ZanderMan
Weekender RV’er
Needs monitoring
Posts: 63
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Post by ZanderMan on Jun 9, 2020 9:21:32 GMT -5
This may be specific to the 169VRK, but I figured out that I have 2 gray tanks and 1 black tank. I verified the plumbing by putting different colors of water in each drain and checking which outlet that it drained out. - The bathroom shower and sink go into the gray tank forward of the axle and has its own outlet.
- The toilet goes into the black tank (duh) which shares an outlet with the 2nd gray tank.
- The kitchen sink goes into the aft gray tank and shares an outlet with the black tank.
I also tested the black tank flush... A few random plastic bits got washed out with the flush so what was good. Also did not reveal any leaks.  So, I expect very little water will go into the aft gray tank since it is only the kitchen sink. I plan to empty in this order: - Attach sewer hose to aft connection
- Empty black tank and close valve
- Empty aft grey tank and close valve
- Open black tank valve, flush black tank, and close valve
- Remove (hopefully clean) sewer hose
- Move sewer hose to forward connection
- Empty forward gray tank (bathroom shower and sink) and close valve
- Remove sewer hose, attach hose flush adapter to sewer hose and flush with fresh water
- Drain hose and store
This presents a question when hooked up at a site... Normally I would say that the black tank should be connected at all times with both gray tank valves closed. Any advice? |
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ZanderMan
Weekender RV’er
Needs monitoring
Posts: 63
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Post by ZanderMan on Jun 10, 2020 16:06:36 GMT -5
I was able to find an hour to go through the sanitization process for a new system. Sucked 2 gals of diluted bleach solution in through hose under the bed, and also poured a couple gallons into the fresh water tank. Added a bit more water (10 gal) to the fresh water tank and will let that set for the rest of the afternoon.
Getting used to the sound of the pump when it starts up, reaches PSI setting, and shuts off. That's going to take some getting used to...
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Post by 800robhall on Aug 1, 2020 8:21:13 GMT -5
The only change I would make to your sequence is the flush and gray sequence. For the outlet that has both black and gray, I normally keep the black water open and let the gray water store up. Then when I am ready to disconnect, I do this:
1. flush the black water
2. close black water
3. open gray water (to flush the hose)
4. put about 2 gallons in each tank
4a. add septic tablet to black water
4b. add a capful of Pinesol to gray water
A friend suggested putting ice cubes from freezer down the toilet to "scrub" the tank as you drive. I have no idea if this is good.
Comments?
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ZanderMan
Weekender RV’er
Needs monitoring
Posts: 63
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Post by ZanderMan on Aug 4, 2020 13:13:52 GMT -5
The only change I would make to your sequence is the flush and gray sequence. For the outlet that has both black and gray, I normally keep the black water open and let the gray water store up. Then when I am ready to disconnect, I do this: 1. flush the black water 2. close black water 3. open gray water (to flush the hose) 4. put about 2 gallons in each tank 4a. add septic tablet to black water 4b. add a capful of Pinesol to gray water A friend suggested putting ice cubes from freezer down the toilet to "scrub" the tank as you drive. I have no idea if this is good. Comments? I've read a number of folks say not to keep the black open or your solids will just build up vs being flushed out with mostly liquids. Even the black flush may not get to all the areas necessary. I don't keep either open, though it seems our aft grey tank (kitchen sink) fills up faster than any of the other 2. I do like the idea of ice cubes for scrubbing the black tank and Pinesol in the grey tank! |
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Post by WrkrBee on Mar 1, 2021 16:19:47 GMT -5
I use the Sewer Solution to dump tanks with. It's basically a directional water jet macerator pump. Turned down, it pumps effluent out a 1" PVC pipe to the sewer. Turned in, it pushes water back up the drain to the tank to back flush. Since it caps the trailer drain connection, I drain the black tank, turn the jet in, and open the gray water tank. This pushes the gray water to the black water tank for additional flushing. I close the gray water valve and drain the black water tank again. I can do this a couple of times with the gray water. When finished, I close both black and gray valves, and flush the connection. Everything is flushed then, disconnect the Sewer Solution, roll it up, and it's stored in a Rubbermaid bin. I pull the 1"PVC pipe apart, drain it, and store it in the bumper.  Keeping the black tank open, a poo pyramid builds under the toilet as the liquid runs off quickly. It will need to be manually broke up or pressure washed to break up. Watch out for that blow back. I figure with the potholes, turns, speed bumps, road / parking lot transitions, etc. the black tank is churned up pretty well. I dump when I get home. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2021 19:17:38 GMT -5
Quoting WrkrBee above,
"Keeping the black tank open, a poo pyramid builds under the toilet as the liquid runs off quickly. It will need to be manually broke up or pressure washed to break up. Watch out for that blow back."
I once bought a used trailer and it came with some hardened solids in the black tank. I bought 2 bottles of fabric softener and dumped it in and let it set for about a few days and i was able to rinse it all out with a garden hose and hand wand stuck down the toilet. It worked great.
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Post by earlnelaine on May 24, 2022 11:27:39 GMT -5
Using ice down the toilet to scrub the black doesn't do much of anything because ice floats and could only scrub a little of the sides id anything, Driving down the road in an RV is very smooth getting the ice very little chance to scrub backward and forward. I saw a demo with the same black tank mounted into the back of a pickup truck. They add all the ingredients that NASA uses to simulate what going into a black tank. The black tank was filled with water and the simulated ingredients and the driver of the truck drove around the huge parking lot doing donuts and driving like a maniac. Slaming on the brakes and slamming on the gas pedal, this would be the most action you could possible get. This would never happen in an actual normal driving of an rv. The results were a that very little debris was scrubbed from the walls of the black tank. There are Tube Videos that prove this point. Pouring ic e down your toilet can't hurt but would not go out of my way to do so. The best thing for black tanks are the best chemical treatments and always keep some water in it so you don't create the prydmind affect. Dump as usually but when putting RV in storage dump and flush really good and add chemicals.
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