RV-Dump parking sloping the wrong way

HadEnough wrote:
I’m curious. A lot of people talk about the solids sticking in one spot in black water tanks. I see it in this thread also. I never have a problem like this. Is it just because my RV is always in motion? Is that more of a campground thing? When you sit at a campground for a long time? In fact, there are almost no solids left ever when I emptied mine. It seems to be all liquid.

For years now, pretty much using this thing full-time, never a single problem with the black water tank. It all just dumps right out every time. I never rinse it. I don’t do anything to it. Just put in the enzymes each time I dump it.

Mostly for campers on permanent sites.

Some people will hook up and leave the valves open...so the liquid runs out leaving the solids behind to pile up and solidify.

If you are moving and using often, you don't tend to get a pyramid of poo under the toilet inlet and if you do the sloshing action tends to break it up.

If you are at a long term site, best to keep the valves closed and only dump when at least 3/4 full. The allows the solids to mostly float, not dry out and the rush of water will pull most of it out.

Why are we concerned about getting a complete dump?

When we are on the road, dump stations are sometimes hard to find. When we do not get a complete dump, we have to look for another dump station a day or two sooner than we would have if we had gotten a complete dump. We would rather spend our time traveling, not looking for dump stations and dumping.

folivier wrote:
You shouldn't drain your black tank completely dry unless you are SURE there are no solids left. If there are it could dry into a mess that may not break up later. Better to leave some water in the bottom. If you do drain it completely then run a couple gallons through the toilet so stuff doesn't dry out.

Pass around a few cold drinks to take care of that.

I’m curious. A lot of people talk about the solids sticking in one spot in black water tanks. I see it in this thread also. I never have a problem like this. Is it just because my RV is always in motion? Is that more of a campground thing? When you sit at a campground for a long time? In fact, there are almost no solids left ever when I emptied mine. It seems to be all liquid.

For years now, pretty much using this thing full-time, never a single problem with the black water tank. It all just dumps right out every time. I never rinse it. I don’t do anything to it. Just put in the enzymes each time I dump it.

There's a standard for that - NFPA 1194 which says "The slab shall be not less than 3 ft × 3 ft (0.9 m × 0.9 m), at least 3½ in. (88.9 mm) thick, and properly reinforced, the surface of which is trowelled to a smooth finish and sloped from each side inward to a sewer inlet." Many CGs are old and may predate this standard.

We are usually at FHU sites but don't recall a dump station with a slope in the wrong direction relative to the sewer inlet that was a problem for dumping. Not sure why it's a big deal other than if you had a spill. Just "walk" your hose to the inlet to empty it. If there's a hose connection at the dump station, I'll use the in-tank flusher (time depending on if there's someone behind us) and then I'll leave some water in the tank. Helps to have some water left in the tank so you don't end up with dried up "stuff" stuck to the tank bottom.

folivier wrote:
You shouldn't drain your black tank completely dry unless you are SURE there are no solids left. If there are it could dry into a mess that may not break up later. Better to leave some water in the bottom. If you do drain it completely then run a couple gallons through the toilet so stuff doesn't dry out.

I always fill the toilet bowl 3 or 4 times and flush after dumping tanks.

You shouldn't drain your black tank completely dry unless you are SURE there are no solids left. If there are it could dry into a mess that may not break up later. Better to leave some water in the bottom. If you do drain it completely then run a couple gallons through the toilet so stuff doesn't dry out.

We had this experience once in all our travels, at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park in Montana. It frustrated us, but then we just figured that it dumped most of the tank and that we were going to dump one final time near home where it is level.

Add a dump station at home = GOLDEN.

Why do you need to evacuate every drop of water and crud out of your black tank? Aren't you just going to poop in it again? I usually always try to keep 5 or so gallons of water in the black tank at all times to prevent anything from drying and causing future problems.

Besides, I could always drive the curb side up on blocks to change the pitch of the trailer if it was that big of a deal.

My biggest complaint is pulling into a site that has the sewer connection up in the air. I've actually been to one campground in Richmond VA where the sewer connection was HIGHER than my dump valves.