Forum Discussion

drhuggybear's avatar
drhuggybear
Explorer
Mar 19, 2014

Blue/Grey Tote usage

I am a recent convert from a popup so I am still learning all of the little tricks. Please bear with me on this "n00b" question.

We normally camp where we have full hookups or just do short weekend jaunts where I haven't needed to use our tote. This week we are doing a full week at Garner State Park and I needed to use my tote for the first time. We have the SmartTote with the integrated hoses. I can't seem to get all of the liquid out of it. I can get most but still sounds like there is a good amount in there. I flushed it a couple times like I would do a standard black flush but I was wondering if there were any "hints" that you experts could give that would help me better clean this thing out.

I know I won't be able to get every drop out but I certainly want to keep it as cleaned out as possible.
  • NanciL's avatar
    NanciL
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2014
    CarpFishermanAndWife wrote:
    Dick_B wrote:
    My hint is to never use the tote for black water...


    Hi. We are newbies (just brought our TT home Saturday) and have never camped before but my husband saw the totes and we have questions (hope they are not dumb).

    When weekend camping, we know to empty the black hose into the sewer dump upon leaving, but if camping for a week (which we will do in June), there is a tote to wheel over waste to the sewer dump? You said you never used the tote for black water? If not, what do you do? Thanks!


    We are another who never uses the tote for Black water.
    We normally can get almost a week out of our 40 gallon black water tank, But the gray will fill in about three days.
    If we are close to a dump station I will just pull by hand our 15 gallon tote with gray every couple of days (make several trips if necessary)
    When we are at a park for two weeks we use the rest rooms and shower rooms.

    That's us -To each his own!

    Jack L
  • NanciL's avatar
    NanciL
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2014
    CarpFishermanAndWife wrote:
    Dick_B wrote:
    My hint is to never use the tote for black water...


    Hi. We are newbies (just brought our TT home Saturday) and have never camped before but my husband saw the totes and we have questions (hope they are not dumb).

    When weekend camping, we know to empty the black hose into the sewer dump upon leaving, but if camping for a week (which we will do in June), there is a tote to wheel over waste to the sewer dump? You said you never used the tote for black water? If not, what do you do? Thanks!


    We are another who never uses the tote for Black water.
    We normally can get almost a week out of our 40 gallon black water tank, But the gray will fill in about three days.
    If we are close to a dump station I will just pull by hand our 15 gallon tote with gray every couple of days (make several trips if necessary)
    When we are at a park for two weeks we use the rest rooms and shower rooms.

    That's us -To each his own!

    Jack L
  • kzspree320's avatar
    kzspree320
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2014
    Most people have grey water tanks (sinks and faucets) that fill up long before the black water tank (commode). The showers and washing dishes just use a lot more water than the commode. That's why most of us would only use the tote for grey water. If you will be staying long enough to fill up the black water tank (not likely in my case), then unhook your camper and take the whole camper to the dump station to dump the black water. Hope this helps.
  • CarpFishermanAn's avatar
    CarpFishermanAn
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2014
    Dick_B wrote:
    My hint is to never use the tote for black water...


    Hi. We are newbies (just brought our TT home Saturday) and have never camped before but my husband saw the totes and we have questions (hope they are not dumb).

    When weekend camping, we know to empty the black hose into the sewer dump upon leaving, but if camping for a week (which we will do in June), there is a tote to wheel over waste to the sewer dump? You said you never used the tote for black water? If not, what do you do? Thanks!
  • doxiemom11's avatar
    doxiemom11
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2014
    We use ours for both. Ours has a little vent plug on the top to allow air in as the stuff dumps. Do you have one that should be opened while dumping? That increases the flow. When done we remove the hose and rinse/flush the tank out and then tip it to drain all water out, rinse the hose out and it's good. All rising is done with the "non" potable water house - please never with the potable water hose.
  • wildtoad's avatar
    wildtoad
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2014
    I have the same issue with mine. I use it only for gray and rinse it. Fortunately I rarely have had a need to use it.
  • NanciL's avatar
    NanciL
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2014
    After I drain mine, I remove the hose, but leave the valve open.
    then I just pick the tote up and then lean it toward the opening.

    I only use mine for gray, so there is no worry of it clogging

    Jack L
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Mar 19, 2014
    After you have the hose connected to dump you are releasing the hose support and allowing the hose to completely drop down?

    Then when it is almost drained......pick the opposite end up (handle end) and rock it up and down

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