Draining water at the campsite - why?

[bareftn]

Originally Posted by JP Camper

It’s still wrong to dump it on a site, open them up as you go down the road. You wouldn’t like a wet site when you get to your site

Who wants to follow a camper dumping water and spraying water all over your windshield besides a trooper may have a reason to stop you even if its water you could be in some minor trouble

[NMWildcat]

Not much that anyone does surprises me anymore, including folks starting a thread about what they think they saw for a few seconds while leaving a campground, and then everyone expanding on that w/o any facts about what was actually going on.
While I don't condone draining anything on the ground in an RV resort/park, I frequently find the area around the sewer and water connections wet when we get there. Just part of RVing that I don't worry myself about.
I don't mind folks draining their fresh water on the road. I have several friends that do that. It usually doesn't amount to much water and if by chance it does get back to my truck, I turn on the wipers and back off or go around, same as I do for refrigerated semis leaking water or cattle trucks leaking waste.

[Homebrew]

Many unwritten rules, the new campers have a lot to learn, I guess I’m still learning after 20 years of camping.

[TTnewbie]

I drained my fresh water tank at my campsite on my first outing. I didn't know how to work the heater and I ended up with a full fresh water tank. I did not realize how much water was in the tank and when I opened the valve the heavens poured out. I stood there thinking it would stop but it kept going. I got into some sort of trance and just stood there. lol When all was said and don't a ton of water poured out, the gravel under the camper was wet but nothing detrimental happened. I don't think it is a big deal if your site is gravel. If I had done that at the place that I go tent camping at, where trailers are also allowed, the ground would have been a huge puddle of water that would turn into mud.

[pgandw]

Water is precious, expensive, and not always easily found in Colorado. So I carry full tank to site (of course, ours is only 20+6 gal), and bring home what's left. I have rigged valves and garden hose fittings on the tank dump and low points so I can water the grass at home instead of down the driveway and storm drains when I need to drain the system.


I do dislike driving behind an RV that's draining tanks - who knows which tank is being drained? But I also dislike the spray that many modern vehicles throw up on wet roads. And I really, really dislike a wet (or worse, flooded) campsite from the lazy dude before me.



Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[TTnewbie]

How do people drain their tanks while driving? I thought that the valves have to be opened by hand.

Also, how long can you leave water in your freshwater tank?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by TTnewbie

How do people drain their tanks while driving? I thought that the valves have to be opened by hand.

Also, how long can you leave water in your freshwater tank?

The 'tanks' being mentioned in this thread are FRESH water and possibly the water heater (through the low point drains) People simply open the drain valve/low point caps and drive away. it isn't something they activate while driving.

As for how long you can leave water in your system/fresh tank... depends... water quality and temperature are big factors. For over 50 years of camping, once we sanitize and charge our water system for the season, we never drain it. Just add as necessary. We sometimes go 3-4 weeks between trips. I do use a capful of Camco's drinking water freshener or a few drops of bleach when filling.

[pgandw]

Originally Posted by TTnewbie

Also, how long can you leave water in your freshwater tank?

When I was on well water, I had to drain after every trip because the hot water in particular would begin to smell like sulfur in about 2 weeks. Now that I am on city water, I don't drain unless I need to work on water system or for winter storage.

When I do drain the water, I really hate to see it go down the driveway and the storm drains when it costs so much to water my lawn.

Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[5picker]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Not much that anyone does surprises me anymore, including folks starting a thread about what they think they saw for a few seconds while leaving a campground, and then everyone expanding on that w/o any facts about what was actually going on.
While I don't condone draining anything on the ground in an RV resort/park, I frequently find the area around the sewer and water connections wet when we get there. Just part of RVing that I don't worry myself about.
I don't mind folks draining their fresh water on the road. I have several friends that do that. It usually doesn't amount to much water and if by chance it does get back to my truck, I turn on the wipers and back off or go around, same as I do for refrigerated semis leaking water or cattle trucks leaking waste.

Thanks Scott... always a voice of reason!

Someone seen something and now many have their pants up around their necks crying criminal intent. I do not condone draining ANYTHING on the site before heading out but it can happen and so does a LOT of other things.

I've said this before because I've seen it and I witnessed it again a few months ago... a guy dumps his sewer, removes the sewer hose and throws it on the picnic table and then sprays it with the garden hose or just lets it drip dry right there on the table. He grabs it up, throws it in the R/V and heads out. An hour later, a nice young family pulls in and within minutes, the kids are crawling all over that same table and the dog is tied to one of the table legs laying/walking through what had happened from the camper before them. Part of R/Ving many never think about or even care about... until one of these threads come along.

[Chewman]

The C.D.C guidelines are 1/2 teaspoon of chlorine (I use Clorox) per 4 gallons of water. I drain the fresh water when I get home from a trip (water our plants) and add 4 gallons of fresh water with the Clorox for storing until the next trip. Before we leave I add fresh water and run the faucets to clear the lines of the old water. It is probably overkill but doesn't take much time to do.

[TTnewbie]

Originally Posted by Chewman

The C.D.C guidelines are 1/2 teaspoon of chlorine (I use Clorox) per 4 gallons of water. I drain the fresh water when I get home from a trip (water our plants) and add 4 gallons of fresh water with the Clorox for storing until the next trip. Before we leave I add fresh water and run the faucets to clear the lines of the old water. It is probably overkill but doesn't take much time to do.

Ok. I will do the same. It only makes sense.

[Daniel.mullins4]

I think most all of us on this forum can make a decision to drain the fresh water at the camp spot based on the soil, grading and remaining fresh water in the tank in that it might effect the next camper. I bet you that camper that drained his fresh water in the original post is not on this forum. Many on this forum are experienced campers and we know when to and when not to.

[campers302]

Originally Posted by photoguy58

We drain the six gallons in the water heater onto the ground. Six gallons will soak into the ground quickly. The fresh water tank I transfer into the gray and black tanks by running the kitchen faucet and toilet. I then drain the tanks at the dump site on our way out. It takes a little extra time, but it works for us.

Absolutely hands down the best idea yet!


It insures that your pump is in good working order.



It aids in breaking down crap in both of your holding tanks.


It will allow both dump tanks to have a strong pull on the drain to aid in pulling more waste out of the tanks.


I like the idea.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

Originally Posted by ForestWalker

Heck. In Washington state you simply drain them when it’s raining. Even TitanMike should know that.

And it rains everyday. At least it did at Fort Lewis. We were issued US NAVY Wet Weather gear.

[GravelRider]

I'm surprised at how many people here dump FW while driving. I find this to be much more inconsiderate than dumping at the site to be honest. I personally do neither, and always travel with full tanks (I also mostly boondock/dry camp), but I'd be more apt not to have water purposely spraying out at everyone behind me on the road, especially motorcyclists.

But the OP was about draining the low points. How could the gallon or so of water on the ground truly be of any consequence?

[IsleDog]

dumping/draining your fresh tank on the roads in some states (Minnesota for sure) WILL get you pulled over by a state trooper for an "unsecured load". It has happened to me when water was coming out of the tank overflow.

[EcoBuckeye]

Originally Posted by GravelRider

But the OP was about draining the low points. How could the gallon or so of water on the ground truly be of any consequence?

What I saw was low points draining, but the amount of water on the ground was far more than a gallon so there must have been more going on. If it was a dribble like that I wouldn't have noticed.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by IsleDog

dumping/draining your fresh tank on the roads in some states (Minnesota for sure) WILL get you pulled over by a state trooper for an "unsecured load". It has happened to me when water was coming out of the tank overflow.

That's funny. I wonder how they handle cattle trucks

[5picker]

Originally Posted by EcoBuckeye

What I saw was low points draining, but the amount of water on the ground was far more than a gallon so there must have been more going on. If it was a dribble like that I wouldn't have noticed.

If they didn't bypass the water heater (which you should always do when opening the low point drains) they they likely sucked 6 more gallons out (and all the crud in the tank) in addition to what was in the plumbing.

Ever spilled a PINT of water on a concrete floor... it looks like a 5 gallon mess.

[Daebado]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

That's funny. I wonder how they handle cattle trucks

Or any vehicle on the road that is running the A/C! The hotter and more humid the weather, the more water your vehicle drains out -where? - on the road.

When I still had my motorcycle, I had A/C drainwater hit me in the windshield or facemask numerous times. When that happens, I either back off or go around. Same with an RV! Life goes on.