Help! Dry camping at mom's, and need to flush tanks at Flying J

[JamesA]

Hi,

We've spend Thanksgiving in my mom's driveway in our new 26BHS and our black tank is under 1/3 full and grey is 2/3 full.

I think our son used #2 once, so it's just pee in there right now.

We are heading home today, hence the urgency!

We found a Flying J off the interstate, an hour south.

Plan is to flush the black tank, then the grey.

Then on the way home is our storage unit so we won't have a way to refill either tank for another flush with clean water.

Is this ok (meaning enough flushing and cleaning before putting it back into storage?)

Thanks so much!

[Fr8Train]

In a pinch. I think you’ll be alright. I would fully assume that the flying J would have a water hose there too

[Midnightmoon]

I use our local Flying J all the time. Providing they don't have the water turned off for the winter, no problem dumping and flushing your tanks until you are happy with the job. $10 charge for the dump if you don't have a membership card.

[JamesA]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I use our local Flying J all the time. Providing they don't have the water turned off for the winter, no problem dumping and flushing your tanks until you are happy with the job. $10 charge for the dump if you don't have a membership card.

awesome. I just called them. they have the hose going.

how many times do you fill up the tank and to what level before doing the flush with clean water?

how long does it usually take to reach that point?

any issues with people waiting behind you?

thanks so much! making me rest a little easy. first time nerves!

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by JamesA

awesome. I just called them. they have the hose going.

how many times do you fill up the tank and to what level before doing the flush with clean water?

how long does it usually take to reach that point?

any issues with people waiting behind you?

thanks so much! making me rest a little easy. first time nerves!

Don't know if you have a black tank flush on your trailer, but if you do, let it run for 5 min or so and you will be fine. If not, just fill your black tank with water and dump. If you don't have a ton of solids in there, once or twice will be sufficient.

I've never had an issue with people waiting behind me at a Flying J. Usually the people in the RV lanes understand what you are doing and are pretty patient. I wouldn't be there for an hour doing your flush, but 10-15 min if someone is behind you is normal and you should have no problem getting done in that time. If nobody pulls in behind you, take your time.

[Fr8Train]

Should always dump with the tank full. If it isn’t full, fill it and then dump. Then one or two more times should suffice.

[spoon059]

Originally Posted by JamesA

Is this ok (meaning enough flushing and cleaning before putting it back into storage?)

Thanks so much!

Yes, that is perfectly fine. Remember... its a sewage storage tank, not fine China! You aren't eating out of the tank, you are preparing it to poop in again next year!

Flush it, then put about 5 or 10 gallons of water back in the black tank. If you use chemicals in your black tank, throw some down there after you fill up the 5 or 10 gallons.

The only "no-no" to storing your black tank is to keep it dry. Any *stuff* that is down there will become impossible to get rid of if it dries in there. A couple gallons of water and some chemicals will slosh around on the drive home and help break gunk off the sensors and prevent anything from drying and cementing itself to the bottom of the tank.

Don't overthink it, enjoy the rest of your trip and drive safe!