I keep my 5th wheel at home when we are not using it, and although I have a dedicated 50amp plug in, I do not have anyway to empty my black tank. (I live 5 acres in a very rural area, so I have no issues dumping my grey tanks at home).From time to time I will be using the 5th wheel at home when company or relatives come and visit. Should I keep them from using the toilet? My concern is it might be 2 or 3 weeks before I take the 5th wheel anywhere. The black tank obviously would not be very full from just 1 night of someone staying in it. Is it ok to travel with a little bit of solids in the black tank? What does everybody else do if you use your RV at home, but don't have a dedicated dump site at home?

I have let my tank sit between trips, sometimes 3 weeks apart. I also had a TC buddy who stored his camper underground (in Ks) and left his half full for a month or more at a time. We never had any problem and it probably just gives things more time to break down.

Just keep a bit of water in it, but do watch and don't let it dry out. I like to fill it about half, and add some septic tank cleaner if it is gong to sit for a while. Septic tank cleaner doesn't do much, but the bacteria may help to break stuff down. Some good deodorizer instead would not be a bad idea either.

Not a big deal. Although I have found in hot weather the tank can get very smelly. Keep in mind it is not a septic tank it is just a storage tank, Without any chemical there is not a lot of breaking down going on.Nevertheless you will be OK between trip but I would limit the use if you have no where to dump.Do you have access to your sewer or septic tank to dump in?

Yes, just make sure it has plenty of water in it. Also remind your guests to use plenty of water when they flush.A handy thing is to put in a sewer or septic cleanout so you can dump at home. If necessary, you can use a portable macerator pump to get to the cleanout, if it's a long ways or uphill.

The OP's situation is ideal use for using a Flojet Waste Macerator (10 pics) which will not only allow using the rig for accommodating guests as much as you want but will eliminate the need to ever have to line up at any campground dump station. Should you ever be camping and your black tank fills you can also use the macerator to off load the tank contents into a portable waste container that can be taken to the dump station. It's all about options. :B

question about using toilet when hooked up at home

ctilsie242
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2017
One warning about septic tanks... if the clean out is atop of the tank, don't use it for dumping. This will cause stuff to splash over and solids to wind up going down the pipes to the leach fields, possibly stopping those up (which can get expensive to fix.) Best is to dump at a pipe that is going into the tank, so all the solids wind up at the bottom.
DrewE
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2017
RGar974417 wrote:
If you have a septic tank on your property, there should be some type of clean out and you could dump in there. If it's close enough and down hill you could even run a drain line to where you park the trailer.

If you're in a northern climate where the frost gets very far underground, this cleanout is usually located in the basement of the house where the pipe to the septic tank goes through the wall of the basement. Here's mine, amongst cobwebs and dust, between the water heater and the well pressure tank. Hooking up an RV stinky slinky is not at all practical.
RobWNY
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
I use a Flojet Macerator and just run a 3/4" garden hose from the Macerator to my sewer cleanout in my basement. It also has a connection for clean water so I run that through it too. Mine is DC powered and works like a champ.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2017
This is one of the very few times where I might suggest using one of the Black Tank Chemicals.. A Biological however not a chemical.. Rid-Ex RV comes to mind or one of the waste digesters.. NOTHING with formaldehyde in it.

Sitting for long periods of time gives the Bacteria in the biolgicals time to work, Normally they don't have time to work.

Make sure your Guest knows how the Toilet works. Not all work the same
DSteiner51
Explorer
Mar 15, 2017
DrewE wrote:
RGar974417 wrote:
If you have a septic tank on your property, there should be some type of clean out and you could dump in there. If it's close enough and down hill you could even run a drain line to where you park the trailer.

If you're in a northern climate where the frost gets very far underground, this cleanout is usually located in the basement of the house where the pipe to the septic tank goes through the wall of the basement. Here's mine, amongst cobwebs and dust, between the water heater and the well pressure tank. Hooking up an RV stinky slinky is not at all practical.

Can you run a garden hose to it? If so, you got a perfect setup. Just a couple fittings and you got it made
wing_zealot
Explorer
Mar 15, 2017
If you don't have a cleaning, just pump it directly into the nearest toilet in your house. It will go down the drain as you are pumping it into the bowl.
tegu69
Explorer
Mar 15, 2017
Tell them the toilet is broken and they have to use the one in the house.
WTP-GC
Explorer
Mar 15, 2017
OP lives on 5 acres in a rural area...
Just dump it on the ground and let nature do the work. If the TP doesn't dissolve quickly, then just rake it up once it dries a bit. Your talking about a few turds once in a while....
Nothing like over-thinking a simple problem.
DSteiner51
Explorer
Mar 15, 2017
tim1970 wrote:
Actually my RV came with a built in macerator. I have just been bypassing it and using the gravity fed dump. How can this help me at home and how can it help me avoid the lines at dump sites?

Forget the lines at the dump station entirely and just head for home. Driving will help break down the solids and put less stress on the macerator if needed at home. Depending what you have at home will determine if you bypass the macerator or no. If your clean out is outside your home great.

If not, do you have a clean out as pictured above in the basement of your home, is there a window you can open near by? If so, two fittings (maybe three?) and a cap will convert it for a garden hose connection... or you got several different options depending on it's placement or your desires.

No way I am going to wait if I am headed home where I can do it at my leisure. It may take me a total of 30 minutes to stretch the garden hose, drain the black and two grey tanks and put it all away when done.

If headed to another campground I may or may not.. will I have full hookups? Will I arrive at a time that most likely will not have a waiting line etc? The added weight of full tanks takes no more power then adding a couple mph to the tow speed due to aerodynamics. I see a bigger drop in gas mileage going from 62 mph to 67mph then water in tanks or no so I always leave home with a full fresh water tank which during use gets transferred to black and grey tanks.
tim1970
Explorer
Mar 15, 2017
WTP-GC wrote:
OP lives on 5 acres in a rural area...
Just dump it on the ground and let nature do the work. If the TP doesn't dissolve quickly, then just rake it up once it dries a bit. Your talking about a few turds once in a while....
Nothing like over-thinking a simple problem.

I have actually thought about this, but was afraid I would get roasted alive for even suggesting something like this. Like you said, it would be very little solids (nobody living in the RV, just for the occasional guest) Especially if I use my macerator, I can't imagine what I would be dumping would be any worse than what my cows do every day.