We are on our maiden voyage with our new 2017 Apex 249RBS TT. Our last TT did not have a Black tank flush outlet / inlet. We used a little portable wand and washed the tank through the toilet.The salesman showed us the BT flush connection but I didn't think to ask details since I knew what it was for, thinking I would just read the instructions included. Well, I have gone through all the paperwork 2 times and nothing is mentioned about BT flushing.I am thinking you would dump BT then GT, then hook up to BT flush and run water to clean the tank. Is that right? Do you run BT flush with the BT drain open or closed or a little of both?Any assistance / instructions would be appreciated.Thanks in advance, just don't want to screw something up.....

You got it correct. GT then BT then flush with BT valve open.

I dump the bt, then close the drain and let it fill for 30-45 seconds from the flush connection then open the drain. This gets a surge of water and "stuff" out through the drain. I do this 3 times. I have a clear connector on my drain and by the time that 3rd flush comes out the water is surprisingly clear. Then I shut off the bt flush, close the bt drain and empty the grey water. It is crucial that you stay with the bt flush, and not get distracted. I could see getting distracted while all that water is going into the bt and suddenly having a huge mess. Think about where that water would go if the drain was closed and more water was going into the tank! Last, dont forget to blow air through that bt flush when you winterize so you dont havd a frozen/split line. Happy new year in your new trailer!

You CAN run flusher with tank valve closed but don't do it for too long or you'll fill the tank and over flow it into the bathroom or out the vent pipe. Best practce is to leave it open.

I usually start to drain my black tank, then turn on the flush. After my black tank has drained for a couple minutes, I close the the black tank and open the gray tank. I still leave the black tank flush on. I drain the gray tank and close the valve, then I open the black tank again.I find that adding an additional volume of water helps flush out any additional "sediment" from your black tank.Then after I have completely drained the tanks, I close the black tank up again and allow fresh water to build up again in the black tank for another 20 seconds or so, just to keep the tank bottom from drying out.

Boband4 wrote:I dump the bt, then close the drain and let it fill for 30-45 seconds from the flush connection then open the drain. This gets a surge of water and "stuff" out through the drain. I do this 3 times. I have a clear connector on my drain and by the time that 3rd flush comes out the water is surprisingly clear. Then I shut off the bt flush, close the bt drain and empty the grey water. It is crucial that you stay with the bt flush, and not get distracted. I could see getting distracted while all that water is going into the bt and suddenly having a huge mess. Think about where that water would go if the drain was closed and more water was going into the tank! Last, dont forget to blow air through that bt flush when you winterize so you dont havd a frozen/split line. Happy new year in your new trailer!X2, in general.BT open and flush on until water runs clear.BT closed for 2 minutes (a CLOSELY-MONITORED partial refill)BT open and flush ON for another 3 minutes.BT closed when empty.Flush on for 30 seconds. (So BT won't be completely empty.)GT drained.

Black tank flush questions | Good Sam Community

hohenwald48
Explorer
Jan 04, 2017
One thing that really brings in the bad smell is flushing the toilet with the bathroom exhaust fan running. Especially if you have one of those fantastic fans that sucks about a million cubic feet per minute. Sucks air thru the vent stack, across the inside of the black tank then into the bathroom.

I've seen new RV owners hold the foot valve open for 15-30 seconds with the fan pulling in stinky air all the time. No amount of rinsing will ever fix that. :B
ralph_day
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
FYeah, I can't understand the need to "clean" the black tank every dumping. My procedure: dump black, close black valve. One 2 gallon pail of water in black tank while dumping grey tank. Dump the 2 gallons, then another 2 gallons in for slosh factor while driving (not true 2 gallons, maybe 1 or 1.5). i'd freak if I got stuck behind someone doing the 15 minute flush on a Sunday afternoon before the drive home!

It liquifies, it flows. I know when to start using the campground facilities, the vent pipe is under"water" so a flush lets a bad smell up into the bathroom. 2 people, 20 gallon tank...3 days.

Ralph
FLY_4_FUN
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
hohenwald48 wrote:
Hannibal wrote:
In our 22 years of RV camping, our 2017 Jayco is the first that has a black tank flush. We've never had a problem with our black tank before so I'm not overly concerned about it now. After dumping the black tank on the morning of departure, with the black tank valve open per the book, I'll flush the tank for a few minutes. Then shut off the water, close the valve and then dump the grey water. At dump stations, I don't worry about it. Dump black, then grey and hit the road. I try to get to the dump station early to avoid getting behind people who make a day of it. At the first rest stop, I'll drop a packet in and flush with a full bowl. That stays until the next campground stay.

Same method I've been using for many years.

I've never understood the obsession folks have with trying to clean their black tank. After all, its a 40 gallon tank full of poop. I mean how clean are you really going to get it? :)

x 3
hohenwald48
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
Hannibal wrote:
In our 22 years of RV camping, our 2017 Jayco is the first that has a black tank flush. We've never had a problem with our black tank before so I'm not overly concerned about it now. After dumping the black tank on the morning of departure, with the black tank valve open per the book, I'll flush the tank for a few minutes. Then shut off the water, close the valve and then dump the grey water. At dump stations, I don't worry about it. Dump black, then grey and hit the road. I try to get to the dump station early to avoid getting behind people who make a day of it. At the first rest stop, I'll drop a packet in and flush with a full bowl. That stays until the next campground stay.

Same method I've been using for many years.

I've never understood the obsession folks have with trying to clean their black tank. After all, its a 40 gallon tank full of poop. I mean how clean are you really going to get it? :)
harley4275
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
riven1950 wrote:
I did try the flusher since asking the question. It acts like it is clogged or maybe the backflow valve is stuck or installed backward. When turned on water goes nowhere. It's like there's a kink in the hose. Looking in the toilet with it running there is no spraying in the tank or sounds of spray. I'll check it when I get home or a slow day on trip. I hooked up the spray wand and it did the job.there is a door right at the toilet on this tt so very convenient for the wand anyway.

Mine had a big kink in the hose about 12" from the tank causing no flow. Added about a foot of hose to make the turn easy . and works now , but still leaks under sink if to much pressure. Very seldom use it especially at dump stations as there is always someone behind me and will need dumping later anyways.
Hannibal
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
In our 22 years of RV camping, our 2017 Jayco is the first that has a black tank flush. We've never had a problem with our black tank before so I'm not overly concerned about it now. After dumping the black tank on the morning of departure, with the black tank valve open per the book, I'll flush the tank for a few minutes. Then shut off the water, close the valve and then dump the grey water. At dump stations, I don't worry about it. Dump black, then grey and hit the road. I try to get to the dump station early to avoid getting behind people who make a day of it. At the first rest stop, I'll drop a packet in and flush with a full bowl. That stays until the next campground stay.
riven1950
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
I did try the flusher since asking the question. It acts like it is clogged or maybe the backflow valve is stuck or installed backward. When turned on water goes nowhere. It's like there's a kink in the hose. Looking in the toilet with it running there is no spraying in the tank or sounds of spray. I'll check it when I get home or a slow day on trip. I hooked up the spray wand and it did the job.there is a door right at the toilet on this tt so very convenient for the wand anyway.
myredracer
Explorer II
Jan 02, 2017
RV holding tanks come in many different sizes & shapes and can have the outlet on an end, bottom or side so cleaning results can vary. Our in-tank flusher is directly below the toilet and cleans the tank well there but doesn't reach the sensors and they never work properly. With some tanks, a backflush elbow works well (and sometimes not) and could be used to supplement the built-in flusher. We have a backflush elbow from a previous TT and it doesn't work for our current TT.

Should have a hose dedicated just for the tank flusher and should be a different color (ours is grey) so the wrong one doesn't get used.

It can help to fill the tank as full as you can before you open the valve so you get a good surge and flow of solids. Emptying the black tank is one of the first things I do when breaking camp then I hook up the flusher and let it run for say 15 minutes then look down the toilet to see if the tank bottom is clean. I installed a valve behind the toilet so I can shut the water off and see the tank bottom easily. If the tank bottom isn't clean I repeat the process again. Filling up the tank is slooow tho. Sometimes I'll use the shower head to get water in faster (I take the head right off the hose).
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
Seamutt wrote:
I do not have a flushing system and do not like hauling a hose inside to use a wand.

I installed a Tornado Tank Rinser on our TrailCruiser years ago - first one was broken right out of the package, the replacement broke later during use, not surprising since it's all plastic construction. :( Our KZ Spree had a factory installed blank tank flusher and although I did use it I could have just as easily done without it ... our current Coachmen doesn't have a tank flusher and I don't miss it at all. With a FloJet Waste Macerator I service my tanks at home and as far as I'm concerned nothing beats a tank wand down the toilet throat for clearing "stuff" out of the BW tank ... it's also the only method that will clean the toilet throat. To each his / her own but I don't see the issue at all with running a hose into the bathroom, especially when it's the most effective method of clearing the tank.
Seamutt
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
If I need to flush the black tank and I am at a full hook up site I will fill the tank and dump. I will then leave the dump valve open and with the toilet valve blocked open then quickly pour a five gallon water container down the toilet a couple of times to flush. At a dump site I'll dump then pour the water down the toilet. Works great.

I do not have a flushing system and do not like hauling a hose inside to use a wand.

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