How to rinse out black water tank/toilet

[karaintn]

We're first timers so I have lots of questions that are probably pretty ridiculous. I did a search first, but didn't find a really simplistic answer to this question:

What's the best way to rinse out the black water tank after we complete our first trip this weekend? I think we understand how to dump the tank, but after that, shouldn't we rinse it out somehow? I think I remember our PDI guy saying that we should run water from a regular garden hose down the toilet, but that pick-up day was overwhelming, so it's hard to remember.

Thanks!

[trailraider]

You might have a tank flush connection by your city water hook up. That's by far the easiest way. I haven't had to stick a hose in the toilet so I don't know that. our trailer has the black tank connection. good luck.

[Eric F.]

Mine has a hose hook up on the opposite side of the trailer. Of course the dealer told me it was for the grey tank flush out. Found out the hard way he was wrong. If not you may want to invest in a Flojet Macerator. It has a hose hook up so you can back flush the tank.

[cardinal4fun]

As stated in other post, you may have a black tank flush attachment. This will have a hose connection on the outside wall of the trailer. You may also have paper work for it in you stack of manuals etc.

Now if you do not have, yes a hose down the toilet is the best way. They do make an attachment to the hose that will help in the cleaning process. The down side to this is it will be almost impossiable to use this system while at a dump station.

[blatch70]

I have run water out of a hose into the tank before I left my driveway. You don't need a lot of water. Then let it slosh around while you drive to your destination. When you get there, dump it before you set up.

As mentioned before they make an attachment that goes onto the hose. You stick it down the toilet and water comes out of it in different directions. I use this if I go to a place that has full hook-ups. Just let it run for a while and let it go right out of the bottom.

[buckeyefan]

Here is an thread from this site I like to follow:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nance-785.html

[jimh]

the black tank flush on my 5th wheel is in the side of the trailer close to the dump connection. when u use it, the dump valve should be open.

on my 84 trailer, i didn't have a flush; i would dump then flush the commode for a couple minutes to move it out. then i would close the black tank valve and dump the gray to remove most of the black water from the hose.

i like blatch70's method of putting a few gals in the black tank before the trip and let it slosh around. dump that when u set up. i've used that method when trying to clean the probes.

i would also carry abt 1/3 to 1/2 tank of fresh water. u can use it to flush and wash hands while on the trip. useto run dry then pulled into a full hookup park, hooked up then went to eat. when we got back, they had lost the well. first and only time that has happened to me. the added weight has not changed my fuel economy or performance...it is a very small % of the total weight.

[MtnGuy]

This will work if you don't have a built-in flush system: Valterra Products - Flexible Tank Wand - Drain & Flush Systems - Camping World

[KarenS144]

After reading this, I'm even more confused!

I was just about to purchase a King Flush which I thought allows one to "backfill" the black tank so one won't have to stick a hose or wand down the toilet. I thought the sequence would be dump, backfill, dump and all of the nasties would be gone!

Do I really need a hose to drag through the coach & a wand to stick down the toilet?

[VAlover]

We tried using a wand, but the end broke off in the tank the first time we used it. We have found a hose with a strong spray attachment works well. After dumping, we put a little bit of clorox and/or a diswasher soap cube and a bucket of water in the tank for the ride home. We are then able to drain the couple of galons of water into a bucket when we get home and dump it appropriately.

[Labzy]

Originally Posted by VAlover

We tried using a wand, but the end broke off in the tank the first time we used it. We have found a hose with a strong spray attachment works well. After dumping, we put a little bit of clorox and/or a diswasher soap cube and a bucket of water in the tank for the ride home. We are then able to drain the couple of galons of water into a bucket when we get home and dump it appropriately.

Just crossed.....'get wand for hose' off my to-do list

[Stelrs59]

we have the flusk king and I think it works pretty well. Its worth the money. It does allow you to back flush. Very simple to use.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by KarenS144

Do I really need a hose to drag through the coach & a wand to stick down the toilet?

Well, my opinion is no you don't. I only do that at the end of the year when winterizing. One key is to use plenty of water with each flush when using your toilet. The black tank should be at least 2/3 full before you dump it. If mine isn't, I'll carry a few buckets of water and dump it down the toilet. I check our tank with a flashlight after dumping. It is always perfectly clean. I can see the plastic. We use PurePower in our tank. I think that helps. We never have any issues. No odor. Everything liquified. Easy dumping.

But for every 1,000 posters in these forums, there are 999 opinions. And who is to say one is any better than any other . . .

[Campingshadow]

The key is to make sure that you get all the solid stuff out so it does not settle on the bottom and get hard. Eventually that will end up causing your sensors to not work correctly. I STRONGLY recommend that you get a Dual Flush. It is a clear connector that goes between the tank connection and your sewer hose connection. When you drain your tank you can SEE what is coming out. After using this I discovered that what I "thought" was a clean empty tank was not.

The dual flush has two hose connections so you can back flush both the tank and the sewer hose to make sure all is clean. You should flush out the tank till the water runs clear. This may take two or three flushings to accomplish. Doing so will almost guarantee that your sensors will always work properly.

Also....NEVER camp with your black tank valve open. Doing so will let all the liquids drain immediately and leave much of the solids behind.

If you think that you have hard solids in your tank from not properly draining on previous trips then try this. Put a few gallons of water in the tank. Add some Dawn dish soap. Add a bag of ice. Drive down the road. By the time you get to your destination, you should be able to drain the tank and see what comes out thru that clear connection.

BTW.....The dual flush can stay connected while you travel. No need to remove it.

[Herk7769]

OK, this is NOT an ad for Horst Mircale Probes. (although I have a set of black and gray waiting to go in this spring).

However the video is the BEST product I have seen on how the system works and why a probe swap out is in my future.

Horst Miracle Probes for Wastewater Tanks in Recreational Vehicles RVs

[trailraider]

Ha ha, sludge. I would have used a different word for it. Lol

[dmullen]

Originally Posted by herk7769

OK, this is NOT an ad for Horst Mircale Probes. (although I have a set of black and gray waiting to go in this spring).

However the video is the BEST product I have seen on how the system works and why a probe swap out is in my future.

Horst Miracle Probes for Wastewater Tanks in Recreational Vehicles RVs

Just ordered mine. Thanks for the link.

[jimh]

I have the host probes but will need to drill a set of holes to mount them. The original probes r bonded to the tank on mine

[sherdep]

I installed a Tornado in my Black tank and have a clear elbow to see what comes out of the tank.
I open the black tank first and let it drain, I then open the Grey Tank and let it drain and then I leave both open and run the tornado and watch the clear elbow till it is clean water and then run the faucet in the kitchen for a minute and then once it drains I close up both grey and black and clean up from there.

Here are pictures of my install so you can see what I did on my 2306 - the instructions say to install on the opposite side of the drain and probes but after hooking it up to a hase outside it put's water behind it too so figured it would be ok where I got it.

[Labzy]

Matt, I'm assuming that the 2306 doesnt have that black tank flush option???