Disadvantage of small eggs?

[Roger C H]

Hi, everyone. We are in our third week of a snowbird trip thru S Cal and AZ. We have run into something new here in Phoenix: Parks only allowing fully independent units, in other words, no porta pottis. Is this unique to Phoenix or is there somethng going on?

PS It poured rain today, and the Pac Northwet was sunny, go figure.

[Donna D.]

Roger, private parks can and do a number of things that may restrict our wonderful eggs. You've just run into one of those restrictions. There's a private park in central Oregon that only allows fully-self contained RVs... no porta pottys. So it can happen in any state. Typically, it's size requirements or only newer "modern" RVs. Like nothing under X-number of feet and nothing older than 10 years old... both of these restrictions I've read about all across the U.S.

[Alf S.]

Hi: Roger C H... Sounds like a bad case of discrimination...or they haven't caught on to the small is beautifull camper yet.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Gina D.]

Arizona ... its a common requirement, even on gubmint land. In the LTVA here near Quartzsite (BLM long term visitors areas) it is a requirement to have at least a 10 gallon waste tank *Onboard*. Yet, they provide porta potties in the fee areas. By the letter of the law, MY rig isn't allowed.. I only have an 8 gallon black tank.

I am not convinced this rule is ever enforced. I see tent trailers, tents, 13 footer, you name it, I see it out there. It may be the loophole to expel the undesirables.

We'll see.. I think I am going out there next month to save $$$.

[peterh]

Hi Roger. This is one of the reasons Lynne and I are considering adding a small gray waste tank to our Surfside project trailer. That way we can claim -- with some legitimacy -- that our trailer is "self contained."

[Robin G]

Hi: Roger C H... Sounds like a bad case of discrimination...or they haven't caught on to the small is beautifull camper yet.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

Can't give you a reason for BLM, Forest Service campgrounds having this rule.


But private campgrounds may have to have the rule due to the health dept codes and may not have adequate disposal. So it's not discrimination, just doing business within the rules and regulations they are to adhere to keep their business lic.

[Harry Young]

Arizona Department of Enviormental Quality oversees this area and interfaces with the larger federal oversight departments...While some counties in Arizona have the oversight powers to oversee or administrate these required standards they all do not posses enforcement powers by contract...Ergo the inconguant policies county to county within the camping system.

B.L.M. State Parks and Federal Parks all have their own taskmasters, the requirements while fairly uniform are left much to administrative style per area.

Harry

[Pamela S.]

Gina,
I thought you had a porta potty? How did you add an 8 gal. black water tank to it? Inquiring minds want to know!
Pamela

[Des Nolan]

: Parks only allowing fully independent units, in other words, no porta pottis. Is this unique to Phoenix or is there somethng going on?

What is the definition of "fully independent"? I would think that a porta-potty fulfills this requirement, unless, as Gina quotes, they go to specific volume (for those with larger bowels?).

What difference does it make (in the end?) if the receiving bowl is connected to the holding tank via a tube, or if activity is in freefall?

[Robin G]

What difference does it make (in the end?) if the receiving bowl is connected to the holding tank via a tube, or if activity is in freefall?

Most times it doesn't! But in my opinion it's user error! Take it from someone who has cleaned up more than a few porta potty mishaps! Not that I never had to clean up after someone who had a mis-hap at a full hook up, but far less................................... Probably 20 to 1

The one I liked is the guy who spilled his tote, then proceeded to use his fresh water hose to clean out his tote! ( had to explain to him that probably wasn't the best way to clean since he used his fresh water hose for drinking and bathing his kids)........... UCKY!

I won't even go into the fact that no matter what your emptying black/grey/tote/porta potty if you don't use disposable gloves it frankly doesn't make a bit of difference...................... Then you touch the water spicet (then the next camper comes in and hooks up) , your fresh hose, etc etc etc...............................

[Gina D.]

Pamela, I have a wet bath in my Burro. It has a toilet, sink and a shower all in one room. The shower does not have a separate enclosure, the entire bathroom is fiberglass so you can get it wet from the shower without damage. Thus the term "Wet Bath".

Yes, porta potties can make a mess in a pit toilet or regular bath, and unfortunately, most folks won't clean it up. In the case of a pit toilet, there is no water available for them to clean up with even if they wanted to.

[Pamela S.]

I must have been thinking of your older, smaller camper. I didn't realize you had a wet bath in your current Burro. That's great. More comfortable for full-timing, I'm sure.
Isn't it always the case that some inconsiderate people who don't clean up after themselves make things worse for the rest of us?

[Pamela S.]

Peter,
When you add that waste tank to the Surfside, please document it with photos. Sounds like a good learning experience for the rest of us.
Pamela

[Raya]

I hear you Des. I mean, how is a holding tank "self-contained" Is there one I don't know about that you never have to empty? If so, please give me details, as I will install one right now.

I hate rules that are not logical, so this one gets my dander up.

Now, that's not to say that anyone can't make their own rules, but please, how about if they make sense?

Just what is it you are wanting to outlaw? Because I can't tell by this rule!

Do you want everyone to be permanently self-contained? I don't think I've ever seen a holding tank THAT large Even a composting toilet needs to be emptied.

Do you not want people to carry porta-potties and make a mess dumping them? Okay, then make that a rule. But then be specific! Because for one thing, there are porta potties that connect to a pump out hose, just like a black tank (these are used on boats in areas where it is required, or where people just prefer to "dump" that way).

And then there are WAG bags. Unless you are camping in one site for say, 6 months, you could carry enough WAG bags to last the whole time. Certainly MUCH longer than any holding tank that will fit on a reasonably sized trailer (not that anyone probably would keep them onboard that long; I'm just saying).

So.... make rules... but please figure out what it is you don't want, and then make the rules logically to eliminate that.



Okay, got that out of my system (so to speak )

Raya

[JenPB]

We found ourselves staying at a place near Kansas City with this requirement. Unfortunately, we'd already made our reservations and it was late in the day when we arrived, so we didn't have many options. The option I chose? Not to disclose what was in my trailer.

This was a fully appointed RV park with restrooms that featured clean, hot showers. There were play structures, picnic tables, fire rings, nice views. I knew there were restrooms near the site we'd chosen, so I just pulled in and kept my mouth uncharacteristically shut.

Sometimes, I think that's the way to go.

[Lizbeth]

This was a fully appointed RV park with restrooms that featured clean, hot showers. There were play structures, picnic tables, fire rings, nice views. I knew there were restrooms near the site we'd chosen, so I just pulled in and kept my mouth uncharacteristically shut.

Sometimes, I think that's the way to go.

agreed!

We bad.....we have a "aren't asked, don't tell" motto about most things. Our most frequent one is paying the "extra" fee for the dogs that some parks want. What for? They don't usually provide anything for the dogs such as poopy bags or a dog run.

[Roger C H]

How the problem worked out:

After calling two parks for reservations because of snow birds taking all the spots, the third one would handle us, (West World) but they were having a horse show and all spots were taken.

Then we practiced don't ask, dont tell. The next one didn't ask and took our cc info, and the guy that checked us in didn't comment, so we were in. Phew.

Had a successful visit with the wife's cousin and are back in the LA area heading for points north.

Thanks everyone for your input. Maybe restrictions should be listed in Woodall's or Trailer Life.

[barring]

We ran into that in Las Cruces, NM. We were only there for two days, for a wedding reception. They didn't like our gray water tank either (a very effective gallon jug with a section of garden hose). Keeps the riff-raff out, I guess. That's how we discovered Aguirre Springs Campground, whcih we much preferred, had had almost to ourselves.

[Robin G]

agreed!

We bad.....we have a "aren't asked, don't tell" motto about most things. Our most frequent one is paying the "extra" fee for the dogs that some parks want. What for? They don't usually provide anything for the dogs such as poopy bags or a dog run.

Maybe cause they have extra man hours cleaning up after "bad pet owners" Believe me when I say, I would have been a millionaire had I charged for the dogs that came into our place. And though the "bad pet owners" are few and far between. They are usually so bad that they far out exceed all of the good ones! It's just a fact! So I do not blame any campground/rvpark/motel/hotel for charging for pets. The ignorant pet owner who thinks they are fooling everyone ranks right up there with the smoker who throws their dammmmm butts on the ground. And guess what, I am a pet owner and a smoker. But I would never leave my pets mess, or a butt on the ground, ever!