Full sewer hookup/dumpstations

[Craigmkd]

Hi everyone!
I'm sure there is a thread on this but, could not find it. We are experienced campers. Tents/popups/travel trailers. Have raised 4 children over 34 years (we like doing things the hard way). Anyway we have only camped in Ft wilderness and realize this has spoiled us. We are ready to start exploring more campsites, that may not have sewer hookup, and are curious about managing grey and black water. My wife is worried about using dump stations and having to break down the site to use them. I explained that using the available comfort stations would help but what I am not clear on is dumping grey water directly on the ground which doesn't sound right to me. We own a 19' Roo and on our last 4 day trip (6 adult campers and 2 grand children) I think I emptied the tank 2 times keeping the grey water open most of the time until the last day. Any advice from more experienced real world campers would be appreciated.

[ependydad]

A vast majority of places don't allow you to dumb your gray water on the ground.

Most people who plan for no sewer hookups have totes to haul their gray water to the dump station.

[tkmi]

Don't get caught dumping in a national park park. You can't afford the fine! They fine you for walking your dog in the wrong spot.

[Craigmkd]

Originally Posted by ependydad

A vast majority of places don't allow you to dumb your gray water on the ground.

Most people who plan for no sewer hookups have totes to haul their gray water to the dump station.

Thanks for the response and info.

[Craigmkd]

Originally Posted by tkmi

Don't get caught dumping in a national park park. You can't afford the fine! They fine you for walking your dog in the wrong spot.

Hadn't thought about fines-- Thanks

[Jim34RL]

Get the largest Blue Tote you can afford and you will need a trailer hitch for towing this to the dump station; if you don't have a TT hitch. I have used my tote for both the black and gray water to empty the 5er holding tanks. A very time consuming process, but easier than breaking camp to mover my 5er. I tow the tote to the dump station behind my truck.


We now have given up on parks that do not offer full hook-ups, 50 AMP sites with our latest unit. In fact the DW comments on parks without pull through sites even and tells me to avoid them if we can. But we can't always avoid them but they tend to be last on the list of camp grounds to use.

[Papa-t]

My wife and I can camp for four days without dumping if we manage the tanks and take quick showers. If you have access to a bathhouse it really helps.

[markb5900]

Unless you are staying several days, I wouldn't worry about it that much.
Use the bath houses at the campground (almost all have them).
The blue totes can come in handy if you are staying somewhere more than a day or two.
With my wife, and one grandson, don't think we have ever gotten our black or grey tank more than half full for a weekend trip. BUT, we do walk over to use the bath houses when possible.
Hope that helps some.

Forgot to add, don't be too disappointed in some of the campgrounds you will go too if you are used to Ft. Wilderness.
My grandson asked us last time why ALL campgrounds weren't like the Fort. LOL

[Flybob]

Most if not all State and Fed campgrounds do not even allow you to dump dishwater on ground.
You have two choices one totes. smaller one which is easy to handle and takes up less space but needs to be dumped more often or large tote which is dumped less often, but takes up a lot of valuable space and needs to be towed to dump station. Your call.

[Brewhedd]

If you decide to go with a tote this is the one I bought, seems like a pretty good deal. Tried it filled with water and with the wheels this one has, it wasn't bad to pull through grass.


Barker 30844 Tote-Along Portable Holding Tank 42 Gallon

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by tkmi

Don't get caught dumping in a national park park. You can't afford the fine! They fine you for walking your dog in the wrong spot.

Isn't that the truth!!

[ccsvolsfan]

I use 42 gal barker and flojet pump.Tank stays in back of truck. Better than towing. Have 100' 1" hose. Sometimes I am close enough to a site that has sewer I can "bum" a dump from neighbors.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by ccsvolsfan

I use 42 gal barker and flojet pump.Tank stays in back of truck. Better than towing.

That's my plan. I actually have a buddy who built a 140 gallon collapsible water bladder that he folds up between uses.

Pump it up, gravity it down.

[Craigmkd]

Thanks for all the responses. Going tote shopping online! Cheers

[itat]

If you plan to tow it, be sure to get a tote with pneumatic tires. We have a 32 gal. tote but our tanks are 38 gal. I felt the 42 gal. was just too big for storage so I dump when we get to 2/3 full. For a one week stay we usually only need to dump the gray tank once, maybe twice. We mostly use the campground's comfort station when we don't have full hookups. I'd rather not use the tote for the black tank. The gray water can be stinky enough when it's time to rinse out the tote!

[Filthy Beast]

If you are careful you can go a while without dumping. We have been able to go 7 or 8 days before needing to dump.

[tinkerreknit]

I think the OP has made his choice, but I just want to add my opinion. First, I hope it's not legal to dump gray water on the ground in any state - it's not water, but wastewater, and has plenty of chemicals, colorants, and pH inconsistencies.

My wife and I can go 4 days with a 40 gal black tank, and 2 - 40 gal gray tanks. That's with cooking all meals with the necessary cleanup, along with satisfactory, quick baths and showers. I have the smallest tote, and use it maybe once in a couple of years. I always carry it and it fits in a small space. I can see plenty of advantage of having pneumatic tires, but my compromise suits me fine. I can lift it onto my truck, or tie it to the hitch for a longer distance.