Campgrounds without sewer hook up

[Crawfordville]

We went camping with our Bullet Premier 32BH for the first time during Labor Day weekend. Before the Bullet Premier we had a pop-up ( had to campgrounds facilities). We used the sewer connection at the campground and we really enjoyed using the facilities of the Premier camper(shower, sink, toilet). My question is this: What do you do when you go to a campground that does not have sewer? Can the shower still be used? The kitchen sink? I'm unclear on how that works. Does it mean that we're stuck and would have to use the dump station for the shower and kitchen sink? Or buy one of those carts?

Thanks for your experienced input...

[the_happiestcam]

Easily can go a week or more. We put rubbermaid containers in the sink when we wash dishes, don't use our shower, and use the CG toilet as much as possible.

[mockturtle]

I figure when it's time to dump, it's time to leave. Unless you use water like you would at home, you should be able to go for 5-7 days.

[2oldman]

Quick trip wrote:
Take navy showers -

If the OP thinks dumping takes the joy out of camping, I wonder what he or she will think of that idea.

[mdamerell]

Personally, I have a strong like of CG's with full hook ups but if I need to for location I can do without for a couple of days. Some places have a "honey wagon" that will come pump your tanks for you. Works for me. I'm there to have fun not mess around with dumping tanks. 53 gal fresh, 2 - 40 gal blacks (80 total) and 2 - 40 gal greys (80 total).

My better half can fill them grays pretty quick if she puts a mind to it... Full hook-ups means she's right and I can enjoy my cigar 🙂

[Quick_trip]

Take navy showers - (wet down-shut water off) (soap down- turn water on to rinse off)- shut water off!
Can be done in less than 5 minutes!
Remember - every time you turn the water on in the sink, you are putting water in the gray tank.
Start thinking of ways to conserve water!
Good Luck & Drive Safe!

[texasclarks]

Crawfordville wrote:
That is what I thought - that we would have to use one of those containers or literally hook the camper up and go to the dump station. It just seems to me that all that effort really takes the joy and fun out of camping. For me, I think we are going to steer clear of campgrounds that don't have a sewer connection.

You just need to be aware of the capacity. We have a family of 4 and can go about 4-5 days w/out dumping the tanks...but we have to be spare with the showers and just understand that washing dishes must conserve water.

It is still fun...just have to be aware of your limitations.

[popeyemth]

dahkota wrote:
Leaves more space for me then. Thanks!

X2 Thanks a lot ! 🙂

[loulou57]

Crawfordville wrote:
That is what I thought - that we would have to use one of those containers or literally hook the camper up and go to the dump station. It just seems to me that all that effort really takes the joy and fun out of camping. For me, I think we are going to steer clear of campgrounds that don't have a sewer connection.

Please don't discount places without full hook up. You will be missing out on some of the most beautiful areas.

Believe me, I am a girly girl at times and there is nothing nasty about dumping your tanks. Both in a portable tank or at the station there is no need to touch or see anything nasty. Don't let this small issue ruin wonderful experiences and places.

[wmoses]

Crawfordville wrote:
It just seems to me that all that effort really takes the joy and fun out of camping. For me, I think we are going to steer clear of campgrounds that don't have a sewer connection.

And that is all right as well, Crawfordville. The main thing is that you enjoy the camping you choose to do. Please don't be discouraged by those who wonder why one bothers to RV if all they do is go to full hookup CGs. If that is what floats your boat then more power to you! Enjoy! And don't be put off by some of the answers on these forums. There is wheat among the chaff.

Folks -- there are many people who won't go camping at all - RV or tent -- and I am sure they won't want to bother doing holding tank chores. Those same people may be persuaded to enjoy the odd RVing experience if it is not too onerous, and who knows they may turn into full-fledged boon-dockers one day.

Me personally -- I have no problem handling my black and grey tanks and dumping my 35 gal Thetford Smart Tote that I paid good money for. But sometimes I just can't be bothered to go to a CG without full hookups as messing about with a tote is a PITA and a waste of my time when I could be off on the lake, drinking a beer, eating, sleeping, etc., etc ... So guess what -- most of my camping is done in sites with full hookups and I even bring my DirectTV satellite dish too! 🙂

[goducks10]

I would never let CG amenities be the determining factor as to where I camp. We have 54 gal fresh, 40 grey, 37 black. We dump dish water down the toilet. The black tank lasts a lot longer than the grey. With that being said you can get a tote and add to your grey tank. Then all you need to do is empty the grey into the tote. Take the tote to the nearest dump station or just pack it with you when you're done camping and dump the tote along with the grey and black. Take extra jugs of water to fill the fresh tank if needed. Take Navy showers and conserve. I'd much rather be somewhere I enjoy than being in a CG just because it has full hookups. Out here in Oregon most parks don't have sewer, most State parks have water and elec. But the State parks have dump stations open to anyone. RV parks will let you dump for a fee. We can go 4 nights before we fill the grey tank and could go 2 more if we use the tote. It really opens up the options when you get away form full hookup sites. If I only went to full hookup sites in Oregon I could only go to few State parks and of course RV parks.

[downtheroad]

Crawfordville wrote:
For me, I think we are going to steer clear of campgrounds that don't have a sewer connection.

To each his own...but why even have an RV?
Maybe hotel/motels or out west many state campgrounds offer cabins and yurts.

[dodge_guy]

The black tank (toilet), I can go about 5 days with careful use, it is 40 gallons. the gray tank is also 40 gallons and if we are careful we can go 2 days. this is all with 4 people. I like FHU also, but I know I can find some nice campgrounds with W/E only.

[Nvr2loud]

We don't have sewer hook-ups in our provincial parks, just a dumping station (over 8 miles away this past weekend from our campsite)

We use the CG shower facilities, since the water is nice and hot and we don't waste propane to heat it. I've never used the shower in my TT and can't imagine actually using it.

We have a 20 gallon fresh water tank and it is only used for the toilet and washing hands / brushing teeth.

We cook and do dishes outside, so we get water from the CG water supply taps often located very close by. I use 5 gallon drinking water jugs and use that water for consumption and dishes.

I've camped up to 9 days, 7 people, and still didn't fill either the black water or grey water tanks. I do use the fresh water to completely fill the black water tank just before leaving the site, makes dumping very easy.

[katet78]

Agree with all those that say you will be limited by sticking to campgrounds with sewer hookups. While it's awfully convenient to have sewer at your site, we like to go to the campgrounds based on their location (i.e., proximity to a lake, beautiful scenery, remoteness, etc.) vs. choosing based on amenities like sewer or power.

The holding tanks on our 25 foot Spree Escape are 20 gallons of fresh, 32 gallons for black and 32 gallons for grey. The first few times "dry" camping (no water or sewer hookups) we ran out of water and filled our grey tank within 48 hours with 2 of us. Since that time, we have just learned how to adjust.

For fresh water, we try to conserve by using paper/plastic as much as possible and just washing what we have to, about 1 load of dishes a day. We also do navy showers or no showers at all if it's just a day or two (after all you are camping). When flushing the toilet, we try to conserve when it makes sense (see next sentence). If we do need more water, we carry 7 gallons in a potable water jerry can and can fill from there and if needed, fill again at the campground as long as they have potable water somewhere. We take along a 7 gallon Thermos water container with ice to start for drinking water and dog water since it's nice and cold and comes from our house so we know the quality. Also throw in some water bottles in the fridge for nice cold drinking water.

For the blank tank, start with about 5 gallons of water in the black tank and then flush minimal for #1, a little more (but not a ton) for #2. This should avoid the dreaded poo pyramid but not fill your tank too quickly. Take advantage of the campground toilets if you can or if you go sightseeing somewhere do so too.

As far as grey water, by conserving our fresh water as mentioned above, our grey tank doesn't fill too quickly.

We then find a convenient dump station (you can look at sanidumps.com or ask the ranger/camp host) as we head home and just dump on the way home. This only adds about 15 minutes to our trip home.

We can make it about 4 days with the 2 of us and a dog by following the above and haven't needed to ever hook up in the middle of a trip to go dump and we don't have a waste container. If we're going for longer, we do try to plan a night or two somewhere with full hookups.

It took some practice to get into the habit of conservation but it's worth it as we can now choose the campground based on more than just the amenities 🙂

Happy Camping!

[Doug33]

2012Coleman wrote:
Used my potable tank last weekend over Labor day. We take Navy showers and sometimes used the CG facilities. Also conserve water by using paper plates. Emptied the gray tank once over 3 days. Longer stays would require more trips with the tank.. I pull it behind my TV and wave to the onlookers. Use it for black and gray water with disposable latex gloves. Have never run into rules against any of this as others have stated.

I had to dump my 11-gallon gray water tote twice during our 3-night stay over Labor Day in Annapolis, mostly because a few showers were taken in the TT. The second time I was towing the tote to the dump station and this guy pulls up to me and asks if I realize I had something hanging behind my truck. I felt like making a Bill Engvall-style "Here's Your Sign" sarcastic joke, but restrained myself and thanked him for his concern. 😉

The only issue I had was that I let out the gray water too fast from the tote, while trying to keep the dump station valve open (by stepping on the flange), and got my sneaker all wet! Since it is only gray water, I don't bother hooking the sewer hose up to it like I do when dumping the black water.