Forum Discussion

woodtrucker's avatar
woodtrucker
Explorer
Apr 29, 2020

A good problem! 5 people, 5 nights, in a 5er

We have been camping as a family of 5 from day one almost 10 years ago. Our kids have grown up going out camping every summer since our youngest daughter was 1 year old and she'll be 10 this year. We have spent most trips no more than 3-4 nights and if I die tomorrow I would be happy knowing we got to enjoy this time together as a family all these years.

Now my problem is, I've bit off a bigger bite of camping life and booked a family of five in our camper for five nights.
Want to try and avoid bath houses as much as possible just because of germs. Should we invest in a portable tank to transfer grey water?
I'm nervous about our gray and black water tanks. 56 and 28 gallons respectively. We will be a ways out from anywhere that would have equipment. We are headed to hunting island state park in south carolina. I want this to be one of our most awesome trips ever. Looking forward to everything but water/waste management. haha.
  • 2012Coleman's avatar
    2012Coleman
    Explorer II
    May 05, 2020
    Get the Barker tote with pneumatic tires. I have hauled both black and gray water. Its not a big deal. The handle hooks up to your hitch ball. Otherwise, get a full hookup site for long stays.
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    May 02, 2020
    woodtrucker wrote:
    I actually went in and edited it. I had written it wrong originally. None the less we will have to use bathhouses as much as possible and reserve the camper use for night time only.

    Yes reversing those tanks does change things a bit.
    I think I could go 4 days with a 56 gallon grey tank so you will be close. However I think 28 gallon black could also be a limiting factor for a family of five. I have a 42 gallon Barker tote that pretty much gives me the freedom to stay on a site as long as I like if need be.
    If this is one of your last trips with a large group you can get by using bath house, assuming virus restrictions don't close the bathhouses.
    If you plan to use no sewer sites regularly with your group of 5,get a tote now.
  • woodtrucker's avatar
    woodtrucker
    Explorer
    May 01, 2020
    I actually went in and edited it. I had written it wrong originally. None the less we will have to use bathhouses as much as possible and reserve the camper use for night time only.
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    May 01, 2020
    Lantley wrote:
    Invest in the tank. You may get away with outside showers depending on your site and you may not. Hunting Island is a major state park. I do not consider it very remote, it is quite the opposite, it can be a very busy state park.
    A confrontation with a ranger over grey water discharge may have a negative impact on the greatest trip ever.
    You should be OK with 56 gallon black and not need the tote. But your 28 gallon grey is not up to the task. My 40 gallon grey can last us a 3 day weekend with no conservation. Get the tote and enjoy yourself without worry.


    You got OP's tank sized reversed. Black is only 28 and grey is 56, which is the usual, anemic, size for a lot of black tanks. No thought, whatsoever, for boondockers or dry campers. It's the primary reason that the Jayco I was looking at was a firm #2 on my short list.

    Lyle
  • 4youngs1's avatar
    4youngs1
    Explorer
    Apr 30, 2020
    I had to use a tank with just 2 kids, it's a good investment. Also, we love Hunting Island, it's a great family campground.
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    Apr 30, 2020
    Invest in the tank. You may get away with outside showers depending on your site and you may not. Hunting Island is a major state park. I do not consider it very remote, it is quite the opposite, it can be a very busy state park.
    A confrontation with a ranger over grey water discharge may have a negative impact on the greatest trip ever.
    You should be OK with 56 gallon black and not need the tote. But your 28 gallon grey is not up to the task. My 40 gallon grey can last us a 3 day weekend with no conservation. Get the tote and enjoy yourself without worry.
  • LadyRVer's avatar
    LadyRVer
    Explorer II
    Apr 30, 2020
    In 27 years of RVing, I never had the use for a portable tote tank... until this past year. I had two choices... hook up and go to dump station or travel about 100 miles to buy the only portable tote availabe in my area. I opted for the portable tote at almost 200.00. I think 21 gallons. I wanted 30. But, once I filled the 21 gallon, I found out I could not lift it.. (solo, female, 76).. got some help, tho. But, then one day I was looking on Craigs list and there was a tote for sale for 50.00. Wow. I now carry one and if I need it, I have it.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Apr 29, 2020
    “when faced with that dilemma,I just open the grey water enough to let it trick;e out overnight.”

    Such fun for the camper after you! Dumping RV grey water is illegal and selfish.
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Apr 29, 2020
    We boondock a fair bit and I'd have absolutely zero issues in dumping grey water in any AZ forest. Hell, they can all use the water anyway. As it is, we got in the habit of using a basin in the sink to wash dishes, which gets dumped on the ground anyway. I will say that the anemic size tanks in a lot of rigs kept them right off even my long list when I was shopping a few years ago. My #2 choice, a Jayco, was #2 mainly because of the stupidly small black tank. My #1 choice, a KZ (not the model I now have) was #1 =because= of the larger tanks. Had I been able to find any pics of the Jayco model to see how much room was underneath to see if I could add larger grey/black tanks, I might have gone with it, but the price would have had to have been exceptional. As it was, when I took DW to look at that model, her first words were, "where's the pantry?" Ooops! :B

    Lyle

About Fifth Wheel Group

19,008 PostsLatest Activity: Mar 07, 2025