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08-30-2018, 04:25 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2018 16' Sport
Charlotte
, Vermont
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 597
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Septic Hose/How and why?
I used a dump station for the first time this morning. Since I mostly boondock, I see more of this in my future but I'm not a fan. From buying cheap plastic in a big cardboard box that I will have to do again and again when it breaks and goes into the landfill, to stowing this nasty "boa" in precious cargo space in a marginally hygienic manner, it seems like there should be a better way. Why don't the dump stations have a heavy duty, lasts forever hose attached to the hole? I would be willing to pay something per dump.
How do you all store your yucky "boas" or do you have septic dump work arounds that you're happy with?
Thanks, Kim
__________________
Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy...
Kim
Charlotte, VT
2010 F-150, 5.4l, V8, 3.55; Bramble: 2018 Bambi Sport 16
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08-30-2018, 04:38 PM
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#2
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
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Hi
I don't think that anybody gets fired up by the idea of playing with the sewer side of the RV. Negative reactions are not at all uncommon. In some ways that's good. It makes you a bit more careful of what you are doing.
A dump hose should last for quite a while. There's really not a lot to wear it out. I suppose you could run over it . Treated properly, it should last for many seasons of camping.
Some trailers have bumpers on them and a tube under the trailer. The hose can go either place. I happen to have a bumper and that's my preferred storage location. I store 20' of hose there and another 20' in the tube. Hopefully you rarely need 40' of hose ....
Dump stations (at least for us) are a relatively rare sort of thing. More often we are somewhere with full hookups at the site and do the weekly flush there. As we move around, making sure that we hit a site like that is part of the planning process. It makes flushing out the tanks and refilling fresh water a lot easier.
As far as a hose (or anything else) pre-hooked to a dump station ... yuck .... If it's my gear, I *know* how it's been washed down. *Anything* at a dump station is suspect as far as I'm concerned....The less of "their stuff" I need to deal with, the better.
Lots of variables
Bob
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08-30-2018, 04:45 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
2024 19' Caravel
Washougal
, Washington
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 335
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It doesn't have to be so yucky
For years, I make dumping the gray water the last thing I do.
After connecting, I dump the black tank first. Then...
I leave the black valve open, then open the gray. Before it begins to 'rush', I pick up the hose so that the gray water backs up into the black tank.
Then after it's run into the black tank for fifteen to twenty seconds, I close the gray valve and drop the hose. Now the gray water runs out of the black tank, rinsing it.
I do this a couple more times, finally closing the black valve, and then allowing the gray water to rinse the inside of the hose.
This rinses out all the nastiness from the hose. Then it's a lot more pleasant to store.
Hope that helps.
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08-30-2018, 05:12 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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I use a SewerSolution system. No big stiff "stinky slinky", the SewerSolution consists of a clear plastic adapter that bayonets onto the dump fitting, and a adjustable water jet that can flush back toward your tanks, or can be used as a pump to 'move things along' when dumping.
It uses a small diameter hose and a water jet to pump and macerate as needed. It also cleans itself and gets stored in my bumper compartment. It is also capable of pumping uphill modest heights. On my rig, I had to add a short straight clear adapter to more easily hook up the SewerSolution system. My dump fitting is a bit far back to easily reach.
Typically I leave the gray tank dump open when I'm hooked up, Black valve securely shut. Saves trouble when DW takes her long, hot showers when hooked up in a campground. When I need to dump the balck tank, I sut off the gray dump valve, use the sewer solution pump with campground water pressure from another hose to pump out the 'stuff' in the black tank, then flush back up the line a couple times to clear it out thoroughly. When it's nice and clean, I shut off the black valve and re-open the gray if I'm staying there.
I do carry a totally unused, shiny new "stinky slinky" in the storage tube under my AS (at least I assume it's still in there) just in case I have a weird situation.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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08-30-2018, 05:18 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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I thought about that solution, but doesn't it take quite a while to empty a 40 gallon black tank?
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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08-30-2018, 05:51 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Not to be gross, but it isn't the gallons that are the problem--it's the 'big chunks'.
If the tank has lots of water in it and the stuff has has some time to turn into a slurry, so to speak, it goes quickly. It is important to use toilet paper that dissolves in a reasonable time. Charmin Ultra Soft seems to work well for us. Test by putting a couple fresh sheets into a quart jar 3/4 full of water. Put the lid on, and shake it thoroughly. If the paper falls apart, it's the right stuff...
I don't have that big a tank, only 21 gallons, but I can dump and thoroughly clean a 3/4 full black tank in 10 minutes or less, including setup time. The SewerSolution water jet is pretty efficient at pumping and macerating the contents of the tank I have.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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08-30-2018, 06:02 PM
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#7
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
.
, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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The OP has a 16 Sport, only one combined black/grey tank.
It DOES have a tank flush system from the factory.
It also has a slinky holder under the trailer, so it doesn' need to get stowed with anything else.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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08-30-2018, 07:49 PM
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#8
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.-. -...
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake
, ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,836
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We are at Norwood ON Fairgrounds for WBCCI ON Rally. They have a dump station like the OP suggested with a supplied, permanently connected waste hose. In the boating community the pump out facility has the hose that everyone uses (although it uses suction to empty the black tank.)
__________________
Ray B.
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08-30-2018, 10:41 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,103
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I would rather just handle my own hose than have to deal with a broken, dirty one each time. I use the tube under the trailer and some gloves. No problem. But it took a while to learn how and to adjust to it. I do not think the suggestion made by the OP is practical or likely to happen.
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08-30-2018, 10:57 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Newberg
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,052
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Stop at any Lowes or Home Depot, and pick up a box of disposable latex gloves. They come packaged in boxes of 100 so they will last you quite a while. It's still not a enjoyable chore, but the gloves help make it bearable. The hose resides in the black tube that I assume came with your trailer. You'll also need a dedicated black water hose to clean your slinky, and to use on your washout port. This should be stored in a plastic case separate from your fresh water stuff. I like those see through cases with the snap tops so you can see what is what.
Mike
__________________
2015 27ft FC FB
WBCCI #3960
2019 F150 ecoboost
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08-31-2018, 12:19 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2007 27' International CCD FB
San Diego
, California
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,115
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I despise the process enough that I had to change it so there was no storing of any sewage related parts in the bumper. That bumper storage is too precious. If I had to keep the stinky slinky there, there's no way I'd also store and contaminate anything else there. Seems like most people do and that's absolutely gross to me.
I added another more functional tube storage underneath next to the stock too short one. Modified it such that the sewage elbow is stored there as well.
More info here - http://www.airforums.com/forums/f444...ml#post2000532
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08-31-2018, 01:05 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,369
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Dominator sewer hose
Hi, I use a Dominator sewer hose. Actually I have five of these hoses. I keep one in the storage tube and four of them in my bumper storage compartment. They are tough and collapse into three foot long sections. Extended they are ten feet long each. Much easier to use and store than any other previous hoses that I have owned.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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08-31-2018, 04:54 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2018 16' Sport
Charlotte
, Vermont
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 597
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"We are at Norwood ON Fairgrounds for WBCCI ON Rally. They have a dump station like the OP suggested with a supplied, permanently connected waste hose. In the boating community the pump out facility has the hose that everyone uses (although it uses suction to empty the black tank.)"
That's what I was thinking of. Thanks.
__________________
Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy...
Kim
Charlotte, VT
2010 F-150, 5.4l, V8, 3.55; Bramble: 2018 Bambi Sport 16
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08-31-2018, 10:47 AM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Temple
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 286
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Well, here is a little good news for you, the problem is a bacteria called - e'coli - but you are immune to your personal e'coli, gloves, rinse and wash up good after the task, you will be good to go.
__________________
2014 Flying Cloud 25FB
2018 Ram 2500; Cummins
Blue Ox WDH
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08-31-2018, 11:58 AM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
2005 31' Classic
Gretna
, Nebraska
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 152
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It is our goal to dump AFTER driving to a new campground. This allows for the “stuff” to turn to a slurry as a result of the vehicle’s bouncing.
We have never had a problem maintaining a “clean “ tank. Draining is problem free.
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08-31-2018, 01:43 PM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
2018 26' Flying Cloud
WARNER ROBINS
, GA
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 133
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Sportsman trunk
Picked up a sportsman storage bin from bass pro shops. I think they are made by Plano. They are about $8 on sale. Fits two 10’ hoses and all attachments and various ends. Easy to take out of back of the truck, drop on the ground and hook up at site or dump station. Keeps everything organized. Top locks on and makes everything easy. Easy to fill with soapy water once home to wash everything at once. Life is good.
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08-31-2018, 01:53 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2007 27' International CCD FB
San Diego
, California
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,115
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrwayne
Picked up a sportsman storage bin from bass pro shops. I think they are made by Plano. They are about $8 on sale. Fits two 10’ hoses and all attachments and various ends. Easy to take out of back of the truck, drop on the ground and hook up at site or dump station. Keeps everything organized. Top locks on and makes everything easy. Easy to fill with soapy water once home to wash everything at once. Life is good.
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I'd imagine (really don't want to) the smells upon opening that bin must be pleasant. With all the moisture, heat, and bacteria in there?
I'm a big proponent of it getting quickly aired out and dry. Would rather it not be festering in the bumper storage either.
Just my preference.
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08-31-2018, 02:18 PM
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#18
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3 Rivet Member
2018 26' Flying Cloud
WARNER ROBINS
, GA
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 133
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No smell in the bin
We have the tank flush system in our AS and we clean out the hose during the dump procedure. Hose attachment to flush out the hose is easy and quick and you have a clean hose. Three months on the road we didn’t have any unpleasant odors in the bin. It’s hot enough outside just leave it open when you arrive at next campground and all is dry.
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08-31-2018, 04:41 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
1976 31' Excella 500
1974 31' Excella 500
1975 24' Argosy 24
Denver
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,106
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ok. I'll be the first to say it. Have you thought about a composting toilet? No black tank at all. You might be surprised that a composting toilet smells *less* than a conventional toilet, and is easier to deal with. Plus, no wasting all that precious water on flushing. I'm sure there will be plenty of people to disagree, but it works for me and a LOT of other happy campers! ;-)
__________________
25' 1972 Airstream Trade Wind Land Yacht (heavily customized)
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD (diesel)
BeahmStream.com
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08-31-2018, 07:16 PM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
2013 28' Flying Cloud
Penn Yan
, New York
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 138
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Hoses
I wouldn’t use latex gloves as they are too weak. Get nitrile gloves. They r super strong. You can get them at Walmart or Harbor freight or many other places.
Cleaning the slinky hose is not a big deal. After the grey water flush just take your hose that isn’t used for your water supply and hose it out while it is still connected to the sewer.
The bumper storage is not water tight so the hose dries.
Never had an issue.
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