when to dump

I use a multiple standards for "When to dump"

Now I full time.
Normally I dump every 2 weeks in teh summer every 1-2 in the winter (I use membership campgrounds so when I get to the OTHER one. I hook up and dump. tank up the fresh tank and remain hooked up. 2 weeks later when I have to switch parks I repeat the Dump/Fill and then 2 weeks later when I return.

Winters I split between membership (2weeks) and Government (1 week) and follow the same pattern. (Hook up at membership camp. dump. dump again before I leave)

One difference.. Last year when I got to South Carolina. first tank of water from Pioneer water district.. Well a change of water can,,, shall we say.. have after effects.. I went through 80 gallons in a week (normally lasts 3-4 weeks) so I dumped again.

IF the FULL light comes on DUMP
2/3 is the normal point. but anything over half is ok to dump. IF NOT full enough.. add water.

RCMAN46 wrote:
I always dump before I travel. Even If it has only been one night I fill the black tank so it is about 3/4 full before I dump.

The waste tanks have no support in the middle and if they are partially or even full the bottom of the tank flexes and will cause the tank bottom to crack.

Wow really ??? I thought these were tougher than that

I always dump before I travel. Even If it has only been one night I fill the black tank so it is about 3/4 full before I dump.

The waste tanks have no support in the middle and if they are partially or even full the bottom of the tank flexes and will cause the tank bottom to crack.

Dump it anytime you want. Just follow up with a 5 gal bucket of water down the commode as the last step before closing the valve.

Flush when you have enough water to carry the slurry out of the tank.

If it has only been used a time or two on a weekend trip I will add about 5 gallons of water before I flush the tank.

I always start with 3 or so gallons of water in the tank or at least enough to have a couple of inches of water on the bottom before adding solids.

You want a slurry to flush out not chunks and wads. ;)

Some of the tank cleansing rituals used on these boards are great morning reading material while I sit and dump.

Personally I dump when I leave a campground be it 1/4 full or 3/4 full. About the only time I use the almost worthless tank flush connection is at the end of the season as a tank filler to flush before I put the cover on for 4 months. I do not worry about if half a turd remains in the tank between trips.

Not long ago I watched a guys flushing ritual for about 45 minutes at a state park while his wife yelled multiple times from the truck window "make sure you get it all out Al".
Great entertainment is where you find it. I was literally 400 yards away up on a hill and this woman was like listening to nails on a chalkboard. She was worried about a turd being left in the tank and would have none of that foolishness, and she let Al know it. If I was Al I think I would have found the ranger and filed for divorce on the spot LOL.

luberhill wrote:
Ok black and gray are empty but if we take a few weekend trips and use the toile and shower etc...how full should we have the tanks before dumping ?
I know you do black first then gray,,,but do you run water in either tank to clean ?? If so how do you do that?
Thanks for helping a rookie

Every was a rookie at some point! Empty the black tank when 3/4 full. Depending if your RV has a built in back flush connection, I connect the water hose to the black tank and turn the water on. Then I open the black valve as long as it takes to empty. Then I close the black valve and let the water run until I get about 15 gal. in the tank to wash down any remaining materials. Then flush again. While the black tank is filling up I open the gray and Kitchen/shower tanks (different RV's have different tank configurations) until they are empty, then close both valves. Then I open the black tank again until it is empty. I then fill the black tank with about 5 to 10 gallons and close the black valve. Then disconnect the water. You never want to leave the black tank completely empty. You could end up with the famous "pyramid" and a plugged up black drain. Another way to back flush your black tank is to pour about 4 gallons of H20 into the toilet if your RV does not have a built in black flush. there are some commercial liquids that will also help keep your black tank.

When you feel the urge. :)

Anytime I'm hooked up to a sewer, I dump. If I roll into a full hook up and stay the night I dump the next morning. Done it that way for more than 30 years.

I fill the bowl up about 5 or 6 times and flush. I go outside and pull the handle. As soon as it's empty I close the handle and open the gray valve. As soon as it's empty I close the valve and disconnect the hose and wash it out with water and put everything away. Done.