I've been reading some of the posts about flushing your black water tank. Has anyone taken the time to dump the black water (with a line of other RVers behind them) and then refill their black water tank and flush it? The dump site doesn't have a hose nozzle so you'd have to fill the black water tank by flushing the toilet.

When there's a line you dump black, then flush hose with gray and get. I'll do a flush the next time I stop. If you want to tick off a bunch of people just do more then a quick dump when there is a line waiting to dump and leave.

If there's a line, just dump and go. Then just make sure that you give it a really good flush at the end of the trip. You may want to locate a different dump site near home that is not as crowded and has a faucet where you can do a real backflush before storing it away.

I would never do that! If I had to fill the black tank by flushing the toilet I would park somewhere, fill it and get back in line for the dump station.Unfortunately, there are rude people who don't care how long it takes to dump/flush the black tank. They will make everyone wait.You can't fix rude/stupid. JMO

HOnestly, if there is a line waiting to dump I consider it unfair and selfish to take that much time. Know a member of our camping group who does that and we all fight to be sure to "get going" before he is ready to get in line! We simply make sure the black tank is full before we empty it (adding extra water if necessary before we unhook at the campsite) and then, after dumping and closing it off, put a gallon or so of fresh water with chemicals back into the toilet. Fill a gallon jug of water before we leave campsite to do this. We've never had an odor problem doing it this way.

We normally flush when we have full hook ups and use dump station as that a "dump station".Flushing as you said is not a good practice. Sure if you dry camp and need to flush, good you should do it when there is not a backup at the dump station.Flushing through the toilet doesn't do as much good as connecting to an external flush system. Just filling the tank only removes debris that is not attached to the tank.

Dumping at Campgrounds and Flushing Black Water Tank Too

Roads_Less_Trav
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2013
We find the easiest and fastest way to do a flush of the black tank is to dump a 5-gallon bucket of water down the toilet at the end of the black water flush... dislodges all the solids under the toilet.

If there's a line at the dump, we do just one bucket and go (I'm inside waiting with the bucket til I hear my hubby tap on the wall).

If there's no line, we do a second and sometimes a third bucket -- until the water runs clean (we have a clear plastic elbow on our sewer hose).
Mocoondo
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2013
JC2 wrote:

I agree.:S If you dump your tanks when they are properly full, nothing else will usually be needed except on rare occasions to keep them in good working order. They aren't supposed to be sparkling clean. One of the biggest problems of rvers is their lack of "consistant" preventive maintenance of their rigs.

Sadly, this is so true.

Based upon my observations over the years, those who obsess over whether a little piece of corn is in the far left corner of the black tank are the same owners who neglect consistent maintenance...probably because they are too busy obsessing over some part of their coach that they can't even see! :S
JC2
Explorer
Jul 24, 2013
Mocoondo wrote:
It's a DUMP station, not a FLUSH station or any other kind of station. Pull the valves open, send your******down the hole and be on your way. Save all this goofy flushing and other rituals for when you are on your own time.

I agree.:S If you dump your tanks when they are properly full, nothing else will usually be needed except on rare occasions to keep them in good working order. They aren't supposed to be sparkling clean. One of the biggest problems of rvers is their lack of "consistant" preventive maintenance of their rigs. It will come back everytime and bite you in the butt later on.
Mocoondo
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2013
It's a DUMP station, not a FLUSH station or any other kind of station. Pull the valves open, send your******down the hole and be on your way. Save all this goofy flushing and other rituals for when you are on your own time.
Wyomings
Explorer
Jul 23, 2013
I was just in Grand Teton Park at a campground with 2 dumps. The guy ahead of me was at the first dump. Which was fine, maybe when he got there there was a guy in the 2nd one. The only problem was he had his MH parked in the middle of the road so there was no way past him. So there we sat with an unused dump that we couldn't get to until he was done. And he took his time. Lot's of flushing.
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 22, 2013
I just dump and go if there is a line behind me. Actually if there is already a line I may skip to dump enroute or back at storage. Any flush is done at FHU site or no line back at storage.
Pangaea_Ron
Explorer
Jul 22, 2013
Bo-man wrote:
Pangaea Ron wrote:
scottz wrote:
Hole******folks! (pun intended) No need to flush anything as long as you have 12 gallons or more in the gray tank! It is always good practice to dump with mostly filled tanks anyways.

1. Connect drain hose
2. Pull Black Lever (wait until it stops)
3. Push Black lever
4. Pull Gray Lever (wait until it stops)
5. Push Gray lever
6. Disconnect drain hose and put away.
Drive away

Takes 5 minutes.

I do an additional step:

1.1 Open gray handle for a test drain (~1 quart) to see if all the connections are tight and not leaking. Better gray than black.
1.2 Close gray handle.

You're right when still at the CG, but I think that we're talking about leaving to go home and getting ready for the next trip.
Bo-man
Explorer
Jul 22, 2013
Pangaea Ron wrote:
scottz wrote:
Hole******folks! (pun intended) No need to flush anything as long as you have 12 gallons or more in the gray tank! It is always good practice to dump with mostly filled tanks anyways.

1. Connect drain hose
2. Pull Black Lever (wait until it stops)
3. Push Black lever
4. Pull Gray Lever (wait until it stops)
5. Push Gray lever
6. Disconnect drain hose and put away.
Drive away

Takes 5 minutes.

I do an additional step:

1.1 Open gray handle for a test drain (~1 quart) to see if all the connections are tight and not leaking. Better gray than black.
1.2 Close gray handle.
scottz
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
ependydad wrote:
And, the flush isn't for my sewer hose - it's to get the extra crud and carp out of the black tank. With a clear elbow on each of my sewer connections, I can tell you that it takes 3 actually dumps of my black tank for it to be really clean in there. Otherwise, TP and caca get left behind (even when emptying a fully tank).

I have never noticed this problem. I do put a gallon of water in my black tank after dumping, I figure that goes a long way keeping things clean.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
If there are no FHU sites available where I can steal a dump, here is what we do;

I sit patiently in line until it is my turn.
I get out my hoses.
I hook up the hoses.
DW goes inside to make some sandwiches.
I dump black tank.
I start the rinser.
I go inside for lunch.
After lunch my black tank is clean so I dump the gray.
I start rinsing the gray and go back inside for dessert.
After dessert the gray tank should be clean so I go out and disconnect.
Note that it takes less time to clean the gray tank, people are waiting after all.
I then wash the RV since the water hose is there and I don't want to take it home dirty.
I then drive home at 45 mph in the left lane.
Everyone driving faster is an idiot and everyone slower is a moron!
All those people behind me should have left earlier, it isn't my fault they didn't plan ahead.
:B
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Not really, just dump and get out of the way.

Forum Discussion

Dumping at Campgrounds and Flushing Black Water Tank Too

About RV Newbies

Related Content

Dump Gloves

Dump techniques....

Engine flush

Flush King

TC Fails Pic Dump