Ever get an on-site pump out of your gray/black tanks?

[Doug33]

I went to a CG this past weekend that does not offer sewer hookups or a dump station. When I checked in they said they'll arrange to have the Honey Dipper service come pump me out when I'm leaving. Check out time was 11:00 am Sunday, and by 10:30 the guy drove up with his tank truck. He connected to my drain pipe, fired up the motor, and away he sucked out the contents of the two tanks. It took all of about three minutes and he was gone. It was actually pretty convenient, because I didn't have to touch my sewer hose at all!

This CG was about 90% seasonal sites, and none of the hundreds of permanent sites have sewer hookups. So he said he is driving around every day pumping out trailers on site. What a job! 🙂

[2manytoyz]

The few times I've needed this service, it wasn't available. Had to go to Plan B...



Would like to have had this option at Anastasia SP, Fort De Soto, and even Disney's Fort Wilderness CG.

Anastasia was pretty easy to haul the tote to the dump station. Last week we stayed at Fort De Soto. VERY nice place, but the dog loop doesn't have a dump station within the loop. Instead, have to drive the entire loop, exit onto the main road in the park, and head back into the CG entrance. Ever try that with a blue tote in tow? I waited until no traffic was coming, and pulled onto the road. I went 20MPH, listening to the plastic wheels singing on the tote! I did apply a little WD-40 first. Had to perform this chore every day except for the last day, when I hauled the entire trailer to the dump station.

Fort Wilderness is wonderful sometimes. Other times it sucks. They boogered up our reservation I made a year in advance, and verified a month before we arrived. We brought a 10 lb dog, and they had us in a non-dog loop. They moved us to the tent loop, with only electric/water hookups. They do NOT have a dump station. They suggested we look for a full hookup site that's empty when we leave. Uh, don't think I've ever seen an empty site there!

Maybe one day I'll get lucky and find this service at a CG that doesn't have full hookups...

[Doug33]

I wasn't sure whether to tip the guy since he works for the CG and it is part of the service the CG provides in their daily rate. I usually tip most service industry people pretty well. But this was all new to me, and the guy was in a hurry to get on to the next pump site. Besides, how do you hand someone money who is wearing huge yellow vinyl gloves that are covered in.....well, you know.

[Huntindog]

I have it done every year at the Brittany trials in January near Sonoita AZ.
One thing to be aware of, is that I have never been able to get the tanks as empty as I normally do with a regular dump. But it is enough to get us by till we go home, and I don't have to break camp to go find a dump station. It saves probably the best part of a days labor for us, so it's well worth it. A lot of people gripe about the price.. I am happy to pay it, and tip very well. These guys remember me, and will look me up to make sure I get my tanks emptied... Nice as I may be out busy with dog activities. They have even come out special for us when I called them once.

Treat those that take care of you doing unpleasant work well. It really does pay dividends.

[Doug33]

The guy did open the valves first before he started the motor up for suction. He had a clear section of hose so he can monitor progress. The CG does not charge a fee, since it is in lieu of sewer hookups, so they probably compensate for it in their daily rates.

I have to say it was pretty convenient and fast. Although I like and usually use full hookup sites, it's nice not to have to setup your sewer hose, or have to dump on the way out.

[GaryWT]

spoon059 wrote:

Lantley wrote:

GaryWT wrote:
Nice service but full hook up available then they do not get my business.

I imagine your happy using FHU sites exclusively. I enjoy the convenience of FHU sites as well.
However You missing out on a lot of great places.

Yup, two of my favorite places don't have sewer. Raystown Lake in PA and Breezy Point, literally on the sand of the Chesapeake Bay in MD. I prefer full hookups, but that doesn't determine where I go. Now... electric is something that I haven't camped without yet.

That might be true but they all have a firepit so all is good. We get to go to the mountains, the beach, the Cape or where ever. Most trips are 2-3 nights and the grey tank fills within 24 hours so I do not want to deal with anything but full hook ups and we bought a trailer with a bathroom to use it. Just us and what we like.

[mlts22]

One caveat about pump trucks. Open your toilet valve before they pump, because if your tank vent is poor, it might collapse your black tank due to the suction. A neighbor with a TT had that happen, although I've not had issues when the stool bus comes around (perhaps I'm lucky.)

[dvitale300]

Last weekend we stayed at the expo center in Topeka for 4 days. Only have a 25 gal black tank, and by the 4th day it was full. Would have been nice to have this kind of service. We only had a shore power hookup, nothing else. It's also a bit frustrating in that when we camp like this, we use paper plates and don't utilize the sink very much. Since we have separate grey tanks - showers are very limited.

[BubbaChris]

Doug33 wrote:
So he said he is driving around every day pumping out trailers on site. What a job! 🙂

Actually the CG route may be the nicest type of work available for those pump trucks. Around here they're typically servicing portable outhouses and pit-toilets at trail heads. I'm sure Mike Rowe did at least one Dirty Jobs episode like this.

Doing all closed-circuit work is probably nice (other than the bending/crouching), and your customers are typically going to be a very happy crowd.

[Nvr2loud]

GaryWT wrote:
Nice service but I only go to full hook up sites. If a campground does not have a ful hook up available then they do not get my business.

I've never been to a campground that has full hookups, but I also only camp for 3-8 nights at a time so I dump on the way out.

Funny story:
One of my customers just traveled to Arizona and back from Ontario for four months over the winter. He purchased a brand new trailer and just went for it. He only stayed at full hook-up sites, and would connect, open the valves, and spend the time there. He didn't realize that the poop just continued to pile higher and higher in his black tank.. he made it all the way home and was going to take the trailer in for service because he could see the poop when he flushed the toilet. I explained the problem to him, and he filled the black water tank full of water and a little bit of laundry detergent for three weeks. Just went camping at a local park and did a dump on the way into the park... all is good!

I advised him to keep the valves closed during future visits to full hook up sites until the tank is full, then dump LOL.

[spoon059]

Lantley wrote:

GaryWT wrote:
Nice service but full hook up available then they do not get my business.

I imagine your happy using FHU sites exclusively. I enjoy the convenience of FHU sites as well.
However You missing out on a lot of great places.

Yup, two of my favorite places don't have sewer. Raystown Lake in PA and Breezy Point, literally on the sand of the Chesapeake Bay in MD. I prefer full hookups, but that doesn't determine where I go. Now... electric is something that I haven't camped without yet.

[Uncle_Rj]

The campground we go to in Montana has this option and we prefer it to full hook ups.

I never leave the hose connected when we are at full hook ups anyways because of the smell.

[Lantley]

GaryWT wrote:
Nice service but full hook up available then they do not get my business.

I imagine your happy using FHU sites exclusively. I enjoy the convenience of FHU sites as well.
However You missing out on a lot of great places.

[GaryWT]

Nice service but I only go to full hook up sites. If a campground does not have a ful hook up available then they do not get my business.

[hohenwald48]

Executive wrote:
You do know when they suck the contents out, they also empty all the "P" traps including the washer/dryer. You'll get sewer smell inside your coach if you don't replenish the water in ALL the traps.....Dennis

If that happens, you have other problems that you need to have fixed. Tanks are supposed to be vented thru the roof of the TT and proper venting will prevent the traps being sucked dry.