โOct-15-2019 06:54 PM
โNov-05-2019 02:36 AM
DewLess wrote:
Along these same kinds of germ contamination that I have seen was the grossest to me was during days when still employed. The large breakbulk that we hauled freight into had a restroom for both drivers and dock labor. Being in Michigan during winter it seemed to be the best place for lunch,, seeing someone perched on throne, lunch bucket between ankles, pants down, takin care of business. Odors abundant,, I will not go on.
โNov-04-2019 03:01 PM
โNov-04-2019 02:47 PM
โNov-04-2019 01:36 PM
Ride S40T wrote:I stand corrected: In my owner's manual, it does indeed address sanitizing the freshwater tank, although it gives no specific time frame:4x4van wrote:drsteve wrote:And there's always someone who thinks that dumping your black tank requires a full hazmat suit and decontamination facilities.
Love these threads, there's always someone who thinks sanitation is no big deal because they haven't died yet.
BTW, I've seen it mentioned here a couple of times that "manufacturers recommend sanitizing RV water tanks every 6 months..." Hmmm...I've never seen that recommendation from an RV manufacturer. I've owned 3 RVs over the past 30 years, all 3 purchased used...and I've sanitized the freshwater system maybe twice...just because the water got a bit stale after sitting a couple of months.
There's an independent packet or notice I read that said to sanitize the tank every 6 mos but the big manual says every year. We tend to camp about every 2-4 weeks throughout the year (empty nesters) so the water in the tank doesn't sit long. From our manual:
Sanitizing the Fresh Water System
Keeping the fresh water system clean and free of any potential contaminations should be a top priority. Sanitizing the system before initial use and thereafter annually, or whenever water remains unused for prolonged durations, is recommended. This will help keep the water system fresh and discourage harmful bacterial or viral growth.
Keystone RV Company Owners Manual 4/1/2018
I'm a big fan of using the fresh water tank as well. We usually do 2-dayers Fri/Sat so we try to keep it simple at setup and get into the woods or off fishing. We did 3 trips of about 1,000 mi one-way and on those we just keep enough to pee on the road. No sense in beating up the tank bands with the extra weight, fuel mileage, etc.
โOct-28-2019 02:53 AM
Ride S40T wrote:
Well, I started this thread. Glad I did. Great discussion and great points.
If someone is fine with folks before them being a bit less than sanitary and have been good - that's great. Wish them the best and uneventful camping.
For the rest of us who tend to lean toward keeping things a bit more sanitary (not phobic), that's great as well. There's a reason we use separate black water flush hoses and fresh water hoses, there's a reason the manufacturers recommend sanitizing the tank(s), there's a reason the nation's CDC recommends washing hands after well, everything...including intimate follies.
Just don't see the oopostition to using basic sanitary routines. What's the worst that comes from it? Think it's a waste of time? No problem. Do what you believe is good for you and the fam. It's not a phobia, it's based on science. As is the science of building a good immune system by not eliminating all germs.
The point of the post was to raise awareness. RV sales are reportedly up 300% over the past decade. That likely means many newbies to the game, like me. I did A LOT of research, watched every video possible, talked to friends who have RVs and read most all of the threads on this and other sites before our first trip last year - just to be sure we would do it right, have a good experience and yes, not break anything that cost major bucks. Not everyone is so diligent and as explained above, some may leave us unexpected gifts. And not singling out rookies like me, could be anyone who just doesn't care or someone who simply makes a mistake in what they're doing at a site. It happens.
Just shared for awareness. But the discussion has been great! Hope to see you down the road and I promise, WE WILL leave the campsite you're rolling in to very clean. No trash, no poop (ours or our dogs') and it will be better than we found it.
โOct-23-2019 08:59 PM
4x4van wrote:drsteve wrote:And there's always someone who thinks that dumping your black tank requires a full hazmat suit and decontamination facilities.
Love these threads, there's always someone who thinks sanitation is no big deal because they haven't died yet.
BTW, I've seen it mentioned here a couple of times that "manufacturers recommend sanitizing RV water tanks every 6 months..." Hmmm...I've never seen that recommendation from an RV manufacturer. I've owned 3 RVs over the past 30 years, all 3 purchased used...and I've sanitized the freshwater system maybe twice...just because the water got a bit stale after sitting a couple of months.
โOct-23-2019 07:33 AM
dieseltruckdriver wrote:
After reading through the entire thread and laughing at several posts, I have to admit, I don't use the "cute" little booties, I don't use gloves, but I do wipe my hands with a sanitizing wipe when I am done.
I also had a question.
Why is everyone so afraid of using their fresh water tank. I never leave home without it being full. I never use water hookups, and my water pressure is always consistent.
I have seen people stretch several hoses to reach a water spigot a couple sites away at a spot meant to be a fill so they could avoid using the tank. I do not get it. Note, these are NOT water hookup sites.
I do know that if that is being done and I need to refill water, their hose will be disconnected and left laying on the ground while I refill. Luckily I haven't ever had to do that.
โOct-23-2019 06:55 AM
pasusan wrote:mdcamping wrote:Cummins12V98 wrote:
Turn on spigot for few seconds, connect hose run for a few seconds, connect to RV.
yup
At a state campground in MA about 5 yrs back I was starting to finish up at a 2 way island dump station, guy pulls up on the opposite side in a New Class C, I glanced over noticed he was kind of nervous, well he opens his black tank valve and lets it rip! NO SEWER HOSE! I just got out of dodge fast! while leaving I did notice he was trying to wash it down with the non potable water spigot.
Mike
We just saw that at Liberty Harbor. It was a class C from overseas - I could tell because it was shaped weird and had a funky license plate.
They just pulled up close to the drain and opened the valve. No rinsing either. I wondered if that's the way they do it where they come from...
Luckily there was a good rain before we had to dump.
โOct-23-2019 04:52 AM
ppine wrote:
Third World countries have tremendous health problems because the water and waste streams are not entirely separated. That is exactly what we are talking about here. Bad practices by people that don't know or don't care about fecal contamnation of fresh water.
I was teaching some high school kids about water quality last week on the Carson River. Fecal coliform bacteria is one of the main parameters we measure. At 5 ppm no problem At 100 ppm it can be a big problem. Use caution. People are stupid.
โOct-22-2019 06:03 PM
โOct-22-2019 03:54 PM
โOct-22-2019 01:35 PM
drsteve wrote:
That's what a lot of folks don't understand. Our immune systems routinely deal with LOW levels of bacteria, the trouble begins when levels are so high they overwhelm the capabilities of even a healthy immune system.
It makes sense to err on the side of caution.
โOct-22-2019 12:47 PM
โOct-22-2019 11:55 AM
drsteve wrote:And there's always someone who thinks that dumping your black tank requires a full hazmat suit and decontamination facilities.
Love these threads, there's always someone who thinks sanitation is no big deal because they haven't died yet.