Dry camping

[mdgalusza]

Some of the sites I will be staying in will have no hookups, and I am there for 4-5 days. Where do I go to fill water tanks, empty gray/black tanks?

[OLYLEN]

4-5 days is EZ. Have waste tanks MT ar start and water tank full. Use hospital bath wipes for the days without shower. 1st night you had a shower this morning RIGHT. 1st morning Hospital wash/wipe(these have an anti bacterial which doesn't let stink grow. 2nd morning yeeha! shower time catch warm up water in a bucket for flushing. 3rd morning same as 1st. 4th morning same as 2nd. 5th morning your going to checkin at the full service CG so it looong hot shower. We can make it 7-10 days with really short navy showers and using shower warm up water for flushing and if we are out and about using facilities before heading back to camp. Using paper plates and precooking meals is also a water saver for dish's helps, also catching dishwater and watering plants outside helps. Then for us guy's the pit toilets for some duties if available. The list goes on, just a little preplanning and thinking helps.

LEN

[2gypsies1]

tpi wrote:
But overall with 52-65 gallons I don't think you'll have a problem with conservation in mind.

If he has 52-65 gallons of fresh he can easily go 10 days...IF his grey tank will hold it.

RE: using the fresh water fill at the dump station. Yes, you can definitely, safely do it but be sure you don't use the water from the hose that's usually at the dump hole itself. That is usually not potable (healthy). People use that hose to rinse out their sewer hose. Instead, you'll find the potable water just beyond the actual dumping area and it should be marked as such.

[bukhrn]

mdgalusza wrote:
Some of the sites I will be staying in will have no hookups, and I am there for 4-5 days. Where do I go to fill water tanks, empty gray/black tanks?

At the dump station, just because you don't have hookups,almost all Campgrounds, including State & Federal, have a dump station with a potable water fill available somewhere. Fill on the way in, and dump on the way out, you should easily be able to go 5 days, especially if you utilize the CG bathrooms & showers.

[tpi]

https://d2k1k1f5tri8mt.cloudfront.net/brochure/2007HurricaneRVBrochure.pdf
This may list your tank capacities. Most have 52-65 gallon fresh water tanks which should be very doable for 5 days with conservation. One model has only 33 gallon tank fresh water tank and you'll have to heavily conserve or fill during the stay.

You can always carry bottled drinking water. Use public restrooms and even showers when possible. Cooking/eating with disposable plates etc to minimize dishwashing (you don't want to be filling sinks to wash dishes). But overall with 52-65 gallons I don't think you'll have a problem with conservation in mind.

[JimK-NY]

mdgalusza wrote:
3 gallons a day...is that right Jim?

Yes, I have averaged that day after day. Drinking alone uses about a gallon per day in hot weather.

Another gallon goes for cooking and washing dishes. I don't use disposables so that takes some technique. Basically I use a paper towel to wipe off the dishes and pans. I heat a small amount of soapy water in a cooking pan or pot and use it to wash all the dishes and flatware. I then rinse everything under a trickle of water. I usually only eat breakfast and dinner as cooked meals. It does take some practice to conserve on the dishwashing.

The shower is pretty easy. I time the propane heater, in the range of about 20 minutes. The temp will then be just right for a shower. I waste about a quart getting the warm water from the tank to the shower. It takes very little water, certainly less than a quart, to wet down and then lather up. My water conservation head works well and I can easily rinse off thoroughly with less than a half gallon. Both my wife and I have fairly short hair so washing and rinsing is not bad. Figure at least another gallon for a woman with long hair.

I have not counted the water for the toilet. I have a cassette toilet that uses very little water and has a separate tank. I would guess it uses about 3-4 gallons per week. It holds 6 gallons total and I rarely need to fill it more than about half way when the main water tank runs low.

[mdgalusza]

3 gallons a day...is that right Jim?

[JimK-NY]

Water conservation is the key. I travel a lot in hot weather where a daily shower is a necessity. Shower, drinking, coffee, cooking and cleaning up requires about 3 gallons a day. If my wife is with me that goes to 5-6 gallons/day for both of us.

[tpi]

mdgalusza wrote:
Some of the sites I will be staying in will have no hookups, and I am there for 4-5 days. Where do I go to fill water tanks, empty gray/black tanks?

Try to have something in mind before you arrive. It looks like you know where you are staying. Either look in directory or call the campground and find out whether they have a water fill and dump station available to you. Without hookups you can always fire up the motorhome and take care of the filling etc. If not, I'd fill and dump in the previous campground and stretch my water for the four or five days. Then dump/fill in the next campground. Usually class A motorhomes have larger tanks and 5 days is doable with a bit of conservation.

[myredracer]

Add some water to the black tank before you get to the CG. Trying to extend the days a black tank will last by being stingy with water can be a bad idea and lead to maybe only a couple of days of usage. Unless you have a really good idea how your tank performs, add 3-5 gallons of water before using the tank and be generous with the amount of water you flush with. Some tanks are quite shallow and if you try and conserve water, it doesn't take long for a pyramid of p**p to build up and block the toilet.

[Matt_Colie]

You don't say where you are or where you are going.
If there is a Flying J w/ RV lane, or a state campground on the way, you should be able to get set up.
If you top off the potable and really empty the waste before arrival at the stop, you should be able to make 5 days with proper conservation levels. It won't be easy, but if you watch everything like a hawk, you can make it happen.

ON EDIT: I just got to the other post that says "Me and the cat". The cat won't waste water and that leaves you alone and you should be able to do five days on the tanks.

Matt

[prichardson]

As 2gypsies says, unless you have very small tankage; if you use water conservation techniques 4-5 days for 2 people should not be a problem. On the
electric side a pair of 6v golf cart batteries and conservative use of lighting and you will be good.

[korbe]

Fire Instructor wrote:
......3) Electric - Generator, solar, or combination of both.......

We are able to comfortably dry camp with our two 6-volt batteries for up to a week. No solar or generator necessary.

[wanderingbob]

Conserve and you should easily go five days unless ya got six or eight people .

[2gypsies1]

For 4-5 days: Fill the water at your previous stop then if you conserve you can go the 4-5 days without having to refill. When you leave, your park might have a dump station. If not, here's some help:

http://www.rvdumps.com/

Some help with conserving:

Don't let the water run when washing hands; showering; brushing teeth

Take paper plates and you don't have to do dishes at every meal and perhaps not even every day.

Do dishes in a dishpan and use that water for flushing the toilet.

Grill outdoors

Showers: Catch the water in a jug when trying to regulate the water temperature. It's clean water so use it for dishes, etc. Do a quick wet down. Turn off water. Soap up. Do a quick rinse. It's amazing how little water you'll need.

Good luck. You can do it!!