So as not to high jack another post, I'll ask my question here.I'm reading to my DH about honey wagons using vacuum to empty RV holding tanks and tanks possibly being damaged. He says it can only work with vacuum since the truck tanks are higher than the RV tank. Otherwise the RV tanks will not be emptied. How do they work?? Do they use a pump of some sort vs. vacuum? We've never used a honey wagon service.

Check out this post made yesterday.Is that the post you didn't want to hijack? Short answer, yes, they must use a pump. It's going to depend on the particular service you choose as to how 'much' pump that'll be. There seems to be a disagreement in the linked post as to whether the vent will handle it. Black tanks drain pretty fast on their own, so I'm not quite sure why these guys have to use such powerful pumps.

Normally the black tank has a vent. If the vent is clogged then using a honey wagon may be a bad idea.

In some older model RV's there was a flapper valve in the vent pipe to stop down drafts. Maybe you have one and the suction closed it.

The safe way to have them pump out your tanks is to drain into a bucket while they suck the stuff out of the bucket.

nevadanick wrote:The safe way to have them pump out your tanks is to drain into a bucket while they suck the stuff out of the bucket.Hoping they don't suck out the bottom of the bucket.

Honey wagon question | Good Sam Community

2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 29, 2016
Check out this post made yesterday.

Is that the post you didn't want to hijack? Short answer, yes, they must use a pump. It's going to depend on the particular service you choose as to how 'much' pump that'll be. There seems to be a disagreement in the linked post as to whether the vent will handle it. Black tanks drain pretty fast on their own, so I'm not quite sure why these guys have to use such powerful pumps.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 29, 2016
Normally the black tank has a vent. If the vent is clogged then using a honey wagon may be a bad idea.
Homer1
Explorer
Jul 29, 2016
In some older model RV's there was a flapper valve in the vent pipe to stop down drafts. Maybe you have one and the suction closed it.
nevadanick
Explorer
Jul 29, 2016
The safe way to have them pump out your tanks is to drain into a bucket while they suck the stuff out of the bucket.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 29, 2016
nevadanick wrote:
The safe way to have them pump out your tanks is to drain into a bucket while they suck the stuff out of the bucket.
Hoping they don't suck out the bottom of the bucket.
Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Jul 29, 2016
Homer wrote:
In some older model RV's there was a flapper valve in the vent pipe to stop down drafts. Maybe you have one and the suction closed it.

I never said anything about a problem.... We've never used a honey wagon....See my original comment at the top!
Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Jul 29, 2016
pianotuna wrote:
Normally the black tank has a vent. If the vent is clogged then using a honey wagon may be a bad idea.

Not a reply to my question!
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 29, 2016
If you want a direct specific answer, I'd suggest calling the service you want to use.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 29, 2016
You raised the issue of damage I answered.

However the honey wagon uses a pump to create a vacuum.

Mountain Mama wrote:
How do they work?? Do they use a pump of some sort vs. vacuum?
Marine_By_Choic
Explorer
Jul 29, 2016
Could always keep the flush valve open when they are pumping.

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