We have had our trailer for about a year. We have avoided any campground that has not had full hookups. I am finding that the state parks have amazing amenities that will meet everyone's hobbies. I'd like to spend more time at these parks but have a lot of questions about the dump stations. Most of the state parks do not offer full hook ups. We recently visited a campground that did not offer full hookups and used the campground facilities. We purchased and used a tote for any grey water we used. I monitored the two dump stations that were available. One was right by a campsite and looked similar to what would be found at a full hookup campsite. Use the sewer hose and dump as one normally would as if you were at a campsite. I have read quite a bit about this. But the other dump site was quite a bit different. The concrete pad and sewer hole were contoured and quite deep. Definitely not something you would want to accidentally drive into. I noticed trailers pulling past and then backing up over this fairly deep hole and dumping with no hose. Is this the correct way to use this type of dump station? Are there two different types of dump stations - hose and no hose? What is normally found at state parks? Thanks for your wisdom.

c3saving wrote:..Most of the state parks do not offer full hook ups...Not sure what states you travel in but I spend most of my time on the road, staying at state, county, municipal and COE campgrounds. I have FHU almost all of the time.

We are traveling mostly in Virginia and North Carolina.

ljr wrote:c3saving wrote:..Most of the state parks do not offer full hook ups...Not sure what states you travel in but I spend most of my time on the road, staying at state, county, municipal and COE campgrounds. I have FHU almost all of the time.You haven't been to WI state parks thenTo answer the question, the second one is the most common dump station. And please DO YES A SEWER HOSE. Don't be like the other lazy people

c3saving wrote:. . . But the other dump site was quite a bit different. The concrete pad and sewer hole were contoured and quite deep. Definitely not something you would want to accidentally drive into. I noticed trailers pulling past and then backing up over this fairly deep hole and dumping with no hose. Is this the correct way to use this type of dump station? Are there two different types of dump stations - hose and no hose? What is normally found at state parks? Thanks for your wisdom.This type of common dump station is pretty common. I can't speak for all states but most of the state parks I visit do it this way, not a drain at every site. The sides slope to catch spills. That said everyone is still supposed to use a hose. A lot cleaner and less messy and stinky. Those that dump without a hose aren't very considerate or smart.

I saw one like that in Kansas. That is the only one I have seen. Seems unsanitary to me.

Dump station questions | Good Sam Community

W_E_BGood
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Lantley wrote:
The sewer compartment is not radioactive.
I don't need a set of 15" gloves to dump my tanks. No wonder it takes so long to dump tanks.
Too many of us fear the black plague is lurking in our sewer tanks.
I survived changing lots of diapers dumping tanks involves a lot less close contact then diapers

Remind me to not shake your hand:p
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Lantley wrote:
The sewer compartment is not radioactive.
I don't need a set of 15" gloves to dump my tanks. No wonder it takes so long to dump tanks.
Too many of us fear the black plague is lurking in our sewer tanks.
I survived changing lots of diapers dumping tanks involves a lot less close contact then diapers

Never heard anyone propose it is better to use bare hands for handling sewage than take the 3 seconds or so to slide on a pair of gloves :h

Wow.

Certainly do NOT recommend that advice!
Lantley
Nomad
Jun 08, 2013
The sewer compartment is not radioactive.
I don't need a set of 15" gloves to dump my tanks. No wonder it takes so long to dump tanks.
Too many of us fear the black plague is lurking in our sewer tanks.
I survived changing lots of diapers dumping tanks involves a lot less close contact then diapers
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Tip: Rubbermaid container for anything that touches unsanitaries, and these:

Hands slip in and out of them. No need to contaminate inside.

$6 at Harbor Freight
SprinklerMan
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
Drum wrote:
I just can't imagine the disgusting smell of raw sewage spewing out into the air and spattering down to a drain. I don't even like the mental image it's giving me of what it would look like. Yuck.

Back in my 30's I helped a guy install septic tanks on the weekends , nothing better than ripping the top off a old steel septic tank after a night of drinking , then having the vacume truck show up to make it 10 times worse . But the money was good
mosseater
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2013
PAThwacker wrote:
mosseater wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
Bucky Badger wrote:
ljr wrote:
c3saving wrote:
..Most of the state parks do not offer full hook ups...

Not sure what states you travel in but I spend most of my time on the road, staying at state, county, municipal and COE campgrounds. I have FHU almost all of the time.

You haven't been to WI state parks then....

You got that right!
AND
They have been in the process of closing ALL of the dump stations at rest areas also. Not to mention no more septic fields on new housing.:(

He might spend a lot of time on the road, but being from PA as his sig states, I can guarantee you he has never had full hook-up here. Electric only, water spigots, and dump stations. No PA State Parks have full hook-ups that I've ever heard of. That's al
l we stay at when we camp.

And yes, to the OP, by all means please use a hose. Man! Some people are inconsiderate. Who wants to be next in line after that????

Promised Land State Park Welcome to 2012!

I stand corrected. But I believe this IS 2013.:)
mlts22
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013
Capt RonB wrote:
Some Florida State Parks have sewer hook-ups. Myakka River State Park has three separate camping 'loops' only one of which has sewer hook-ups. They do have a dump station on the way out.

I can't imagine the inconsiderate slob that dumps without hooking up the slinky!

I've been thinking about installing a dump pipe at home. I'd have to go under the driveway and a bout 50-60 feet to get to the septic tank so it's one of those projects that'll never happen.

If you are lazy like me, you can install a clean-out, then get an oversized 100 foot garden hose... then use a macerator pump to empty your tanks. To keep the macerator hose clean, it can't hurt to empty tanks, fill them up, then flush them again before putting away.
Capt_RonB
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013
Some Florida State Parks have sewer hook-ups. Myakka River State Park has three separate camping 'loops' only one of which has sewer hook-ups. They do have a dump station on the way out.

I can't imagine the inconsiderate slob that dumps without hooking up the slinky!

I've been thinking about installing a dump pipe at home. I'd have to go under the driveway and a bout 50-60 feet to get to the septic tank so it's one of those projects that'll never happen.
PAThwacker
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013
mosseater wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
Bucky Badger wrote:
ljr wrote:
c3saving wrote:
..Most of the state parks do not offer full hook ups...

Not sure what states you travel in but I spend most of my time on the road, staying at state, county, municipal and COE campgrounds. I have FHU almost all of the time.

You haven't been to WI state parks then....

You got that right!
AND
They have been in the process of closing ALL of the dump stations at rest areas also. Not to mention no more septic fields on new housing.:(

He might spend a lot of time on the road, but being from PA as his sig states, I can guarantee you he has never had full hook-up here. Electric only, water spigots, and dump stations. No PA State Parks have full hook-ups that I've ever heard of. That's al
l we stay at when we camp.

And yes, to the OP, by all means please use a hose. Man! Some people are inconsiderate. Who wants to be next in line after that????

Promised Land State Park Welcome to 2012!
allen8106
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013
Please, please, please use a hose and wash down anything accidentally left behind. This past week we were are a state campground and when I went to dump my blue tote some fool left a couple nasty looking surprises for me. there is nothing more disgusting than seeing someone elses poo laying in the dump station.