Tank Dumping

+1 to SH and NC, there's a reason all waste water in a house goes to a common point. It's all waste water. It is the same as black inre to contaminated.

Question to dr2428 - you don't mention your backflush at all, I use my backflush to add water to black tank, gray tank is different but it doesn't have toilet paper in it. Have used bucket with treatment to add to gray tank, but normally just fill with water pump or city water.

Good suggestions here, I also use a biological treatement, don't recall the brand but has always been effective. We are newbies so have only camped within 1.25hrs from home, no extended trips. No matter how or when you dump, do it effectively. I have a small TV so dump after camping. I believe the posts here that say dump a nearly full tank. On quick weekends I fill my water can and add as much water to the tank as possible. I use a plug or toilet brush to hold the toilet flush open and try to move as much of the fresh water to the black tank as possible. Last trip of the season 3 weeks ago I double dosed the treatment, and got the black nearly full. We picked a slow time at the dump station and dumped and flushed for about 30mins.  You'll never get it completely empty as I don't believe the tanks slant enough towards the drain. When I winterized last weekend, I drained the tank into a disposable bucket and carried about 3 gals of slightly murky, barely smelly water into the basement toilet, it smelled more like the tank treatment. Conclusion is that the tank was better than sufficiently flushed. Tanks treatments are important and a nearly full tank will "float" material out better than a slightly full tank.

Another note, dumped about 3 gals from the grey tank that stunk to high heaven. For all my research and prep, I failed to realize the grey tank needs treatment too. I'll flush it good come opening day and use a proper treatment.

Originally posted by NAP1947 We get our 179 in April and I am busy browsing for information. There is general agreement that tanks should be dumped when the black is about 2/3 full. There does not seem to be any consensus as to when to dump, as you are leaving or arriving at a camp ground. Cleaning articles always seem to favour dumping after a drive when everything is well shaken (not stirred). Seems to me, as long as travelling with the extra weight is not an issue that dumping on arrival should result in a more thorough job plus less chance of a line up at the dump station. I would greatly appreciate your views, we will be using the pod for significant trips of a month or more with single location stays of not more than 2 or 3 days.

I always dump when leaving the camp site. You RPod 179 has a black water flush built in the tank. The water connection will be on the opposite side from your black water dump connection. I hook a water hose (just for the black water flush) up to the connection. Turn the water on. There is a spray nozzle in the tank. You can hear it spraying. I open the black water tank vale to start the dumping process with the water running. When the black water tank is about empty (trickle) I close the valve. Let the water run in the tank for a few minutes then open the black water valve flushing out more stuff. I do this until I get zero paper and clear water flowing. Takes more time but less problems.

Thank you for your advice, as before no clear consensus.

I dump when I leave campground, easy to fill tank to 2/3rds with backflush. I don't want to haul 300 lbs. of black water around.