Forum Discussion

DE88ROX's avatar
DE88ROX
Explorer
May 28, 2013

grey water tank capacity

Just got back from our 2nd trip with our 2012 Starcraft Autumn Ridge 235fb.

Last year was our first season out with the new TT. (obviously) and have never filled the grey tank on a long 4 day 3 night w/e.

This w/e there were a total of 4 showers. (very conservative, navy style I think its called) and we did dishes twice being careful not to let the water run. On our last night the gauges read that the grey was full. It just baffles me that this 32½ gallon tank could get so full so fast. Memorial day last year we used the camper facilities solely for all our needs and never came close to filling the grey tank.

I did replace the sensors (horst miracle probes) in both black and grey tanks prior to the this trip, so Im pretty sure i was getting accurate readings.

Upon dumping and soon as I started to empty the grey tank, I went inside and I periodically hit the the grey tank buttons and it showed less and less full as the tank was emptying just to rule out a "stuck" sensor. After dumping and rinsing out the black tank the gauges all read 'Empty' just like they should.

I asked the wife about her water usage in the shower and she said she rinsed down, water off, lather up, water on. rinse off.

I don't know just kind of confused since last year over the 4th of July week when temps were in the triple digits we used our TT shower quite a bit just because we also had the air going as well and only dumped once after about 7 days and once again a week later when we checked out.

Normally on long w/e I don't even worry about filling the tanks, so this trip really has me baffled.

When I replaced the sensors I only did one at a time as to make sure I put the right wire on the right sensors.

Baffled to say the least!:h

10 Replies

  • DE88ROX's avatar
    DE88ROX
    Explorer
    May 31, 2013
    CincyGus wrote:



    Since then, I got a 27 gallon pull Thetford tote, it's not a problem when we don't have FHU's.


    I do have a 22 gal honey-wagon that I picked up for 40 bucks. (is that a deal or what?) Only time I bring it with me is for our 2 week trip over the 4th of July. I only have to empty it (the tt tanks) once after about a week.

    We camped for 3 days and 2 nights in early April. The campground facilities were still closed for the winter. We used the shower and did dishes once. Tank wasn't even 2/3 full. Although we both took one less shower as our stay was one day shorter.

    I think ill fill it with a 5 gallon pail before our next trip and monitor the gauge after every bucket full.
  • DE88ROX's avatar
    DE88ROX
    Explorer
    May 31, 2013
    wildtoad wrote:


    How much water goes down the shower drain waiting to get the water hot?


    If I had to guess, I would say a gallon, 2 max. We get get hot water pretty fast. I know some on here use a bucket to catch the water why they get the temps right and use it for flushing.
  • CincyGus's avatar
    CincyGus
    Explorer II
    May 28, 2013
    Three of us in my group usually. After the first time and me having to drain to a 7 gallon blue jug about 3 times every couple days, Dad implemented a new rule.
    If we don't have full hookups, We wash outside in totes and only quickly rinse dishes and then dry inside. We take showers at the campground shower house if they have one.

    Since then, I got a 27 gallon pull Thetford tote, it's not a problem when we don't have FHU's.
  • dadmomh's avatar
    dadmomh
    Explorer
    May 28, 2013
    If your grey tank is up close to backing up into the shower, it doesn't take much extra water or sloshing for the shower to overflow....a real mess. Not to mention the extra weight of hauling around an extra 20 or 30 gallons of water. When we leave the CG, we're pretty much bone dry.
  • wildtoad's avatar
    wildtoad
    Explorer II
    May 28, 2013
    If you park your unit at home, try a little experiment... With your gray tank empty, take a navy shower, wash a load of dishes as you would camping. Drain the gray into a 5 gallon bucket. Count the number of buckets as it will be easier than counting gallons... It really is amazing how much water we use.

    This is the main reason we use the campground showers (when decent), outside shower, or just take a dip in the lake in the summer.

    How much water goes down the shower drain waiting to get the water hot?
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    May 28, 2013
    4 conservative showers, dish washing, tooth brushing and hand washing can easily fill 32 gallons in two days. Nothing baffling about it, we use and create waste water a lot faster than you think.
  • WandaLust2's avatar
    WandaLust2
    Explorer
    May 28, 2013
    Maybe your children were playing with the water. Something they love to do. If there are showers where you camp - use those. That's what we do so as not to fill the gray water tank so quickly.
  • DE88ROX's avatar
    DE88ROX
    Explorer
    May 28, 2013
    thanks for the replies. seems im not doing anything different than you two.

    I have 90 gal. fresh capacity and 35+/- on the black and grey.

    Told the wife not to worry about it since the first drain it will back up in is the tub.

    When we got home and I was unloading it, i pulled our hamper bag from the tub and some towels that were laying in the tub itse;f. The towels were soaked. Thinking all the sloshing around on the 70 mile drive home may have backed up the gray a little into the tub. But I looked at it and the tub seemed to be bone dry.

    This trip really has me scratching my head because we've used the TT utilities a lot more in the past than we have this w/e with different results.
  • 93Cobra2771's avatar
    93Cobra2771
    Explorer
    May 28, 2013
    Honestly, what you describe is pretty much what we fill our similar size grey tank. Two adults, two kids, one shower each, and dishes washing once or twice and it's full.

    We camp with full hookups, so no big deal to pop the grey water tank but if dry camping it would be a whole different ball game...
  • aarond76's avatar
    aarond76
    Explorer
    May 28, 2013
    Most people will tell you the only reliable sensor on the grey tank is water backing up into the shower. That did not happen so you were not completely full. This question came up a few days ago and someone had a good suggestion.

    Completely empty your grey tank. Make sure guage reads E. Dump 1 gallon in at a time until it reads 1/3 and write how many gallons. Keep adding until 2/3 full and note how many gallons. Keep adding until it says full and write how many gallons. Keep adding until water backs up in tub and write how many gallons. You will end up with a chart

    Empty = 1 - 4 gallons

    1/3 = 5 - 10 gallons

    2/3 = 11 - 15 gallons

    Full = 15 - 20 gallons

    That will give you a better idea from any marker on the guage how much room you have before you hit full.

    If you have not yet replaced your shower head with an Oxygenics that will also help save water. The flow rate is about the same as the factory shower head but the water pressure difference is night and day difference. You will be able to rinse the soap from your hair with much less water.

    Our gray tank is around the same size as yours. This 3 night weekend I took 3 showers, wife took 2 showers, and she washed both of our boys twice. We did not fill that grey tank. We take navy showers as quickly as posssible but I don't think we go crazy with it. Sounds like you follow the same process as us. I never checked the guage. Where we camp they do not have water hook-up so our 38 gallon fresh tank has to get us through our trip. No chance of us filling the grey tank and also using the toilet before running out of fresh water.

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