Delicate topic from a dry camper.... black water tank

[advenas]

Compositing toilet is the route I'm going. No water usage and no stinky slinky to worry about. Plus I get to pass all those long lines of "dumpers" at the rest stop coming back into the city.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by advenas

Compositing toilet is the route I'm going. No water usage and no stinky slinky to worry about. Plus I get to pass all those long lines of "dumpers" at the rest stop coming back into the city.

What will you do with the grey water?

[gbaglo]

What is the concern with the stinky slinky ( other than the name )?
I don't think about mine at all.
As for line-ups, I just use the app Sanidumps.com and avoid the busy one on the highway.
From what I've read, these composting toilets need the urine and solids kept separate to work. Where are you going to store the urine, and how is that better than storing a hose?

[gbaglo]

I think technology exists that would allow you to filter the urine and add it to the fresh water tank. I think it's fairly costly, but there are cities investigating the process. I don't think they separate the solids though.
Didn't watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49otYP9nnkQ

[padlin]

If I didn't have the undercarriage foam, I'd have put on a Tornado tank rinse system or some such. As I have the foam I use a Flush King. I also spray out the tank with a regular garden hose nozzle via the toilet once in a while, at least as much as one can. Gives you a chance to clean below the valve too.

Tornado Permanent Tank Rinser with Remote Connection - Camco 40126 - Sewer Flushing - Camping World

Flush King Reverse RV Flush Valve, Boxed - Valterra.com | Valterra.com

[cpaharley2008]

Bob, I believe your black tank as most other Escape owners is not under the trailer but inside and some have installed the tank rinser. I believe Jon V. did on his 17 Escape.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Bob, I believe your black tank as most other Escape owners is not under the trailer but inside and some have installed the tank rinser. I believe Jon V. did on his 17 Escape.

Now that you mention it, I guess I could have done it. Would have to disassemble some woodwork to see how it could be done. It's under the closet and steps, as well as the head.

At this point the Flush King is fine. I own it, it works, and it's easy.

[kstock11]

I also use the Flush King. In addition to that, I dump my dish water (use a plastic bin in sink when doing dishes) into the toilet. That seems to increase the amount of liquid going into the grey tank which increases the time it takes for the grey tank to fill up.

[Jim Bennett]

I have seen some test videos of the Flush King that show it does not work so well, especially if there are bends in the drain lines. And even with a straight shot to the tank, it doesn't rinse the sides of the tank, and the tank sensors at all.

In this video the Tornado Rinser seems to work best. A few other good insights here, like do not trust a clear pipe section to indicate the cleanliness of the tank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfTd0Slt_cU

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Bob, I believe your black tank as most other Escape owners is not under the trailer but inside and some have installed the tank rinser. I believe Jon V. did on his 17 Escape.

I did add a Tornado Rinse system to my black tank (as well as a standard non-spinning rinse system to the gray). I generally rinse the black tank every 3-4 dumps, and before putting the trailer away for the season.

They are useful, will get the tank level indicators back to working for a tank full or two, but do depend on a water source with a threaded hose connection, something rarely found at dump stations. I carry a separate hose for the rinse even though both systems have back flow preventers.

[MyronL]

I just watched that video and I'm sold on the Tornado as an effective tank rinser. Anything employing water under pressure clearly out performs a passive drain process. I just don't understand how to install it on the side walls of my black tank. Do I then have to crawl under the trailer to connect a hose to it? Not going to do that.

Think I'll go to the store looking for a right angle hose attachment to shove down the open toilet to clean off walls, etc. Also like adding ice cubes to the tank to slosh around on the drive to the dump station.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I think technology exists that would allow you to filter the urine and add it to the fresh water tank. I think it's fairly costly, but there are cities investigating the process. I don't think they separate the solids though.
Didn't watch:

Amazing and informative . Thankyou Glenn . Wouldn't this system be ideal on all our homes . We have been distilling our own water to drink for about 22 years now , but we are still bathing and washing our clothes in tap water Pat

[gbaglo]

Reace drilled three additional holes in my wand that direct the water up at a 45 degree angle. The wand came with holes at a 90 degree angle. This allows the spray to hit all tank surfaces.
As for the ice cubes, save them for drinks. There is a video on line somewhere showing a clear plexi tank driven around on the back of a pickup truck. The ice cubes just slosh around, disturbing nothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6acEmqvcw

[Loren & Cathy]

Now having the trailer over a year, I find that just adding more water to the black tank makes everything work a lot better. Also after you dump, just fill the black tank about a third full with water and let it slosh around till your next place you can dump. Really cleans things up. I have also started to add Calgon to both tanks and this has helped. At the end of the season I then use the wand with very high water pressure.

The shower and toilet are great to have in the trailer and I use as much as needed. I just got done cleaning the shower and tanks yesterday and they look like the day they came out of the factory. As for using public facilities, there are to many that are absolutely gross. Loren

[padlin]

The Flush King may not be perfect but I do see a lot of c#%@ get flushed out on the 2nd and even 3rd pass. Usually takes a couple partial back fills to get the water to come out clean, or as clean as I care to wait for.

If anyone attempts a Tornado on the fifth wheel post some pictures.

[parfsten]

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-22484-W.../dp/B000EDOSKG

For those hoses without threads

[flatpick]

the crapper is meant to crap in. Goodness the thing works GREAT! we live on board 6-7 month at a time and use the system A LOT. Just before breaking camp I fill the black tank to full. Then we dump at the dump station. Easy, peasy. Wand? we have one but don't really see why one would need to hose out the tank. Stuck logs maybe? Seems as the flood washes them out!

we seem to dump the tank every 2-4 days so odor isn't really a problem. We've used deodorizers a few times but.... only a few.

steve

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by flatpick

the crapper is meant to crap in.

steve

Yup, that's why it's there. No contest when choosing between using my always clean trailer toilet or an iffy camp facility.

Never use any additives. I do the outside dump valves and hand my wife the rinse out hose through the opening bathroom window. Love that window. She gives the tank a hose down, we do that every dump if there's a hose available. No problems, no odor. If the tank gage is confused as to the content level, well, like an outhouse, look down the hole.

Ron

[float5]

That is a good idea to fill the black tank before dumping. We do not fill it but just add a good amount of water. That is perhaps best done the day before dumping. It should, however, have some gallons of water in there at all times unless winterized.

[SFDavis50]

Go to Tanktechsrx.com and read the site, especially the Questions and Answers and watch the many you tube videos they have on the subject of tank maintenance and cleaning, especially the information on struvites and why your tank sensors stopped working.

Then go to SCDprobiotics.com and look at all of their products. SCD Probiotics makes the product for TanktechsRx but they also make cleaning solutions (BioKlean) which can be used for cleaning the sink, shower toilet, etc. They also make a probiotic liquid you can drink. The drinkable stuff looks and smells exactly the same as the cleaning solutions.

The stuff works as long as you aren't also adding chlorine or lysol type disinfectants as that will kill the probiotic.

SCD also makes stuff you can use in your composting toilet, septic tank and pig farm as well as in gardening.