Question about the Brown Pyramid of death

[Biggyniner]

Hi All,

Since I'm new to all of this I was hoping to get some advice regarding full hookup sites.

I was always under the impression that if I had full hookups I could just leave my valves open. After reading about how the liquids will run off and the solids will remain behind I realize that, that is a bad idea.

So my question is what is the point of full hookups? Most of the State Parks here in Oregon say to not dump a full tank at the site sewer connection but instead at the dump station. What do you all do?

[J-Rooster]

porknbeanr wrote:

wilpower wrote:
Grey tank open, black tank only when full.

Yes... unless you have a black tank flush connection, you may want to leave a little grey water to flush the hose after letting black water go.

X-2, I've been doing this since 1976 with no problems!

[orchardhill]

Just an old habit,, when pulling out or shortly after I usually top off fuel,add a bag of Ice to the black tank, theory is it will help clean gauge points.
Ken

[2oldman]

Biggyniner wrote:
this is my first time having holding tanks and knowing my luck I would somehow overflow the system haha

LOL.. nah.

I'd be curious though, and maybe ask a host or ranger, or even the state park system. Be interesting to hear the answer.

[Biggyniner]

2oldman wrote:

Biggyniner wrote:
Most of the State Parks here in Oregon say to not dump a full tank at the site sewer connection but instead at the dump station. What do you all do?

I would ignore it and dump anyway. It all goes to the same place...doesn't make sense.

My thoughts too... I probably will jsut dump there. I am just nervous as this is my first time having holding tanks and knowing my luck I would somehow overflow the system haha

[2oldman]

Biggyniner wrote:
Most of the State Parks here in Oregon say to not dump a full tank at the site sewer connection but instead at the dump station. What do you all do?

I would ignore it and dump anyway. It all goes to the same place...doesn't make sense.

[slickest1]

Hey Doug. that is good advice. I had a valve go bad like that on my previous fiver and learned the hard way. Good info.!!

[Biggyniner]

dougrainer wrote:
ALWAYS leave your dump valves closed. Dump when you need too. The reason to leave the valves closed is simple. BOTH valves are designed the same. IF you leave them open, then the slow crawl of the gray and black solids (yes, gray has some solids), will flow over the cavity of the valve body where the knife valve slides. That debris can migrate and get into that cavity and cause the valve to not close completely or in a major snafu, cause the closed valve to stick and the pull rod comes loose and then you cannot dump the tank. You see posts on these forums where people state their valves need lubed because it is getting harder to open and close. Leaving them open is one of the causes. Doug

Did not think of that

[dougrainer]

ALWAYS leave your dump valves closed. Dump when you need too. The reason to leave the valves closed is simple. BOTH valves are designed the same. IF you leave them open, then the slow crawl of the gray and black solids (yes, gray has some solids), will flow over the cavity of the valve body where the knife valve slides. That debris can migrate and get into that cavity and cause the valve to not close completely or in a major snafu, cause the closed valve to stick and the pull rod comes loose and then you cannot dump the tank. You see posts on these forums where people state their valves need lubed because it is getting harder to open and close. Leaving them open is one of the causes. Doug

[Biggyniner]

donn0128 wrote:
Full hookup sites allow you to dump your tanks. Leaving the black tank valve open is a big NONO. Close the black valve until you get ready to pull out, open the valve and dump. Most of the parks have multiple septic/sewage systems in the park. The one at the dump station is not getting all the gray water too, so there is more room for the black tanks. The system in the park itself gets a lot of water. If everyone dumped on Sunday afternoon it could over power the park system causing problems. I have camp hosted for Oregon State Parks and since we are there for a month at a time it is kind of hard not to dump every week or so. Which parks have you visited that say not to dump black tanks?

Well I've seen it on signs at most State Parks but the map I have in my hand right now is for Fort Stevens.

Here is what it says verbatim: "RV OPERATORS: Please use the dump station instead of a campsite connection to empty your holding tank"

I assuming because this may overload the site connections. I think they want you to leave your tank valves open instead of dump full tanks all at once at the sites...

[Old-Biscuit]

If you are in a CG with a sewer connection at your site........then dump as you please. That is why they have the sewer connection.

Dump black tank with a high level so the stuff is carried out by the weight and sudden rush of the liquids.
Then dump your grey tank to flush out your drain line/hose.

I prefer to dump my grey with a high liquid level so that food particles etc are also carried out with the weight and sudden rush of the liquids.

After dumping I flush a full toilet bowl (twice) so that the black tank has some water to keep anything that might be left behind wet and so that anything new going into tank goes into a wet vs dry tank.

[hershey]

In answer to your question, that rule is out of the ordinary for campgrounds, private or state or federal.
I would assume that they aren't equipped for a 40 gallon slug of sewage from the campsites, only at the dump station.

Now as others have eluded to, it is best to dump the black only when full or nearly full if possible. That gives it the best opportunity to get a good exit of all solids and other "stuff".

Gray tank best left open and closed a day or so before leaving so you have a cleaner liquid to rinse out the hose after the black dump.

One point that I try to do....I try to travel with at least a half tank of black and dump as soon as I arrive at the next destination. The travel will break up all solids to a complete liquid sludge and when dumped you reduce the pyramid you described.

[wildtoad]

Don't know about Oregon but here is what I do...

Never ever ever ever ever leave the black tank valve open. (unless you know it is crystal clean and absolutely nothing is in it. (as in brand new)

I DO open the gray tank valve and leave it open until the day BEFORE I plan to leave at which point I close it and make sure I use plenty of water. Wash dishes, take showers, etc. Need enough to flush out the drain hose after dumping the black tank.

During my stay, I make sure I use plenty of water each time I flush. DO NOT flush anything other than what comes out of you and toilet paper. DO NOT flush those butt wipes regardless of what the package may say. They have a nasty habit of sticking around.

I leave the black tank closed until it is full or about to leave. If I am leaving and the black tank is not full, I run enough water into the tank to make it so.

Then dump the black tank (close the valve) followed by the gray. When done and all valves are closed, I add a gallon or 2 to the black tank. Some people add some dish detergent, some people add some water softener. The key is to get as much out of the black tank as you can and keep and remainder wet.

[skipnchar]

If you leave the black valve open there is never enough liquid accumulated in the tank to move solids out. Never dump until tank is close to full even if outs only full of water.

[porknbeanr]

wilpower wrote:
Grey tank open, black tank only when full.

Yes... unless you have a black tank flush connection, you may want to leave a little grey water to flush the hose after letting black water go.

[donn0128]

Full hookup sites allow you to dump your tanks. Leaving the black tank valve open is a big NONO. Close the black valve until you get ready to pull out, open the valve and dump. Most of the parks have multiple septic/sewage systems in the park. The one at the dump station is not getting all the gray water too, so there is more room for the black tanks. The system in the park itself gets a lot of water. If everyone dumped on Sunday afternoon it could over power the park system causing problems. I have camp hosted for Oregon State Parks and since we are there for a month at a time it is kind of hard not to dump every week or so. Which parks have you visited that say not to dump black tanks?