Maybe not totally plugged but strange. While it has always drained as I could hear it pouring into the septic, the level indicator has been showing 2/3 full.Thought it was my sensors as I always fill up with water before draining the black water tank and also use plenty of deorderizer that helps break down as well.Anyhow used a wand to clean it out and it does appear to be high in level, not full though.So it's draining up to a point, then holding the remaining.As it's dark, tomorrow I'll drain it into my blue tote and see if I can't get the indicator to read lower.Since the tank is high, the wand did only some cleaning as it filled up enough to keep wand head under water.Anything else I can do at home, while being stationary?I absolutely can't take it to a dump station as I just don't have time plus the only dump stations close do not have flushing hoses.I also can't take the trailer out as I need light to back it into my narrow driveway from the 1.5 lane road off my driveway. I have a deep ditch on both sides of the my driveway and it's dark right after I get home from work. Weekends are all booked up until holidays.Any simple home solutions that don't involve letting sewage flow into the yard my kids play in??Thanks

You may have something in the tank that is moving towards the outlet when you dump. That could be a tank cutout that wasn't removed, a kid's toy, or a wad of something that blocks the output. I'd suggest to put some soap, water softener, or digester in the tank and drive to a dump station. You don't need a flushing hose to dump. While you're waiting for the tank additives to work, installing a couple of backup lights so you can back up at night might be a good idea.A macerator pump may be a good thing to have for your situation, too. With that, you can dump at your house and not have to move.

I have never had a problem of wondering if the black tank is truly empty or not. But if I did, I think I would first stick some wire either up or down into the tank and listen for any splashing around - if possible. Or put some cotton on a string and drop it down the toilet and raise it up quickly to see if it's sopping wet. Two access points to investigate.

Sounds like you are a candidate for a macerator.

If you'd read all the other Black tanks columns, you'd know I've answered this 25 times. When you dump, put 10 lb of ice and 2-3 gal of water down the toilet and drive around a bit. Will loosen dried poop and keep the toilet flowing. When you dump, use a wand down the toilet to rinse it until it runs clear. Poop and repeat!

1. Forget about the tank sensors, they are useless and never accurate.2. Buy a clear plastic sewer connector, connect it to your trailer sewer outlet, then connect your sewer hose to the other end. Now when you empty the tank you can actually see when the tank has emptied as the the water will be clear when the tank is cleaned out.3. You don't need a sewer back flush to dump the tank. It is nice to have one and most dump stations have them. You can always use about 3 one gallon containers and empty then through the toliet. Close the black tank handle before you dump the 3 gallons of water, then open the tank again. Repeat as often as necessary until the water coming out of your black tank is clear. :)

Plugged up Black tank | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

TNGW1500SE
Explorer
Oct 26, 2014
before you buy anything watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfTd0Slt_cU
Mike_Up
Explorer
Oct 26, 2014
myredracer wrote:
I can't tell from Jayco's website if you have an enclosed underbelly or not (seems like no?). If you don't, I would suggest installing an in-tank rinser like the Camco Tornado rinser. We have a Hydroflush elbow but since we now have a factory installed in-tank rinser, I don't backflush anymore because I find that the rinser does a better job. I still use the clear elbow because you can tell when the tank is flushing out clearer, plus it's fun (in a weird way) to watch the "stuff" come streaming out of the black tank.

Providing you're not in a drought stricken area, the best solution is to use lots of water. Fill the tank with about 4 or 5 gallons before using the toilet. Every time you use the toilet and drop poop into it, flush with plenty of water. Then, as mentioned, fill the tank up before dumping.

When using our rinser, I empty the tank (after filling it up) and then let the rinser run for 5+ minutes while we are breaking camp. Then I'll fill the tank right up again and dump. I usually have to repeat this process once more to get the bottom of the tank spotless. If we don't this, it just makes matters worse on the next trip.

Some tanks simply drain better than others and it depends on the shape and dimensions of your particular tank. Ours is one of the harder ones to empty because it's long and skinny with a low slope on the bottom. Our first TT on the other hand was a piece of cake to dump and we never ever had an issue.

If you have the stock OEM button sensors on the side of the tank wall, they are notoriously inaccurate. We had our dealer remove the button sensors and install Horst Miracle probes. (Easy to install yourself but we had to have the dealer do it because we have an enclosed underbelly and our TT is under warranty)

We only camp in State Parks that do not have water hookups. We use our Fresh water tanks exclusively. Their dump stations have a rubber hose with a nozzle for cleaning out dump hoses but no standard garden hose to hook up to tanks. So flushes are waste basically.

I will use the Flush King at home, but with water conservation as I don't have a direct dump station. I have to clean and empty into a portable blue tote and drag it across the yard. Not easy to do at 200 lbs. Plus don't like dumping a lot of water into the septic tank as it's not good for the system.
Mike_Up
Explorer
Oct 26, 2014
Old-Biscuit wrote:

If you don't leave drain valve open, dump when tank is full---What do you think was causing blockage that stopped the draining??

Poorly broke down TP.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Do you add water back into tank after draining so bottom is wet and poop doesn't stick?

Sure do every time.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Do you use a full toilet bowl of water to flush poop down into tank?

Sure do.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Missing anything....toys, roll of TP, wash cloth, hair brush etc. cause something was causing that blockage.

Nope, teenage son doesn't put nothing down there except TP. Same with the wife and myself.
Caveman_Charlie
Explorer II
Oct 26, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDLXXRVe2pc
myredracer
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2014
I can't tell from Jayco's website if you have an enclosed underbelly or not (seems like no?). If you don't, I would suggest installing an in-tank rinser like the Camco Tornado rinser. We have a Hydroflush elbow but since we now have a factory installed in-tank rinser, I don't backflush anymore because I find that the rinser does a better job. I still use the clear elbow because you can tell when the tank is flushing out clearer, plus it's fun (in a weird way) to watch the "stuff" come streaming out of the black tank.

Providing you're not in a drought stricken area, the best solution is to use lots of water. Fill the tank with about 4 or 5 gallons before using the toilet. Every time you use the toilet and drop poop into it, flush with plenty of water. Then, as mentioned, fill the tank up before dumping.

When using our rinser, I empty the tank (after filling it up) and then let the rinser run for 5+ minutes while we are breaking camp. Then I'll fill the tank right up again and dump. I usually have to repeat this process once more to get the bottom of the tank spotless. If we don't this, it just makes matters worse on the next trip.

Some tanks simply drain better than others and it depends on the shape and dimensions of your particular tank. Ours is one of the harder ones to empty because it's long and skinny with a low slope on the bottom. Our first TT on the other hand was a piece of cake to dump and we never ever had an issue.

If you have the stock OEM button sensors on the side of the tank wall, they are notoriously inaccurate. We had our dealer remove the button sensors and install Horst Miracle probes. (Easy to install yourself but we had to have the dealer do it because we have an enclosed underbelly and our TT is under warranty)
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 25, 2014
Mike Up wrote:
I always leave the valves closed and dump the black tank after filling with water. None the less, the tank still got plugged so I found that topping the tank off with water does little.

If you don't leave drain valve open, dump when tank is full---What do you think was causing blockage that stopped the draining??

Do you add water back into tank after draining so bottom is wet and poop doesn't stick?

Do you use a full toilet bowl of water to flush poop down into tank?

Missing anything....toys, roll of TP, wash cloth, hair brush etc. cause something was causing that blockage.

High liquid to poop/TP ratio won't allow plugging
Mike_Up
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
I always leave the valves closed and dump the black tank after filling with water. None the less, the tank still got plugged so I found that topping the tank off with water does little.
69_Avion
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
CavemanCharlie wrote:
Make sure you let lots of water build up before draining the tank. It will help keep this sort of thing from happening. When I go out on a one/two night trip I add 12- 15 gallons of water to the waste tank before I leave. That way I'm sure there is enough water in there to get everything to break up and flush out easily.

Great advice. You would be surprised how many people leave the dump valve open when connected to hookups. All the liquid drains out while the solids keep piling up. When the tank is full, it is really full (of?)LOL
mobeewan
Explorer
Oct 22, 2014
Mike Up wrote:
Ron3rd wrote:
You can pick up a Flush King or the Camco clone of the Flush King at Wang Mart and do a reverse flush. Works great.

ON EDIT: I see you already discovered the Flush King. Great device, I use mine quite often.

While the Flush King comes with a back flow preventer, it doesn't come with an anti-siphon valve like the RV Hydro Flush models that have both the back flow preventer and the Anti-siphon valve. Why only the back flow preventer???

BTW, with the sewage and flush water, I emptied 25 gallons out of the black water tank. Quite a bit was not emptying out. Glad it's all out now and clean.

I have the hydro flush. Works great because the water jet ges straight up the pipe and straight into the tank to knock out any paper of poo dam that forms. Sounds like that was your problem. I also bought a twist on valve that can be adde to the hydro flush to make my own flush king if I need it. I figured the twist on valve can also be handy if I ever have a problem with the tank valve not holding for a temporary fix until I get home.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Oct 22, 2014
Make sure you let lots of water build up before draining the tank. It will help keep this sort of thing from happening. When I go out on a one/two night trip I add 12- 15 gallons of water to the waste tank before I leave. That way I'm sure there is enough water in there to get everything to break up and flush out easily.