russellsawatsky

RV.net faq 20 should have the answer's to your questions on the black tank

RES4CUE

What many do and I've done is when leaving the park, I dump and flush with water. Then add a packet of treatment, a gallon or two and a big bag of ice, the drive home will "slosh" around the mixture and the ice cubes will "scrub" the tank then it melts and then you are good to go for the next outing.

smurfs_of_war

I had read this trick on a few forums and figure I'll do that. Shouldn't hurt to travel with 3 or 4 gallons in the tank, should it?

RES4CUE

No and you actually want to. If you run it dry it is kind if bad as it can dry out whatever is left. It will also help keep seal from drying out. In winter I just add winterizer.

I also run with some water in the bowel to keep seal wet and from drying out.

smurfs_of_war

Thanks for the pointers, you guys have been a great help

EcoboostKev

Best of luck with the new camper! Make sure you tell the wife and kids to use the toilet paper sparingly! My wife and kids had no idea there was really a difference between the rv's toilet and the one in the house. When we first started camping I believe we were on our 3rd trip of the season and I spent 5 1/2 hours on the morning we were suppose to leave the campground trying to unclog the black tank. I had no idea there was rv safe toilet paper?? And i didn't pay any attention to how much the wife and kids were using! Take it from me, get rv safe TP and tell them to conserve on how much they use. Now get out there start camping and make some memories!

Here is a video on the difference between rv safe TP and regular TP

EcoboostKev

I never heard about the ice trick. That's a great idea!! You learn something new everyday!!

smurfs_of_war

Yikes. Thanks for the heads up. I would prefer not to be up to my elbows in sh*t first time out.

RES4CUE

Yep, got it from some travelled guys off RV.net. It works like a champ. It always amazes me what gets washed out even after doing a flush of the tank. The ice seems to really scour the tank clean. It's worth a few bucks for the ice to have a scrubbed black tank.

Good point about sparingly using the TP.

EcoboostKev

LOL!! It's not that bad.. Hands don't get dirty, It's can just be a time consuming process to flush the tank out when you have a clog. I'm lucky to have a hookup on my trailer for a hose to flush out my black tank. I also went out and purchased this Hydro flush that hooks up to where you hook your sewer hose. So this way i can blast water from both directions if i ever have another bad clog. I also like the fact that it's clear so you can actually see if you get everything out when draining. Not that it's the prettiest thing to look at but it works and the hands stay clean.