Should I connect my sewer line when camping?

I usually don't hook it up until I need to, then leave it hooked up. But IMO, it's not a good idea to leave the gray water valve open. Why? Because even though you may be wiping dishes/pans out with paper towels before washing in the sink, there is still food waste that will sit on the bottom of your tank when the water runs out. Better to let it sit/float in water - besides, how big of a deal is it to open a dump valve when the tank is full? We use paper plates a lot but still use paper towels to wipe out pans before washing.

Secondly, when leaving camp, it is a good idea to dump the black tank first, then the gray which will rinse the hose of any particles that will be left behind.

We've been RVing for over 40 years and never gave much thought to your question! If we are stopping for just 1 night, we rarely hook up the sewer, unless we needed to dump, of course. Any longer than 2 nights, it's always hooked up in the beginning and we leave the grey water open - until the night before we are leaving so there is some water to help clean the black tank excess in the hose.

I hook it up then run the tank sprayer for a while to clean it out

For the most part . I set up right away to get it over with. If its a short stay that I don't need to dump obviously I won't set it up.
If weather is bad on arrival I may wait for better conditions.
Sooner or later it needs to be done so I generally just get it over with when I arrive

If I have full hook-ups I'm certainly taking advantage.
By all means, go ahead and attach sewer hose on arrival if you want.

The only thing that really has any significance regarding your black tank is never let it go dry.

When it's full, pull the valve and empty.
Once it's empty, add a few gallons of water and treatment....it's really that simple.

One advantage to waiting to hook up is if your stay is not long enough to require dumping you have eliminated one nasty job.

mgirardo wrote:
It's really a personal choice, whatever works best for you. If we are camping more than one overnight, we'd hook up sewer at the same time as water and electric. If we were just doing a quick overnight and didn't expect to fill the tanks, then we would not hook up sewer.

I have a similar approach. We are a family of 5 that does all showering, dish cleaning, bathroom usage, etc. in the camper. So, we really can't get more than a few nights without needing to dump. For a weekend trip, I might do it upon arrival if I have time and nice weather, or I might wait until departure if circumstances demand. Longer stays, I always set up at the outset so that I can dump as needed.

It's really a personal choice, whatever works best for you. If we are camping more than one overnight, we'd hook up sewer at the same time as water and electric. If we were just doing a quick overnight and didn't expect to fill the tanks, then we would not hook up sewer.

There is no right or wrong way. For me, I like to get all the hookup out of the way at the same time. If we get setup and need to leave quickly, then I might skip the sewer connection, but that's unusual. Other than animals possibly getting at it (which I've never had happen or know anyone that it has happened to), there is no harm in hooking up the sewer hose when you first setup.

-Michael

I hook it up on arrival. Whether overnite or several days. Unless I am a a particular destination the only reason I am in a RV park to begin with is to catch up on services.

How I do it.. NOTE I can normally go about 3 weeks without taking on water or dumping. sometimes 4 or 5.

Summertimes I spend 2 weeks where I am now hooked to electricity only
And two weeks in another park .. I hook up dump and fill shortly after I arrive and the day before I leave (usually) Dump-refill and stow the hoses..

Half the work of hooking up at every site.