Holding Tank Usage

I would dump it! I always try and go home with clean tanks. Then my next trip, I'm starting with empty tanks! After watching the video on here with the guy doing an experiment on draining tanks, I don't buy into the deal where should only dump a near full tank. The rinse is the most important part. My 2 cents! worth perhaps a penny or less!

I fill the tank to about 2/3 full and dump, but if I haven't flushed the tank with my Tornado for a while, I just dump then flush it clean.

That said, our previous trip was dry camping and I didn't dump until the first stop on the next trip, about 2-3 weeks later. Worked out fine.

I would dump. What if for some unknown reason you do not use the RV in the next few weeks? What if you do not use it until next season? It has happened. I wish you the best.

Ray

I only dump when full, if I have been dry camping and only have a mostly empty tank and plan to go camping again in the next few weeks I just leave it until my next trip.

Most times my next trip will be a Full hookup site and I will dump when needed. I have used this method for many many years, sometimes for as long as 6 weeks with out any problems.

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

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.

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.

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!!!

..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.

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.