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11-05-2019, 10:26 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Hot Springs
Posts: 26
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Newbie holding tank question
We have a 2010 Jay Feather EXP 23 B hybrid. I have a question about the gray and black holding tanks. The gray tank holds 29.5 gallons and the black tank holds 22.5 gallons. Usually only my wife and me in the camper. Generally speaking, how many days should I be able to camp before needing to dump the tanks? We do use the showers, toilet, sinks and all of that pretty much like we do at home, but we are mindful that there are tanks that are filling up as we use them, so we try to be reasonably conservative. We bought the camper back in July and have only been out 3 times and stayed about 3-4 days and nights each trip if I remember correctly. I did purchase a 21 gallon Camco Rhino portable waste water tank last week to allow us to stay set up if we’re lucky enough to camp for several days. Anyway, just curious about what to expect with average use. Thanks in advance for the insight.
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11-05-2019, 10:42 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,424
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You’ll fill your black tanks much much slower than your grey. My family of 4 (wife, myself, and 2 small children) have gone 2 weeks on my similar sized black tank. The grey tank however will fill within a few days if your not careful. I have a hard time going three days without filling my grey tank unless I’m extremely careful. I’ve stretched that out while boon docking by washing dishes and hands in a tub then dumping that down the toilet since the black fills so much slower.
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1999 Suburban 2500 4x4
2016 Jayflight 23RB Elite, Fiberglass, Polar Package
400w Renogy RV solar kit w/ Bluetooth, 100w Renogy solar suitcase
430 amp/hr 6v battery bank
1000w Renogy hard wired inverter
2011 F350 Lariat, DWR 4x4, 6.7 turbo diesel
2017 Open Range, Mesa Ridge 374BHS
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11-06-2019, 12:09 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 3,109
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Our rig has 39-gallon black and gray tanks. As Screwby said, the black lasts much longer — easily a week for my wife and me. I dump the gray when it hits the two-thirds mark, which is about two full days or slightly more. That’s with normal dishwashing, a couple of showers daily, cooking needs etc. Using the dishpan is a good idea. Same for washing veggies etc.
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2018 JayFlight SLX 212QBW
1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat SC, 7.3L PSD, 3.73
Transfer Flow 50 gal aux; Andersen WDH; Prodigy P2
😁 "If a man says he’ll fix something, he will. There’s no need to remind him every 6 months.
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11-06-2019, 07:16 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Missoula, Montana
Posts: 704
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It's all the little things that add up. Our shower head has a hose long enough to reach to the toilet. We got in the habit of running the shower hot water into the black tank until it ran hot. It may only be a gallon but that's one less gallon into your grey tank. I know another who just uses a bucket to achieve the same thing.
By far, we (not me) use more water doing dishes than showering, and I've never understood how that can be. The time my wife said that the sink wouldn't drain, and it turned out the grey tank was full, helped drive that point home.
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"I might be movin' to Montana soon..."
2020 Outdoors RV Glacier Peak Titanium
2013 Eagle 29.5RKS (traded in)
2013 Ford 6.7L diesel F350
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11-06-2019, 07:32 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston
Posts: 1,210
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If your at a campground that does not have sewer connection, connect the "honey wagon" and have it at the ready (not draining into it). When we first started full timing I ran the honey wagon every third day. Of course you'll get better at it. But, its' those oh crap moments. And it will be ready to receive if you find one of the tanks is full, full.
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Don & Donna Stout
E-9 Anchor Clanker
Full timers since 2010
2017 North Point 381 DLQS
2015 F-250 6.7 w/Timbrens
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11-06-2019, 09:16 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,768
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It really is variable, from family to family.
As others said the black tank fills slowly, so you might be able to go a couple weeks before it is full. Just make sure to have a LOT of water in the tank or you will get the dreaded poop pyramid.
As for the Grey tank, I know people that fill a small tank like ours in a day, others like myself have never filled our tank full. Being conservative is critical for a long stay. Washing hands, we just turn on the faucet just enough get water and wash. Dish washing, we use dish washing pans and only a small amount of water, and NEVER turn on a faucet and just let it run. As for showers, I would assume ours is the same as yours, and it is way to small for my 6'3" frame, so we have never taken one in our TT, which saves a lot of water. If you do take showers, put a valve on the shower to quickly turn on/off the water, so it does not continually run. The idea is to get wet, soap up, rinse off.
You can also by a sewer valve that twists on at the sewer connection, that will allow you to transfer waste water from tank to tank, via gravity.
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11-06-2019, 09:23 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,424
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And don’t forget to install an Oxygenics shower head if you haven’t already. It makes a big difference in water usage and mine felt like it doubled the perceived pressure.
__________________
1999 Suburban 2500 4x4
2016 Jayflight 23RB Elite, Fiberglass, Polar Package
400w Renogy RV solar kit w/ Bluetooth, 100w Renogy solar suitcase
430 amp/hr 6v battery bank
1000w Renogy hard wired inverter
2011 F350 Lariat, DWR 4x4, 6.7 turbo diesel
2017 Open Range, Mesa Ridge 374BHS
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11-06-2019, 09:55 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Wheatfield, New York
Posts: 1,069
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The wife and I have similar sized tanks. During the day, we're usually not around. In the mornings and evenings I'll use the campground toilets so as not to fill up our black tank. The two of us can get by for at least a week on the black tank.
As for the gray tank, X2 on the Oxygenics shower head, we love it. It has a little valve so you can shut the water down to a trickle while you're washing your hair etc. This saves a lot of water. You'll probably get only two or three days out of your gray tank before you have to dump it into the honey wagon.
When you dump your black, be sure you have some water in the gray tank to rinse the hose, otherwise things can get rather unpleasant when it's time to put the stinky slinky away!
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2009 Jayco Jay Feather 17C 130W Solar, 2021 F150 2.7L Eco Boost, 2021 Toyota Highlander
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11-06-2019, 09:21 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Hot Springs
Posts: 26
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Thank you all! I’ve not heard of the Oxygenics shower head, but will definitely look in to one.
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2010 Jayco Feather EXP 23B
2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 4.3L
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11-16-2019, 04:18 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: GREEN VALLEY
Posts: 6
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In an RV park, keep the GREY tank drain open. Dry camp, monitor the tank capacities, grey tanks fill much faster than you think, and they bubble up into the shower, which is closest to the tank when full.
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11-16-2019, 04:20 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: GREEN VALLEY
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Isaacs
The wife and I have similar sized tanks. During the day, we're usually not around. In the mornings and evenings I'll use the campground toilets so as not to fill up our black tank. The two of us can get by for at least a week on the black tank.
As for the gray tank, X2 on the Oxygenics shower head, we love it. It has a little valve so you can shut the water down to a trickle while you're washing your hair etc. This saves a lot of water. You'll probably get only two or three days out of your gray tank before you have to dump it into the honey wagon.
When you dump your black, be sure you have some water in the gray tank to rinse the hose, otherwise things can get rather unpleasant when it's time to put the stinky slinky away!
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Hose rinse, just hold the toilet flush open for a time.
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11-21-2019, 08:15 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri City, The Republic of Texas
Posts: 5,063
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One thing to keep in mind about the black tank is it needs enough water to insure the solids don’t get a chance to dry out and become permanent residents in the tank.
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Cheers,
T_
2013 F-350 CC SB 2WD 6.7PS
2013 Eagle Premier 351 RLTS
-SOLD- 2012 X23B
-SOLD- 2003 Ford Expedition 5.4, Bilstein shocks
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11-21-2019, 09:09 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 3,900
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Assuming you are in a RV park and hooked up the general rule is to leave the grey tank open and the black closed. This prevents a poop pyramid directly under the toilet which will become a major cleaning issue. Lots of water into the black tank.
You will, over time develop a feeling for the state of the black tank and a day or so before you plan to dump it, close the grey tank to allow for "flush" water. Your black tank will tell you when it is time. It "burps" when it is approaching the full mark. You flush and it burps. Time to dump. Open the black tank, allow it to clear, run clean water in either from the toilet or the flush hose and then close the valve. Open the grey and allow it to clear, flushing the lines. Leave the grey open. Repeat the cycle as needed.
If you are dry camping. Navy showers help in keeping the grey from filling too fast and conserves water.
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11-27-2019, 09:59 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: north coast
Posts: 32
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Just remember, if your planning to use your portable waste tank (Honey wagon). Your black tank holds 22.5 gallons, your portable holds 21 gallons. So when the wagon pops up as full, there is still half a gallon in the hose between your rv shutoff valve, and the portable. That could get real messy to deal with. So when that black tank light reads two thirds full, time to empty.
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11-27-2019, 10:15 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Bellingham,Wa.
Posts: 6,674
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Screwby
And don’t forget to install an Oxygenics shower head if you haven’t already. It makes a big difference in water usage and mine felt like it doubled the perceived pressure.
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X2 and I’ve measured the shower water and I use 4 gal. for a full shower ( navy).Dish water wash and rinse approx 1.5 gal. X 2 dish washes a day. The dish wash water goes down the drain but the rinse water goes outside on the grass or tree- bush.
The plastic wash tub fits like a glove.
Don’t forget to caulk around your sinks or the water will destroy your countertop.
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2010 Jayco Hybrid EXP21M
2013 Toureg TDI
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11-27-2019, 11:40 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Hot Springs
Posts: 26
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Thanks everyone. Much appreciated!
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2010 Jayco Feather EXP 23B
2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 4.3L
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