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navycop

navycop

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Joined
Nov 4, 2010
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Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Was looking at some RVs to rent for a trip next year. They mention black water, gray water and freash water tanks. I get what they are. My question is: how much water does it take to flush the toliet?
What I am saying is the black tank fills up with sewage. If it holds 30 gals and the toliet takes 5 gals, i can only flush 6 times before dumping (no pun intended). But if it only takes 2 gals i can flush 15 times. Just wondering because i will have 3 adults and 2 teenages (2 adults are female)...
 
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There is no set amount used. You control the amount each time. Just enoug to get it in the tank and rinse the bowl. Use a tank additive and you will have no problem. Wife and I have been gone 8 days with no dumping, but our black water tank is larger.
 
navycop said:
Was looking at some RVs to rent for a trip next year. They mention black water, gray water and freash water tanks. I get what they are. My question is: how much water does it take to flush the toliet?
What I am saying is the black tank fills up with sewage. If it holds 30 gals and the toliet takes 5 gals, i can only flush 6 times before dumping (no pun intended). But if it only takes 2 gals i can flush 15 times. Just wondering because i will have 3 adults and 2 teenages (2 adults are female)...
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The toilet probably flushes with less than a gallon. Many house toilets today only use a gallon and a half....full flush house toilets use 3 gallons. Tell them "If it's yellow let in mellow - if it's brown flush it down" to save flushes.
 
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Toilet flush can take as little as 8 ounces or so. Use what you need, there is no tank on those toilets.
Shower/sink tank fills up fastest, get a site with full hookups or use the campground shower.
And have fun, camping is awesome!
 
Like others have pointed out, RV toilets can use very little water. One big water saver for us it to use the RV toilet only for emergencies and at night. Otherwise use the toilet at the campground....
 
My wife and I bought an RV last April, and took a 2 month vacation in it. we left right after Labor Day, here in California, took the northern route to New England, down to South Carolina, then home through the south, arriving home early Nov. We travelled a little over 11,000 miles and drove through 38 States and 1 Provence. We usually dumped every 5 - 7 days, we were never full, ususally about 3/4. It was just the 2 of us, you probably won't go that long. Campground toilets will extend your time at the dump station, depending on the type of camground toilet, you may prefer to use your own. It is possible to flush liquids with little or no water, you control the water flow. One trick to keep the oders in check, besides chemical treatment ( recommended ) is leave a little water to cover the valve in the toilet. Almost every campground will have a dump station, after you do it a couple times it doesn't take that long, maybe 15 minutes.
Once on the road you'll find RVers a friendly and helpful lot. If you haven't already watch RV with Robin Williams. :)
Cheers,
Rob
 
Thanks everyone for your help..
Smitty-seems I heard that line before.
Rob-I recommended to the ladies to use the campground bathrooms but got a cold stare.. From what I read the blank tank should be no more than 3/4th full anyway. Also some campgrounds did not list a dumpstation in their ammenities..
Theidlemind-you said there is no tank on those toliets. Isn't that what the blankwater is for??

I guess my big worry is them using the toliet on the road and filling up the tank..
 
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Always wear rubber gloves when dealing with the sewer hose.
Depending on the R V you should drive with your tanks empty.
Hopefully they will give you instructions.
By the way the gauges all lie. They say full most of the time but they are not.
Just finishing up 6 weeks in the fith wheel. It has been great. But my pen turning has been zero.
 
navycop said:
Thanks everyone for your help..
Theidlemind-you said there is no tank on those toliets. Isn't that what the blankwater is for??

What he means is there is no tank like on the house toilet. Just a line from the fresh water to the toilet valve.

I guess my big worry is them using the toliet on the road and filling up the tank..[/QUOTE]

If you are staying at a KOA, Good Sams and the like camp ground/rv park, they will have dump stations or full hook ups for dumping. If you are "on the road" it would be hard to fill the black water as those tanks are normally larger than you fresh water tank, (if you do fill your fresh tank.) I do not unless I know there is no facilities at all.
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tim self said:
navycop said:
Thanks everyone for your help..
Theidlemind-you said there is no tank on those toliets. Isn't that what the blankwater is for??

What he means is there is no tank like on the house toilet. Just a line from the fresh water to the toilet valve.

I guess my big worry is them using the toliet on the road and filling up the tank..[/QUOTE]

If you are staying at a KOA, Good Sams and the like camp ground/rv park, they will have dump stations or full hook ups for dumping. If you are "on the road" it would be hard to fill the black water as those tanks are normally larger than you fresh water tank, (if you do fill your fresh tank.) I do not unless I know there is no facilities at all.
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Thanks Tim. I mean if they have to go will the RV is rolling.. If it is a long way till the next reststop or RV park. They might fill up the blackwater. Maybe I am making too much of this but I just don't want the trip to start (or smell) bad and them never wanting to not travel again.
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My trailer has a 50 gallon black tank. Only a 30 gallon fresh. Seriously doubt ANYONE could make up that 20 gallons to fill that tank. As far as the smell, they have plenty of tank deodorizers to prevent that and the vent through the roof like your sewer vents at home.
 
There are also dump stations along the way. At least in my part of the country. A lot of "Rest Area" have them. But do not worry about it, they won't fill it up. You will have a great time. I love RV'n and all the people you meet at Campsites is great fun. We have been at camp ground where we were the only Americans there. The rest were from foreign countries. Most spoke english better then we do (more proper). Several years ago we got to talking to a couple next to us and discovered the wife was born and raised in the same town as my Dad. She says we are related. We have stayed in touch over the years. We have several friends in Canada that we stay in touch with that we met at various camp grounds. This happens because my wife is a talker, and one of those that has "never met a stranger". She is the outgoing one. If it were left up to me we would know no body. Glad I have her.
 
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Each tanks on mine ar 50 gal. fresh, 40 gal Black, 40 Gal. Gray. If you only use your fresh water in the tank to flush and wash, you will not fill up the Black water. Your fresh water is going in to a combined 80 gal. This only works if you do not use water hook up. Then it will end up in the bath tub. How do I know that! We are planning a trip, next year, to Alaska with the trailer which will be for about six weeks. Hope it works. Camping is the best! Richb
 
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Rvdumps.com has a list of dumpsites in the US. Lots of gas stations have them too. We keep the clean tank full while driving. Our whole point in our class C was to be able to keep going and not depend on restaurants and grocery stores...tank pumping is a whole different deal!
 
Don't take showers in it. Just about all campsites have shower facilities. Generally speaking the campsite bath houses are clean. You can brush your teeth and all that in them, along with the three S's.
 
When looking for campsites, keep state parks and county parks higher on your list to look for. Also, Corps of Engineer parks are great places.

About two days before you go, have a family movie night with Robin Williams "RV" as mentioned before. It has a good lesson for what not to do when dumping your black water tank. Also lessons on packing up camp and getting on the road quickly. And the biggest lesson - enjoy the trip, and leave work at home!

Have fun!
 
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I rented an RV for a two-week road trip about six/seven years ago, my wife and I and our three kids. We still talk about that trip. The only problem we had with the black tank is that the valve leaked a little bit, so it was quite surprising to open the cap (had to learn to jump back fast!)

Other than that, we didn't have any other problems with the RV that I can recall. It didn't take the kids long to figure out that if they had to go the bathroom while the RV was not in camp, they had to turn on the water pump if the wanted the flush to succeed.

Some things I learned were that the gauges do lie, having a Toad would have helped immensely in a few places, and don't try to cover too much ground in one day.
 
I don't own an RV, but speaking as one who has followed a few, make sure that poo hose is attached properly. I have been in the car wash a couple of times after following one that was not. Yuck.

Have fun. Lots of people really enjoy it. I thought about renting once and found out it was cheaper to get hotel rooms. I am not kidding.
 
Mike,
A toad is a car you tow behind the RV.
A couple of free apps if you have a smartphone, I found useful are GasBuddy, lets you find nearest fuel stop an price per gallon. Woodall's is useful for private campground shows amenities and price.
+1 on State and National campgrounds, our favorite.
Where are you planning to go and how long?
Cheers,
Rob
 
SloLouie said:
Mike,
A toad is a car you tow behind the RV.
A couple of free apps if you have a smartphone, I found useful are GasBuddy, lets you find nearest fuel stop an price per gallon. Woodall's is useful for private campground shows amenities and price.
+1 on State and National campgrounds, our favorite.
Where are you planning to go and how long?
Cheers,
Rob
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Toad-Was going to try a Class B. So maybe I won't need a toad.. This way to if I want to leave from sightseeing or resturant I don't have to return back to the campsite.
Free apps - I do have a few apps (good sam campgrounds, find dumpsites, overnight parking).
Planning to go -To the grand cayon. Been talking about doing it for awhile now..Don't know how long, might stop off in TN, OK, and other places. It's about 36 hrs. If me, the wife and my son all drive might do it straight thru and sightsee on the way home.. Who knows?? Thanks.

PS This will be around summer time next yr.
 
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In my experience it is best to do the site seeing on the way there, that way if you are really enjoying someplace you can stay an extra day as opposed to oh we have to leave today.
 
Went yesterday to look at some class B van type RVs. The wife wasn't happy with the size of the shower (tried to tell her what Ed said about not showering in it) or the bathroom. They did have a nice VIA Winnebago that was a good size. What I was looking for now was a spreadsheet. She wants to compare the cost of taking my toyota tundra with the luggage in back and staying at motels. Here is my idea so far. Feel free to tweak it..
RV Truck
Rental Fee n/a
Stock up Food Cost Meals at resturants
Gas Gas
Campground Fee Hotel/motel
Dumping Fee (if needed)
More elbow room for kids
{tryed to make two colums but it didn't work}
Going thru 5 states between VA - AZ. If we sightsee and stay in motel every night times 5 states. Also 3 meals a day (verses complimentary breakfast at hotel) x 5 people times 5 states.
I'll have to see if the rental fee out ways the motel fees. Also gas is an issue.
 
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Don't forget about having to carry your luggage in and out of the hotel (maybe up stairs too and the possibility of leaving an item in the room) vs having all you clothes readily accessible all the time in the RV.
 
I have had four RVs through the years. Two travel trailers and two motorhomes, a 34 ft class A and a 20ft class B.. Plus I have rented motorhomes. The motorhome is a big plus for the kids. They can sit at the table and play games, go lie down if they are tired or cranky, etc. Plus they can go to the bathroom whenever they want. (on the way to AZ, rest areas can be few and far between across the desert.) Our first RV was a big 34 ft Class A. After the kids grew up we bought a little Winnebago Le Sharo (Later called Rialta). It was 20 ft long and got 20 mpg (diesel). It was great for two people to travel in.

At today's gas prices, it might not be cheaper to rent and drive an RV, but it certainly is more comfortable for all concerned. Many rest areas allow overnight camping (Texas even has sheriff deputies assigned to the rest areas all night for security, and has showers in their rest rooms.) And forest service campgrounds are very inexpensive.

We usually were visiting with friends or relatives every three or four days, so had showers available. We were often gone as long as five weeks at a time. Even private campgrounds are only around 20 dollars a night for a little class B. (That may have changed...haven't had an rv for about five years.)
 
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The problem I have with motorhomes, if you don't tow a car, when you get to a campsight and stay for a few day, you have to take the motorhome to sight see around that area, That means packing up and un-connecting power, dump hoes, etc. and redoing when you get back.

I tow a trailer, love it, and one of the things I like most, getting older, I have to get up several times in the night, if you know what I mean. I have a bathroom real handy!

I'd like to try a 5th wheel to tow sometime but probably won't happen. The trailer is fine. I have a nice canopy on my truck and can lock it, makes it nice. To me there is no perfect set up, all have their advantages and disadvantages.

Personally, even though you can stay in a heck of a lot of hotels for the price of an RV, I hate staying in one. Just not as friendly, relaxing and fun as RV'n.
 
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navycop said:
Went yesterday to look at some class B van type RVs. The wife wasn't happy with the size of the shower (tried to tell her what Ed said about not showering in it) or the bathroom. They did have a nice VIA Winnebago that was a good size. What I was looking for now was a spreadsheet. She wants to compare the cost of taking my toyota tundra with the luggage in back and staying at motels. Here is my idea so far. Feel free to tweak it..
RV Truck
Rental Fee n/a
Stock up Food Cost Meals at resturants
Gas Gas
Campground Fee Hotel/motel
Dumping Fee (if needed)
More elbow room for kids
{tryed to make two colums but it didn't work}
Going thru 5 states between VA - AZ. If we sightsee and stay in motel every night times 5 states. Also 3 meals a day (verses complimentary breakfast at hotel) x 5 people times 5 states.
I'll have to see if the rental fee out ways the motel fees. Also gas is an issue.
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That's a fairly simple spreadsheet... should give you a good idea of costs.
A few years back when I was living in Calif, planned a vacation with my two kids..a girl about 15 and son about 7... looked into renting an RV since we were doing a loop from CA to Tx to Ok and then back up through some of the western states, CO, WY, UT and home to SFO.... it was much cheaper to drive my car and stay in motels... especially since when we got to TX and OK we were staying with my parents... at the time I was driving an Alfa Romeo GTV and got pretty good gas mileage.
 
I hung a Yamaha 125 trail bike on the front bumper of the 34 footer. Good enough for running out for milk and bread if we were using full hookups. Usually we just plugged in the power if we were just staying overnight, then in the morning we dumped the tanks and filled the water tank before leaving.




PaulDoug said:
The problem I have with motorhomes, if you don't tow a car, when you get to a campsight and stay for a few day, you have to take the motorhome to sight see around that area, That means packing up and un-connecting power, dump hoes, etc. and redoing when you get back.
.
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