Toilet Replacement

[Roger Rempe]

I am attempting to replace our Sealand toilet with a Dometic 320. In doing so, I will need to use a four bolt to two bolt conversion kit. When I pulled the old toilet I discovered a rubber type gasket that extends from the sewer pipe and overlaps the existing bolts. I can't tell how far the gasket extends down the pipe and wonder if it's needed and can be pulled out/removed so that the two bolt conversion ring can sit flush on the old closet flange? If not, can I just screw down the new ring over the top of the gasket tabs? 

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Roger,
Most toilet flanges are flat. Are you sure that yours extends down the outside of the pipe? Not clear to me what the advantage of such an extension would be as the flange is centered by the bolts and seals when the toilet is seated on it.
Steve

[Roger Rempe]

Steve, after posting I came across an image of a Sealand floor flange seal (that I've attached). I'm guessing that's the thing with the tabs. It seems that my old toilet also had a wax ring that did double duty. The wax and other uh, unmentionable material obscured the inside of the pipe and I couldn't tell what was going on. I'm not familiar with RV toilet installations and didn't know if those tabs were part of some sort of rubber collar that extended down the inside of the sewer pipe.
I haven't received the ordered toilet, etc. yet but, wanted to see what I was up against. So, I pulled the toilet, took a pic and put it back. I'm assuming that I should remove both wax and rubber seals and just go with the one that hopefully comes with the toilet?

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Roger,
Agree. Clean it up (fun) and install per the new unit's instructions.
Steve

[Roger Rempe]

Thanks for the confidence builder Steve. As we are full time RVers, I can't have the only toilet out of commission for too long...it would make for a very unhappy DW...LOL!