Holding Tank Usage

[Padlin]

At the end of a weekends use the black tank is only partially filled, maybe 1/4. If the next outing is a couple weeks away, does one dump the lightly used tank or let it sit till after the following trip?

How long do you wait to dump your black tank if lightly used?

[bshpilot]

personally id dump it...but only if i could fill the tank w/ water & rinse it well.
I've left "stuff" in my tanks for more than 4 or 6 weeks (between trips)....i don't over treat it, but i treat it.

[Rollnhome]

Dump it and flush. It is a holding tank not a storage tank. I have never found a good reason to store poop for any length of time.

[noe-place]

Dump it

[lfcjasp]

We have been dumping at the end of a weekend as we unhook; DH has me pour a pail full of water as he empties the tank, then the grey tank. So so good:-)

[DutchmenSport]

I dump and never come home with full or partially full black tanks. I use a flush king (you can do the same with a simple 3rd slide valve attachment), and drain the black tank completely until it stops running. Then close off the 3rd flush king valve and let the gray water back-flush into the black tank for about 10 seconds and then close off the gray tank. Now open the flush king valve again and let the black tank empty again. It pulls out a lot more "stuff". I repeat two more times, each time it pulls out more and more. I've found that the 4th time really does not benefit a whole lot as there is usually not enough left in the gray tank to help. So what little bit is left will be enough to clean out the hoses. But I empty and back flush before returning home, every trip! It costs nothing more to do this, and the assurance of having a clean black tank is "peace of mind!"

[koda55]

We always dump our tanks before leaving the park when we have a dump site right where we are camping. If not 2/3 full I add water. After dumping and flushing I put about 5 or 6 gallons of water back in the tank to ensure that if something did not come out it won't harden. If I cannot dump then on the way home I stop at the military base. "I'M retired Navy" I will dump and flush then. I never trust that we will be able to get out in just a week or two.

[kvangil]

We always stay at state parks or other campgrounds with dump stations, so we dump after every trip. We're usually weekend campers, so we're used to a not-so-full black tank. That said, before we dump, we'll fill the black with whatever fresh water is left, then dump.

[goducks10]

I have a 1/3 tank off poo and pee sitting in my driveway right now. Spent the weekend at the wifes BIL's. No where to dump on the way home and didn't want to do the cousin Eddy thing in the street:). We are leaving again this weekend and will be staying in an RV park for the 1st couple nights. I'll dump there. I don't mind leaving a partial tank of stuff in the black tank for a week or so if I know I'm definitely heading out again. If it's at the end of a trip and I have no set plans in the coming weeks, I'll find a dump station somewhere. I don't mind paying either. Just part of the fun.

[B_O__Plenty]

It's a holding tank, not a septic tank. I prefer not to haul around a tank with all that stink inside. I dump and flush at the end of every trip no matter how full or empty it is. Never had a problem, ever...

B.O.

[willald]

..Been in that spot many times. I prefer to dump at the end of all trips regardless (provided there is access to a sewer hookup or dumping station). Reason being, I've learned that if you let 'waste' sit in your tank for a long time (several weeks), even a small amount.....The smell coming from the tank next time you take the RV out can be very nasty (regardless what chemicals you use or don't use).

If black tank is only partially full at the end of the trip, just run water through the toilet, get the tank as full realistically possible with just water. Then, dump it. The more water in your black tank when dumping, the better. Thats what I do in that situation.

[hotbyte]

Sandia Man wrote:
...any longer than that and we just dump somewhere on the way home...

Behind Walmart, in an isolated storm drain, on an empty lot, isolated pasture, etc??? 🙂 🙂 🙂 just kidding!!!

[Sandia_Man]

Pretty common occurrence as it's difficult to fill a black tank in just a couple of days. The camping situation dictates when we dump the black tank when not filled, most times we don't as we predominately drycamp and boondock where dump stations are nowhere to be found.

If we are planning to camp with dump station or FHU in a week or two we will wait until then, any longer than that and we just dump somewhere on the way home. We always dump when we have FHU when camping regardless of how filled the tanks are, great opportunity to get black tank properly flushed/rinsed out.

On a few occasions we had intentions of camping within a couple of weeks and plans fell through at the last moment, went nearly a month and didn't have any issues (odors) other than having to hitch up TT and dump at a location a few minutes from our home. That is why for the most part we dump before getting home where we store our rig, it's just easier in the long run.

[hotbyte]

I have both left it for dumping later and ran bathroom lavatory (drains to black tank) to get 1/2 to 2/3 full. We have a sewer clean out at home I can dump/rinse tanks into but it requires a little jockeying around yard to get MH positioned. I'd like to get a macerator or sewer solution to make dumping at home easier.

We also will use MH facilities at home when working out in yard or shop. A few trips I've actually swung around by dump station upon arriving at campground to dump before setting up site.

[Matt_Colie]

This is a chronic consideration (unless you can dump where you park for free. If you have to pay to dump, it becomes a serious question.

Here is from my experience both in boats and RVs.
If it is cool and your tank treatment works well, you can hold off on dumping (pumping out)until the level is the issue. If those conditions aren't met, you will not want to leave the tank to brew for a week or more. You will know you should have done the dump and rinse when you get close.

Dumping a tank that is well less than full can leave a lot of solids behind. If you have to do this, run water in until you have a good level, then dump. It is even better If you can get the tank level up and take it for a ride. That will stir things up so the dump goes better.

Matt