Smaller Holding Tanks...What to do when NO hookups??

[Baja_Man]

So we made compromises....smaller TT, lighter weight, easier to tow, easier to access locations, etc. Smaller, lighter TTs usually equals less CCC which equals smaller holding tanks.

The new to me TT has holding tank capacities as follows:

Fresh: 37ga
B/G: 30ga

Brochure on TT states 50 on fresh, but called Keystone, and per VIN, it is 37.

We mainly camp where there are full hookups.
Some state parks offer water and gray, but no black.

But when we do want to go where there are no hookups, how can we handle the limited tanks?

We travel most of the time with 3 adults......4 on occasion.

Thoughts?

[Lwiddis]

"I often use a plastic dishpan for washing dishes and pour the dishwater down the toilet."

Me too sorta, Mock. I use the dishwater to flush the toilet.

[Grit_dog]

MarkTwain wrote:

Baja Man wrote:
So we made compromises....smaller TT, lighter weight,

Buy an additional holding tank that you strap to back of your RV.

Bad idea...

But you know, it helps when the OP is present and active in the conversation. In another thread he said he was planning on carrying water jugs.
Below is an example of what I was suggesting, although you can get a similar setup for less than half this much $. This is an expensive setup.
It is literally the easy button for hauling water, and comparable in $ if you're wanting to bring more than a few jugs. You have almost unlimited length (within reason) with the pump electrical hookup and add whatever length hose you need. Fill it up in the back of the truck at home or wherever, plug it in and fill camper when needed. Anywhere from about 250lb to 1100lb depending on how much water you want.
I used to put a 450lb bag on the floor of the back seat in the truck. Been using the same bag(s) in our boat for surfing and for hauling extra camper water for many years now, when needed.


https://www.wakemakers.com/straight-line-sumo-max-850-bag-pump-combo.html

[JRscooby]

Baja Man wrote:
Anybody use the 6 gal Igloo water containers? How’s this process of storing water in truck bed and transferring to RV tank? Is a bladder preferred? Thought of taking 3-4 in back of truck.

Or a water bladder in rear of truck?

A 20-30 gal water tank would be too large and take much truck bed space…, not as portable as individual water containers.

Thoughts?

I have an F-350 so plenty of payload,

Back when I first got my camper I needed a way to pour water from a jug into the tank. Bought a plastic funnel, cut so fit tight, cut a notch to bend so the top was flat, welded up the cut, put loops to hang it. Worked great. But a couple years later I had a better idea. If I was going to need to add water, fill the jug a couple days before needed. Then if going to use water outside (most use) pour out of jug.

[Baja_Man]

As far as gray / black water…
Are the portable dumping totes exclusive to its contents ( one for gray and separate one for black) or does one tote handle both?

Storage could be an issue? How do you carry and store when traveling?

[Baja_Man]

Anybody use the 6 gal Igloo water containers? How’s this process of storing water in truck bed and transferring to RV tank? Is a bladder preferred? Thought of taking 3-4 in back of truck.

Or a water bladder in rear of truck?

A 20-30 gal water tank would be too large and take much truck bed space…, not as portable as individual water containers.

Thoughts?

I have an F-350 so plenty of payload,

[falconbrother]

We did a few days of water power only recently. It wasn't too bad. The black tank isn't a problem. The gray tank is where you can get in a bind. Just think of it like glorified tent camping.

[Baja_Man]

bigorange wrote:
Is that 30 each black and gray or combined? If it’s 30 each that’s comparable to what we have now and it’s doable. Gray is always our limiting factor. As others have said just be careful how much goes down the drain. If possible, can wash dishes in a basin and dump that outside if possible or down the toilet if you have separate black and gray. You could also use one of the portable totes for dumping gray assuming the campground has a dump station.

Black: 30
Gray: 30

[wing_zealot]

This is the scoop, if you plan on taking showers every day in the trailer, you might have enough water for two days. If you use the campground facilities (showers and potty) as much as possible you can make it a week easily. We have similar size tanks, we use the campground facilities as much as possible, we regularly camp with electric only; we can go a week and use only half the water in the fresh water tank. Basically, the only water we use is for potty at night, washing dishes, and cooking/coffee.

It's up to you how long its going to last.

[Trekkar]

portapotty bags and Poo powder allow for less use of black tank needs.....

[mockturtle]

As my grey tank usually fills up before my black tank, I often use a plastic dishpan for washing dishes and pour the dishwater down the toilet.

[MarkTwain]

Baja Man wrote:
So we made compromises....smaller TT, lighter weight, easier to tow, easier to access locations, etc. Smaller, lighter TTs usually equals less CCC which equals smaller holding tanks.

The new to me TT has holding tank capacities as follows:

Fresh: 37ga
B/G: 30ga

Brochure on TT states 50 on fresh, but called Keystone, and per VIN, it is 37.

We mainly camp where there are full hookups.
Some state parks offer water and gray, but no black.

But when we do want to go where there are no hookups, how can we handle the limited tanks?

We travel most of the time with 3 adults......4 on occasion.

Thoughts?

Buy an additional holding tank that you strap to back of your RV.

[JRscooby]

I have a Pop Up tent camper. Our black tank is less than 3 gallons on the porta potty. Wife and I, 2 days is easy if we stay out of restaurants. (This assumes no other restroom near. If I can walk a quarter mile thru the day, only dump at end of 3 night stay. Or in the toilet I'm walking to if staying longer.
Gray water. The inside sink is only used for sponge baths (Waterless shampoo and no rinse soap about qt water) and teeth brushing. The drain hose goes into a large laundry soap jug.
Dishes is the big water hog. I set up a sink outside, drain into 7 gallon jug. Use 2 pans. 1 for hot soapy water. Rinse with a small stream of water, and catch it in 2nd dish pan. When done dump the wash water, (Dad kept a bucket, would use that to fill the bowl before number 2. Rest of time just enough water in bowl to cover the seal) Save that rinse water. Next time you do dishes heat a pot of water, (Where does the water that you drain out of pipes to find hot go?) add that and soap to do dishes.

[obiwancanoli]

toedtoes wrote:
As Mitch says, sponge baths.

Use baby wipes to clean up.

Use the campground bathrooms as much as possible (save the RV toilet for middle of the night needs).

See if showers are available at nearby campgrounds (in California, the USFS campgrounds are often in groupings and at least one will have showers that you can use).

If there is a dump station nearby, you can use a portable waste tote to empty tanks as needed.

This might work... Epic Body Wipes

[bigorange]

Is that 30 each black and gray or combined? If it’s 30 each that’s comparable to what we have now and it’s doable. Gray is always our limiting factor. As others have said just be careful how much goes down the drain. If possible, can wash dishes in a basin and dump that outside if possible or down the toilet if you have separate black and gray. You could also use one of the portable totes for dumping gray assuming the campground has a dump station.

[wopachop]

Poking a small hole in the cap of a water bottle can be a big time water saver. Squeeze and squirt a little stream instead of turning on a faucet.

Bring 5 gal water jugs and try to do as much water related stuff outside as possible. Washing hands and brushing teeth.

Depending on your view of the environment paper plates and plastic utensils are water savers.

If youre camping with girls you might not need to prefill the black tank with water before a trip. Looks like yours is a black gray combo. Will save space not prefilling knowing the girls will add liquid soon enough. If possible maybe the guys can find a tree.

Im used to boondocking in the desert so some of this stuff would not be appropriate with neighbors and kids camping nearby.