real holding tank capacities different?

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

This looks like it:
www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/D-and-W-Inc/PF247011.html?feed=npn&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_o7NBRDgARIsA KvAgt1-W8_r9ODG6TYgR6MIqFhLIngA_FuYG0C0MPGYiS6-4NEFXdc-SQEaArycEALw_wcB

Yep, that's it. Thanks for the link. I moved this part weekend and have no computer to easily add links with.

[cpaharley2008]

When Escape switched suppliers from the old style open shower to the newer quick disconnect was when I opted on my 2016 Escape to install the shower on the curb side. The old style let too much cold air inside via a hose whereas the new style is sealed from the outside.

[Chris & Patricia]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

With that one exercise you exhibited more patience than I've shown in an entire lifetime. Given that, though, it's a good idea, and one I might try when I'm feeling particularly mellow.

If I could make one change to my 21, I'd want slightly larger gray and black holding tanks, say 40 and 30 gallons, respectively. The reason is that I bought the trailer for boondocking, and many public campgrounds have a 14-day limit. I find that I'm good for about ten days with the tank capacities that I have, so I have to hitch up and find a dump station at some point if I'm going to stay the limit. The fresh water tank doesn't matter so much as I can always pour more water in with a jug.

Apart from the fresh water, and especially if using available toilets as far as possible, we find that its the grey water that becomes the limiting factor. Some camping spots have grey water dump stations where you can empty wash basins or, as Jim Bennett suggested, just find a convenient place to dump the grey water yourself. We recently purchased a cover for our sewer outlet which has a domestic hose coupling on it and bought a separate hose allowing us to drain all the grey tank without stopping at a sani station. Obviously, its not always possible to use this method, but on a recent trip, there are many areas where we could do this. In a dry summer, no one is going to complain about recycling of grey water back into nature.

[kstock11]

I went with a 6 gallon portable gray tank and can easily dump that every day or other day as necessary. As to filling the fresh, I've learned to fill my 6 gallon carrier half way for ease of pouring. Moving less at a time comes with maturity. (Also more steps for those with FitBit or other step counters)

[steve dunham]

We dump our grey / wash water into a 5 gallon pail with lid.
We use the grey water from the pail to extinguish our campfire .
I see no sense in wasting /dumping clean potable water on a campfire.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by Chris & Patricia

Apart from the fresh water, and especially if using available toilets as far as possible, we find that its the grey water that becomes the limiting factor. Some camping spots have grey water dump stations where you can empty wash basins or, as Jim Bennett suggested, just find a convenient place to dump the grey water yourself. We recently purchased a cover for our sewer outlet which has a domestic hose coupling on it and bought a separate hose allowing us to drain all the grey tank without stopping at a sani station. Obviously, its not always possible to use this method, but on a recent trip, there are many areas where we could do this. In a dry summer, no one is going to complain about recycling of grey water back into nature.

Agreed; the gray tank is my limiting factor as well. Woodhead Park in Idaho has several small gray water dumps scattered about. I also bought one of those sewer caps with the threaded coupling so I could empty my tank into a bucket and pour it into their gray water dumps. It was the only way I could stay parked for two weeks.

What I need is a plastic tub with dimensions that will just fit inside the kitchen sink, so I can collect the dishwater and dump it outside. Does anyone know of one?

BTW- I have been to campgrounds where dumping of gray water onto the ground is specifically prohibited, so you can't take it for granted that you can always do it.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

What I need is a plastic tub with dimensions that will just fit inside the kitchen sink, so I can collect the dishwater and dump it outside. Does anyone know of one?

BTW- I have been to campgrounds where dumping of gray water onto the ground is specifically prohibited, so you can't take it for granted that you can always do it.

In the past e just filled the wash basin inside with hot water and thin it outside to wash dishes. This says why I wanted a tap handier.

BTW, it is an easy add an outside tap with the water lines already there. Mine took no more than 30 minutes to do, much of which was laying out and citing the hole in the shell, but my cabinetry was fairly open at the time.

If grey water dumping is not allowed, I will follow the rules and use a collapsible bucket I carry to take it to a dump spot. I rarely have seen this where I have camped though.

[cpaharley2008]

Home Depot or Amazon
Camco Mini Dish Pan, Natural-43516 - The Home Depot
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-43517-W...ll+rv+dish+pan

[AKCamper]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

We dump our grey / wash water into a 5 gallon pail with lid.
We use the grey water from the pail to extinguish our campfire .
I see no sense in wasting /dumping clean potable water on a campfire.

I like that idea.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

BTW- I have been to campgrounds where dumping of gray water onto the ground is specifically prohibited, so you can't take it for granted that you can always do it.

I wonder if this is just an overly cautious policy to prevent a possible nuisance for other campers or a real concern for the soaps inherent in gray water which can contain phosphates, surfactants, triclosan, and other anti-bacterial ingredients. For those of us that drain off and dump gray water I'm wondering if the use of biodegradable soaps would be the best approach. I'm sure those that have come from tent camping are familiar. Even with biodegradable soaps it is recommended to dump water at least 200 feet from any waterway and disperse water broadly. For those interested in even less impact, Leave No Trace guidelines suggest straining the gray water before dumping (for small food particles). This could be accomplished with a nylon stocking over the tank outlet and then disposed in the trash. Might seem like overkill for many, but could be effective in any areas where insects or even bears might be attracted. It is not too often that I dump gray water personally so any thoughts are welcome.

[Greg A]

In AZ you can dump Grey water if no kitchen use in it. However, you can do your dishes in a tub outside and dump that. Go figure.

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

I wonder if this is just an overly cautious policy to prevent a possible nuisance for other campers or a real concern for the soaps inherent in gray water which can contain phosphates, surfactants, triclosan, and other anti-bacterial ingredients. For those of us that drain off and dump gray water I'm wondering if the use of biodegradable soaps would be the best approach. I'm sure those that have come from tent camping are familiar. Even with biodegradable soaps it is recommended to dump water at least 200 feet from any waterway and disperse water broadly. For those interested in even less impact, Leave No Trace guidelines suggest straining the gray water before dumping (for small food particles). This could be accomplished with a nylon stocking over the tank outlet and then disposed in the trash. Might seem like overkill for many, but could be effective in any areas where insects or even bears might be attracted. It is not too often that I dump gray water personally so any thoughts are welcome.

I agree that biodegradable soaps should be used if dumping on the ground and away from waterways. In my younger years I was an avid backpacker in wilderness areas. I still have those leave no trace habits.

We were just at Beverly Beach State Park in Oregon for the Eclipse. They had washtub dumping stations scattered around the campground. It made it really convenient to dispose of our wash water. I went for a bike ride up a service road and stumbled across the settlement ponds where they treat that water, then use it for irrigation. There were signs warning that the water was not potable. I thought that was pretty cool! Further on we're the potable water tanks for the campground. I was amazed to see such infrastructure for the campground. We don't normally see behind the curtain all that goes into making our camp experiences enjoyable.

Note in the second photo, the water gage has a cable to the top, then down to a float inside the tank. Therefore the numbers on the outside are larger at the bottom.

[thoer]

Dumping grey water anywhere in a campsite is prohibited in all Wisconsin State Park and State Forest campgrounds. That is also the case in all US National Parks. It has been explained to me as not necessarily a problem with soap, but with food residue attracting animals to the smell. We all tend to think it's not a problem if just i do it and it wouldn't be except that hundreds of us all would think that same way, and that can add up to a lot of residue.

[Donna D.]

Dumping waste water on the ground, or in the bushes can cause a popular/busy park to turn into a stinky swamp.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

I wonder if this is just an overly cautious policy to prevent a possible nuisance for other campers or a real concern for the soaps inherent in gray water which can contain phosphates, surfactants, triclosan, and other anti-bacterial ingredients. For those of us that drain off and dump gray water I'm wondering if the use of biodegradable soaps would be the best approach. I'm sure those that have come from tent camping are familiar. Even with biodegradable soaps it is recommended to dump water at least 200 feet from any waterway and disperse water broadly. For those interested in even less impact, Leave No Trace guidelines suggest straining the gray water before dumping (for small food particles). This could be accomplished with a nylon stocking over the tank outlet and then disposed in the trash. Might seem like overkill for many, but could be effective in any areas where insects or even bears might be attracted. It is not too often that I dump gray water personally so any thoughts are welcome.

One of the major concerns with dumping of grey water is that the bits of food matter left in the water will be an attractant to bears and other wildlife. Most of the mountain parks will prohibit any dumping of water except in designated pits or disposal areas. I have found from personal experience that the designated disposal pits can cause their own issues with bears. Earlier this year, we encountered a problem black bear while back-country camping in Mt. Robson Provincial Park. After being awaken in the morning by my son yelling (the bear had stepped on him in his bivy bag at about 5am), we got up to investigate and found the bear tearing up the grey water disposal pit and eating bits of food he could find. This bear had no fear of humans and could not be easily chased away, even by four of us campers. That bear caused more issues for other campers in nearby locations over the next couple of days, and I ran into a park warden two days later (carrying a gun) and on his way to "take care" of the bear. So as they say, "a fed bear is a dead bear". If you don't manage your food waste properly (including grey water), it can lead to problems with wildlife which will ultimately end in the need to dispose of the problem animals.

[cpaharley2008]

What a shame, in our attempt to get closer to nature we sometimes help destroy it.

[AKCamper]

Yep, well back to standard policy of dumping at the dump station. Still, you could drain four or five gallons off and haul it to the dump station in a five gallon pail.You are right, I guess even small amounts of food in the dishwater could attract a black bear.

[J Mac]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Dumping waste water on the ground, or in the bushes can cause a popular/busy park to turn into a stinky swamp.

Donna, didn't you make a portable Black Water tank out of a blue 5 gal water bucket? That might be just what is needed here.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by J Mac

Donna, didn't you make a portable Black Water tank out of a blue 5 gal water bucket? That might be just what is needed here.

Yep. A number of years ago. I still have it and have used it with Ten Forward.

[J Mac]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Yep. A number of years ago. I still have it and have used it with Ten Forward.

Yeah, that's the one! Thanks!