You can just put your used TP in a WalMart plastic bag that you hang up. That way you can use any TP you want. Usually no smell. Also, those packs with granules don't dissolve the outer membrane well if they get old and dry out a bit. Emergency pooping hack for no water for toilet--place 2 WalMart bags under the rim of your toilet seat making sure they are open and poop away. You can tie the bags shut and dispose of in a dumpster. Don't use bags with holes!
When you are in a place with full hook ups you can do what I do. I fill both grey and black tanks completely full of water then wait about an hour. Then I drain my black tank through the sewer hose connected to their dump hole. Then I empty the grey tank the same way. Then i put my chemicals in both tanks with a couple of gallons of water in each. If I stay there for 3 or more days, I repeat that process before leaving. That way my tanks have nothing but a couple of gallons of clean water plus the chemicals to slosh around while driving to the next destination. After 35 years of RVing I’ve never had a problem with my tanks in any of the RV’s I’ve owned. Thanks for the great video. Most RV channels never cover this topic. It’s up to us RV veterans to advise the “newbies” lol Oh by the way I really enjoyed the full chem. suit with mask lol
I've learned some very important truths about RV plumbing and tanks: water is your friend (the more the better) and only dump tanks when nearly full (especially the black tank). Oh and a third tip for RV newbies, dump black first and then dump grey tank to clean out the sewer lines. After dumping our black, I will refill to about 1/3 with water, shake the trailer back and forth for several minutes and them dump again (repeat until clear runs through the elbow). Plus the neighbors just see a rocking camper and they think something else is going on :)
We have used Happy Camper in all our tanks and have never had any smell or problems. Everything seems to dissolve very well. One scoop dissolved in one gallon of water in each tank.
When we really want the tank clean, we use multiple 5 gallon buckets of water dumped down the toilet. It is amazing how much more comes out! This is especially great at the end of the season. Also, we use regular toilet paper, but put most of it in the trash...not down the tank. We also like Happy Camper in the tanks.
We have only been rv'ing a year so not a great amount of experience but my wife saw in an article about a tour bus operator that uses downy fabric softener in his holding tanks. It has worked very well for us so far. We add water back to the tank, put a pod in and i think a 1/4 cup of downy.
We utilize the spin wand on a hose inserted down the toilet after every trip. A little more effort but it has cleared up the issues with tank gauge. Great video. Never thought of using the sani packs on the grey tank. Last trip we backed it up into the shower and didn’t realize that tank had an odor. Happy travels!
Good info for a newbie who is still connecting the dots on how the while tank thing works. Robin at Creativity RV has a great video comparing 3 different methods of cleaning out tanks and how they really showed how to get her tank levels show accurately. Might be worth a watch.
our new RV grey tank sensor (shower and bath sink only) went all wonkey after the first dump. this is our 3rd RV so we had the process down pat. bad sensor? probably. but still..know your rig so you can have a mental note about how your tanks normally function. such a critical function and you'd expect better from the industry. great video. keep em coming.
As a relatively new RV owner you are the first persons to tell me to use the sanizers in my grey tank, which makes so much sense. Why didn't I ever consider that?
During short stays at RV parks we don't even hook up the sewer hose until we're getting ready to dump on the last day. It's one less thing to trip over, and we only have to put on gloves to handle the hose once. One great thing about full hookups is that you have ample water to top off the black and gray tanks before you dump. At a dump station there's often a line waiting, and you can't take your time to do a thorough job with copious amounts of rinse water.
I always use a couple bags of Ice cubes every time I finish dumping and am travelling. I put a few gallons of water in the Black tank after dumping and put the ice in to slosh around as I travel. It acts as a cleaner knocking all the clumps that may have stayed behind and will melt away to be dumped when we arrive at our next campsite. Been doing that for twenty years and always worked like a charm to keep the sensors working. :)
We have not got a composting toilet yet, but everyone we speak to that has one raves about them. They are relatively expensive, and [at worst] they have an "earthy" odour. Also no chemicals. Also saves weight with no black tank to worry about. They seem superior to the cassette type toilets anyway. We prefer a shower/bathroom over even a kitchen. Many people go for elaborate kitchens and that is OK for them, but we mostly cook outside, and mainly just make coffee or toast or heat soup indoors. Outdoor "kitchens" can be quite simple too, but a lot of people seem to want vast set-ups that can cook for a small town or whatever. Really, you can fit a whole kitchen in a pack-pack. Cooking outside also reduces flies or mice, etc being attracted to inside the RV, so that is another plus. But the main thing is to have fun whatever set-up you have.
Agree with most/all of your advice here. Don't dump until it's full, and after dumping add the digestion packet and a good amount of water. I've seen people leave the dump valves open and have a friend who now has sewer flies in his Airstream's black tank. We also use the BioPak packets in the gray tank every 10th time we dump the tanks. When we depart a campground, I do a full dump and flush the black tank 3 to 4 times until the water runs clear. Then I add a mix of 1/2 cup Dawn dish soap and 1/2 cup Borax into the bowl and flush it down to the black tank. Add 3 to 5 gallons of fresh water and hook up and drive. That solution will swish around and clean the tank very well! And yes, we also make use the features of our trailer as it was built and intended to be used. Happy Camping!
When we are camping with out water and sewer hookup we use little water when using the potty put we dump our dishwater down the toilet to give enough water for the black tank to function properly.
Just Last Week We Noticed Our Black Tank Was Sagging Down in The Middle & We Dump it TWICE A week Because We Did Plug Up In Arizona & It Was TERRIBLE & COST A BUNCH & We Decided That We Would Never Let That Happen Again & Each Time We Put About 3/4 of A Tub of Water Down Behind the Black Tank Dump, So I Put Bricks Under Our Tank To Push it Back Straight So it Can & Will Empty Everything All Out, If Your Moving all The Time I Would Get A Light Duty Floor Jack & Put A Maybe 12 × 12 or So Board on Top of The Jack So You Can Push it Under Quick & Easy , & Back Out The Same, A New Tank is $ 500.00 UP & Who Knows How Much Labor & Time Without Your Unit .Great & Very Good Info
Great video! I carry a 5 gallon bucket with us when we go camping and use to put freshwater in the black tank after every tank dump and then add the tank enzyme packet
I switch back and forth between happy camper and dawn calgon mix and have never had any issues. I made my own tank sprayer out of 1/2 inch pvc and a ball valve. I lower it down the toilet and have not had any issues with out tank sensors.
We have a failsafe black tank sensor......when it burps we have about two days normal use left. We also don't put toilet paper down toilet. Saves a butt load (pun intended) of problems.
We didn’t poop in our RV for 5 yrs, but we finally broke down and are not very happy to just use our bathroom for all its glory. I would agree with you and say plenty of water when flushing and don’t be afraid to flush your black tank often.
Know how much your tanks hold then purchase a rain bird water flow meter from amazon (or equivalent) then after you dump your tank you can fill it up for the rinse cycle without having someone in the bathroom peering down the hole to let you know when it’s full! its great!
Borax will help clean your sensors up. When we are on long trips we put about 4 gallons of water in the black water tank with the borax. Traveling down the road will help clean your tank.
I use the Dawn in my tanks and also use borax with every flush out. Not flush after use but flushing the tanks. 1/2 of each. ZEP is also good for the grey tank.
I put a Biobedet on mine, on all my toilets in the house too. Prices were less than $200 each. Best thing ever, just use minimal toilet paper, and much cleaner backside. I installed all myself. Over a year now no issues. The $199 ones in the house have heated water, camper doesn’t but it is not that bad, worth the cleaning. 💩
If you don't put 10% water in your black tank or you open the tank valve when at full hookup you will soon find yourself with a "poop pyramid" in your tank. To test your TP for use in your black tank, take 3 sheets of your TP put it in an empty 1 qt jar, fill 3/4 full with water and shake it vigorously. If paper breaks down fairly quickly the it is safe to use in the black tank. Or you could just buy a macerator toilet and don't worry about solids.
A very interesting video! Lots of excellent advice! When we visited Canada we were impressed by the way that the black water was handled. Out here in Australia we only have cassette toilets. Generally black tanks as such are not used as the infrastructure to empty them does not exist. Our dump points are essentially covered sumps where the cassette toilets are emptied. The emptying is certainly not for the feint hearted. Keep safe. Regards, R and J
We camped in Argentina and Germany in rigs with cassette toilets, and yes, those are not for the weak! 🤣 Seriously, the sewer hose process we have here in North America is a breeze compared to the cassette toilet. However, I will say that being able to empty the cassette into a regular toilet is nice. Sometimes finding a dump station in remote areas here can be a challenge.
Thanks for the tip on leaving your RV hooked up while at a full hook up campground until you need to dump periodically. Love y’all please keep the videos coming.
Try Happy Camper to clear your sensors. It work for me and I have a 2019 Keystone Cougar 5th Wheel. I also use it instead of other chemicals. Also it was recommended to use the GEO method for Black and Grey tanks: 5 gallon bucket and fill almost full, 5-6 once’s of Laundry or Dawn dishwashing liquid, Add a cup of Calgon Water Softener or use old fashion Borax mix well, Pour straight into the toilet to start a new tank. Works well.
I've been using Happy Campers holding tank treatment for about 20 years. Since switching to it from the formaldehyde-based treatment, we no longer have odor problems even when camping on hot days. Switching to an enzymatic product like this when you have been using the formaldehyde-based products requires repeated flushing but once that is done it is simple to use.
Flushing your tanks in drought stricken California is a waste of water! We use the facilities at the rv parks whenever possible to avoid wasting water. One of our favorite spots ask you to use facilities when possible and use paper plates as well. When using toilet paper use as little as possible.
Sean, we use the Bio Paks as well in our Nash, and what I do is after draining the black tank and using the flush system built into the tank, I take one of the Bio Paks and dissolve that into a full 5 gallon bucket of water until completely dissolved. Then I pour that down the toilet and use that as a base for our next outing. Thanks for the tip on using these in the grey tank as well.
Really enjoy your videos. We’ve been using a product called “Happy Campers”. This stuff is incredible!!!!!! It doesn’t mask odors, it eliminates odors. Made for both grey and black tanks. I would be surprised if you have never heard of this product. Just thought I would mention it to you guys. In my opinion, no other chemicals should be sold. This stuff is phenomenal!!! Safe travels!!! Doug
Great video. In addition to what you suggest, we always dump a 5 gallon bucket of water all at once down the toilet after emptying the black tank. We always get some additional “stuff” out. 💩
I don’t know how common it is but our 2015 5th wheel has a sprayer built into the black tank. It’s like a spinning yard sprinkler with jets on it. If the black tank sensors aren’t reading correctly, 10 minutes of running that thing fixes em right up. There’s a connection up high on the side of the camper and the short hose on the springy pole many dump stations have reaches it perfectly. Obviously, a 10min flush at a busy dump station isn’t always possible so it doesn’t get used every time but if there’s an issue, it will clear things right up.
Things shouldn't be in your tanks long enough for enzymes to even work to break things down. Its a holding tank, not a septic tank. Dawn cleans oily or greasy residues by breaking it all up.. Calgon softener works on solids to help tp and solids dissolve. Both help clean your sensors. I add some blue treatment all in a 5 gal bucket and pour in immediately after draining.
At the end of the season, I always fill both gray and black tanks with fresh water, drive around for awhile, then dump again. I confirm the sensors inticate the tanks are empty, if not, I repeat.
Ok, I used the recommendation of Steve S for using Borax and Dawn (see below). Here are my results. Followed their directions to the T. Owned the motorhome for just over 2 months. This is the first time our black tank sensor is showing that the tank is Empty! Keeping that recipe on file. Thanks
I have a Rhino hose set up for my camper and it has a hose attachment that spreads up into the black tank after you dump it for flushing out. So far so good.
I'm amazed at how many claim to not use their RV toilet for anything but pee! We are with you - one of the bonuses of the RV bathroom is not having to use public bathrooms! Excellent info. Have you ever used Happy Camper?
We have tried every possible chemical option ~ first aboard our live aboard sailboat, now in our motorhome. In our experience, Happy Camper has worked the best.
I only have 25 gallon grey and black . We seem to fill grey long before black . While at dump station I take my shower head and use it to clean the bowl and run extra water into tank. Close valve and let black tank flush fill the black tank . Pull handle again and it never fails all that stuff that stuck to the sides or didn't drain out on first attempt is flushed out . Pull grey and turn on water at sinks and shower . This helps to flush out P traps. Once that is all clear disconnect flush hose from trailer and use it to rinse out sewer hose . I do love a long long hot shower so I prefer showering in the bathhouse . Wear shower shoes in a public bathhouse . Saves on that tank storage . The toliet however , I have my own so no thank you to public facilities.
We live in LV and had Daisy Fresh clear a clog and service our RV a couple days ago. Great people and they had lots of great tips (most of which are in this vid), definitely recommend them and all of the advice here!
The 3 most important things you can do to keep your black tank functioning properly are 1. Use plenty of water. 2. Use more water. 3. Add some more water. Happy camping! We have no trouble using any TP we want lol.
Our Bambi came with only 8 gallon black tank, the newer Bambi’s have a whopping 18 gallons. so we like your other loyal viewer that you shamed publicly we too only pee in our 8 gallon 😊 love you guys and you videos!
I use the enzyme packets similar to those that you show in the video. I always tear them open and pour the chemical directly into the toilet bowl full of water. I then throw the outer packet away. There is plenty of talk that the packets can stick to your sensors when things dry out causing sensor reading problems. My sensors never worked new off the showroom floor, but I still worry about the goo from the packets sticking to the inside of the tank. I also just use Septic safe TP. Actually most of the time it's Kirkland brand from Costco.
Thanks for this video! We are in Las Vegas and have seen the Daisy ad in the park brochure. Our tank sensors consistently read 2/3 full even after emptying so there seems to be an issue. Might have to give Daisy a call while we're here!
Good review of a very important topic. Generally when you begin to smell the tank inside the RV (before it is full) it is a result of not enough oxygenated water in the tank. Adding water to the tank will help with the smell but for best results; dissolve 1/2 to 1 cup of borax in a toilet bowl of water and then flush it, then add two more bowls of water into the tank. You will notice the smell will disappear generally within an hour. The chemistry of borax results in more oxygen released into the tank and promotes growth of the good microbes that eat the pooh. A great maintenance plan is add the dawn you mentioned and borax on a regular basis to keep the sensors clean and live odor free. PS, please don't flush disposable wipes even at home, these wipes can still clog your home pipes (talk to a plumber) and also cause real issues in sewer pipes and treatment plants.
See Level works great. Tank levels in 4% increments. You need access to the sides of your tanks. The display uses the existing wires from the existing sensors.
Thanks, great video and great feedback too! New to us, used class C motorhome. So many great ideas. Planning a long trip very soon and before we leave I'm going to try Steve S's recommendation. Thanks again
We just bought a slightly used 2020 Airstream Globetrotter 27 and apparently the black tank fresh water flush works very well. We have only used the trailer once so far but very soon we’ll give it a try! Not a pleasant topic, but definitely a task that has to be done! Thank you guys for all the great information! I’ve been watching all of your videos and have learned a ton! Be safe.
The only thing we have found to get our black tank sensor to show empty is Pinesol and water. One bottle of Pinesol with 8 to 10 gallons of water. Add it to the empty tank. Drive to the next campground. Dump soon as you get there, then add some water and the regular black tank chemicals.
A friend had the gray and black tank valves continually open when he was at an RV park in the winter. Of course "things" froze in the sewer hose. The time it took to get the line thawed out, drained and the mess cleaned up was substantial. The RV manager requested that he never return.
I replaced my tank monitor system in my 2008 Airstream Classic with a SeeLevel tank monitor system. Sensors are mounted on the outside of the tanks. The SeeLevel system uses the existing telephone wires run to the OEM internal tank sensors. Even though we did this modification I had a false reading on the gray tank periodically. Using the dishwasher treatment in the gray tank would resolve the problem for a while. Maybe if I had the same service you used it might have corrected the issue for good. We use Happy Camper product for the black tank, a powder that is mixed with a bowl of water plus a couple more bowl flushes to follow. When we stay at full hookup campgrounds I leave both gray and black tanks valves closed. I usually just fill up the water tank and run off the water pump rather than stay connected to city water. I run all my water through a ClearSource filter system and On the Go soft water bottle going into my fresh water tank. This helps keep the water softer when it eventually runs into a holding tank. I used multiple sink screens to filter most food debris going down the kitchen sinks. Wipe off dishes of all debris before washing helps minimize gray water debris. We also use a hair guard over the shower and bathroom sink drains.
Funny, they had their RV CLEANED, we are not full timers. We use the same types bags in our tank. To make sure our tanks are cleared of solids, On the way to the destination, we alway add about 5gal of water more in the tank we add 1/2 cup of Ariel laundry detergent from Walmart. As we are driving it does it’s magic. When we get to our site I empty, we have a fresh clean tank. I empty again before we leave. Prepare another 1/2 cup and fill again, as I drive it does it’s magic again, I have a dump at the house so the tank smell fresh. Add about 5 to 10 gal and add the little bag. It works for us.
Our trailer is a 2019 so we do have a black tank flush built in. We are like you guys, we bought the trailer so we could have our own bathroom and yes, we use it to the fullest!
If you aren't going to use the bathroom and kitchen in an RV, why would you buy one? I don't understand when I read when someone says they don't cook in or empty their own tanks in the RV tanks. Just stay in a hotel! JMHO
We are summer RVers, so most of our cooking is done outdoors. It has got to be a very wet day to cook in our RV. We have no issues using the Comfort Stations in our Ontario Provincial Parks, so we tend to us the Comfort Stations more than our RV bathroom. Nice when it is wet or in the middle of the night. Our trailer is small (17ft) so we use the shower/bathtub as our Wardrobe. It was a minor challenge this year since the campgrounds closed the showers. But I understand that many prefer their own shower and bathroom. I guess camping so long in a Tent Trailer without a bathroom has just got us in the habit of using the Campground Facilities. Great Topic!
Well, we had just come off of camping. Real tent camping. And then we got a small popup that didn't have facilities, only a useless teeny sink and a couple of burners that would set off the smoke detector. Besides, it's more fun to cook outside of the camp stove. It just is. And we did our dishes outside at the spigot like we did when we were tent camping. Can't imagine doing dishes in a 6 inch sink - plus there was no holding tank, so the water had to go into a bucket and get tossed anyway. We're campers, we're not RVers. Initially when I said I wanted to get some sort of RV, my husband said he'd prefer staying at Holiday Inn. I put my foot down because when you wake up in one of those, they all look alike and you have no idea where the heck you are. I said I wanted to wake up and know that I was in North Dakota or Northern California without leaving a building. And once we got our little popup, he agreed. And now we have a new class B Travato. It has everything and I will be curious to see how much we use the stuff inside. So far only for urine, no toilet paper. But that was before lockdown. We'll see...
We have a cass c rv and we use borax in are holding tanks. Are tank sensors didn't work even after using are tank flush so we used dawn and borax in are black tank and after a 4 hr trip all was good. Are sensor was working and there was no smell after two times we did this. So after this we just use borax only and all is good. Another thing is most rvs can't fill up the toilet bowl with water because the water sprayer only works when you step on the flush valve. So hears a tip. After you use the toilet and deposit all off the paper you used in the bowl. Only press down on the flush valve enough to get the water to work. The paper will cause a clog and fill up the toilet bowl. Especially if you use your sprayer at the same time. When the bowl fills up then press down on the flush valve all the way and it will shoot in to your tank and if you are one that likes to keep your tank valve open this will help flush it through very fast. Water is your friend. Heck I have even took the sprayer from are shower to fill the bowl with water. I might even run a hose from my basen sink faucet. maybe .
Sean and Christy...we used them and we were staying in the same park some years ago. The tanks in our Teton were clean and no dried stuff in there. Their service was great and despite not having any issues was a great relief. Out coach was 14 years old. Great episode and you are spot on. Also empty the grey tank last. Helps to clean the hose.
Great advise. I have no idea why people are even remotely squeamish about blank tank. Flush it first, then fish your grey tanks....all the nasty is long long gone. If you use enough water (that is key!) its odor free and frankly trivial.
Possible ProTip: before driving down the road after dumping your black tank put 10-15 gallons of water in your black tank, add some Dawn soap and water softener if you want, and then add a bag of Ice Cubes. As well as the water sloshing action the ice cubes should act as a scrub brush helping to scrape the toilet paper and stuck on number two. I heard this as a tip, I have never tried it, and I wonder if it would actually work?
We rarely add chemicals to our tanks. Only if we have a problem with odor. I rince the tank, but I never worry about rinsing until the water runs clear. Once you've introduced bacteria into your tank, as long as you don't use harsh chemicals like bleach, the bacteria self regulate to take care of the problem. We use whatever toilet paper the wife wants, and we've never had a problem. I do however add at least 5 gallons of water to the tank as soon as I dump. We leave the grey tanks open with full hookups, but try to empty the black tank only when full.
One thing that we do as well as everything you stated, is to follow the saying, "If it's brown, flush it down, if it's yellow, let it mellow. I have a bathroom trashcan under the cabinet for that purpose. A lot less toilet paper goes into the tanks.
Another trick is a bag or 2 of ice in the black tank when we leave the house. It slides around the bottom of the tank and scrubs the bottom and sides. Have found from experience that the all plastic dometic topics can develop a leak between the bowl next to the flush valve and the pedestal . The pedestal is hollow! Guess where a small amount of the waste goes. They do it have a replacement seal for that section of the unit. Black RTV sealant will solve the problem after you take the bowl off the base. Best done outside the trailer.
Always keep her clean if can I'm permanently parked in a 36 ft fifth wheel we own the campsite in avery, ca. Sierra rd a foot hills. I use our comfort bathrooms if can heard stories of tanks breaking down leaking gaskets deteriorated scary. Mine did I had a slow leak not good spent $500 to get fixed per vavle I had 3!! Ouch from a mobile rv guy out here. So be careful don't flush Lincoln logs!!!
Thank you so much for posting this. I learned about Happy Camper before I bought my 2020 Rpod this January and it works great. Going to try the tip of raising the front when draining and washing the tank with dawn and borax every now and again buy the happy camper is amazing you should try it.
We use Tide Pods. They are HE so low sudsing, non corrosive and keep odors down and seem to dissolve solids. Best of all, they are available everywhere and about have the cost of RV toilet chemicals. We pre-disolve the pod in the toilet before flushing it down just as you would any chemical. Our sensors still work perfectly after 18 months of full time living
I have found that it's easy to complicate the whole black tank issue. We have always used lots of water, of course our tank treatment and after dumping we add back about 8 gallons of water and 3/4 cup of Dawn dish soap and leave it in there until it's time to dump again. Never had an issue with sensors or false readings or odors.
Boeshield T-9 works better than WD-40 because WD-40 isn't a lubricant. The WD stands for Water Displacement. I spray White Lithium Grease on a rag and then apply it to the tank handles. It works great.
Well poop, I guess I need to dump our #1 plan and go to #2. For us we don’t get into the dumps using the bath houses in our State Parks so it isn’t a big deal. Been doing so long before we ever had a trailer. We have always said though that it was no big deal if you have to use the trailer for a #2 though. I can handle it. The main reason we bought a trailer was the ease and comfort vs a tent. The does include having a bathroom which we uses every time we go out camping.
A method that I have used successfully is powdered dish washer detergent. I mix 10 oz of powdered detergent in 140 degree water, and flush it down into the emptied black tank. Then I add another 5 gal of 140 degree water mixed 50% with cold water. After putting that into the black tank, I drive the camper for about five or six miles. Stopping often and starting often to get the water to Splash around inside the tank. Our camper's electric gauge, did not ever register correctly. After doing the above treatment, it has registered accurately for 2 camping trip. FYI
It looks like they can only spray from the drain side of your holding tanks, so the whole wall of the drain side is a blind spot. If your holding tank sensors are mounted on this wall, they are not washed, so they are still affected by the buildups
My wife insists on doing this job herself. Watching the reaction to the other RVers is priceless!! We haven' t had any problems when we flush out the tank. But, it has always been pretty full when we do empty.
I used one of those spinny wands in the black tank a few times a year. After dumping I stick the wand down the toilet and run it up slowly from the bottom of the tank to top and let the tank fill completely 2-4 times depending on how that water looks coming out. The stuff that comes out the first 2 flushes is astounding. I have 1998 komfort 5th wheel and my sensor issues always correct after wand flushing. Hopefully it stays that way.
Our 5th wheel came equipped with a toilet flush, which is very handy to help keep the black tank cleaner. I wish they installed flushes on the gray tanks too.
You are on the right track. I made my own with PVC and my sensor worked fine. Went on another trip and it did not. Need to use it most times or just guess on what you have. So I carry mine and take the extra five minutes to flush and clean my sensor every time.
_I use the three seashell methods, and when I don't have my seashells, I do what bears do... do, do in the woods, then run through a bunch of brushes for the cleaning of my fur! Thanks to the Demolition Man movie! For the Seashells!_
Hey guys, thanks for the very informative video. My question is why don't RV toilet manufacturers make a bidet toilet seat to fit their toilets? We have a Toto Washlet that we have been using for many years and it works wonderful! Without being too graphic, you only use toilet paper to see if you are clean. 😀. Not only do you save money on tp but being on o septic system you don't have quite the buildup in your tank.
Use Electric Dish washer soap , fill the tank with about 10 or 15 gallons of water and go for a drive . Use a big bottle and use half of it. It will clean your tank better that anything else. Don't us regular Dawn unless you want lots of foam coming out the vents on the roof while you drive.
RVs use the same type of sensor in the tanks now as what you have. They suck. Most people just learn what their rigs sound like when the tank is getting full. There is an after market option available that works if the gauge is important to you.
One of Airstream’s top dealership owners told me that the latest top of the line models now have monitors that hook up with your phone and then added “one more way to check an inaccurate number”! 🤷♀️ Thanks for the tip of lubricating the handles. I’ll do that today.
You can just put your used TP in a WalMart plastic bag that you hang up. That way you can use any TP you want. Usually no smell. Also, those packs with granules don't dissolve the outer membrane well if they get old and dry out a bit. Emergency pooping hack for no water for toilet--place 2 WalMart bags under the rim of your toilet seat making sure they are open and poop away. You can tie the bags shut and dispose of in a dumpster. Don't use bags with holes!
When you are in a place with full hook ups you can do what I do.
I fill both grey and black tanks completely full of water then wait about an hour. Then I drain my black tank through the sewer hose connected to their dump hole. Then I empty the grey tank the same way. Then i put my chemicals in both tanks with a couple of gallons of water in each. If I stay there for 3 or more days, I repeat that process before leaving. That way my tanks have nothing but a couple of gallons of clean water plus the chemicals to slosh around while driving to the next destination. After 35 years of RVing I’ve never had a problem with my tanks in any of the RV’s I’ve owned. Thanks for the great video. Most RV channels never cover this topic. It’s up to us RV veterans to advise the “newbies” lol
Oh by the way I really enjoyed the full chem. suit with mask lol
I've learned some very important truths about RV plumbing and tanks: water is your friend (the more the better) and only dump tanks when nearly full (especially the black tank). Oh and a third tip for RV newbies, dump black first and then dump grey tank to clean out the sewer lines. After dumping our black, I will refill to about 1/3 with water, shake the trailer back and forth for several minutes and them dump again (repeat until clear runs through the elbow). Plus the neighbors just see a rocking camper and they think something else is going on :)
@Adymn Sani I have to pull the stabs up to do it, I'm about 10,000 but I can rock it a little 🤷♂️😁
"Honey, we need to shake the trailer. I have an idea...!"
@@allens7476 🤣🤣🤣
We have used Happy Camper in all our tanks and have never had any smell or problems. Everything seems to dissolve very well. One scoop dissolved in one gallon of water in each tank.
That just blew me away that some posters would rather use a public toilet then use the one in there own RV!
When we really want the tank clean, we use multiple 5 gallon buckets of water dumped down the toilet. It is amazing how much more comes out! This is especially great at the end of the season. Also, we use regular toilet paper, but put most of it in the trash...not down the tank. We also like Happy Camper in the tanks.
The "daisy fresh" system intrigues me.....as an entrepremnruial type always looking for a low barrier to entry business...this seems pretty simple :)
The RV tissue could be qualified as "John Wayne Toilet Paper": rough, tough, and won't take crap from anyone. 😆😆
Im still a newbie. Thanks for the “straight poop” !
We have only been rv'ing a year so not a great amount of experience but my wife saw in an article about a tour bus operator that uses downy fabric softener in his holding tanks. It has worked very well for us so far. We add water back to the tank, put a pod in and i think a 1/4 cup of downy.
We utilize the spin wand on a hose inserted down the toilet after every trip. A little more effort but it has cleared up the issues with tank gauge. Great video. Never thought of using the sani packs on the grey tank. Last trip we backed it up into the shower and didn’t realize that tank had an odor. Happy travels!
Good info for a newbie who is still connecting the dots on how the while tank thing works. Robin at Creativity RV has a great video comparing 3 different methods of cleaning out tanks and how they really showed how to get her tank levels show accurately. Might be worth a watch.
our new RV grey tank sensor (shower and bath sink only) went all wonkey after the first dump. this is our 3rd RV so we had the process down pat. bad sensor? probably. but still..know your rig so you can have a mental note about how your tanks normally function. such a critical function and you'd expect better from the industry. great video. keep em coming.
As a relatively new RV owner you are the first persons to tell me to use the sanizers in my grey tank, which makes so much sense. Why didn't I ever consider that?
Switch to a separating toilet (dry toilet) and your dumping problems are gone. No water, no electricity, no bad smells. Very simple and eco-friendly.
During short stays at RV parks we don't even hook up the sewer hose until we're getting ready to dump on the last day. It's one less thing to trip over, and we only have to put on gloves to handle the hose once. One great thing about full hookups is that you have ample water to top off the black and gray tanks before you dump. At a dump station there's often a line waiting, and you can't take your time to do a thorough job with copious amounts of rinse water.
I always use a couple bags of Ice cubes every time I finish dumping and am travelling. I put a few gallons of water in the Black tank after dumping and put the ice in to slosh around as I travel. It acts as a cleaner knocking all the clumps that may have stayed behind and will melt away to be dumped when we arrive at our next campsite. Been doing that for twenty years and always worked like a charm to keep the sensors working. :)
We have not got a composting toilet yet, but everyone we speak to that has one raves about them. They are relatively expensive, and [at worst] they have an "earthy" odour. Also no chemicals. Also saves weight with no black tank to worry about. They seem superior to the cassette type toilets anyway.
We prefer a shower/bathroom over even a kitchen. Many people go for elaborate kitchens and that is OK for them, but we mostly cook outside, and mainly just make coffee or toast or heat soup indoors.
Outdoor "kitchens" can be quite simple too, but a lot of people seem to want vast set-ups that can cook for a small town or whatever. Really, you can fit a whole kitchen in a pack-pack.
Cooking outside also reduces flies or mice, etc being attracted to inside the RV, so that is another plus. But the main thing is to have fun whatever set-up you have.
Agree with most/all of your advice here. Don't dump until it's full, and after dumping add the digestion packet and a good amount of water. I've seen people leave the dump valves open and have a friend who now has sewer flies in his Airstream's black tank. We also use the BioPak packets in the gray tank every 10th time we dump the tanks. When we depart a campground, I do a full dump and flush the black tank 3 to 4 times until the water runs clear. Then I add a mix of 1/2 cup Dawn dish soap and 1/2 cup Borax into the bowl and flush it down to the black tank. Add 3 to 5 gallons of fresh water and hook up and drive. That solution will swish around and clean the tank very well! And yes, we also make use the features of our trailer as it was built and intended to be used. Happy Camping!
When we are camping with out water and sewer hookup we use little water when using the potty put we dump our dishwater down the toilet to give enough water for the black tank to function properly.
Just Last Week We Noticed Our Black Tank Was Sagging Down in The Middle & We Dump it TWICE A week Because We Did Plug Up In Arizona & It Was TERRIBLE & COST A BUNCH & We Decided That We Would Never Let That Happen Again & Each Time We Put About 3/4 of A Tub of Water Down Behind the Black Tank Dump, So I Put Bricks Under Our Tank To Push it Back Straight So it Can & Will Empty Everything All Out, If Your Moving all The Time I Would Get A Light Duty Floor Jack & Put A Maybe 12 × 12 or So Board on Top of The Jack So You Can Push it Under Quick & Easy , & Back Out The Same, A New Tank is $ 500.00 UP & Who Knows How Much Labor & Time Without Your Unit .Great & Very Good Info
Great video! I carry a 5 gallon bucket with us when we go camping and use to put freshwater in the black tank after every tank dump and then add the tank enzyme packet
I switch back and forth between happy camper and dawn calgon mix and have never had any issues. I made my own tank sprayer out of 1/2 inch pvc and a ball valve. I lower it down the toilet and have not had any issues with out tank sensors.
We have a failsafe black tank sensor......when it burps we have about two days normal use left. We also don't put toilet paper down toilet. Saves a butt load (pun intended) of problems.
We didn’t poop in our RV for 5 yrs, but we finally broke down and are not very happy to just use our bathroom for all its glory. I would agree with you and say plenty of water when flushing and don’t be afraid to flush your black tank often.
Know how much your tanks hold then purchase a rain bird water flow meter from amazon (or equivalent) then after you dump your tank you can fill it up for the rinse cycle without having someone in the bathroom peering down the hole to let you know when it’s full! its great!
Borax will help clean your sensors up. When we are on long trips we put about 4 gallons of water in the black water tank with the borax. Traveling down the road will help clean your tank.
I use the Dawn in my tanks and also use borax with every flush out. Not flush after use but flushing the tanks. 1/2 of each. ZEP is also good for the grey tank.
I put a Biobedet on mine, on all my toilets in the house too. Prices were less than $200 each. Best thing ever, just use minimal toilet paper, and much cleaner backside. I installed all myself. Over a year now no issues. The $199 ones in the house have heated water, camper doesn’t but it is not that bad, worth the cleaning. 💩
If you don't put 10% water in your black tank or you open the tank valve when at full hookup you will soon find yourself with a "poop pyramid" in your tank.
To test your TP for use in your black tank, take 3 sheets of your TP put it in an empty 1 qt jar, fill 3/4 full with water and shake it vigorously. If paper breaks down fairly quickly the it is safe to use in the black tank. Or you could just buy a macerator toilet and don't worry about solids.
A very interesting video! Lots of excellent advice! When we visited Canada we were impressed by the way that the black water was handled. Out here in Australia we only have cassette toilets. Generally black tanks as such are not used as the infrastructure to empty them does not exist. Our dump points are essentially covered sumps where the cassette toilets are emptied. The emptying is certainly not for the feint hearted. Keep safe. Regards, R and J
We camped in Argentina and Germany in rigs with cassette toilets, and yes, those are not for the weak! 🤣 Seriously, the sewer hose process we have here in North America is a breeze compared to the cassette toilet. However, I will say that being able to empty the cassette into a regular toilet is nice. Sometimes finding a dump station in remote areas here can be a challenge.
Thanks for the tip on leaving your RV hooked up while at a full hook up campground until you need to dump periodically. Love y’all please keep the videos coming.
Try Happy Camper to clear your sensors. It work for me and I have a 2019 Keystone Cougar 5th Wheel. I also use it instead of other chemicals. Also it was recommended to use the GEO method for Black and Grey tanks: 5 gallon bucket and fill almost full, 5-6 once’s of Laundry or Dawn dishwashing liquid, Add a cup of Calgon Water Softener or use old fashion Borax mix well, Pour straight into the toilet to start a new tank. Works well.
I use happy camper too and it works great. I watched numerous videos before buying my 2020 Rpod this January and glad I did.
I second that.
Thanks for the good info and the smiles.
I've been using Happy Campers holding tank treatment for about 20 years. Since switching to it from the formaldehyde-based treatment, we no longer have odor problems even when camping on hot days.
Switching to an enzymatic product like this when you have been using the formaldehyde-based products requires repeated flushing but once that is done it is simple to use.
We bought our motorhome new in 2017. The black water tank gauge has never worked right! So it's not just older ones.
Flushing your tanks in drought stricken California is a waste of water! We use the facilities at the rv parks whenever possible to avoid wasting water. One of our favorite spots ask you to use facilities when possible and use paper plates as well. When using toilet paper use as little as possible.
We have fun watching your RUclips videos. Saw your rig at Gros Ventre in early Oct but didnt want to bother you early. Keep up the good work !
Sean, we use the Bio Paks as well in our Nash, and what I do is after draining the black tank and using the flush system built into the tank, I take one of the Bio Paks and dissolve that into a full 5 gallon bucket of water until completely dissolved. Then I pour that down the toilet and use that as a base for our next outing. Thanks for the tip on using these in the grey tank as well.
Really enjoy your videos. We’ve been using a product called “Happy Campers”. This stuff is incredible!!!!!! It doesn’t mask odors, it eliminates odors. Made for both grey and black tanks. I would be surprised if you have never heard of this product. Just thought I would mention it to you guys. In my opinion, no other chemicals should be sold. This stuff is phenomenal!!! Safe travels!!! Doug
Great video. In addition to what you suggest, we always dump a 5 gallon bucket of water all at once down the toilet after emptying the black tank. We always get some additional “stuff” out. 💩
We have a Tiffin class A and they put the sensors on the outside of the tanks and so far they work great.
I don’t know how common it is but our 2015 5th wheel has a sprayer built into the black tank. It’s like a spinning yard sprinkler with jets on it. If the black tank sensors aren’t reading correctly, 10 minutes of running that thing fixes em right up. There’s a connection up high on the side of the camper and the short hose on the springy pole many dump stations have reaches it perfectly. Obviously, a 10min flush at a busy dump station isn’t always possible so it doesn’t get used every time but if there’s an issue, it will clear things right up.
Things shouldn't be in your tanks long enough for enzymes to even work to break things down. Its a holding tank, not a septic tank.
Dawn cleans oily or greasy residues by breaking it all up.. Calgon softener works on solids to help tp and solids dissolve. Both help clean your sensors.
I add some blue treatment all in a 5 gal bucket and pour in immediately after draining.
At the end of the season, I always fill both gray and black tanks with fresh water, drive around for awhile, then dump again. I confirm the sensors inticate the tanks are empty, if not, I repeat.
I built us a composting toilet and it is amazing! No smell at all. Peat moss, mulch and wood shavings mixture works REALLY well. It’s shockingly easy.
Ok, I used the recommendation of Steve S for using Borax and Dawn (see below). Here are my results. Followed their directions to the T. Owned the motorhome for just over 2 months. This is the first time our black tank sensor is showing that the tank is Empty! Keeping that recipe on file. Thanks
We wait until it's 3/4 full. Than dump. Our old TT didn't have a flushing system, so we used a toilet wand to clean out the black tank.
I have a Rhino hose set up for my camper and it has a hose attachment that spreads up into the black tank after you dump it for flushing out. So far so good.
I'm amazed at how many claim to not use their RV toilet for anything but pee! We are with you - one of the bonuses of the RV bathroom is not having to use public bathrooms! Excellent info. Have you ever used Happy Camper?
We use Bio Paks but will check out Happy Camper. Lots of people seem to like it.
Whatever happens, before emptying the tanks, be sure the ambient temp is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and relative humidity 97 percent or better.
We have tried every possible chemical option ~ first aboard our live aboard sailboat, now in our motorhome. In our experience, Happy Camper has worked the best.
I only have 25 gallon grey and black . We seem to fill grey long before black . While at dump station I take my shower head and use it to clean the bowl and run extra water into tank. Close valve and let black tank flush fill the black tank . Pull handle again and it never fails all that stuff that stuck to the sides or didn't drain out on first attempt is flushed out . Pull grey and turn on water at sinks and shower . This helps to flush out P traps. Once that is all clear disconnect flush hose from trailer and use it to rinse out sewer hose .
I do love a long long hot shower so I prefer showering in the bathhouse . Wear shower shoes in a public bathhouse . Saves on that tank storage . The toliet however , I have my own so no thank you to public facilities.
We live in LV and had Daisy Fresh clear a clog and service our RV a couple days ago. Great people and they had lots of great tips (most of which are in this vid), definitely recommend them and all of the advice here!
Thanks for the advice on dissolving the chemical packets. Hadn't heard that one.
The 3 most important things you can do to keep your black tank functioning properly are 1. Use plenty of water. 2. Use more water. 3. Add some more water. Happy camping! We have no trouble using any TP we want lol.
Our Bambi came with only 8 gallon black tank, the newer Bambi’s have a whopping 18 gallons. so we like your other loyal viewer that you shamed publicly we too only pee in our 8 gallon 😊 love you guys and you videos!
I use the enzyme packets similar to those that you show in the video. I always tear them open and pour the chemical directly into the toilet bowl full of water. I then throw the outer packet away. There is plenty of talk that the packets can stick to your sensors when things dry out causing sensor reading problems. My sensors never worked new off the showroom floor, but I still worry about the goo from the packets sticking to the inside of the tank. I also just use Septic safe TP. Actually most of the time it's Kirkland brand from Costco.
Thanks for this video! We are in Las Vegas and have seen the Daisy ad in the park brochure. Our tank sensors consistently read 2/3 full even after emptying so there seems to be an issue. Might have to give Daisy a call while we're here!
Good review of a very important topic. Generally when you begin to smell the tank inside the RV (before it is full) it is a result of not enough oxygenated water in the tank. Adding water to the tank will help with the smell but for best results; dissolve 1/2 to 1 cup of borax in a toilet bowl of water and then flush it, then add two more bowls of water into the tank. You will notice the smell will disappear generally within an hour. The chemistry of borax results in more oxygen released into the tank and promotes growth of the good microbes that eat the pooh. A great maintenance plan is add the dawn you mentioned and borax on a regular basis to keep the sensors clean and live odor free. PS, please don't flush disposable wipes even at home, these wipes can still clog your home pipes (talk to a plumber) and also cause real issues in sewer pipes and treatment plants.
After food and sleep it's one of the most important considerations one makes when traveling in an RV.
See Level works great. Tank levels in 4% increments. You need access to the sides of your tanks. The display uses the existing wires from the existing sensors.
Thanks, great video and great feedback too! New to us, used class C motorhome. So many great ideas. Planning a long trip very soon and before we leave I'm going to try Steve S's recommendation. Thanks again
We just bought a slightly used 2020 Airstream Globetrotter 27 and apparently the black tank fresh water flush works very well. We have only used the trailer once so far but very soon we’ll give it a try! Not a pleasant topic, but definitely a task that has to be done!
Thank you guys for all the great information! I’ve been watching all of your videos and have learned a ton! Be safe.
There is a product called Happy Camper available from Amazon. It works and really there is no odor when used.
I also use a square "hospital tub" to do my dishes in & dump the dirty dishwater down my toilet too
The only thing we have found to get our black tank sensor to show empty is Pinesol and water. One bottle of Pinesol with 8 to 10 gallons of water. Add it to the empty tank. Drive to the next campground. Dump soon as you get there, then add some water and the regular black tank chemicals.
A friend had the gray and black tank valves continually open when he was at an RV park in the winter. Of course "things" froze in the sewer hose. The time it took to get the line thawed out, drained and the mess cleaned up was substantial. The RV manager requested that he never return.
I replaced my tank monitor system in my 2008 Airstream Classic with a SeeLevel tank monitor system. Sensors are mounted on the outside of the tanks. The SeeLevel system uses the existing telephone wires run to the OEM internal tank sensors. Even though we did this modification I had a false reading on the gray tank periodically. Using the dishwasher treatment in the gray tank would resolve the problem for a while. Maybe if I had the same service you used it might have corrected the issue for good. We use Happy Camper product for the black tank, a powder that is mixed with a bowl of water plus a couple more bowl flushes to follow. When we stay at full hookup campgrounds I leave both gray and black tanks valves closed. I usually just fill up the water tank and run off the water pump rather than stay connected to city water. I run all my water through a ClearSource filter system and On the Go soft water bottle going into my fresh water tank. This helps keep the water softer when it eventually runs into a holding tank. I used multiple sink screens to filter most food debris going down the kitchen sinks. Wipe off dishes of all debris before washing helps minimize gray water debris. We also use a hair guard over the shower and bathroom sink drains.
Funny, they had their RV CLEANED, we are not full timers. We use the same types bags in our tank. To make sure our tanks are cleared of solids, On the way to the destination, we alway add about 5gal of water more in the tank we add 1/2 cup of Ariel laundry detergent from Walmart. As we are driving it does it’s magic. When we get to our site I empty, we have a fresh clean tank. I empty again before we leave. Prepare another 1/2 cup and fill again, as I drive it does it’s magic again, I have a dump at the house so the tank smell fresh. Add about 5 to 10 gal and add the little bag. It works for us.
Our trailer is a 2019 so we do have a black tank flush built in. We are like you guys, we bought the trailer so we could have our own bathroom and yes, we use it to the fullest!
If you aren't going to use the bathroom and kitchen in an RV, why would you buy one? I don't understand when I read when someone says they don't cook in or empty their own tanks in the RV tanks. Just stay in a hotel! JMHO
We are summer RVers, so most of our cooking is done outdoors. It has got to be a very wet day to cook in our RV. We have no issues using the Comfort Stations in our Ontario Provincial Parks, so we tend to us the Comfort Stations more than our RV bathroom. Nice when it is wet or in the middle of the night. Our trailer is small (17ft) so we use the shower/bathtub as our Wardrobe. It was a minor challenge this year since the campgrounds closed the showers. But I understand that many prefer their own shower and bathroom. I guess camping so long in a Tent Trailer without a bathroom has just got us in the habit of using the Campground Facilities. Great Topic!
Well, we had just come off of camping. Real tent camping. And then we got a small popup that didn't have facilities, only a useless teeny sink and a couple of burners that would set off the smoke detector. Besides, it's more fun to cook outside of the camp stove. It just is. And we did our dishes outside at the spigot like we did when we were tent camping. Can't imagine doing dishes in a 6 inch sink - plus there was no holding tank, so the water had to go into a bucket and get tossed anyway. We're campers, we're not RVers.
Initially when I said I wanted to get some sort of RV, my husband said he'd prefer staying at Holiday Inn. I put my foot down because when you wake up in one of those, they all look alike and you have no idea where the heck you are. I said I wanted to wake up and know that I was in North Dakota or Northern California without leaving a building. And once we got our little popup, he agreed.
And now we have a new class B Travato. It has everything and I will be curious to see how much we use the stuff inside. So far only for urine, no toilet paper. But that was before lockdown. We'll see...
We have a cass c rv and we use borax in are holding tanks. Are tank sensors didn't work even after using are tank flush so we used dawn and borax in are black tank and after a 4 hr trip all was good. Are sensor was working and there was no smell after two times we did this. So after this we just use borax only and all is good. Another thing is most rvs can't fill up the toilet bowl with water because the water sprayer only works when you step on the flush valve. So hears a tip. After you use the toilet and deposit all off the paper you used in the bowl. Only press down on the flush valve enough to get the water to work. The paper will cause a clog and fill up the toilet bowl. Especially if you use your sprayer at the same time. When the bowl fills up then press down on the flush valve all the way and it will shoot in to your tank and if you are one that likes to keep your tank valve open this will help flush it through very fast. Water is your friend. Heck I have even took the sprayer from are shower to fill the bowl with water. I might even run a hose from my basen sink faucet. maybe .
Sean and Christy...we used them and we were staying in the same park some years ago. The tanks in our Teton were clean and no dried stuff in there. Their service was great and despite not having any issues was a great relief. Out coach was 14 years old. Great episode and you are spot on. Also empty the grey tank last. Helps to clean the hose.
Great advise. I have no idea why people are even remotely squeamish about blank tank. Flush it first, then fish your grey tanks....all the nasty is long long gone. If you use enough water (that is key!) its odor free and frankly trivial.
Possible ProTip: before driving down the road after dumping your black tank put 10-15 gallons of water in your black tank, add some Dawn soap and water softener if you want, and then add a bag of Ice Cubes. As well as the water sloshing action the ice cubes should act as a scrub brush helping to scrape the toilet paper and stuck on number two. I heard this as a tip, I have never tried it, and I wonder if it would actually work?
We rarely add chemicals to our tanks. Only if we have a problem with odor. I rince the tank, but I never worry about rinsing until the water runs clear. Once you've introduced bacteria into your tank, as long as you don't use harsh chemicals like bleach, the bacteria self regulate to take care of the problem.
We use whatever toilet paper the wife wants, and we've never had a problem. I do however add at least 5 gallons of water to the tank as soon as I dump. We leave the grey tanks open with full hookups, but try to empty the black tank only when full.
One thing that we do as well as everything you stated, is to follow the saying, "If it's brown, flush it down, if it's yellow, let it mellow. I have a bathroom trashcan under the cabinet for that purpose. A lot less toilet paper goes into the tanks.
Another trick is a bag or 2 of ice in the black tank when we leave the house. It slides around the bottom of the tank and scrubs the bottom and sides. Have found from experience that the all plastic dometic topics can develop a leak between the bowl next to the flush valve and the pedestal . The pedestal is hollow! Guess where a small amount of the waste goes. They do it have a replacement seal for that section of the unit. Black RTV sealant will solve the problem after you take the bowl off the base. Best done outside the trailer.
Always keep her clean if can I'm permanently parked in a 36 ft fifth wheel we own the campsite in avery, ca. Sierra rd a foot hills. I use our comfort bathrooms if can heard stories of tanks breaking down leaking gaskets deteriorated scary. Mine did I had a slow leak not good spent $500 to get fixed per vavle I had 3!! Ouch from a mobile rv guy out here. So be careful don't flush Lincoln logs!!!
Thank you so much for posting this. I learned about Happy Camper before I bought my 2020 Rpod this January and it works great. Going to try the tip of raising the front when draining and washing the tank with dawn and borax every now and again buy the happy camper is amazing you should try it.
We use Tide Pods. They are HE so low sudsing, non corrosive and keep odors down and seem to dissolve solids. Best of all, they are available everywhere and about have the cost of RV toilet chemicals. We pre-disolve the pod in the toilet before flushing it down just as you would any chemical. Our sensors still work perfectly after 18 months of full time living
Welcome to the Oasis. Long time resident. Love your videos!!
RV Tank Tech and Boxan Soap and we never have any odors from our tanks. Going on 5 years!
I have found that it's easy to complicate the whole black tank issue. We have always used lots of water, of course our tank treatment and after dumping we add back about 8 gallons of water and 3/4 cup of Dawn dish soap and leave it in there until it's time to dump again. Never had an issue with sensors or false readings or odors.
Boeshield T-9 works better than WD-40 because WD-40 isn't a lubricant. The WD stands for Water Displacement. I spray White Lithium Grease on a rag and then apply it to the tank handles. It works great.
Well poop, I guess I need to dump our #1 plan and go to #2. For us we don’t get into the dumps using the bath houses in our State Parks so it isn’t a big deal. Been doing so long before we ever had a trailer. We have always said though that it was no big deal if you have to use the trailer for a #2 though. I can handle it. The main reason we bought a trailer was the ease and comfort vs a tent. The does include having a bathroom which we uses every time we go out camping.
A method that I have used successfully is powdered dish washer detergent. I mix 10 oz of powdered detergent in 140 degree water, and flush it down into the emptied black tank. Then I add another 5 gal of 140 degree water mixed 50% with cold water. After putting that into the black tank, I drive the camper for about five or six miles. Stopping often and starting often to get the water to Splash around inside the tank. Our camper's electric gauge, did not ever register correctly. After doing the above treatment, it has registered accurately for 2 camping trip. FYI
It looks like they can only spray from the drain side of your holding tanks, so the whole wall of the drain side is a blind spot. If your holding tank sensors are mounted on this wall, they are not washed, so they are still affected by the buildups
Nope, sensors still sucks. Nothing has changed.
My wife insists on doing this job herself. Watching the reaction to the other RVers is priceless!! We haven' t had any problems when we flush out the tank. But, it has always been pretty full when we do empty.
I used one of those spinny wands in the black tank a few times a year. After dumping I stick the wand down the toilet and run it up slowly from the bottom of the tank to top and let the tank fill completely 2-4 times depending on how that water looks coming out. The stuff that comes out the first 2 flushes is astounding. I have 1998 komfort 5th wheel and my sensor issues always correct after wand flushing. Hopefully it stays that way.
Our 5th wheel came equipped with a toilet flush, which is very handy to help keep the black tank cleaner. I wish they installed flushes on the gray tanks too.
You are on the right track. I made my own with PVC and my sensor worked fine. Went on another trip and it did not. Need to use it most times or just guess on what you have. So I carry mine and take the extra five minutes to flush and clean my sensor every time.
WD- 40 stands for water displacment batch 40 it is ment to displace water in electronics not to lubricate
I always wondered what became of WD-1 to WD-39? Burst into flame? Ate through the container? Caused ED?
@@allens7476 I guess they didn’t displace water as effective as #40, so the design is thrown to some huge document piles
_I use the three seashell methods, and when I don't have my seashells, I do what bears do... do, do in the woods, then run through a bunch of brushes for the cleaning of my fur! Thanks to the Demolition Man movie! For the Seashells!_
Hey guys, thanks for the very informative video. My question is why don't RV toilet manufacturers make a bidet toilet seat to fit their toilets? We have a Toto Washlet that we have been using for many years and it works wonderful! Without being too graphic, you only use toilet paper to see if you are clean. 😀. Not only do you save money on tp but being on o septic system you don't have quite the buildup in your tank.
This was a poopy video! So full of great info! We have been camping a year and needed this!! Thank you! We are off to camp in South Carolina today!
Notsoexciting topic but necessary. We appreciate you !!
Use Electric Dish washer soap , fill the tank with about 10 or 15 gallons of water and go for a drive . Use a big bottle and use half of it. It will clean your tank better that anything else. Don't us regular Dawn unless you want lots of foam coming out the vents on the roof while you drive.
RVs use the same type of sensor in the tanks now as what you have. They suck. Most people just learn what their rigs sound like when the tank is getting full. There is an after market option available that works if the gauge is important to you.
Compost toilet airhead, we don’t use black tank in our airstream and love it. Took regular toilet out. Best toilet ever.
One of Airstream’s top dealership owners told me that the latest top of the line models now have monitors that hook up with your phone and then added “one more way to check an inaccurate number”! 🤷♀️ Thanks for the tip of lubricating the handles. I’ll do that today.