Forum Discussion

TURNKEY's avatar
TURNKEY
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014

Low Tech ......Toilet/Tank Issue

I'm not sure this is the right forum but...
Have a new to us 5ver. All our previous experience was with a small class b with a 6 gallon black tank and lots of driving.
The fifth wheel has a 30 gallon black tank. The toilet has a 1 foot drop through two 45 degree bends to get to the shallow end of the tank. With the toilet valve open I can just see a small crescent into the tank.
Twice now, when camping in one spot for a week or so, the toilet pipe has plugged. I do not believe the tank is full, I believe it's just a result of too much poo, not enough water and not enough movement to slosh stuff around....a poo pyramid if you will.
I assume the solution is to just flush more water down with the solids.
The complication is; we are hyper resource conservative(water/power/propane etc.)/off grid campers and want to maximize our time between dumps.
Is there some Magic Poo Grease? (Great product name huh?:B ) or a process we are missing? Or a poo liquefier in a bottle? (Us being hyper resource conservative also means we're cheap so we probably aren't putting as much chemical in the tank as we should.)
I really don't want to have to use a stick to unplug it again as the s#!^^y end has to come back through the camper!
I would appreciate your thoughts and wisdom....no matter how s#!^^y they may be.
  • SteveAE's avatar
    SteveAE
    Explorer
    Jul 25, 2014
    TURNKEY,

    I would rather "stir the pot" than change a messy diaper. I suppose one could dump a bunch of baking soda down there to reduce the odor, but why waste the money.

    BTW. I installed a valve on the toilet water line so I can shut it off (necessary for when stirring the pot anyway) and then we use used shower and dish water for flushing. I used to put this water in a squirt bottle, but found that just carefully pouring it in suffices flush and rinse the bowl.

    Happy stirring,
    Steve
  • TURNKEY's avatar
    TURNKEY
    Explorer
    Jul 25, 2014
    Well SteveAE.....You can't get much lower tech than a stick.
    When I first read your idea I thought ewe! But sometimes ya gotta do what you have to do...and it would work WITH OUT MORE WATER!
    One thing that would make it easier is I have modified the toilet so it is not hooked up to any water lines. Yup no water to the toilet!!! What I have done instead is to hook the water line to a sink rinser nozzle to make better use of the water I do put down the toilet. It is mounted right next to the toilet. This set up would make rinsing the 'stick' a lot easier.
    Given there doesn't seem to be any Magic Poo Grease (other than too much beer) we might have to resort to this idea....thanks....I think.
  • SaltiDawg's avatar
    SaltiDawg
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2014
    On Submarines we have a system of Sanitary Tanks to collect all sorts of waste - from bilge water to human waste. Some are simply pumped overboard - to hose connections in-port and to sea when underway.

    Human waste and some other materials are collected in (a) tank(s) and when in need of being emptied, all entry points are sealed and air is admitted to the tank to pressurize the tank and its contents. Some valves are then opened and the contents are blown overboard - again to hoses in-port and to sea when underway.

    Back in the day there were no in-port hose systems and we used to simply blow that waste overboard each night between midnight and four AM when there were few people awake.

    I remember in the 1960s in New London, Connecticut, the residents were up in arms that the huge submarine repair ship had not yet been fitted out with the environmentally friendly sewage collection and treatment systems.

    Seems they were under the mistaken impression that the submarines had "large holding tanks that allowed us to store such waste until far at sea."

    They couldn't have been more mistaken!
  • B_O__Plenty's avatar
    B_O__Plenty
    Explorer II
    Jul 24, 2014
    SteveAE wrote:
    TURNKEY,

    I have a old broom handle that we use to "stir the pot" when it starts stacking up. This works very well.
    Additionally, I calibrated the stick with marks that show how full the tank really is.

    Steve
    And who is the lucky person that gets that job...Eee-uuuu! I'll just stick with using lots of water.

    B.O.
  • SteveAE's avatar
    SteveAE
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2014
    othertonka wrote:
    SteveAE wrote:
    TURNKEY,

    I have a old broom handle that we use to "stir the pot" when it starts stacking up. This works very well.
    Additionally, I calibrated the stick with marks that show how full the tank really is.

    Steve

    And then what do you do with contaminated Stick? Sounds STINKY to me!!!


    A little varnish on the stick allows it easily clean up afterward. Only smell is when doing the stirring. No, this part is not fun, but that's the way it goes. Black tank draining is aided by adding lots of water by spraying directly into the toilet, while draining.
    Works for us, but of course this would not work on rigs that don't have the toilet directly above the black tank.

    Steve
  • othertonka's avatar
    othertonka
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2014
    SteveAE wrote:
    TURNKEY,

    I have a old broom handle that we use to "stir the pot" when it starts stacking up. This works very well.
    Additionally, I calibrated the stick with marks that show how full the tank really is.

    Steve

    And then what do you do with contaminated Stick? Sounds STINKY to me!!!
  • SteveAE's avatar
    SteveAE
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2014
    TURNKEY,

    I have a old broom handle that we use to "stir the pot" when it starts stacking up. This works very well.
    Additionally, I calibrated the stick with marks that show how full the tank really is.

    Steve
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2014
    Maybe this would help, it takes less space than regular water;

    :B :B :B :B :B :B :B
  • Fleetwood99's avatar
    Fleetwood99
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2014
    Cleaning a holding tank is not a fun job, but it's not an overly difficult one either. You can flush your black water holding tank to remove solid waste and buildup from toilets, sinks and showers. Failure to routinely flush the holding tank inside your RV can leave the water inside brown and smelly. Flush the holding tank with water softener to rid it of waste and create a smoother holding tank. When done regularly, gunk will wash away more easily, without sticking.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,210 PostsLatest Activity: Mar 04, 2025