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HiHoAgRV · 07-26-2007, 08:28 AM

What do you think is proper etiquette when there is a line of campers at the dump station? Should one do the recommended dump black, flush - repeat 3 times, dump gray, flush, repeat 3 times OR simply dump the gray, dump the black and pull ahead as quickly as possible to stow everything? Then at a later, less conjested time, flush?

Yup, last weekend was a 1/2 hour wait while 2 fifth wheelers followed the first proceedure. I, on the otherhand used the latter and caught up with them before we exited the campground.

Mrs. HiHo says I'm impatient but I had the same issue at boat ramps.

Does anyone else adjust their proceedure as such?

Alumaholic · 07-26-2007, 08:37 AM

Dump the black,
Dump the gray,
Get you As
Out of the way...

WHen you are on the road and dumping every couple days, you don't need all the multiple, time consuming flushing. Far better to dump, add four ounces of the blue stuff ( I prefer the environmentally destructive formaldyhyde based products) a gallon of H2O, and hit the road.

The on-the-road sloshing cleans the inside of the holding tank as good or better than multiple flushes in place.

Every now and then, add some H2O softener (like Calgon) to enhance the cleaning action.

Excella CM · 07-26-2007, 08:50 AM

Know what ya mean, some folks are just plain anal about flushing.

HiHoAgRV · 07-26-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

dump the gray, dump the black

Oops, I misspoke myself and obviously got those backwards from the way I do it.

Goin camping · 07-26-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excella CM

Know what ya mean, some folks are just plain anal about flushing.

Could't help yourself there could you.

See you in Kernville.

lewster · 07-26-2007, 08:54 AM

After you dump your tanks, add 10 lbs or so of ice cubes to the black tank, along with some water. While you drive down the road, the ice will slosh around in the tank with the water and provide a nice cleaning action.......

Safe and non-toxic too!!!

Excella CM · 07-26-2007, 08:58 AM

Really! I don't know about the rest of you, but when it get the tanks done in the right order and everything shi*shape in record time, I'm just flushed with pride.

crazylev · 07-26-2007, 09:08 AM

A subject near and dear to my heart.

I'm one of the anal ones. I ussually avoid the normal check-out, rush hour times, like Sunday Mid AM. We try and stay until after lunch, especially if our commute home is less than five hours.

Or better yet, leave on a weekday. I agree with the abover about the ice, but have never had to do that so far.

The down side of waiting till everyone has gone, is that some people are pigs.
I have had to do some rinsing down of area before I even pull my trailer up!

If given the oportunity, I'll dump black, rinse three times, gray, rinses out valves. I also rinse the cover before putting that back on, because it has a tendency to pick up grit, and I try to avoid putting wear on the rubber gasket or the flange of the poop valve.

And of coarse, the hose gets a good rinse to. Finally I make sure that my mess is cleaned up before rolling away, so the next person does not have to deal with my doody.

Jonathan

**moosetags** · 07-26-2007, 09:32 AM

We are also anal about black tank flushing.

That being said, we are also considerate of other campers. When we use a common RV dump, if there are others waiting behind us, we dump the black, rinse with the gray and get on our way. We wait until our next hook-up for a thorough clean-out.

We have been behind inconsiderate campers at the community dump. Recently, we were behind campers in a 5th wheel who decided to straighten up their storage compartments while dumping. They were finished with the dumping, but took an additional 10-15 minutes at the dump site putting all their junk away. Sometimes, the stupidity of others astounds me.

yukionna · 07-26-2007, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

We are also anal about black tank flushing.

That being said, we are also considerate of other campers. When we use a common RV dump, if there are others waiting behind us, we dump the black, rinse with the gray and get on our way. We wait until our next hook-up for a thorough clean-out.

We have been behind inconsiderate campers at the community dump. Recently, we were behind campers in a 5th wheel who decided to straighten up their storage compartments while dumping. They were finished with the dumping, but took an additional 10-15 minutes at the dump site putting all their junk away. Sometimes, the stupidity of others astounds me.

I too am guilty about taking extra time to keep my black tank clean. On the other hand, we are considerate when there is a long line so instead of taking 15 minutes to dump-rinse, etc. we do the 5 minute dump and run routine.

tin sista · 07-26-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazylev

The down side of waiting till everyone has gone, is that some people are pigs. I have had to do some rinsing down of area before I even pull my trailer up! Finally I make sure that my mess is cleaned up before rolling away, so the next person does not have to deal with my doody.
Jonathan

Jonathan, great point. It is a bummer when people don't clean that mess up after themselves.

pmclemore · 07-26-2007, 09:56 AM

It's nice to camp with folks who leave an area cleaner than the way they found it.

Pat

crispyboy · 07-26-2007, 11:14 AM

I plead ignorance when it comes to dump stations in general.
Before I bought this trailer I have only tent camped and rented a motorhome once.
Earlier this spring I bought this trailer so being a kind of handy I am fixing this trailer so it can be used. (I actually enjoy fixing it but I still have a way to go).

Anyway what is the typical routine when you get to a dump station?
From reading the posts I see things in this order:
1.) Hook up the big hose
2.) drain the black tank
3.) drain the grey tank
4.) rinse out the big hose
5.) ???? how do you rinse out the tanks? Do you just run water through the toilet or do you have to purchase a special adapter for the sewer fitting?

Just curious about the normal routine?

SilverCabin · 07-26-2007, 11:20 AM

crispyboy (great handle),

Here's a link to a thread I started when I was a new like you:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...res-28417.html

It covers a lot of the questions you ask.

Randy

eubank · 07-26-2007, 11:21 AM

We do tank rinse when we get home from the trip. (And then I use a homemade wand-like doo-hicky to squirt around through the open toilet.)

Lynn

SilverCabin · 07-26-2007, 11:25 AM

I've got one of those wand-like doo-hickys if anyone wants it. I don't need it because my Safari has the built-in flush system.

Randy

crispyboy · 07-26-2007, 12:16 PM

SilverCabin,
Thanks for the link. I took your summarization and pasted it into a Word document for future reference.
I'm still have a bit of work ahead of me before camping time - I just removed to pieces of plywood floor from the front of the trailer last night. Time to clean up the frame and paint it tonight after work.

Minnie's Mate · 07-26-2007, 01:34 PM

The whole dump station thing is one of the reasons I prefer full hook-ups but sewer hook-ups aren't always available. We are usually one of the last to leave on Sunday morning. Being one of the last, I always wait patiently on whoever is ahead of me in line for however long they take as long as they are "taking care of business". If they start repacking their camping gear, I would get impatient and blow the horn.

When it's my turn, I put on the gloves and do a full flush with the built-in flush system. I know it will be at least a month before we go camping again and I don't want to wait that long before I clean the tanks out. Once I have done the three tank flush, I rinse the hose and anything I might have spilled (hasn't happened in a long time) and pack up as quickly as I can, remove the gloves and sanitize my hands with the Curel! I then drive off and wait 'till I get home to put one of the chem packs into the toilet. I put another one in about every one to two weeks 'till we go camping again.

If cleaning out the tank is inconsiderate, I'm sorry, but my tanks are going to get cleaned!

TinShack · 07-10-2008, 07:35 PM

We got up at the crack of dawn to be first at the dump station but were beat out by the crack of Dan....Don't get me wrong, this person was very polite and friendly but there is more to dump station etiquette than politeness! Please be courteous to those behind you...no plumbers, PLEASE!

Andrew Selking · 07-10-2008, 07:47 PM

Great picture> I have done a lot of dry wall on our house and have filled a lot of cracks like that . Just need to sand and fill several times and the ask the MRS. if she can still see the crack or if it is gone. Hope it is Gone Then it is time for your fav. beverge.