Dump Stations at State Parks

Archicamper · 11-10-2014, 08:42 AM

What does everyone do at state park when it comes time to do the dirty dead? I camp mostly on the weekends and come Sunday the line is quite long at the dump station. Basically its dump and go so the next person can take care of business. I can't imagine taking 20 minutes to flush the black tank after dumping. Even if I did want to rinse there in usually not a hose bib that I can connect to the flushing system.

I am now done for the season and doing a enzyme soak of my black tank before I dump on the way back to storage so I can start the season with a clean tank. What does everyone else do at campgrounds without full hookups?

Vern · 11-10-2014, 08:55 AM

The Indiana and Michigan State Parks where we camp the most all tend to have a water supply at the dump station that is adaptable to the black tank flush on my TT. I flush every time. Although I have not technically timed it, I believe using the integrated black tank flush on my TT does not add more than 5 minutes to the overall process. For me, the key was learning that most people are much LESS sensitive to the amount of time I am taking than am I, which I believe is true, assuming you are hustling and reasonably efficient at the dump station. If someone is going to be put out by a 5-minute process, they really should not be camping.

mTn_biKer65 · 11-10-2014, 08:59 AM

If there's a rinsing hose connection available and there's no one in line I'll usually give it a quick rinse. If someone pulls up I stop immediately and resume the normal dump procedures.

I usually save the good rinses for those full services campsites with a spare hose connection available. I actually carry a tap splitter with me but I've never seen the need to use it yet. Rinsing when I get the chance is usually sufficient to keep odors down and the tanks relatively clean.

SKnight · 11-10-2014, 09:10 AM

I drop the black, close the valve and run the flush while I drop the galley. That gives it about five minutes, close the galley, drop the black again while the flush is running, shut off the flush and close the black valve. Then drop the gray tank, go inside and treat the black tank as the gray drains.

By doing two things at once there's not much extra time during the process. Not as good as flushing while the black is open, but better than not doing it. Every now and then you get to the station alone, then I let the flush do its thing for awhile.

keith_h · 11-10-2014, 09:11 AM

Our state park checkout time is 3PM but I have found many folks leave in the morning. With this we usually try to leave in the afternoon to avoid lines. Personally I don't care if someone takes time to flush their tank as long as they are reasonable about it. I always drain mine, refill about a 1/3 of the way and empty and have never had any complaints if someone is waiting. To save my time I refill the black while the grey tank drains and refill the grey on while the black re-drains. I think all of us are in the same boat so should not get upset by the wait.

latner · 11-10-2014, 04:07 PM

Sorry, but I don't understand the whole tank flushing phenomena. They are holding tanks for waste that get used/dirty and emptied in a continuous cycle. Use enough water and all you should ever have to do is empty them. I add 3-4 gallons of water to an emptied tank and I'm good for the next trip.

Vern · 11-10-2014, 04:41 PM

latner - No point revisiting or reinventing the wheel here (so as not to hijack this thread), but I would commend the video in this thread to your watching:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...son-70514.html

mark0224 · 11-10-2014, 04:59 PM

I haven't got a flush installed yet but am putting one in this spring and would have to agree with SKNIGHT that while the kitchens tank is dumping flush the black tank. I do have a question regarding adding a flush. Which end of the tank does it go on the input side or the output side ? If its on the input side I was thinking of adding a permanent hose extension so you can connect up on the side where the water is.

Vern · 11-10-2014, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark0224

I haven't got a flush installed yet but am putting one in this spring and would have to agree with SKNIGHT that while the kitchens tank is dumping flush the black tank. I do have a question regarding adding a flush. Which end of the tank does it go on the input side or the output side ? If its on the input side I was thinking of adding a permanent hose extension so you can connect up on the side where the water is.

mark0224 & SKNIGHT - Your idea regarding multi-tasking and coordinating the galley dump with the black tank flush is a very good one, with which I concur. However, it is not an option for those of us with two separate dump valve locations (for our three tanks). In my case, our 3008W has a front kitchen with a galley tank which is about 15' ahead of the black/grey tank dump valve, so that particular opportunity for efficiency does not exist for me. Still, as I stated before, we're talking 5 minutes. Anyone who truly cannot afford to wait 5 minutes while I use my black tank flush should consider getting up earlier and beating me to the dump station, or perhaps looking for a new hobby. Hypercritical impatience with others who are minding their own business seems out of place when camping.

mark0224 · 11-10-2014, 08:14 PM

I have similar set up 2 dump valves I just stop so the dump site is between the front tanks and the back tank, then use a hose long enough so I don't have to move the trailer. The wait is no problem with me its moving the truck while gloved for the dirty surgery, hate taking them off to move the truck. The best way I found is dumping the galley tank using a garden hose while the black is dumping I hook the garden hose to the galley tank valve.

**Flybob** · 11-10-2014, 08:15 PM

Although it does not follow the discussion, it does meet the subject line.

Please be sure to take you used rubber gloves with you when finished dumping. Please do not shove them down the dump station hole as they will quickly destroy a dump station for future campers.

SKnight · 11-10-2014, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vern

mark0224 & SKNIGHT - Your idea regarding multi-tasking and coordinating the galley dump with the black tank flush is a very good one, with which I concur. However, it is not an option for those of us with two separate dump valve locations (for our three tanks). In my case, our 3008W has a front kitchen with a galley tank which is about 15' ahead of the black/grey tank dump valve, so that particular opportunity for efficiency does not exist for me. Still, as I stated before, we're talking 5 minutes. Anyone who truly cannot afford to wait 5 minutes while I use my black tank flush should consider getting up earlier and beating me to the dump station, or perhaps looking for a new hobby. Hypercritical impatience with others who are minding their own business seems out of place when camping.

Oh, yeah that's different. My valves are cable driven and all the handles are in one spot, that greatly appealed to me when I was shopping. Plus they're behind a locking door, no surprises from kids pulling valves for me.

BombDoc · 11-10-2014, 08:21 PM

If I am at a close SP here in SC or SE GA, I usually pay for Sunday night (I usually camp on weekends), then I can take my time Sunday morning and leave when I want. By that time, there is usually no line and I can take as much time as I want. Most of the SP's in SC have a check out time of 11:00am or noon. I like to relax and watch everyone pack up and take my time.

fast murray · 11-10-2014, 11:35 PM

I get frustrated when I see someone screwing around dumping when there's a line. If he's the only one there when I pull up I'm more understanding. One of our favorite campgrounds has 136 campsites and I'd say most of those people are going to try to get through two dumpstations in about 4 hours. If there's no line, I dump and go. If there's a line, I bypass the dumpstation and do it at home in my own station. After watching the video on backflush devices, I think the whole thing is a huge saste of time.

Vern · 11-11-2014, 06:02 AM

Bomdoc - I agree, and most of the time that's what I do, too. Actually, we are often guilty of hanging around Sunday night (hey, it's paid for!) and being alone at the dump station on Monday.

fast murray - To each his own, I guess. It is still a free country, and you are certainly entitled to your own opinion. Even frustration is a choice. To be clear, just for the record, I am also not "screwing around dumping", and not everyone can has a dump station option at home.

DKRITTER · 12-02-2014, 08:49 AM

If the park dump station is busy we stop at Cabela's on the way home and use theirs.

Having a plan B can at times be a good idea.

KennyGolub · 12-02-2014, 08:56 AM

I've always been able to give it a quick rinse. Like everyone else has said...it doesn't add that much time.

When I have full hookups, I do spend much more time re-filling the tank with clean water and flushing two or three time before I unhook.

dustman_stx · 12-02-2014, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fast murray

I get frustrated when I see someone screwing around dumping when there's a line. If he's the only one there when I pull up I'm more understanding. One of our favorite campgrounds has 136 campsites and I'd say most of those people are going to try to get through two dumpstations in about 4 hours. If there's no line, I dump and go. If there's a line, I bypass the dumpstation and do it at home in my own station. After watching the video on backflush devices, I think the whole thing is a huge saste of time.

If it's the video I saw, it isn't actually a very good indicator of what's going on inside a black tank. The video I saw had a perfectly rectangular tank with no slope toward the outlet. The entire tank may have been tilted, but that is still not the same effect as having the tank angle toward the outlet from all directions and having no sharp corners in the tank. Also, the mock tank used in the demo had the outlet installed by cutting a hole in the side causing there to be resistance to flow (drain tube had to be elevated slightly from the floor) unlike a real tank that feeds from the absolute lowest point in the tank.

dustman_stx · 12-02-2014, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vern

Still, as I stated before, we're talking 5 minutes. Anyone who truly cannot afford to wait 5 minutes while I use my black tank flush should consider getting up earlier and beating me to the dump station, or perhaps looking for a new hobby. Hypercritical impatience with others who are minding their own business seems out of place when camping.

Just to add some perspective, though- we camp with our 3 kids- 5, 4, and 1. Getting up early isn't really a great option as you then have tired and moody kids. And often by the time we get loaded up we are trying to get finished and down the road to eat somewhere at a reasonable time and so on..... Therefore, some of us are under time restraints because of baby schedules rather than "hypercritical impatience." 5 minutes is no big deal. However, if I've got 2 people in front of me that can't accomplish the task of flushing black tanks in 5 minutes (I take probably 10-15 to do mine at home, but I get them clean), putting me waiting a total of 20-30 minutes, I might get a little impatient.

My step dad once waited in line to get diesel for a good 10 minutes or so while the car in front proceeded to wash their entire car with the windshield washing squeegy(sp?). Not sure why my step dad got mad at that guy for "minding his own business."

You may also like: