Lack of Black Tank Flush out system? So what does everyone do

[Bluesky]

Lack of Black Tank Flush out system? So what does everyone do? Just curious what everyone's black tank maintenance is since there isn't a black tank flush out port. This is just for general knowledge and not being critical. I've owned Class A's before so I am quite familiar with the deal. Has anyone has a port installed? How did you like it?

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by Bluesky

Lack of Black Tank Flush out system? So what does everyone do? Just curious what everyone's black tank maintenance is since there isn't a black tank flush out port. This is just for general knowledge and not being critical. I've owned Class A's before so I am quite familiar with the deal. Has anyone has a port installed? How did you like it?

Unlike a class-A, the black tank is easily cleaned with one of those spray wands down the toilet that is designed for that purpose. The toilet sits directly on top of the black tank which is above floor level. So all one has to do is use the cleaning wand and spray all around until the tank is about 1/4 full. Then empty it. I find that doing this process twice is enough to have the drain water run fairly clear.

Because the tank is above the floor, and the outside drain is right below it, the contents flush out pretty quickly. With that good flow, not much stays behind.

The grey tank however is another matter. It is below the floor and the drain is almost level with the bottom of the tank so the flow is more leisurely. When I want to clean out the grey tank, I will run the passenger wheels up on blocks to tilt the trailer toward the drain. This is not needed for normal camping operations but a couple of times a year I like to give it a good flush.

[cpaharley2008]

The issue I see with the black tank rinse is that the tank is inside your Escape thus drilling a hole for installation as well as pumping water thru that hole scares me from that set up. I have installed the rinse on my other other black tanks, but they were outside the trailer.

[yardsale]

We drain both tanks, then refill both with 10 gallons or so and drive around the campground or just get inside and rock it back and forth for a few minutes. Can't visualize the gray tank but the black tank is clean as a whistle. Tip: we start our trips with 5 gallons of clean water in the black tank so fecal matter drops into water rather than onto bare tank bottom.

[Bluesky]

Originally Posted by arniesea

Unlike a class-A, the black tank is easily cleaned with one of those spray wands down the toilet that is designed for that purpose. The toilet sits directly on top of the black tank which is above floor level. So all one has to do is use the cleaning wand and spray all around until the tank is about 1/4 full. Then empty it. I find that doing this process twice is enough to have the drain water run fairly clear.

Because the tank is above the floor, and the outside drain is right below it, the contents flush out pretty quickly. With that good flow, not much stays behind.

The grey tank however is another matter. It is below the floor and the drain is almost level with the bottom of the tank so the flow is more leisurely. When I want to clean out the grey tank, I will run the passenger wheels up on blocks to tilt the trailer toward the drain. This is not needed for normal camping operations but a couple of times a year I like to give it a good flush.

Good info

[padlin]

I use a flush king https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008O9DV78...ing=UTF8&psc=1 when I want to clean it, need to be hooked to a dump station of some sort while doing so. I try to clean it out on the last morning of a trip before it's being put away for a long time. Other then that I just add water to get the tank close to full before dumping and run a bucket or 2 tru after to flush it somewhat.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Bluesky

Lack of Black Tank Flush out system? So what does everyone do? Just curious what everyone's black tank maintenance is since there isn't a black tank flush out port. This is just for general knowledge and not being critical. I've owned Class A's before so I am quite familiar with the deal. Has anyone has a port installed? How did you like it?

The bath window allows you to pass a hose through to the toilet . We always do after a trip at home ,we have a clean out . Otherwise would do before we left campground . Bath window and kitchen window the best windows in the trailer and wouldn’t be without . Pat

[Red Dog]

I also use the bathroom window to slip a hose and attach the wand to clean the tank.

Fred M.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Red Dog

I also use the bathroom window to slip a hose and attach the wand to clean the tank.

Fred M.

Forgot Fred we also attach a wand on end of hose too. Pat

[Perry Butler]

KISS!

Over 23,000 miles pulling down the road and 300 nights (30 in our seasonal campground) and we've never cleaned/rinsed the black water tank. OTOH, we've never pooped in the camper. #1 only.

Enjoy,

Perry

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

KISS!

Over 23,000 miles pulling down the road and 300 nights (30 in our seasonal campground) and we've never cleaned/rinsed the black water tank. OTOH, we've never pooped in the camper. #1 only.

Enjoy,

Perry

That is our mantra but there is still toilet tissue issues which are minimized with the thin "rv" tp use.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

That is our mantra but there is still toilet tissue issues which are minimized with the thin "rv" tp use.

I found with RV TP, you might as well just use your fingers since as soon as it gets damp it dissolves. It also costs more than regular two-ply.
Check the label on the TP you use at home. It likely says safe for septic systems, so it will dissolve, but not in your hand.

[cpaharley2008]

Gives new meaning to the saying " Can you give me a hand"...............

[Defenestrator]

I've had good results with the odd cleanout using hot water and a little dish soap.

[cpaharley2008]

Another thought to remember, Escape now installs Horst probes which are a step above the stock industry probes https://www.valterra.com/product/hor...pack-4-carded/

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Bluesky

Lack of Black Tank Flush out system? So what does everyone do? Just curious what everyone's black tank maintenance is since there isn't a black tank flush out port. This is just for general knowledge and not being critical. I've owned Class A's before so I am quite familiar with the deal. Has anyone has a port installed? How did you like it?

The only one I know who added one was Jon V. on his old 17B. He used a Tornado sprayer. In my opinion it is not necessary because there are other methods to keep these rather small black tanks clean. Just showing an example of someone who did add one.
Trailer Modifications - Escape 17B

[steve dunham]

For me , keeping my black tank clean and spotless is far down my list of priorities
We dump 3 or 4 gallons of fresh water down the toilet after visiting the dump station ,add some soap / detergent to the tank and drive home
Once a black tank always a black tank

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Once a black tank always a black tank

Ditto. First time you use it, it's no longer clean ( if it ever was ).

[Greg A]

Bacteria is what makes a successful blank tank system. If you make it clean as a whistle you’ll be disrupting the system. Other then a very occasional extra fill/flush with water, ours has never had anything but a dump after trip, and if it had light use don’t even dump. Never had an issue with odors from the tank over the years. Grey tank odors we have had and occasionally need to treat it to a lil bleach and drive.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

The only one I know who added one was Jon V. on his old 17B. He used a Tornado sprayer. In my opinion it is not necessary because there are other methods to keep these rather small black tanks clean. Just showing an example of someone who did add one.
Trailer Modifications - Escape 17B

I have to admit I didn't bother to add one to my 21. I did find it somewhat useful, however since I rarely camped with hookups, and most dump stations do not have threaded rinse hoses, I didn't use it all that often on the 17.

I might still add one to the gray tank. Washing up after making and cleaning up after serving blueberry pies puts lots of sugary stuff in the tank that, unless immediately dumped, stinks worse than the black tank.

I hope I have fixed the "smell" problem in the large closet (through which the gray tank vent runs) by resealing the rooftop exit. If not, there must be a break in the flexible hose running between the tank & the roof. Since I have Escape provided shelves in the closet, getting at the vent plumbing is going to be tough.