Can I wait 1-2 months before dumping the tanks?

[HappyWanderer]

Hello! Total newbie here, so I apologize if this has been asked before. I searched and couldn't find an acceptable answer.

I plan to park my travel trailer on my land and leave it there. It's totally off the grid and I'll be able to visit it once a month or so. Although I could haul it into the nearest town after I use it and dump the tanks, is it necessary?

Could I use it a few times over two months and then dump the gray/black tanks or should I dump them after every use? I only plan to camp out there one or two nights at a time and there's going to be between 3-6 people using the facilities during this time. The tanks will not really fill up during this time, so I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about the smell?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
HW

[Skaling]

You won't need to dump every time. Only when your tanks get full(or close to full). If you shower, do dishes inside, etc then your grey will fill up faster than your black ( your tanks are @ 40 gallons each). There are chemicals out there that will help control odors in your holding tanks.

[Flyrotor]

3-6 people using your bathroom almost exclusively for a weekend will fill up much faster than you think, plan on keeping a close eye on the tanks, nothing worse than having to deal with full tanks when you really need them

[Brownie]

Skaling is correct. You certainly don't need to dump the tanks until they are full. And a good tank chemical will control the odor while breaking down the waste.

Flyrotor also makes a good point. You may be surprised at how quickly your black tank fills when you're drinking beer and eating bar-b-que, burgers, beans, chili, and other campsite favorites!

[maromeo]

We also use our TT on our land that is off the grid. We do sometimes dump the grey tanks on our land to water trees and other vegetation when they fill up and we are staying longer. We dump our black either at a dump station on the way back home or wait until home and we have a sewer set up at home.

Hope this helps.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by maromeo

We also use our TT on our land that is off the grid. We do sometimes dump the grey tanks on our land to water trees and other vegetation when they fill up and we are staying longer. We dump our black either at a dump station on the way back home or wait until home and we have a sewer set up at home.

Hope this helps.

@ HappyWanderer

Another option for the black tank is a waste 'tote.' Of course you'll need to plan ahead for transporting and emptying that tote. That may, or may not, be easier for you than moving the whole trailer to a dump station and back again just to empty the black tank.

[slabat]

I would get a tote and empty it after each use, they do have chemicals, but I am telling you from experience they do NOT work that well where you could leave the tanks for long periods of time.

[wags999]

No way will chemicals work for several months, plus your going to get a lot of settling of the solids in the time nothing is flowing into it to keep it agitated. I think leaving that period of time will bring problems down the road.

If this is going to be an ongoing situation, you may want to look into a small septic system. But either way, your going to have to haul a fair amount of water each time you visit. You need plenty of water with 3 - 6 people using the black tank.

[Wrascal]

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[Seann45]

I solo camp and only dump tanks when needed.. for me that works out to once a month for the black tank.. I do not use chemicals in the tank and have not had a problem with smell.. One of my camping neighbors uses chemicals and constantly has a smell problem.. (no I am not saying my sh*t don't stink but never smelled it) Actually the longer it is in your holding tank the better as it breaks down better that way. The fuller your tank is the better dumping action you will get..