Dump Rage

[craz_z]

Do You have dump rage?

You know the scenario weekend warrior gotta dump at the end of the weekend and the line is long.

I'm finding myself more and more irritated at the free dump stations. I only boondock and these stations are in bigger towns that are on my way home so I have no other choice. Closest dump station to me is an hour from my house.

I've been picking up a few handy tips as well to make it as fast as possible. However there is always these things that blow my mind when I pull up.

Usually I don't get too wound up but this one really got me, but after I really thought about it, it might actually make the process even faster.

So I come to the dump guy is unloading in front of me. I get my door up and my hose out and actually walk up and lay my hose down before my turn.

Guys are nice and then I see him and his friend pulling in a water hose i think it was a drinking hose no less attached to the nasty dump hose spigot hose. He proceeds to run it through the window and another 10 minutes goes by. I was next inline so I was patient as you have to be watching him unhook the water line with it turned on etc. Always good for a laugh.

Now there is a great line behind me at least 5 campers deep. This guy rolls up in a class A on the opposite side of the dump. I can see him putting on gloves and getting out when the first guy finishes his weird flushing procedure. The first guy in front of me was kind enough to actually move forward to put his gear away.(nice!)

So watching this other guy I KNEW what he was up too and I raced to get in position and get dumping. He's opened his bay door and pulls out his hose, I'm already hooked up an dumping at this point.

He says the worst part about camping is? I cut him off and said you know the line is way back there right. He says yeah but it'll just take a second. He knew I wasn't happy about what he was doing and I finished quickly and got outta there.

I know if i was next in line with this cutter I would have probably lost it on him.

I was trying to let him know its not right what you're doing with the long line of people behind me.

After I reflected awhile I kinda thought about something. It would only work in this type of dump. An island with enough room on both sides for the one dump. If you have 2 campers trying to dump. there is always the guy taking his time hooking up flushers putting gloves on and the other guy can be dumping so on an so forth. basically cutting the time down to only dumping and moving through the lineup faster. Of course it would only work if one is dumping an the other is setting up or tearing down.

But i see some of the most ridiculous things at these places I get anxiety dumping on a Sunday. Maybe the answer is time of day and time of week to avoid the dreaded dump station.

I've tried to develop a system for these types of places. They can really add a significant amount of time waiting on these clowns that take their time 3 deep can be an hour if everyone is flushing and doing god knows what else.

Be ready. Doors up hoses placed near ahead of time. dump. add some water down the sewer, pull away then collect your things so the next guy can move in. I try to be like pit crew at a indy 500 race. My record is 4 minutes from move in to move away.

Sorry for the rant but do you get DUMP RAGE?

[Dutch_12078]

time2roll wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Sometimes you just have to wait... and wait...

Um, no I don't.

I don't either usually... That photo was taken on a Sunday morning at a NY state park when lots of weekenders were trying to leave at checkout time. I try to time my departures for weekdays and off times when possible, and rarely have to wait long. If our next stop is at our NY cottage, I don't wait at all since I can dump there.

[Dutch_12078]

myredracer wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Sometimes you just have to wait... and wait...

Curious if you know how long on average it took each person to dump? How many lanes at the dump station?

I was going the other way in my car so I didn't time them, but in the ~30 minutes since I had passed the line going out, a former site neighbor had moved up about 3 spots. There are 2 lanes...

[2012Coleman]

Ralph Cramden wrote:

bigorange wrote:


On our recent 2-week trip (still overdue on that trip report) I saw a guy at the campground dump station with no hose just letting his tank dump "down the hole".

Believe it or not there are dump stations made to used exactly that way. At Shawnee State Park in PA they have a concrete pad sloped to the drain hole about 6' square. It has a curb about 2" high cast into the entire perimeter and is offset about halfway into the driving lane. The driving lane is also curbed so when you pull up your tires go over that curb and it positions your outlet almost dead center over the honey hole. I gave it a try last Novemeber, it works great, no slinky needed and no spillage beyond the 2" curb. Both stations had a convenient large rock for holding thevlid open so you did not have to stand on it when you pulled the handle.

Post the video - or it didn't happen! 😉

[Ralph_Cramden]

bigorange wrote:


On our recent 2-week trip (still overdue on that trip report) I saw a guy at the campground dump station with no hose just letting his tank dump "down the hole".

Believe it or not there are dump stations made to used exactly that way. At Shawnee State Park in PA they have a concrete pad sloped to the drain hole about 6' square. It has a curb about 2" high cast into the entire perimeter and is offset about halfway into the driving lane. The driving lane is also curbed so when you pull up your tires go over that curb and it positions your outlet almost dead center over the honey hole. I gave it a try last Novemeber, it works great, no slinky needed and no spillage beyond the 2" curb. Both stations had a convenient large rock for holding thevlid open so you did not have to stand on it when you pulled the handle.

[Ralph_Cramden]

covered wagon wrote:

Travel glampers wrote:
If you dump into your septic tank, do not use toilet treatment chemical with methyl alcohol or formaldehyde in it. These will kill the bacteria in you septic tank. Use only non-hazardous treatment chemicals.

cranberry juice works better and is cheaper than toilet treatment. I put in about three cups of CB juice each time. The one with citric acid works the best.

What a waste of perfectly good Cranberry Juice. First I would mix it with something such as Grey Goose and ice, then drink it. Only afterwards would I put it in the black tank.

[time2roll]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Sometimes you just have to wait... and wait...

Um, no I don't.

[dodge_guy]

I have gone without the tank chemicals when I ran out, and let me tell you does it stink! Up some in the next dump and all was roses (almost) again!

[myredracer]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Sometimes you just have to wait... and wait...

Curious if you know how long on average it took each person to dump? How many lanes at the dump station?

[covered_wagon]

Travel glampers wrote:
If you dump into your septic tank, do not use toilet treatment chemical with methyl alcohol or formaldehyde in it. These will kill the bacteria in you septic tank. Use only non-hazardous treatment chemicals.

cranberry juice works better and is cheaper than toilet treatment. I put in about three cups of CB juice each time. The one with citric acid works the best.

[Dutch_12078]

Sometimes you just have to wait... and wait...

[2edgesword]

Based on the testing I've seen (I believe the video has been posted on the forum) none of the black tank flush systems are going to get everything out of the tank. My prior TT didn't have one and after six years of filling, flushing and putting two gallons of water in it with a packet of deodorizer after dumping it remained functional and the trailer odor free for six years. There may be some benefit in using a flush system that sprays the sides of the tank and helps keep the sensors clean but as for attempting to get every last bit of solid material out of the tank is concerned I'm doubtful they can accomplish that task.

At our regular campground the checkout is 11:00am. My wife and I pay for an extra day since we'd rather check out late afternoon, not have to get up early and rush out of the campground with everyone else. The side benefit is there is usually no one at the dump station when we get there at 3:00pm ~ 4:00pm.

[craz_z]

DutchmenSport wrote:

Travel glampers wrote:
If you dump into your septic tank, do not use toilet treatment chemical with methyl alcohol or formaldehyde in it. These will kill the bacteria in you septic tank. Use only non-hazardous treatment chemicals.

I think this is the reason we stopped using RV Black Tank "chemicals" completely several years ago. We use only household products, like Dawn Dishwasing Liquid, Tide liquid Laundry soap (HE)... low subds, and bleach in our camper holding tanks. We use the same things in the house, so never any danger of using anything that will kill the bacteria growth in the septic tank.

And when you think about it, if anyone uses those type of "RV specific chemicals" your chemicals are also going somewhere???? when you dump your tanks at RV dump stations. The contents of your tank doesn't just magically disappear. It goes somewhere?

My thought on the rv chemicals are total waste of money. Same goes with branded RV toilet paper!

They must be major profit machines as there are so many of them out there and I think the salesman that sells rv's tell their customers their tank will become a concrete block if you dont use them.

I rarely fill both tanks and nothing stays in either tank longer then 4 days I could easily throw a 1000$ a year in these chemicals if i used them religiously like others do. No thanks!

myredracer wrote:
Never thought I'd have dump rage but just did, along with a few others behind us.

Grrr I feel your pain! Never would have thought a rental would take such great care of their "Blank"

I'm extremely patient to a point but as you can see 20minutes times 3 rv's is an hour of your life you will never get back.

I also think some of these places may end up shutting the stations down as its very much disrupting their businesses with the long lines.

I typically dont like the idea of a paid dump station but would almost be totally open to the idea if they could somehow have an attendant just do the job for you. Hose is always hooked up just pull up tell them where the door is and let them do it for u. 5$ times 100 vehicles a day or more would totally cover it. maybe even just when peak times hit. I mean they have cameras everywhere. there would never be a line and the time would be less then 5 minutes per vehicle.

[myredracer]

Never thought I'd have dump rage but just did, along with a few others behind us.

We were staying out of town, out back of the in-law's place for a few nights and had planned to use the dump station in a local major supermarket on the way home. Pulled in and there was some doehead in a rental Class C emptying his tanks ahead of us. As we were waiting, RVs started lining up behind us and out onto the road and in the process started to block access to the adjacent gas station. Several kids from the Class C were outside running all over like it was a playground. After about 10+ min., DW goes over to the doehead and asks if he's nearly finished. Doehead says he's trying to get every last drop out!! Seriously??

So another 5+ mins. go by and I finally pull up and dump our black tank in 1-2 min. (grey tanks already empty) and move on out. Didn't dare run the in-tank rinser.

Even tho. 2nd in line, must have been over 20 mins to get in and out. That was ridiculous!!!

Some folks just have poo for brains. My BIL owns a retail business and after many years running it says 75% of people in this world are total morons. After using a public dump station in his town I'd have to agree in his town at least. :M

The occasional time we have had to use a dump station in a Thousand Trails CG has never ever been a problem of any kind. Fellow RV-ers there are waaay more considerate of others.

[westernrvparkow]

It has been my observation throughout life that when people see other people are waiting for them to complete any task around 50 percent of those people go about their normal routine without any change. Another 25 percent speed up and make an effort to get out of the way as soon as possible to accommodate the next in line. That final 25 percent slow down and move like they are swimming through molasses.
I try and be in the fast 25, though I admit sometimes I slip into the 50 group. Actively push me, make rude comments or gestures and you might be able to motivate me to slide down into slow 25 mode.

[Ralph_Cramden]

craz z wrote:


Oh and yes the rare occasion that We stop at a FHU site the tanks are getting filled and dumped constantly they will smell like roses at those places. I think people are afraid of the poop pyramid or the struveit clogger monster but there are some excellent products that hookup to pressure washers if you need to give your tank a proper enema!

Yes sir, seldom go for the FHU either. I have seen my fair share of FHU sites at numerous campgrounds, both private and public, that when you arrive the area around the sewer connection at the FHU site is dirtier than the smelliest trashiest dump station around. Why? Because people are basically pigs, why would they care if they spill their poo brew all over the ground? They're leaving. If you think everywhere has maintenance people or hosts that go around and check or clean sites between check outs and ins your sadly mistaken, especially state and ACOE facilities which typically run on shoestring budgets.