I always empty the black and gray water tanks after traveling, not after sitting at the camp site, before leaving the camping location. The traveling swishes the black tank contents and breaks up any solid contents. If it's emptied as soon as possible after arriving at your destination it will not have time to settle and you will flush out more of the contents. If you wait until you are ready to leave the site the contents will have a chance to settle and may not empty fully.
Non-potable doesn't necessarily mean unsafe. It just means it has not been tested for human consumption to meet EPA requirements. Clear mountain stream water is considered 'non-potable'. (Now, having stated that, I still would not be drinking from it unless I was pretty darn thirsty...)
When it comes to the RV dump station you left out the biggest thing to avoid making a mistake. "Don't rush when there is a line of RV's behind you waiting to dump". When I first started Rv'ing (travel trailer) a few years ago I used to get hurried when someone was waiting on me.. NOT ANYMORE.. DO the same process no matter what.... They can wait their turn!
I bought a used 5th wheel..Of course I was assured tanks were all clean..After driving and in the dark I thought would be great idea to go by a local RV/Truck repair...Of course I forgot everything I thought I knew...Did not anchor hose well going into ground( it was just a hole that it seems nothing I had fit). Had no idea that the rocks provided were for holding hose down...You got it...Not only was there sewage left in tank it had been setting for some time...So ended up with sewage on my pants, my shoes, inside my gloves and upon my wifes shoes and legs..Yes sir great time at 1030 pm...Lessons learned are many..Wish had of seen a few more videos like yours before trying this Crap out LOL
Loved your comment about sharing, we took a trip this summer (2016) to Seattle from the LA area and back. At a lookout point along the 5 freeway we stopped to take pics of Mt Shasta and stretch our legs. As we walked back we saw a car broken down waiting for the tow truck. A few minutes later two ladies came to us and asked if they could use our rest room since the car was broken down and there was no were for any one most of all women to go. Being good travelers we said sure, (kidding I said just leave $.50 on the counter) we showed them how to use it and how to rinse their hands over the toilet and flush it. After they used it and we travelers used it another lady showed up and we said yes again. Its alway nice to be able to help and some times its something simple like having a toilet for others.
Thanks much for sharing your story Scott! You're a kind person and I know those travelers in need greatly appreciated your gesture. Hope you are doing well!
another tip i have is to open the grey first for 2 seconds, then close, look around for leaks, if ok, let the black flow .................. then the grey.
I think for the most part the "non-potable" water at the dump station is the same water and the same pump as the "potable" water 50 feet further up. The difference is that the hose at the dump has been places you wouldn't want to have your fresh water hose having been. It's the same principle as your kitchen sink and your toilet both get their water from the same place but only the dog drinks out of the toilet. Ok the dog and the cat, but the point is you don't. I doubt most campgrounds spend any time or infrastructure having 2 separate water sources, it's all coming out of the same well or city service. The main difference is that the hoses and such at the dump are likely to be "dirty". The potable water hose is probably "dirty" too since the folks using it just got done at the dump station, but less so. At least hopefully. To be extra safe we don't drink any water out of the RV and instead bring bottled water, and we always leave with a full tank of city water. That doesn't eliminate possible contamination of course because we still use the RV water for dishes, showering, and cooking but not for drinking. And we still use the RV water for coffee, but presumably that can be considered "boiled". The other reason I like bottled water is plastic water bottles make great cheap ice packs. Keep the door shelf of the freezer loaded with water bottles and you always have something to throw in your cooler. Then when they are mostly melted you have nice cold drinking water instead of a bunch of ice water in the bottom of your cooler.
Awesome trick with the water bottles! As for the dump station hose, sometimes when a facility has the correct plumbing they can use reclaimed water. This is water that has been filtered directly from a local sewer. It is mostly used for grass watering and other non-consumable purposes. They do have cleanliness standards, but they are not up to par with city water which is rated safe for consumption. It's up to whoever is using it, but I'd recommend going the extra 50 feet for the fresh stuff.
The best thing I have found for black water treatment is some liquid laundry detergent added before use. A couple of cap fulls from the jug is all you need. Yes, this actually works very well. Breaks down the solid waste and paper very good. Yes!!! Take your time regardless of how many are waiting in line and do a thorough job of cleaning your equipment. When I’m in line waiting I don’t care how long the guy in front of me takes and sometimes I’ll go over and talk to them and even help them if I’m asked, I’m in no hurry.
Enjoyed the video, yes, I agree, being in a hurry is the WORST mistake you can make while emptying your tanks. I will share a couple of tips, hope I am not repeating someone else. I like to occasionally use a measure of fabric softener in my tanks, particularly the black tank, besides the enzyme packet. You can choose your fragrance and it will make your coach smell like spring flowers, not rotted flowers. Particularly when someone has the exhaust fan running and flushes....ugh.... On my way home, I dump and flush the tanks, close all the valves and add a few gallons of water back to the tanks. I will add a full measure of fabric softener to the tanks and drive home. I also make everyone use the store potties and not the coach. The softener is an excellent surfactant, with a few gallons of water in the tank and some driving down the road, it will dislodge and breakup a lot of the physical sludge and coatings in your tank, particularly the black water tank. Softener is a surface acting agent and it will get under the crud and loosen it. Close to home and before things have a chance to settle, I dump both tanks and flush well. This system has worked for me in 110 degree weather, with no smell in the coach when we gat back in to start our next trip. I like the Downey brand, but you may have a different favorite. Enjoy...
Forgot to close the valves and put the cap back on. Had a very unpleasant surprise the next time I opened up the door to the dump hoses. Hosed it out, cleaned it up and hosed down the area around the door on the ground. Hopefully I learned that lesson
@@meriwetherwillie904 Sometimes it just takes once to learn a hard lesson! I did the same thing once, that's all it took! Can laugh about it now as we did the ole dance to get out of the way.
As a physician, stop with the hand sanitizer. Wear gloves, wash your hands with regular soap and water after questionable contact with the black tank or anything else. Hand sanitizer won't work on the bad poop infections, only regular soap and water work.
Great video as usual, one thing I learned along the way. After all connections are made, I open and close the grey tank for just a second to verify all is well. If no leaks I will open the black tank, I have been saved from a real mess by doing this. Keep up the great videos on both channels. I really enjoy the photography too.
I'm becoming a fan of your videos. I'm still 20 months away from buying my movable retirement home, but I'm getting less frightened of the prospect all the time. Thank you.
Another note for hand sanitizer. It is a great way to start a campfire. To demonstrate fill a metal teaspoon with it and light it. The flame is blue and hard to see in daylight. You will be surprised at how long it burns.
I have actually used it in an empty Sturno can to heat water for coffee and cocoa. The alternatives when tent camping during campfire restrictions. Lol
this is good info if you are traveling a lot. However, if you are the typical weekend camper, like I am, I bring 5 gallons of water with me so I can dump it in the toilet right before i leave the campsite. This way it can slosh around and loosen up the big stuff and then when you dump, it all goes out.
Ha Ha.. I tell(yell at) everybody.." Hey!! get your shit right!!!"..never been more pertinent than when dumping .Great tips..I see what you mean about the hobby aspect...keep them tips coming!
I can't take credit, but this works great. Get a couple of tube socks, fill one with gravel and secure the end with a cable tie. Then insert the first sock into the second, and secure that one also. It make a great "sandbag" to drop over the end of the waste hose where it goes into the sewer. Then it rides in the storage area where the hose lives. When the hose is dancing around like it has an alien trying to get out, the sock full of gravel keeps it tame.
Thank you! We are long time tenters who bought a TT in 2021. We bought it to take our 3 cats with us as our cat sitter moved out of state. We have NEVER used any of the plumbing for fear of dumping. Well, a well seasoned full time RVer said if w don't use it, seals start to go. So, with that bit of advice, in 2 weeks we have promised ourselves to use it. Your video helps. Thanks
Let me throw another tidbit out there. The wife and I learned that the bio-paks and liquid tank treatments do more than just deodorize and add the little critters to the black tank. They also: 1) Facilitate the operation of most level sensors. We found that, unless we put some kind of tank treatment in the black tank, they don't read properly 2) They help prevent paper from collecting on the probes. Speaking of paper, DO NOT USE STANDARD HOME TIME PAPER IN YOUR RV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have heard, from multiple repair shops, that RV paper is made to break down in the tank, again, with the help of the treatment chemicals. Home types of paper don't break down and will catch on the probes, making them useless as the paper, when it dries, turns into a concrete like skin that must be physically scraped off or the probes replaces(not cheap from what we've learned
The Shadow I have seen multiple tests of toilet papers, which determine that most RV paper doesn't break down any better than most single ply home use paper. The cheaper and thinner the better. Since seeing those tests, we have switched to the Walmart no name paper. It costs about 10 times less than most RV paper, and starts dissolving even before you flush it.
This is my most worrisome task, except backing up my camper! Thanks for your videos, I’ve learned a lot from them, enough so I’m not too worried about hitting the road on my own. I have met nice people who were more than willing to offer help or advice. Maybe I’ll see you someday along the way. 😎
Great video on turd wrangling. We usually stay in parks with full hook ups, but a few time I have had to use a dump station. Didnt seem like that big of deal. The wife seems to enjoy looking at the clear elbow trying to decided whos was whos....lol Keep up the good vids. Enjoy watching you guys. Happy travels !!
Using hand sanitizer after the dump station is a must. The statement, "it's better to be a little to clean, than not clean enough" is inaccurate, though. You have good bacteria that you shouldn't be trying to constantly kill.
When I picked up my 5th wheel we also picked up some bad roadside food on the way up.... Having a bathroom behind me on the 700 mile ride back was worth the price of the 5th wheel by its self...
Good info! Another tip I've learned is to connect a clear piece to your sewage hose so that when you flush your black tank, you can tell when the water is clear and the in-tank washer is not still working on a piece stuck to the wall, haha.
Another black tank tip that a licensed water specialist friend suggested ( can't remember his professional title) was to add a couple of capfuls of Calgon Water Softener and a couple of gallons of warm water down the toilet after dumping right before you drive to your next destination. The sloshing of the solution helps clean and prevent slime buildup on the inside. Even with a tank flush, most of the non-potable water used at the dump station to rinse is extremely hard water (high in calcium, magnesium and iron) and contributes to the buildup. You can add your "bio" mix once you arrive at destination or partway there. This can be done every 3-4 dumps.
for the black tank cleaning, say before winterizing, put ice cubes down the toilet, drive around, acting like little scrubbers...and then they just melt away...
I have heard this tip before, been looking where to buy Calgon Water Softener. Cant find it? Is it for sale in Walmart and which department, I may have been looking in clothes detergent and bleach department. and its a liquid? or is it powder?
My little travel travel does not have a built in rinse out function. But I found a great little flush out connector that I use (with a dedicated rinse out only use hose) that does a great job. I also take much pride in my management of the waste tanks. Thank you for your great videos. I enjoy watching them and always learn a few things.
Good tip on the hoses. I have the white drinking water hose for water to drink (obviously) and a grey hose I bought at home depot exclusively for cleaning the black water tank and the sewer hose.
Just bought my first RV. This task is one that I dread - dread making a mistake, dread having a hazardous spill, dread looking like the newbie I am. For the first 12 times I have to empty the tanks, I’ll just go at night. And carry a flame-thrower. No one will bother me.
I'm in the thinking process of purchasing an RV and since this will be a solo project, I am very grateful for all of the helpful info you are providing. I look forward to your next video.
Tip regarding filtering the fresh water: I would suggest that the filtration needs depend on the source. At home, we have excellent city water that we fill with before we leave. I've found that if we use a charcoal filter when filling, the water tends to start growing algae and turns funky between trips of it sits for more than a week or two. This is likely due to the fact that charcoal filters tend to pull the bulk of the chlorine out of the water. Obviously if the fresh water source is an untreated well, the need is different.
When we are ready to go to the next destination, I like to stop up my gray tank to let some water build up and add some Clorox down each drain, let it sit in there for 1/2 to 1 hour to disinfect the gray tank, then empty the black tank followed by my Clorox water gray tank contents to give the old stinky slinky a nice clean flush too. Used this system for about 7 or 8 years now and never have the gray tank odor problems. BTW, it will not hurt a septic or lagoon system per a septic guy I spoke with and many campground owners have concurred that it will not cause their systems any problems...just as people adding bleach to their laundry doesn't upset the balance.
It seems rv's should have been designed to have the gray flow control through the black tank. Conveniently clean the black tank every time when dumping.
Some gray tanks do overflow into the black, but the process you describe would require the bottom of the gray tank to be above the black tank. The top of the gray must be low enough for the sink and shower to flow into by gravity. With this, your rig is now 15 feet high!
@@davidc1961utube No, the rig wouldn't be "15 feet high." There's plenty of room between the black water tank and the bottom of the toilet. It's a good idea. But as in most things, people refuse to embrace change for the better, perferring to stick with a bad known vicegoing with a good unknown ...
I know this is common sense but make sure the black water valve is closed before you open the sewer drain cap when dumping. This last summer while dumping at Canyon Village in Yellowstone, I witnessed a German couple remove the sewer cap and have the entire contents of the black water tank flush out on the ground. They forgot to close the valve after previously dumping at another campground. They received a ticket for their carelessness.
I have dumped my tanks many time over the years in our old MH and our new one. The last time I went camping I went to dump at the station and wouldn't you know as I pulled in 2 other MH came in line just behind me. We watched the station during the day and it was not being used much only occasionally. I had just purchased a new fancy dump hose and one of those clear joints and had never used it before. It was raining like crazy and I felt under pressure as others were waiting. I apparently did not have the connection on correctly and as I pulled the black water handle, you got it, it came rushing out all over the ground, my shoes and pants legs. The rain was running down my jacket into my butt crack, I was freezing and covered with. S*%$. Toilet paper all over the area along with other things. I did clean it up, but needles to say. I am going to make damn sure the connection from the hose to the outlet on the MH is on correctly. And not let the pressure of others waiting cause me to make a big stinky mistake.
lol That sounds like a nightmare. Now I will be feeling the pressure when I make my first black water dump run …. I almost don't want anyone using the toilet in my new camper that I will be picking up next Friday. I cant wait. most campgrounds have a few bathroom stations … ill be telling my wife, my kids and yes even me to use the campground bathrooms. I need to get used to pulling that camper 34 ft camper first and parking first. I heard everyone watchers you when your trying to park them … more pressure to worry about. one thing at a time. but I hope there is no line behind me when I have to make that trip to the dump station. funny story by the way.
@@back2backband1 If the trailer is new, practice at home before you go using nothing but clean water. Also, don't let anyone put pressure on you. Sometimes you will have to wait. Sometimes someone will have to wait for you. Get a routine going and do your work the same way every time. Practice makes perfect. I dump the black tank first. Then I close the black valve and turn on the black tank flush. While I'm waiting for the black tank to fill up, I dump the gray tank. Once the gray tank is empty I turn off the black tank flush and pull the black tank valve a second time. Finally I flush everything by dumping the galley tank. I take the time to rinse my hoses. I never rush. At a calm pace it should not take you more than 10-15 minutes. Sometimes people have to wait. Sometimes it's you and sometimes it's somebody else. It's just the way it is. We all get a turn and there is no reason for you ever to feel rushed.
Great video. A little trick is to add ice cubes down the toilet in between moves. They clean the sides and melt to water. Make sure you have a mostly full black water tank so the cubes can move around. The sawtooth mountains are awesome.
All I can think about is "the scene" in the Robin Williams movie RV. I could even hear the music when you talked about "a little" coming out. Lol! I love that you are not afraid to admit messing up. It makes you real!
Good info. I would suggest drinking bottled water while on the road. Walmart bottled water is cheap. Even if you filter the local water it is different every place you go and can cause you problems. For example... walmart bottled water is the same everywhere you go and is cheap insurance to not have problems on your trip. You could also fill a 5 gallon water bottle with name brand water at the superstores for $1.25.
We never drink water from our fresh water tank. We recently had a problem that caused our fresh water to smell like rotten eggs. It was nasty. We had to dump a bunch of bleach into the fresh water tank just to get rid of the smell. I will never trust the water from that tank ever again.
I have to say of all the different tips I have watched ,yours is the BEST..Thank you !! Were in our 70's and just bought a trailer and off and slow driving but we always get there.
I prefer the 2.5" x 10" cartridge type filters to the "hose" attachment type. The hose attachment type filters contain only course granulated charcoal with a small round sponge on the inlet for a particulate filter. As such water flows through the charcoal freely without much filtering and the small sponge can clog quicklly. Most 2.5" x 10" cartridge type filters have fine carbon granules formed into a solid block that results in much more intimate water to charcoal contact and better particulate collection as well in that the porous carbon cylinder forms the sediment filter as well (typically rated at 5 microns).
When everything comes together for me to hit the road - I plan on using a composting toilet! At my house, I use one that I made. Giving it a go to see if it's something I can do long term. I just don't want to mess with the black tank! I really enjoy all your videos - thanks tons!
first thing i did when i orderd my truck camper was told them to swap out regular toilet for composting toilet, take out black water tank and put bigger fresh and grey water tank and composting toilets work amazing
I had an RV dealer install a drain hose on my grey tank and a pump in the water bay with a short hose that I hook to black tank flush inlet. I can flush the black tank with grey water, and I can use the full capacity of both tanks by pumping excess grey water into the black tank. Even if I don't need to I pump some grey water into the black tank before going to the dump station just to make dumping the black tank easier and more complete.
At, you have to love the process, you got another subscriber. Okay, good and enjoyable videos had something to do with it. I just bought a Hi-Lo camper and will be using it this summer for the first time. Next in my process is getting a tow vehicle. The camper is only 3200 pounds so I should not have a problem finding something that will deal with it easily.
My late husband and I had a boat for a few years. With a boat, the contents of the black tank need to be pumped out. You hook up the pump hose and it suctions out the black waste. There is no gray water tank; the gray water drains into the bilge and is pumped overboard automatically. To clean the black tank, the pumpout stations provide a fresh water hose (non-potable), which you run in through the bathroom (head) window, and into the toilet. This is continued until the water is running clear. Then, you add in a couple of gallons of fresh water to stay in the tank, and some blue anti-stink chemical, and you're done. A little more complex, it seems, than the RV situation... ;-) As for 'special' TP--my current sticks and bricks is on a septic system, so I already buy septic safe TP--no changes will be needed there when I get my rig... ;-)
This is my first camper . I am staying in a park. That furnish sewer so the hose is all ready connected is it as simple as pulling. The waste lever and it draining
I made the newbie mistake of always opening both tanks when full hookups were available. after returning from my cross country trip this summer, I noticed my Black tank was showing 3/4 full. I tried putting liquid plumber & pots of hot water to clear it out, they helped but it still showed up half full. I bought one of the flexible wands and cleaned it out. Now I know to wait and allow the liquids to work on the solids until I am ready to dump. Thanks for all your tips.
Thanks for sharing this. I have had my "oop's" moments at the dump station. It's just something you have to do. I loved your comment about "embracing the process." Pure gold.
Haha I had a new "oops" moment this year that I need to discuss in a video. Basically the hose popped off the trailer connection. It was pretty bad - but could have been a lot worse!
My wife and I are planning our first trip with our new travel trailer. I can't remember if we started watches these videos before or after getting the camper, but I will say that your videos have played a huge part in our willingness to set forth on this adventure! Thank you ;-)
This was very reassuring, and honestly, when my wife wanted me to get a truck for towing one of the reasons I was not wanting to was this very reason. As a kid my father made a big deal of it, so it had my prejudices set in, so I'd say, why not stay in hotels? I'm sure things are vastly different from 30 years ago, but still, this video helped calm my fears. I am also a germaphobe, I already have the hand sanitizer!
Awesome video! Answered our noobie questions! I'm planning on renting first to see how we like it. A coworker commented that it's too much work! I thought it would make life simpler, better than having to pack the sleeping, cooking and playing gear ie fishing poles, water toys all the time!
Thanks for all your great videos! Another helpful gadget I've been using while dumping is a 90° sewer hose end connector! It really helps with the flow where the sewer line enters the ground. Keep up the good work and safe travels!
+Thomas Veverka Thanks much for your comment! I'll have to check out one of those connectors. I know that sometimes little gadgets make a big difference when doing a job. Cheers
My husband says we must be kindred spirits. I do all the dumping because I want to make sure our tanks are CLEAN as possible when finished (and I take great pride in that). Our MoHo will transfer grey water to black tank AND it has a tank flush. I really flush them out good. We have a macerator to dump with and love it but I can't use a clear elbow on it - this causes me a little stress so I just flush out an extra time as long as no one is behind me waiting.
Good video, as always. Dumping the tanks is way preferable to changing diapers.... just saying. I use my black tank rinse every time I empty the black tank. I use a green hose for my black tanks rinse just to make sure I never confuse it with my fresh water hoses and store it in a different location.
FYI the military uses non potable water for showering and hand washing station. Generally the water is the same as drinking water when it goes into the container but the container may not be something you want to drink water out of.
Thank you for the info, just retired and buying a 22rr toy hauler, seriously thinking of roamingt for some years. This helps me prep and decide if it is worth tit.
My wife started our RV camping adventure last year. I found this site by google searching and it has been one of my go to sites for learning all about this life style. I am sure glad I found this this video as it help make our first dump station adventure disaster free.
get an extra valve stick it on the end first. after dumping the black close last valve, leave black open, open grey and iit will back flow and put soapy water in black to clean it out. Do it coupla times
this video was very informative and helpful. I was a bit nervous about dump stations, and I just took possession of my very first fifth wheel. While I won't be moving around a lot due to being a flight attendant this was one thing that was always in the back of my mind, so thank you very much for posting this video
Great video....... we use the same filter and then a under-the-sink filter as well. We bought the generator you have/recommended......great!! Thanks for the videos......we learn so much from you two. Ken and Nancy in Vegas
Another grate video thank you. We don't have an rv at the moment but hope to one day. Watching your videos are really helpful and are certainly going to help us in the future thank you. Regards Richard and Sarah.
As soon as you said towards the end of this video something about you have to embrace and enjoy the process even if it has to deal with the yucky parts of it all you got my subscription right then and there 🤩 That is one of the most prolific statements I have ever heard in any video watching about RV life 🤗✨ super smart super intelligent
To me, the best flush is to 1. Drain your Black tank; 2. Flush a little water from your "gray" tank to clean the hose; 3. Remove your drain hose and cap the opening; 4. Open both the "gray and black" tank valves which will backflush the black water tank; 5. Connect the drain hose; 6. Drain the blackwater hose; 7. Finally drain the rest of the gray water hose; 8. Everything is now "clean" so... down the road you go!
Thank you for these videos. You both are very likeable,and have great information to give people, especially starting out in this rv life, as I have just started. Love and respect
What no references to Robin Williams and movie RV? You had the perfect opportunity. I really like the sky shot with the drone. Been meaning to tell ya.
Thanks for the information and encouragement I am just starting the RV adventure and this is my biggest concern. I enjoy the dynamics between you also!!
Well, after you deal with your black water tank you should REMOVE those gloves before touching any fresh water hoses. You are effectively spreading germs with your gloves as the vector. You are putting fecal germs on your own hoses and dump station hoses. Using a couple of sets of disposable gloves for each of the processes will keep things as "clean" as possible. You should avoid cross-contamination of your and others' fresh water sources. So, the people that advised you to use disposable gloves had you on this one.
I have used disposable gloves in the past, and I have a pair of gloves that I *only* use when handling the sewer hose. But with that said, and as a germaphobe who carries hand sanitizer everywhere, I'm really more bothered by touching the average public bathroom door handle than dumping our tanks. Unless something goes very wrong, no water ever touches my skin. (And if something does go wrong, which rarely EVER happens, I'm quick to apply the sanitizer.)
A saw a tip! First start with the grey water just to test your hose connection. Then, when no leaks are detected, you can close the grey and open the black before finishing with the grey. Sounds good. What do you all think? Greetings from Germany, Jonny
A little dump station Etiquette never hurts either. Waiting on a guy 45 min once. Said he was cleaning his black tank ? With a line behind him waiting.
Best part is the ground level camera (the late camera) view at the very end. The anticipation is electric! I try to learn from everyone. Thanks for sharing. btw - the main topic was all a load of hooey.
Getting ready for a 2 night shake down trip with our new trailer. Thanks for this video, getting the separate black water tank flush hose is now on my list of things to buy.
If i could interject a hint. i always empty my black water first, making sure it is closed off. Then I go into bathroom and use my "wand" to rinse anything that might have been missed in the initial flush. Now I Empty the black once again after about 5-8 minutes with the wand., when running clear, I then open my grey to flush the hose. Great tips, oh and I never drink my water in my fresh tank. We buy a 5 gallon bottle and pump to drink. cheers, I hope we meet up with you sometime. Yeah crappy video ;) keep up the good work.
Gone with the Winns, has done a good video on composting toilets, according to them it has extended the times they need for boondocking. If you like to boondock, it is the best option there is!
+Long Long Honeymoon I saw a video of when they got a new class A motorhome, and the first thing the did was remove the standard RV toilet and install a composting unit. Then, they are able to combine both tanks (black& grey) into one extra large grey water tank, for extended periods of boondocking (I think they can go 3 weeks between dump stations). Not a bad option!
Quick note on potable water. I did 2 tours in Afghanistan and showering in non potable water, and shaved.. still here... Granted we drank bottled water.. but non potable doesn't mean contaminated..
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I always empty the black and gray water tanks after traveling, not after sitting at the camp site, before leaving the camping location. The traveling swishes the black tank contents and breaks up any solid contents. If it's emptied as soon as possible after arriving at your destination it will not have time to settle and you will flush out more of the contents. If you wait until you are ready to leave the site the contents will have a chance to settle and may not empty fully.
Non-potable doesn't necessarily mean unsafe. It just means it has not been tested for human consumption to meet EPA requirements. Clear mountain stream water is considered 'non-potable'. (Now, having stated that, I still would not be drinking from it unless I was pretty darn thirsty...)
When it comes to the RV dump station you left out the biggest thing to avoid making a mistake. "Don't rush when there is a line of RV's behind you waiting to dump". When I first started Rv'ing (travel trailer) a few years ago I used to get hurried when someone was waiting on me.. NOT ANYMORE.. DO the same process no matter what.... They can wait their turn!
I bought a used 5th wheel..Of course I was assured tanks were all clean..After driving and in the dark I thought would be great idea to go by a local RV/Truck repair...Of course I forgot everything I thought I knew...Did not anchor hose well going into ground( it was just a hole that it seems nothing I had fit). Had no idea that the rocks provided were for holding hose down...You got it...Not only was there sewage left in tank it had been setting for some time...So ended up with sewage on my pants, my shoes, inside my gloves and upon my wifes shoes and legs..Yes sir great time at 1030 pm...Lessons learned are many..Wish had of seen a few more videos like yours before trying this Crap out LOL
Loved your comment about sharing, we took a trip this summer (2016) to Seattle from the LA area and back. At a lookout point along the 5 freeway we stopped to take pics of Mt Shasta and stretch our legs. As we walked back we saw a car broken down waiting for the tow truck. A few minutes later two ladies came to us and asked if they could use our rest room since the car was broken down and there was no were for any one most of all women to go. Being good travelers we said sure, (kidding I said just leave $.50 on the counter) we showed them how to use it and how to rinse their hands over the toilet and flush it. After they used it and we travelers used it another lady showed up and we said yes again. Its alway nice to be able to help and some times its something simple like having a toilet for others.
Thanks much for sharing your story Scott! You're a kind person and I know those travelers in need greatly appreciated your gesture. Hope you are doing well!
another tip i have is to open the grey first for 2 seconds, then close, look around for leaks, if ok, let the black flow .................. then the grey.
That is an excellent tip! Thanks.
Good one!
Oh I like that! I’m going to do that!
Good idea.
I think for the most part the "non-potable" water at the dump station is the same water and the same pump as the "potable" water 50 feet further up. The difference is that the hose at the dump has been places you wouldn't want to have your fresh water hose having been. It's the same principle as your kitchen sink and your toilet both get their water from the same place but only the dog drinks out of the toilet. Ok the dog and the cat, but the point is you don't. I doubt most campgrounds spend any time or infrastructure having 2 separate water sources, it's all coming out of the same well or city service. The main difference is that the hoses and such at the dump are likely to be "dirty". The potable water hose is probably "dirty" too since the folks using it just got done at the dump station, but less so. At least hopefully.
To be extra safe we don't drink any water out of the RV and instead bring bottled water, and we always leave with a full tank of city water. That doesn't eliminate possible contamination of course because we still use the RV water for dishes, showering, and cooking but not for drinking. And we still use the RV water for coffee, but presumably that can be considered "boiled".
The other reason I like bottled water is plastic water bottles make great cheap ice packs. Keep the door shelf of the freezer loaded with water bottles and you always have something to throw in your cooler. Then when they are mostly melted you have nice cold drinking water instead of a bunch of ice water in the bottom of your cooler.
Awesome trick with the water bottles! As for the dump station hose, sometimes when a facility has the correct plumbing they can use reclaimed water. This is water that has been filtered directly from a local sewer. It is mostly used for grass watering and other non-consumable purposes. They do have cleanliness standards, but they are not up to par with city water which is rated safe for consumption. It's up to whoever is using it, but I'd recommend going the extra 50 feet for the fresh stuff.
The best thing I have found for black water treatment is some liquid laundry detergent added before use. A couple of cap fulls from the jug is all you need. Yes, this actually works very well. Breaks down the solid waste and paper very good.
Yes!!! Take your time regardless of how many are waiting in line and do a thorough job of cleaning your equipment. When I’m in line waiting I don’t care how long the guy in front of me takes and sometimes I’ll go over and talk to them and even help them if I’m asked, I’m in no hurry.
"You have to learn to embrace the process" - I love that line! 😊
Enjoyed the video, yes, I agree, being in a hurry is the WORST mistake you can make while emptying your tanks.
I will share a couple of tips, hope I am not repeating someone else.
I like to occasionally use a measure of fabric softener in my tanks, particularly the black tank, besides the enzyme packet. You can choose your fragrance and it will make your coach smell like spring flowers, not rotted flowers. Particularly when someone has the exhaust fan running and flushes....ugh....
On my way home, I dump and flush the tanks, close all the valves and add a few gallons of water back to the tanks. I will add a full measure of fabric softener to the tanks and drive home. I also make everyone use the store potties and not the coach. The softener is an excellent surfactant, with a few gallons of water in the tank and some driving down the road, it will dislodge and breakup a lot of the physical sludge and coatings in your tank, particularly the black water tank. Softener is a surface acting agent and it will get under the crud and loosen it. Close to home and before things have a chance to settle, I dump both tanks and flush well. This system has worked for me in 110 degree weather, with no smell in the coach when we gat back in to start our next trip.
I like the Downey brand, but you may have a different favorite.
Enjoy...
Thanks, great tip! I think we will give it a try.
I love you guys videos. You forgot 1 BIG tip, Make sure your valves are close before you take the cap off.
Forgot to close the valves and put the cap back on. Had a very unpleasant surprise the next time I opened up the door to the dump hoses. Hosed it out, cleaned it up and hosed down the area around the door on the ground. Hopefully I learned that lesson
@@meriwetherwillie904 Sometimes it just takes once to learn a hard lesson! I did the same thing once, that's all it took! Can laugh about it now as we did the ole dance to get out of the way.
As a physician, stop with the hand sanitizer. Wear gloves, wash your hands with regular soap and water after questionable contact with the black tank or anything else. Hand sanitizer won't work on the bad poop infections, only regular soap and water work.
As a germaphobe, you can take my hand sanitizer when you pry it from my cold dead fingers. ;-)
@@LongLongHoneymoon : I'm not a germaphobe; I'm simply mortally afraid of germs. :-D
lol i see what you did that was a good though
Long Long Honeymoon
Hand sanitizer does not kill clostridium difficile....only soap and water and its very hard to get rid of
@@back2backband1 Great name, and keep spreading the truth about Geoengineering!
Great video as usual, one thing I learned along the way. After all connections are made, I open and close the grey tank for just a second to verify all is well. If no leaks I will open the black tank, I have been saved from a real mess by doing this. Keep up the great videos on both channels. I really enjoy the photography too.
I'm becoming a fan of your videos. I'm still 20 months away from buying my movable retirement home, but I'm getting less frightened of the prospect all the time. Thank you.
Another note for hand sanitizer.
It is a great way to start a campfire. To demonstrate fill a metal teaspoon with it and light it. The flame is blue and hard to see in daylight.
You will be surprised at how long it burns.
+pmsteamrailroading Great tip, I will definitely give it a try! 👍🔥
great tip!
I have actually used it in an empty Sturno can to heat water for coffee and cocoa.
The alternatives when tent camping during campfire restrictions. Lol
I'm learning alot from your videos . We are about a year away traveling getting my ducks in a row now. happy traveling
this is good info if you are traveling a lot. However, if you are the typical weekend camper, like I am, I bring 5 gallons of water with me so I can dump it in the toilet right before i leave the campsite. This way it can slosh around and loosen up the big stuff and then when you dump, it all goes out.
Ha Ha.. I tell(yell at) everybody.." Hey!! get your shit right!!!"..never been more pertinent than when dumping .Great tips..I see what you mean about the hobby aspect...keep them tips coming!
I can't take credit, but this works great. Get a couple of tube socks, fill one with gravel and secure the end with a cable tie. Then insert the first sock into the second, and secure that one also. It make a great "sandbag" to drop over the end of the waste hose where it goes into the sewer.
Then it rides in the storage area where the hose lives.
When the hose is dancing around like it has an alien trying to get out, the sock full of gravel keeps it tame.
Thank you!
We are long time tenters who bought a TT in 2021. We bought it to take our 3 cats with us as our cat sitter moved out of state.
We have NEVER used any of the plumbing for fear of dumping. Well, a well seasoned full time RVer said if w don't use it, seals start to go. So, with that bit of advice, in 2 weeks we have promised ourselves to use it. Your video helps. Thanks
Let me throw another tidbit out there. The wife and I learned that the bio-paks and liquid tank treatments do more than just deodorize and add the little critters to the black tank. They also:
1) Facilitate the operation of most level sensors. We found that, unless we put some kind of tank treatment in the black tank, they don't read properly
2) They help prevent paper from collecting on the probes.
Speaking of paper, DO NOT USE STANDARD HOME TIME PAPER IN YOUR RV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have heard, from multiple repair shops, that RV paper is made to break down in the tank, again, with the help of the treatment chemicals. Home types of paper don't break down and will catch on the probes, making them useless as the paper, when it dries, turns into a concrete like skin that must be physically scraped off or the probes replaces(not cheap from what we've learned
The Shadow I have seen multiple tests of toilet papers, which determine that most RV paper doesn't break down any better than most single ply home use paper. The cheaper and thinner the better.
Since seeing those tests, we have switched to the Walmart no name paper. It costs about 10 times less than most RV paper, and starts dissolving even before you flush it.
@@DancEncounters I just watched a comparison video and the Great Value from Walmart (septic safe) was the best - soft and broke down well.
Jeanine Joy, Ph.D We just use the no name - it is cheaper and breaks down sooner.
This is my most worrisome task, except backing up my camper! Thanks for your videos, I’ve learned a lot from them, enough so I’m not too worried about hitting the road on my own. I have met nice people who were more than willing to offer help or advice. Maybe I’ll see you someday along the way. 😎
Great video on turd wrangling. We usually stay in parks with full hook ups, but a few time I have had to use a dump station. Didnt seem like that big of deal. The wife seems to enjoy looking at the clear elbow trying to decided whos was whos....lol Keep up the good vids. Enjoy watching you guys.
Happy travels !!
Using hand sanitizer after the dump station is a must. The statement, "it's better to be a little to clean, than not clean enough" is inaccurate, though. You have good bacteria that you shouldn't be trying to constantly kill.
When I picked up my 5th wheel we also picked up some bad roadside food on the way up.... Having a bathroom behind me on the 700 mile ride back was worth the price of the 5th wheel by its self...
Sometimes having your own bathroom is the ultimate travel luxury. 👍
Good info! Another tip I've learned is to connect a clear piece to your sewage hose so that when you flush your black tank, you can tell when the water is clear and the in-tank washer is not still working on a piece stuck to the wall, haha.
Another black tank tip that a licensed water specialist friend suggested ( can't remember his professional title) was to add a couple of capfuls of Calgon Water Softener and a couple of gallons of warm water down the toilet after dumping right before you drive to your next destination. The sloshing of the solution helps clean and prevent slime buildup on the inside. Even with a tank flush, most of the non-potable water used at the dump station to rinse is extremely hard water (high in calcium, magnesium and iron) and contributes to the buildup. You can add your "bio" mix once you arrive at destination or partway there. This can be done every 3-4 dumps.
PS. This can be used on your gray tank as well.
for the black tank cleaning, say before winterizing, put ice cubes down the toilet, drive around, acting like little scrubbers...and then they just melt away...
I have heard this tip before, been looking where to buy Calgon Water Softener. Cant find it? Is it for sale in Walmart and which department, I may have been looking in clothes detergent and bleach department. and its a liquid? or is it powder?
@@chrisb4840 Amazon and Wall mart both have it at there web sites.
My little travel travel does not have a built in rinse out function. But I found a great little flush out connector that I use (with a dedicated rinse out only use hose) that does a great job. I also take much pride in my management of the waste tanks. Thank you for your great videos. I enjoy watching them and always learn a few things.
+Liz Souza Liz, if you manage your waste tanks well you should be very proud. I salute you!
Good tip on the hoses. I have the white drinking water hose for water to drink (obviously) and a grey hose I bought at home depot exclusively for cleaning the black water tank and the sewer hose.
Just bought my first RV. This task is one that I dread - dread making a mistake, dread having a hazardous spill, dread looking like the newbie I am. For the first 12 times I have to empty the tanks, I’ll just go at night. And carry a flame-thrower. No one will bother me.
I'm in the thinking process of purchasing an RV and since this will be a solo project, I am very grateful for all of the helpful info you are providing. I look forward to your next video.
Judy Rehfeld getting mine as a solo tomorrow Nov 28, 16
My wife and I are also in the thinking stages of getting our first RV. We're considering going full-time at retirement (
Tip regarding filtering the fresh water: I would suggest that the filtration needs depend on the source. At home, we have excellent city water that we fill with before we leave. I've found that if we use a charcoal filter when filling, the water tends to start growing algae and turns funky between trips of it sits for more than a week or two. This is likely due to the fact that charcoal filters tend to pull the bulk of the chlorine out of the water. Obviously if the fresh water source is an untreated well, the need is different.
When we are ready to go to the next destination, I like to stop up my gray tank to let some water build up and add some Clorox down each drain, let it sit in there for 1/2 to 1 hour to disinfect the gray tank, then empty the black tank followed by my Clorox water gray tank contents to give the old stinky slinky a nice clean flush too. Used this system for about 7 or 8 years now and never have the gray tank odor problems. BTW, it will not hurt a septic or lagoon system per a septic guy I spoke with and many campground owners have concurred that it will not cause their systems any problems...just as people adding bleach to their laundry doesn't upset the balance.
It seems rv's should have been designed to have the gray flow control through the black tank. Conveniently clean the black tank every time when dumping.
Some gray tanks do overflow into the black, but the process you describe would require the bottom of the gray tank to be above the black tank. The top of the gray must be low enough for the sink and shower to flow into by gravity. With this, your rig is now 15 feet high!
@@davidc1961utube
No, the rig wouldn't be "15 feet high."
There's plenty of room between the black water tank and the bottom of the toilet.
It's a good idea.
But as in most things, people refuse to embrace change for the better, perferring to stick with a bad known vicegoing with a good unknown ...
I know this is common sense but make sure the black water valve is closed before you open the sewer drain cap when dumping. This last summer while dumping at Canyon Village in Yellowstone, I witnessed a German couple remove the sewer cap and have the entire contents of the black water tank flush out on the ground. They forgot to close the valve after previously dumping at another campground. They received a ticket for their carelessness.
+Happy Camper wow! Ugh 😑 that's a bad situation. Thanks, yes you can never have too much common sense, especially when working in this department.
We are looking to get a T@B with a wet-bath, so I am grateful for this video!
Safe Travels.
+Carrie Takushi Thanks, hope it helps. Enjoy the T@B! :-)
I have dumped my tanks many time over the years in our old MH and our new one. The last time I went camping I went to dump at the station and wouldn't you know as I pulled in 2 other MH came in line just behind me. We watched the station during the day and it was not being used much only occasionally. I had just purchased a new fancy dump hose and one of those clear joints and had never used it before. It was raining like crazy and I felt under pressure as others were waiting. I apparently did not have the connection on correctly and as I pulled the black water handle, you got it, it came rushing out all over the ground, my shoes and pants legs. The rain was running down my jacket into my butt crack, I was freezing and covered with. S*%$. Toilet paper all over the area along with other things. I did clean it up, but needles to say. I am going to make damn sure the connection from the hose to the outlet on the MH is on correctly. And not let the pressure of others waiting cause me to make a big stinky mistake.
Thank you! Perfect example of what could go wrong when feeling the pressure to hurry through this job. It can happen to anyone.
Oh man! I feel your pain.
LOL
lol That sounds like a nightmare. Now I will be feeling the pressure when I make my first black water dump run …. I almost don't want anyone using the toilet in my new camper that I will be picking up next Friday. I cant wait. most campgrounds have a few bathroom stations … ill be telling my wife, my kids and yes even me to use the campground bathrooms. I need to get used to pulling that camper 34 ft camper first and parking first. I heard everyone watchers you when your trying to park them … more pressure to worry about. one thing at a time. but I hope there is no line behind me when I have to make that trip to the dump station. funny story by the way.
@@back2backband1 If the trailer is new, practice at home before you go using nothing but clean water. Also, don't let anyone put pressure on you. Sometimes you will have to wait. Sometimes someone will have to wait for you. Get a routine going and do your work the same way every time. Practice makes perfect. I dump the black tank first. Then I close the black valve and turn on the black tank flush. While I'm waiting for the black tank to fill up, I dump the gray tank. Once the gray tank is empty I turn off the black tank flush and pull the black tank valve a second time. Finally I flush everything by dumping the galley tank. I take the time to rinse my hoses. I never rush. At a calm pace it should not take you more than 10-15 minutes. Sometimes people have to wait. Sometimes it's you and sometimes it's somebody else. It's just the way it is. We all get a turn and there is no reason for you ever to feel rushed.
Great video. A little trick is to add ice cubes down the toilet in between moves. They clean the sides and melt to water. Make sure you have a mostly full black water tank so the cubes can move around. The sawtooth mountains are awesome.
All I can think about is "the scene" in the Robin Williams movie RV. I could even hear the music when you talked about "a little" coming out. Lol! I love that you are not afraid to admit messing up. It makes you real!
Good info. I would suggest drinking bottled water while on the road. Walmart bottled water is cheap. Even if you filter the local water it is different every place you go and can cause you problems. For example... walmart bottled water is the same everywhere you go and is cheap insurance to not have problems on your trip. You could also fill a 5 gallon water bottle with name brand water at the superstores for $1.25.
We never drink water from our fresh water tank. We recently had a problem that caused our fresh water to smell like rotten eggs. It was nasty. We had to dump a bunch of bleach into the fresh water tank just to get rid of the smell. I will never trust the water from that tank ever again.
I have to say of all the different tips I have watched ,yours is the BEST..Thank you !! Were in our 70's and just bought a trailer and off and slow driving but we always get there.
gail baugh Enjoy your travels! We just did the same...😎
I prefer the 2.5" x 10" cartridge type filters to the "hose" attachment type. The hose attachment type filters contain only course granulated charcoal with a small round sponge on the inlet for a particulate filter. As such water flows through the charcoal freely without much filtering and the small sponge can clog quicklly. Most 2.5" x 10" cartridge type filters have fine carbon granules formed into a solid block that results in much more intimate water to charcoal contact and better particulate collection as well in that the porous carbon cylinder forms the sediment filter as well (typically rated at 5 microns).
When everything comes together for me to hit the road - I plan on using a composting toilet! At my house, I use one that I made. Giving it a go to see if it's something I can do long term. I just don't want to mess with the black tank!
I really enjoy all your videos - thanks tons!
You didn't say where you were. But it looks like the Tetons. Idaho or Wyoming?
first thing i did when i orderd my truck camper was told them to swap out regular toilet for composting toilet, take out black water tank and put bigger fresh and grey water tank and composting toilets work amazing
I had an RV dealer install a drain hose on my grey tank and a pump in the water bay with a short hose that I hook to black tank flush inlet. I can flush the black tank with grey water, and I can use the full capacity of both tanks by pumping excess grey water into the black tank. Even if I don't need to I pump some grey water into the black tank before going to the dump station just to make dumping the black tank easier and more complete.
At, you have to love the process, you got another subscriber. Okay, good and enjoyable videos had something to do with it. I just bought a Hi-Lo camper and will be using it this summer for the first time. Next in my process is getting a tow vehicle. The camper is only 3200 pounds so I should not have a problem finding something that will deal with it easily.
If folks without the black water flush could leave the flush valve open and rinse with there shower head from inside . Much luk
My late husband and I had a boat for a few years. With a boat, the contents of the black tank need to be pumped out. You hook up the pump hose and it suctions out the black waste. There is no gray water tank; the gray water drains into the bilge and is pumped overboard automatically. To clean the black tank, the pumpout stations provide a fresh water hose (non-potable), which you run in through the bathroom (head) window, and into the toilet. This is continued until the water is running clear. Then, you add in a couple of gallons of fresh water to stay in the tank, and some blue anti-stink chemical, and you're done. A little more complex, it seems, than the RV situation... ;-)
As for 'special' TP--my current sticks and bricks is on a septic system, so I already buy septic safe TP--no changes will be needed there when I get my rig... ;-)
This is my first camper . I am staying in a park. That furnish sewer so the hose is all ready connected is it as simple as pulling. The waste lever and it draining
I made the newbie mistake of always opening both tanks when full hookups were available. after returning from my cross country trip this summer, I noticed my Black tank was showing 3/4 full. I tried putting liquid plumber & pots of hot water to clear it out, they helped but it still showed up half full. I bought one of the flexible wands and cleaned it out. Now I know to wait and allow the liquids to work on the solids until I am ready to dump. Thanks for all your tips.
That is awesome you said keeping the black tank clean is a thing that is kind of fun to take care of.. me too
You guys combine information with entertainment. Keep it up, please.
Thanks for sharing this. I have had my "oop's" moments at the dump station. It's just something you have to do. I loved your comment about "embracing the process." Pure gold.
Haha I had a new "oops" moment this year that I need to discuss in a video. Basically the hose popped off the trailer connection. It was pretty bad - but could have been a lot worse!
My wife and I are planning our first trip with our new travel trailer. I can't remember if we started watches these videos before or after getting the camper, but I will say that your videos have played a huge part in our willingness to set forth on this adventure! Thank you ;-)
After one particularly bad craptastrophy, I'd wear a space suit if I had one!
Hazmat suit is cheaper. I know. If anyone asks, it's self defense from the Nuclear Chili.
This was very reassuring, and honestly, when my wife wanted me to get a truck for towing one of the reasons I was not wanting to was this very reason. As a kid my father made a big deal of it, so it had my prejudices set in, so I'd say, why not stay in hotels? I'm sure things are vastly different from 30 years ago, but still, this video helped calm my fears.
I am also a germaphobe, I already have the hand sanitizer!
Awesome video! Answered our noobie questions! I'm planning on renting first to see how we like it. A coworker commented that it's too much work! I thought it would make life simpler, better than having to pack the sleeping, cooking and playing gear ie fishing poles, water toys all the time!
I have been watching a lot of your videos as of late. Recently bought a new camper and just refreshing my mind on proper procedures.
Thanks for all your great videos!
Another helpful gadget I've been using while dumping is a 90° sewer hose end connector! It really helps with the flow where the sewer line enters the ground.
Keep up the good work and safe travels!
+Thomas Veverka Thanks much for your comment! I'll have to check out one of those connectors. I know that sometimes little gadgets make a big difference when doing a job. Cheers
My husband says we must be kindred spirits. I do all the dumping because I want to make sure our tanks are CLEAN as possible when finished (and I take great pride in that). Our MoHo will transfer grey water to black tank AND it has a tank flush. I really flush them out good. We have a macerator to dump with and love it but I can't use a clear elbow on it - this causes me a little stress so I just flush out an extra time as long as no one is behind me waiting.
Don't forget to make sure the dump valves are totally closed before removing the end cap and hooking up the "stinky slinky" (LOL-luvit)
Good video, as always. Dumping the tanks is way preferable to changing diapers.... just saying.
I use my black tank rinse every time I empty the black tank. I use a green hose for my black tanks rinse just to make sure I never confuse it with my fresh water hoses and store it in a different location.
Great idea. Me too!
Same here. Every time we dump the black, we fill it first, then dump, then fill and dump again.
How do you know when it’s full without filling it too much?
FYI the military uses non potable water for showering and hand washing station. Generally the water is the same as drinking water when it goes into the container but the container may not be something you want to drink water out of.
You two are awesome people, our family camp in a travel trailer now and then, hopefully we see ya on the road! would love to say Hello!
thanks Dan, same to ya!
oh my gosh thank you guys for your videos we are newbies and appreciate the help and you both seem so dern likable😀 thanks and GOD bless
Thanks , I feel a lot better on the flush and fill.
Just wanted to say thanks for all the great tips. I still tent camp, but hopefully in a fee years have my own Airstream and begin my adventure.
Thank you for the info, just retired and buying a 22rr toy hauler, seriously thinking of roamingt for some years. This helps me prep and decide if it is worth tit.
My wife started our RV camping adventure last year. I found this site by google searching and it has been one of my go to sites for learning all about this life style. I am sure glad I found this this video as it help make our first dump station adventure disaster free.
get an extra valve stick it on the end first. after dumping the black close last valve, leave black open, open grey and iit will back flow and put soapy water in black to clean it out. Do it coupla times
this video was very informative and helpful. I was a bit nervous about dump stations, and I just took possession of my very first fifth wheel. While I won't be moving around a lot due to being a flight attendant this was one thing that was always in the back of my mind, so thank you very much for posting this video
Great video....... we use the same filter and then a under-the-sink filter as well. We bought the generator you have/recommended......great!! Thanks for the videos......we learn so much from you two. Ken and Nancy in Vegas
You both did an excellent job! I feel much more comfortable with this process now.
Another grate video thank you. We don't have an rv at the moment but hope to one day. Watching your videos are really helpful and are certainly going to help us in the future thank you. Regards Richard and Sarah.
We just bought our first RV Trailer looking forward to a great experience at the dump station thank you for the advice!!
As soon as you said towards the end of this video something about you have to embrace and enjoy the process even if it has to deal with the yucky parts of it all you got my subscription right then and there 🤩
That is one of the most prolific statements I have ever heard in any video watching about RV life 🤗✨ super smart super intelligent
I use the 'GEO' method since it is a temporary holding tank, not a septic tank.
absolutely! the GEO method works best for me! Hooray for Calgon water softener!
To me, the best flush is to 1. Drain your Black tank; 2. Flush a little water from your "gray" tank to clean the hose; 3. Remove your drain hose and cap the opening; 4. Open both the "gray and black" tank valves which will backflush the black water tank; 5. Connect the drain hose; 6. Drain the blackwater hose; 7. Finally drain the rest of the gray water hose; 8. Everything is now "clean" so... down the road you go!
Spitting out the water in front of the "Dump Station Water Unsafe To Drink" sign was frickin hilarious!!! Lol
Great video guys. Never be deturd from this job as it just part of the fun of travelling.
Yeah, dumping your tanks is just a job that you're going to have to do sewer or later.
Deturd - ha!!
Thank you for these videos. You both are very likeable,and have great information to give people, especially starting out in this rv life, as I have just started. Love and respect
What no references to Robin Williams and movie RV? You had the perfect opportunity. I really like the sky shot with the drone. Been meaning to tell ya.
+Campervan Kevin Thanks...more sky shots to come. As for the RV movie, can you believe I've never seen the entire thing?
SHAME!
::hangs head:: I have been shamed...
Thanks for the information and encouragement I am just starting the RV adventure and this is my biggest concern. I enjoy the dynamics between you also!!
Well, after you deal with your black water tank you should REMOVE those gloves before touching any fresh water hoses. You are effectively spreading germs with your gloves as the vector. You are putting fecal germs on your own hoses and dump station hoses. Using a couple of sets of disposable gloves for each of the processes will keep things as "clean" as possible. You should avoid cross-contamination of your and others' fresh water sources. So, the people that advised you to use disposable gloves had you on this one.
Good point, HCH.
I have used disposable gloves in the past, and I have a pair of gloves that I *only* use when handling the sewer hose. But with that said, and as a germaphobe who carries hand sanitizer everywhere, I'm really more bothered by touching the average public bathroom door handle than dumping our tanks. Unless something goes very wrong, no water ever touches my skin. (And if something does go wrong, which rarely EVER happens, I'm quick to apply the sanitizer.)
We roll our travel trailer up by our septic after a trip, then level the trailer and fill & drain it several times.
Have you ever looked into composting rv toilets? A video on those would be great.
Thank you, from a guy just getting ready to get ready to leave 4 walls and the same things behind
Just got my RV and needed a good review of the dump process. Thanks!
A saw a tip! First start with the grey water just to test your hose connection. Then, when no leaks are detected, you can close the grey and open the black before finishing with the grey. Sounds good. What do you all think?
Greetings from Germany, Jonny
Good idea, assuming you have a good supply of grey water.
A little dump station Etiquette never hurts either. Waiting on a guy 45 min once. Said he was cleaning his black tank ? With a line behind him waiting.
Yes, taking 45 minutes is just plain inconsiderate. I guess the corollary of "don't rush" is "don't take all day!"
@Joe Casson hopefully they didn't see the signs that said not to drink the water and did so anyways.
Thanks for this. We haven't had this experience yet. But I know we'll have to do it eventually.
+vmcshannon haha no worries you will do fine!
Thank you guys. I do appreciate that video. I have never done it before. we are going to start rving in May, so trying to learn everything.
Thanks for your comment. We made this video for you (and others in your shoes). No need to be intimidated!
Thank you. I will try not to be. lol
Best part is the ground level camera (the late camera) view at the very end. The anticipation is electric! I try to learn from everyone. Thanks for sharing. btw - the main topic was all a load of hooey.
Getting ready for a 2 night shake down trip with our new trailer. Thanks for this video, getting the separate black water tank flush hose is now on my list of things to buy.
If i could interject a hint. i always empty my black water first, making sure it is closed off. Then I go into bathroom and use my "wand" to rinse anything that might have been missed in the initial flush. Now I Empty the black once again after about 5-8 minutes with the wand., when running clear, I then open my grey to flush the hose. Great tips, oh and I never drink my water in my fresh tank. We buy a 5 gallon bottle and pump to drink. cheers, I hope we meet up with you sometime. Yeah crappy video ;) keep up the good work.
Great advice Stetson. I haven't drank the water but do use it to brush my teeth. Guess you win some you loose some
I love your sense of humor guys! I am learning a lot from your videos, thanks !
Gone with the Winns, has done a good video on composting toilets, according to them it has extended the times they need for boondocking. If you like to boondock, it is the best option there is!
Thanks, I knew there would be interest in this option... One day we may go that route. 👍
+Long Long Honeymoon I saw a video of when they got a new class A motorhome, and the first thing the did was remove the standard RV toilet and install a composting unit. Then, they are able to combine both tanks (black& grey) into one extra large grey water tank, for extended periods of boondocking (I think they can go 3 weeks between dump stations). Not a bad option!
I literally watch this video every single day --- it's just that funny !!
"You can do it!"
CLASSIC!!!
Quick note on potable water. I did 2 tours in Afghanistan and showering in non potable water, and shaved.. still here... Granted we drank bottled water.. but non potable doesn't mean contaminated..
Common sense for a common process. Well done.