This might be a simple and common thing for many campers but I've never had a camper with sewer tanks (black and grey), just a cassette toilet. I understand that 'black' is toilet and 'grey' is sink/shower water (no solids). The two tanks come together with one drain.
How to you drain them? Do you open the drain to the dump station and put a garden hose in your toilet? I can't do that with a popup that is closed up.
If you have used the toilet in your trailer, it is important that is not be drained if the tank is only partially full as you will leave solids in the tank. Just before you pop down, fill the black tank to at least 3/4 full by holding the flush open on the toilet. A quick look while its open and you will see it filling up.
When you are going to dump, attach the hose and dump the black tank first. Close the valve, then dump the grey. The grey water will clean out the hose. Most dump stations also have a water connection so you can rinse the sewer hose before you put it away if needed.
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not knowing the history on your new pup (which looks great by the way) i would make sure it is winterized Soon, it gets cold around PA real fast. or at least blow out your water lines. then add some pink stuff to your tanks and drains just in case. a 5 dollar bottle of antifreeze will give you peice of mind if nothing else! 🙂 moving up from a cassette to a full toilet on the tt , i too am in the learning process. however not that hard. when you start using your system after the winter thaw, leave about 3 gallons of fresh water in black tank and add a small amount of calgon water softner ( i hear some use laundry soap as well) before leaving for a trip, the water will slosh around and self clean your tank while driving, and the softner will make your tank more slick over time which helps keep it clean as well.. i hear it,s better to leave some water in it all the time to avoid it drying out.
We have a TT but the same thing still applies. Phil is correct in saying to fill the black tank almost full before heading to the dump station. This will allow the black tank to slosh around and break up and clods. We also add an enzyme to our black tank. We pick it up at wally world for a couple of bucks per 6 pack. One bottle per tank. We also only throw toilet paper in toilet for dirty jobs. When the girls tinkle they throw that paper in the garbage can and we take it out daily.
My routine
1. Before I unhook water, fill tank.
2. Arrive at dump station, put on disposable rubber gloves.
3. Hook up hose(s).
4. Pull lever and let black tank empty, close valve.
5. Pull lever and let grey tank empty, close valve.
6. Put hoses back in storage container.
7. Chase kids around with gloves for a minute. ;D
I also have a clear coupling that goes between hose and camper that has a back flush option. It is kind of weird but it allows you to see when the tanks have drained. It is kind of like a car accident, you don't want to watch it but you just cant help it.
I dont know exactly how much calgon is needed.I just quessed and poured some down drains and down commode using alittle over 1/3rd a bottle. It also depends on what size holding tanks you have a would assume. I have 32 gal tanks on my tt. As far as laudry soap , didnt use any, but read that some do . My tt is new so tanks are virtually stain free so far im just trying to keep them as clean as possible. I do use a enzyme while camping.
[quote author=JoeCamper link=topic=3192.msg31384#msg31384 date=1419304980]
Do I really need to use RV toilet paper?
in a word - NO...just make sure it is septic safe like Ace Norm said. Elmira Fudd is correct, a good way to check is to take a few sheets of TP and put in in a glass jar (w/a lid), fill with water and shake. If the TP breaks down then it is good, if it doesn't - don't use it.
We generally go with Scott single ply, which has worked well for the past 20+ years that I've had some type of camper/trailer.
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