First off we have only been a proud owner of a fifth wheel for 2 months. So that being said I have a couple of questions that maybe someone could answer. First one is when we empty the black tank our grey tank monitor dots go up on both tank 1 and 2. Then slowly tank 1 will go back to empty but since the first time it did that tank 2 always says 1/3 now. Ideas? Question 2 is how do you get rid of gnats? When we flush every now and then a couple of those buggers will fly out of the toilet. It's annoying and kind of embarrassing when people are over :o oh and one more does anyone have a breaker tripping problem? We can't run the microwave and a/c or fireplace and microwave at the same time. It's really annoying when you're trying to cook but have to remember to turn the a/c off or you have to go outside in the 105 degree weather to flip the breaker back on the box. And I just found the hole that you rinse the sewer out with today not that I really looked but any tips on getting that thing clean. I've read that you can't go off the sensors on that because of all the different problems that could cause it to read wrong ours is always 2/3 full. Today though I dumped a couple buckets of water down the drain and got it back to 1/3 :B But it has an odor that you also smell every time you flush! I was just wondering what you could do for that. If anyone could just answer at least one of my questions I would be extremely grateful!

Sorry about posting 2x! My Kindle messed up!

sounds like you had your grey tank valves open when you opened the black tank and back filled a grey tank. do you leave your tanks opened all the time which would let anything come in?and why don't you just xxx out your other thread so you don't get posts in both?bumpy

Yeah we leave both Grey's open all the time. Wow that's embarrassing so close them before emptying the black? We have friends that have been in campers for years and they forgot to mention that! And I will do that real quick.

Ist if you are hooked up to 30amp and not50amp. you will flip breakers when trying to run A/C and other major appliances. AT 50 amp you should be able to run about what ever you want. As far as the knots I'm not too sure, We camp in Colorado during the summer and many things just don't happen. I would use digest it in the black tank. It gets rid of a lot of problems and its just bacteria. Just follow directions properly. Always make sure black tank is closed and when dumping black close the gray tank, At times you will need to let the gray get some water and put digest it in for about 24 hours. That will get rid of odors in gray tank. as far as sensor lights. They just seem to have problems. We just know to dump black once per week. If you are hooked to 50 amp, you might need to get electrical system checked. 30 amp, just won't run everything.

Ok yeah our trailer is a 30 amp and I'm pretty sure our site is too. I'll have to go double check that. Digest it do you have to get that at a camper store? Sorry I've never heard of it.

Couple of Questions | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

Beaker
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
I've had 3 30 amp trailerw and never had problems running AC, Micro, and WH at the same time except for the one time the 30 amp cord didn't reach and had to use the 20 amp.
asherdasher63
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
I've heard of the geo method. I plan on trying it when we leave this job for the next. And that thetford is great there is no smell at all since I put it in the black tank.
DennisG9
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
laknox wrote:
asherdasher63 wrote:
Well I flushed it out and it helped with the smell alot. And I filled the 2 grey tanks and emptied them. They are now empty and so is the black tank. I also found that stuff at Walmart and poured some in there too. So now all that is left are those gnats. They get worse everyday so I will deal with them this week while he's at work. Thanks everyone for the help I really do appreciate it. And on that flushing thing on the trailer it had like a rubber thing around the inside I thing was the back flow valve.

I only have 2 tanks, but my dump sequence is:

After hooking up the sewer hose:
1. hook up the black tank flush hose and turn it on for about 10-15 seconds
2. open black valve while the flush is running
3. close black valve when tank is empty, leaving flush running
4. let black tank fill almost completely back up with the flush water
5. turn flush off
6. dump black tank a second time
7. close black valve
8. open the flush hose again for 15-20 seconds to put a little water back in the tank, then shut it off and disconnect the hose
9. open grey valve and let drain fully (this helps rinse the sewer line, too)
10. close grey valve
Disconnect the sewer hose, put the cap back on the dump line and put your sewer hose back in storage. WASH HANDS! :-)

Don't forget that, if you're in a campground for more than a couple days, you're likely to need to dump 1 or both your grey tanks =before= dumping your black tank. Will depend on if you're using the CG bathrooms/showers.

We use any of several different black tank deodorizers/treatments. Not all WallyWorlds have what you might like in stock at any given time so sometimes I just have to take pot-luck.

Please do a search for the GEO Method for black tank treatment. Easy and self-explanatory. Helps keep your tank cleaner.

Lyle

Very good list/process. But let me add on more at 4.5

4.5 Under NO circumstances get distracted while flush water is on.

And please don't ask me how I know. . . . . .
laknox
Nomad
Jun 16, 2014
asherdasher63 wrote:
Well I flushed it out and it helped with the smell alot. And I filled the 2 grey tanks and emptied them. They are now empty and so is the black tank. I also found that stuff at Walmart and poured some in there too. So now all that is left are those gnats. They get worse everyday so I will deal with them this week while he's at work. Thanks everyone for the help I really do appreciate it. And on that flushing thing on the trailer it had like a rubber thing around the inside I thing was the back flow valve.

I only have 2 tanks, but my dump sequence is:

After hooking up the sewer hose:
1. hook up the black tank flush hose and turn it on for about 10-15 seconds
2. open black valve while the flush is running
3. close black valve when tank is empty, leaving flush running
4. let black tank fill almost completely back up with the flush water
5. turn flush off
6. dump black tank a second time
7. close black valve
8. open the flush hose again for 15-20 seconds to put a little water back in the tank, then shut it off and disconnect the hose
9. open grey valve and let drain fully (this helps rinse the sewer line, too)
10. close grey valve
Disconnect the sewer hose, put the cap back on the dump line and put your sewer hose back in storage. WASH HANDS! :-)

Don't forget that, if you're in a campground for more than a couple days, you're likely to need to dump 1 or both your grey tanks =before= dumping your black tank. Will depend on if you're using the CG bathrooms/showers.

We use any of several different black tank deodorizers/treatments. Not all WallyWorlds have what you might like in stock at any given time so sometimes I just have to take pot-luck.

Please do a search for the GEO Method for black tank treatment. Easy and self-explanatory. Helps keep your tank cleaner.

Lyle
ipeltier
Explorer
Jun 16, 2014
We have a 30 amp. system in our 5th wheel, and at the start I would regularly blow the breaker when I had too many electrical appliances plugged in. Running the water heater and the fridge on propane helps. As well, I have an amp chart for common appliances
tacked up inside the kitchen cupboard, and I check it now and then to remind myself how many amps each appliance takes, so I don't run the heater, the hair blower, the computer, etc. at the same time.
jjj
Explorer
Jun 15, 2014
One thing on the gnats. I would try filling the black tank with the odor control chemical all the way up to the top as full as you can get it. Try getting the water all the way up the pipe so you can see from the toilet and let it sit there for a couple hours. If your not getting the tank completely full they can hide at the top in the air pocket and still survive in there.
Coach-man
Explorer
Jun 15, 2014
When flushing the toilet, always use plenty of water! After dumping black tank, add at least 3 to 4 gallons of water to the tank. Two, black tank is not a septic tank, it is a holding tank! Homemade oder preventer one gallon water, ¼ cup callgon water softener 3 or 4 drops liquid dish soap, add this to your black tank after dumping with at least 2 more gallons of water, will keep tank clean and prevent oder! Good luck!
asherdasher63
Explorer
Jun 14, 2014
Well I flushed it out and it helped with the smell alot. And I filled the 2 grey tanks and emptied them. They are now empty and so is the black tank. I also found that stuff at Walmart and poured some in there too. So now all that is left are those gnats. They get worse everyday so I will deal with them this week while he's at work. Thanks everyone for the help I really do appreciate it. And on that flushing thing on the trailer it had like a rubber thing around the inside I thing was the back flow valve.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jun 14, 2014
not only is there a antibackflow valve, there is 25-50 ft. of hose that any bad stuff would have to swim against the current to affect the water supply.
bumpy
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 14, 2014
The flushing kit normally comes with a backflow preventer. If it didn't they are available in most hardware stores.