Black tank rules

[weekendwarrior]

Hey all, so I was reading another thread on here and it quickly became a "do you poop in your TT" thread. It got me thinking, so I thought I would open a new thread with a poll to get a consensus about the issue.

My rule is that if we are only hooked up to electric we go #2 at the park. We pee in the toilet, that doesn't bother me any, but I don't want to fill up the tank too quickly. I don't want to have to tear down, dump the tanks and set back up because going #2 takes a lot more water and I don't have a black tank tote. If we are hooked up to a full service park then fire away, I don't really care.

So, what are your thoughts on the subject?

[Scoutr2]

We do both, regardless of hookups. That said, I have a 30 gallon black tank and there are usually just 2 or 3 of us - rarely 4. And since I have 80 gallons of fresh water, I fill the black tank to the top before going to the dump station. That helps remove all the "stuff" from the tank. (And I love my tank rinser!)

Also - after dumping (the tanks, that is), I put in 4 oz. of Thetfords chemicals and a few gallons of water, to keep the tanks fresh. I also add a capful of liquid Calgon, which makes the sides of the tank slick so not much sticks to them.

Another trick is to get a clear, plastic adapter for your tank discharge pipe so you can see what is coming out - and more importantly, when nothing is finally coming out. That also helps ensure you aren't leaving any "stuff" in your tanks. I bought my adapter when I had the Outback, which did not have a tank rinser. But the adapter had a water hose connection and a gate valve so I could back-flush the tanks at the dump station. It wasn't fast, but it kept my black tank clean!

[Camper_bob]

We always use it, that's what it's there for, and one of the reasons we bought a travel trailer. Use it right, and it's fine, but abuse it or use it wrong, and you've got problems. If we're going to wallow in filth, we rather it be our OWN than someone else's. But I thoroughly clean the bathroom after every trip, so it stays clean.

[mike837go]

When SWMBO and I are using the TT (usually boondocking), all systems are used to their fullest. Including the heat, fridge, shower, toilet, etc., ad nausium.


When parked next to the barn, I generally keep it fully fired up: plugged in, fridge on, cook a dinner for myself a couple of times a week. FW tank refilled as needed from washing dishes. The GW and BW valves left open to a garden hose that leads about 30' from the trailer.


In that mode NO BLACK WATER is to be generated. Flush the black tank to keep it odor free, but no fresh #1 or #2 whatsoever!

[33 RLDS]

When camping without full hookups I just take my black tank contents home. I hate waiting on lines to dump. I still have not emptied it from this past weekends trip. Maybe when I get home tonight. 50 feet of garden hose into the woods (I have no neighbors)The gray I use the portable tank filled with a macerator to dump at the dump station. The last nights also comes home. We like our showers. We never use facilities at any campground. We had enough of that when we tent camped.

[Subaru297]

I used to use the campground facilities for #2 until I installed the fantastic fan. Now that I can air out the bathroom in about 5 seconds I am much happier to use the trailer facilities.

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

When camping without full hookups I just take my black tank contents home.
SWMBO refuses to "Haul that [expletive] home"

I hate waiting on lines to dump.
We do to, we schedule our vacations to end the day after the holiday is over. Cuts down on traffic on the highways too.

I still have not emptied it from this past weekends trip. Maybe when I get home tonight. 50 feet of garden hose into the woods (I have no neighbors).
What about mosquitoes and bottle flies?

The gray I use the portable tank filled with a macerator to dump at the dump station. The last nights also comes home. We like our showers. We never use facilities at any campground. We had enough of that when we tent camped.

I totally agree with you on the wonderfully maintained condition of the campground facilities.

[charles_cincy]

The kids and the DW use it...but I'm happier with a bit more room at the campground facilities.

[Filthy-Beast]

If a short stay, like a weekend, we use ours exclusively. If staying for a week or more we add using the CG faculties when convenient during the day.

[33 RLDS]

I still have not emptied it from this past weekends trip. Maybe when I get home tonight. 50 feet of garden hose into the woods (I have no neighbors).
What about mosquitoes and bottle flies?

Living in the woods. (very wet woods) Mosquitoes are always around. Also with a dairy farm on my block and a cattle farm bordering my back property line, my black tank offerings don't really make much a difference. When they spread the liquid manure in the field across the street, even the flies head out of town..

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

I still have not emptied it from this past weekends trip. Maybe when I get home tonight. 50 feet of garden hose into the woods (I have no neighbors).
What about mosquitoes and bottle flies?

Living in the woods. (very wet woods) Mosquitoes are always around. Also with a dairy farm on my block and a cattle farm bordering my back property line, my black tank offerings don't really make much a difference. When they spread the liquid manure in the field across the street, even the flies head out of town..

And I thought I lived in a rural area! 65 acres. Horse farm to the north. Nearest neighbor 100' away, after that 400'.

When the dairy farmers in the area fertilize the fields, everybody knows it.

[33 RLDS]

Originally Posted by mike837go

And I thought I lived in a rural area! 65 acres. Horse farm to the north. Nearest neighbor 100' away, after that 400'.

When the dairy farmers in the area fertilize the fields, everybody knows it.

My wife and I are both transplanted city slickers. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. We went from a 1/4 acre to 40 acres and love it. People at work always ask why we have a camper as we already live in the woods

I always get a chuckle when people think its the end of the world when black water hits earth. Where do you think cows go to the bathroom

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

My wife and I are both transplanted city slickers. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. We went from a 1/4 acre to 40 acres and love it. People at work always ask why we have a camper as we already live in the woods

I always get a chuckle when people think its the end of the world when black water hits earth. Where do you think cows go to the bathroom

I agree most folks don't have a clue about waste water.

But one has to be responsible with one's waste. And farmers have to be responsible with all the waste from all the critters and plants in their care.

For me, it is too inconvenient to get the BW discharge deep enough into the woods on our land to bother using the toilet while parked. Besides, the house is only 50' away.

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My coworkers already know I'm crazy. They don't bother asking why I live in a rural area and go boondocking in The Adirondacks.

[TWP723]

Emergencies only.

[bucko]

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

My wife and I are both transplanted city slickers. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. We went from a 1/4 acre to 40 acres and love it. People at work always ask why we have a camper as we already live in the woods

I always get a chuckle when people think its the end of the world when black water hits earth. Where do you think cows go to the bathroom

Really?

Glad we all do not use this logic.

[tnchuck100]

NO toilet paper ever goes in the tank. We have a small waste basket for that. It closes tightly enough where odor has never been a problem.

Just a note for those who have not yet experienced this: If you have a Fantastic fan in the bathroom DO NOT have it running when you flush!

[33 RLDS]

Originally Posted by bucko

Really?

Glad we all do not use this logic.

What logic are your referring too? I would never dump black on a campsite if that's what you picked up from my post.

[wags999]

I remember in DaNang seeing everyone just squat and do their business on the curb...glad we have moved passed that and dispose of our waste properly.

[33 RLDS]

Originally Posted by wags999

I remember in DaNang seeing everyone just squat and do their business on the curb...glad we have moved passed that and dispose of our waste properly.

6 out of 10 people in the world don't have access to a flush-able toilet so not everybody moved passed it..

[rmowat]

May I ask why the fantastic fan should be off when flushing. I'm assuming it has to do with pressure?