Black/Gray water best practices???

GA1dad wrote:
Oh, and I am not lifting the 18 gallon unit,,, it is on wheels with a handle that hooks to the bumper.

I guess that's better than towing the entire trailer to the dump station but no doubt you'll tire of dragging that tote tank at "walking speed" as well. :R Years ago I invested in a FloJet Waste Macerator so I could service my tanks at home and as a result haven't for years had to line up at a campground dump station. I also don't own a tote tank either but if the need to off load black or grey water arises while we're still camping I can also use my macerator to pump it directly into 7 gal portable containers already sitting in the back of the truck - i.e. no lifting. ;) When full these containers weigh 60 lbs so they're easy to lower from the truck tailgate down to the dump station sewer inlet. It's all too easy. :B

GA1dad wrote:
Oh, and I am not lifting the 18 gallon unit,,

I don't lift mine.(15 gal)..not the entire weight anyway. I cart it around on a hand truck, but, it still has to be lifted to an upright position on one end, and lifted to dump.

I never tow mine. I'm usually close to a dump station, or if need be I can walk it on a hand truck for quite a ways.

SoundGuy wrote:
Some will mitigate their fresh water use and grey / black generation by using the campground bath house as much as possible

This was my original plan. However, it turned out that this particular State Park had a single seater outhouse and shower stall. After having to wait my turn, and then finding the seat still warm,,, I opted to double down on our facilities myself.

Thanks to all who have responded. Great tips, and plenty room for improvement.

Oh, and I am not lifting the 18 gallon unit,,, it is on wheels with a handle that hooks to the bumper. I did take a quick picture for FB indicating that "a one ton truck will haul a lot of ****".

IdaD wrote:
I've never owned a tote. If we're camping, we don't use enough water over the course of 3-5 days to fill either tank. If we're on a longer vacation somewhere like Disneyland or the Oregon Coast we generally have hookups most nights or at least at the destination.

Let the black tank fill up before you dump it, and make sure you have a full grey tank before you dump the black tank so you can flush out the sewer line. Also I've found that a clear elbow attachment is handy between the sewer line and dump tube on the RV so you can see what's going through the line. A box of disposable gloves is a must, and a vinyl fence post with caps on each end is a better way to store sewer stuff than the bumper.

X2!

DW and I can shower every day and go eight days on tanks. We do have a Grey and a galley, but the point is learn to conserve when not a full hookup. I have no desire to use a tote, would rather move the unit to the dump station.
Vinyl fence post 5" size is the best for all thinks having to do with the stinky slinky.

As you can tell from reading all these posts, people have differing ways to handle the limited amount of holding tank capacity. Your 18 gallon tank is fine as it reduces the physical effort required to haul the waste, although you may end up having to do so more often. You will find that the need to haul the waste to the dump will not be at a good time, however, just because you have loaded up the tank, doesn't mean you have to haul it NOW. Learn to conserve. Staying at places with full hookups is a great idea, but not always available.

Agree you should have more good quality dump hose than you might expect. I've been some places where 20ft was not enough, so got more. Same with electrical hookups too. Get an extension cord that matches (30 or 50 amp) the one for your TT.

I've never owned a tote. If we're camping, we don't use enough water over the course of 3-5 days to fill either tank. If we're on a longer vacation somewhere like Disneyland or the Oregon Coast we generally have hookups most nights or at least at the destination.

Let the black tank fill up before you dump it, and make sure you have a full grey tank before you dump the black tank so you can flush out the sewer line. Also I've found that a clear elbow attachment is handy between the sewer line and dump tube on the RV so you can see what's going through the line. A box of disposable gloves is a must, and a vinyl fence post with caps on each end is a better way to store sewer stuff than the bumper.

GA1dad wrote:
Turns out the TT has a 31 gallon black and a 41 gallon gray tank. I immediately realized I had purchased the wrong sized tote.

I'd disagree - 18 gal capacity is plenty as a full tank is heavy enough as it is, ~ 150 lbs + the weight of the tank itself, and is certainly much easier to store than a monster 40 gal tank. 18 gals is also plenty for off loading black water, should it ever be necessary while camping. Some will mitigate their fresh water use and grey / black generation by using the campground bath house as much as possible but my view is I paid for a camper with full facilities so we're darned well going to use them! Remember - you don't have to fully empty your grey water holding tank completely, only off load enough that the system can be used once again. Your 18 gal tote is plenty big enough if you manage the situation correctly.

Likewise with fresh potable water - I carry a set of four 7 gal Aquainters labeled for the purpose in the back of my truck and can collect more at any time, at my convenience.

K.I.S.S. is often the best method. :B

When your shower tub starts to fill with water from washing dishes, it's time to drain some water from the gray tank. 18 gall is plenty, the tanks have valves, and can be drained slowly, it's not "all or nothing".

Less is more in case you're at a campground where the only dump station is a slop sink or outhouse (most federal campgrounds). 18 gallons is 150+ lbs to lift up and dump down an outhouse toilet.

In 14 seasons I think I have used our tote twice. Water weighs 8 lbs. per gallon so 18 gallons weighs....
Should not have to dump the black tank earlier than 1 week unless the shower/kitchen drains into it. Should not have to dump the kitchen either in a week. How many people are taking showers and do they all know how to take a navy shower?
Sounds like you are operating as if you had full hookups but don't.

So you have 72 gallons of black and grey storage. How much fresh water storage do you have? I have been camping for about 15 years at campgrounds with and without full hook-up and I have never needed to use a tote to dump when in place for up to 3-4 days. If staying longer full hook-up is a requirement.