/s144-o/20160625_111041.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108644642568672131092/6300801318980234193#6300801318395667442″ caption=”New connectors attached” type=”image” alt=”20160625_111041.jpg” image_size=”2340×4160″ ]
Not sure the length is quite right (erred slightly longer) so will try it out a few times before making any adjustments. Â So far happy with the result, it works and is clean and easy to use, why Frankia do not do this as standard I am not sure.
[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rH0GxOZqU_I/V3DxagTj5aI/AAAAAAAARX4/03aQ5blW24AgZ0sFfSptGtVPgOoCy9eNQCHM/s144-o/20160625_111230.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108644642568672131092/6300801318980234193#6300801316342195618″ caption=”Short hose in use” type=”image” alt=”20160625_111230.jpg” image_size=”4160×2340″ ]
The GEKA Plus connectors are excellent, available in Brass, Steel or Plastic, good with pressure, water tight and can be used to connect different hose diameters, so we could connect up to and use standard hosepipe, if we wanted?
After thought, when at home we empty the waste tank down a manhole (if not already empty), this is some distance from the where the van is parked, so we have a length of pond pipe that we connect by shoving up the Frankia waste pipe, inevitably this is not perfect if we had an another GEKA connecter then we could connect the 2 together, but not going to pay 12 pounds or so for the privilege.