Dumping for Dummies

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Between snow storms, I have been getting my Casita ready for our first outing. It has just occurred to me that I will look like a big dummy the first time I pull up to the dump station. After reading the old "Potty Talk" threads, I am not looking forward to it one bit. My Casita came with a short blue hose that hooks to the dump valve and that's it. I will be doing some solo camping and may not have helping hands available. Can any one give me a list of fittings and handy items that will be required. I have the general idea but would someone be kind enough to run me through this process. I would like to make it as painless as possible and don't want to inconvenience others by holding up the line.

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It's no big deal honest.

You said you have a short blue hose - does it have the fittings on both ends? (They basically reduce the chance of spillage)

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It has a fitting for the trailer end only.

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There is another fitting for the other end, probably red with a 90 degree fitting. When and if you are parked at an RV lot you need this as it fits snugly to their end to prevent spillage and vapour loss.

I use this same hose when dumping to ensure my feet don't get wet.

** I think you want to buy a new hose. ** :)

here's a picture for a hint:
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3e5d07d4a9170I23461.gif/>

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My trailer was new to me last October and I solo'd a couple times without problems.

There was no water available (it was after the regular camping season). I pulled as close to the "hole" as I could. It had kind of a heavy brass cap on a floppy hinge. I hooked the one end to the trailer, stretched out the hose a bit more than the distance to the hole, stuck the hose end in the hole about a foot or so and flopped the cap against the hose to kind of hold it in. There happend to be 1/2 a brick there also and I used it to hold the hose down. (Pictures of the hose flying about spewing "stuff" made me cautious).

Black side first. I poured about 5 gallons of fresh water down the toilet and re-dumped. Grey water next. The grey didn't gush out like the other stuff. The second trip, while the grey drained, I jacked up the trailer just a skosh at the right front and the grey drained quicker and I think more thoroughly.

I've thought about the whole process during the winter and I bought one of those multi, all sizes fit all holes, red, adaptor. Probably the one Rick references. I really, really, really don't want that hose end flopping about :omy . I didn't have any problems but if the adapter helps, I'm willing to futz with it.

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Craig, A fitting at each end of the sewer hose is for sissies.

Just poke the other end down in the hole at the dump station (the one's I've seen don't have a fitting on them anyway).

Of course I'm not much on dumping, period (speaking of sissies). Charles and the others with more experience will be along directly, I expect.

If there is a line when you get to the dump station, just ask the person behind you for some assistance. They'll be happy to explain... and you won't be holding them up. If there's nobody behind you, then, no problem - take as long as you need!

:cblob

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[quote]Orginally posted by Mary F
A fitting at each end of the sewer hose is for sissies.


You need that 90 degree when you are "hooked up" overnight. I think Mary just *Skips* it when it comes to dumping. ;)

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What surprised me somewhat was that the black water side comes out in quite a rush, with more force than I expected. With two people, one might place a foot lightly against the outlet end to hold it in place. Single handing it, I suggest you think about anchoring the end.

Harumph! Sissy indeed!

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Hey, Rick!

I've read it's not a good idea to stay hooked up to the sewer overnight. Better to use your holding tank and then dump it.

It's true I do *Skip* many things... but I've also done my turn.

I'm the one who really likes to go camping, and Skip, to his everlasting credit, indulges me.

I try to not be too ''helpless'' when we're out, else he'll be more inclined to make me stay home.

:cblob

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Hi Craig ... have no fear ... if I can master the art of dumping, anyone can!

Some folks use the elbow connector like Rick says. I don't. I use a sewer hose donut or ring (sold at Walmart), which is essentially a foam rubber ring into which you insert the hose, then insert the ringed hose into the campsite sewer connection (most campgrounds require the elbow or donut.

At the dump station, I don't mess with the donut.

I'm not saying my procedure is right. But it's what I do.

1. Have a package of baby wipes at hand. (I pull out a couple of wipes and have them laying out to clean up afterwards. Some folks use gloves, but since I didn't wear gloves while changing our kids, I don't lose a lot of sleep about my hands ... as long as I have baby wipes to wipe hands with after.

Use a spray bottle of bleach water to spray on dump station stuff you are going to touch as part of the dumping process ... particularly the handle or knob to turn on the dump station water (which you'll use to flush out your hose after dumping).

2. Pull out sewer hose ... check soundness of little nubbins that hold fitting onto trailer. I had one break off once, and lets just say I was ankle deep in stuff before I knew it. As a result, I always check the nubbins for soundness.

3. Uncap trailer sewer valve. Attach sewer hose fitting, rotate entire assembly down (on Casitas) because sewer stuff flows better downhill!

4. Most dump station sewer holes are covered with a levered metal cap. Step on the lever to hold open the cap. Insert open end of sewer hose into dump station hole. Look around, there is usually a rock or two at the dump station. These rocks aren't souvenirs. Place a rock on the hose and cap, so that the rock holds down the business end of sewer hose into the hole. Sometimes the weight of the cap alone isn't enough to hold sewer hose in hole, and the end will flip out, spewing stuff all over the place. So use the rock for weight!

5. Pull black tank lever first. Some times, depending on the angle of the dangle of the hose and dump station, you'll have to use your hands to "walk" the contents of the hose towards the dump station hole. Start up by the trailer, gently lift the hose, move progressively towards the dump station hole.

6. If so equipped, have wife or significant other, flush the toilet a couple of times, flushing clean water through the black tank (Note, this is not a necessary step, and one I often skip!).

7. Close black tank valve .. Pull grey tank valve. By dumping grey water last, you effectively are washing the hose out with soapy shower and dish water, and cleaning the dump valves. Remember to "walk" the hose a few times to milk contents towards the hole.

8. Close grey water valve. Remove hose from trailer. While hose is still inserted into dump station, use the water hose (which is usually nearby) to rinse out sewer hose. Please, under no circumstances, use this hose to fill your fresh water tank. It's yucky!

9. Remove hose from dump station hole. Store in trailer. Remember to double check that you put the cap back on the trailer dump valve .. and rotated the fitting back up (provided yours rotates).

10. Use the hose to rinse down the area for the next guy. Clean your hands with the baby wipes ... and you're out of there!

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While we are connected overnight both the grey (Canadian spelling) and black valves are closed. They only get opened for dumping purposes.

:drillsrgt

Thanks for your comments Charles. I was just adding my 2 cents until you got here to detail the functions. Craig, Charles is actually one of those guys who likes the whole process. I think there's even a picture around with him and the guys, all with smiles on their faces! :)

<img src=http://home.insightbb.com/~cbwatts/crapcrew2.jpg/>

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At the campsite:

Like Mary says ... even if your campsite has a sewer connection, it's good practice NOT to stay connected unless you are dumping.

Why?

Well, sewer gases build up in the hose, and if you leave your valves open, race right into your rig. In addition, since RV toilets don't use as much water as regular toilets, there isn't enough flushing power to carry stuff all the way out, as a result, it will build up.

But, another reason not to stay connection is I've run across a few folks who have have rats climb up ... well, you get the picture. Remember you are connecting to a sewer with a flimsy piece of plastic hose!

As I said, it's always practice to wait until both your black and grey water tanks are filled for a good flush. So when the time comes, step out and connect your hose to the sewer.

Most commerical campgrounds require that campers at campsites with sewer connections use either a threaded 90 degree elbow (like Rick's pix) or a foam rubber sewer donut (I get Pam a new one each year for her birthday!)

It's also a good idea to have a piece of firewood or a rock at your campsite, to add a little more weight to the business end of your hose, to keep it from flipping out. I know, I know, the threaded connector, in a perfect world, shouldn't flip out, but this isn't a perfect world. Plastic threads strip and soften over time.

And the next time you pull the lever, you may be in for a surprise ... so add a little weight to help hold the hose.

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:chatter You were writing your post while I was working on my ''sissies'' comment.

I didn't mean you!

In fact, I didn't even see your post until just now, when I was doing a re-read of the thread.

:inbox

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>>likes the process

I once dumped 43 trailers in less than 90 minutes (with a little help from my friends).

Hey, I'll wash anyone's feet.

But Rick's right.

I really don't lose a lot of sleep over the issue ... anymore than I did changing my kids diapers.

Y'all be surprized at how many germs you are exposed to, not only in your own home, but in public places (and no, not just public bathrooms).

Ever wonder while you are pressing the refill soda button at the fast food place if the guy before you washed his hands? Probably not, and then you go sit down and eat your french fries.

As I said, I don't lose a lot of sleep over it.

I do take care to spray down the water turn-on handles (at the campsite and the dump station) with a mild bleach water spray bottle and use baby wipes to thoroughly clean my hands afterwards.

But, hey, I'm sure my hands will be in worse places before the day is done.

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And if there is one thing that will make grown men act like sissies then it has to be the dumping process of rv'ing. We (or at least I) can accept that! :o :o

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Cross posts! Yikes! Reminds me of the old joke; What do you get if the rabbit hutch almost burns down?

Hot cross bun-nies! (Ba Da Boom!)

Methinks this thread is going down the toilet in more ways than one!

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Orginally posted by Charles Watts

>>likes the process

I once dumped 43 trailers in less than 90 minutes (with a little help from my friends).

Hey, I'll wash anyone's feet.

But Rick's right.

I really don't lose a lot of sleep over the issue ... anymore than I did changing my kids diapers.

Y'all be surprized at how many germs you are exposed to, not only in your own home, but in public places (and no, not just public bathrooms).

Ever wonder while you are pressing the refill soda button at the fast food place if the guy before you washed his hands? Probably not, and then you go sit down and eat your french fries.

As I said, I don't lose a lot of sleep over it.

I do take care to spray down the water turn-on handles (at the campsite and the dump station) with a mild bleach water spray bottle and use baby wipes to thoroughly clean my hands afterwards.

But, hey, I'm sure my hands will be in worse places before the day is done.

The one that irks me is guys (or gals) who don't wash their hands in a public washroom. How can you open a door that you have to pull without touching that handle. Argh.

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Orginally posted by steve L.

Cross posts! Yikes! Reminds me of the old joke; What do you get if the rabbit hutch almost burns down?

Hot cross bun-nies! (Ba Da Boom!)

Methinks this thread is going down the toilet in more ways than one!

If I told jokes like that I would wear those fake glasses and nose setup too. :o :o

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Agree Rick. Can't open it with your elbows :) :)

But this is also one reason why I quit going to buffet places ... where everybody just grabs the spoon to serve themselves or worse yet, reaches in and grabs a piece of whatever.

The other reason I quit going to anything served buffet-style, all you can eat, is I eat too darn much!

Our favorite Chinese food place switched lunch time over to a strictly "all you can eat" buffet.

The owner (because we've been going there for years) allows Pam and I to order and have our food prepared especially for us.

But don't get me started about what the kitchen help may or may not be doing.

As I said, folks. You're exposed to much worse in the course of a normal day. Don't lose a lot of sleep about dumping your trailer!

Also, don't make the mistake of using leather or rubber gloves to dump your trailer. That might be ok the first time, but the gloves allow the germs to build up and fester time after time.

Some use disposible gloves, but my fingers must be too sharp or something, because more often than not, every time I try to use disposible gloves, the darn things rip.

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Since I don't have a whole lot of experience, I can't contribute to all of the invaluable information provided here. However, what I can do is let you know that I was just as gun shy of my first dump as you are.

First time I was in a park with connections, so it wasn't that big of a deal. I got to do it at my own pace without interference. Next time, it was in the rain, I had to go up and onto a hump which caused even less room under my already almost zero clearance older trailer. It took me quite a bit to get as close as possible. Since there was a drop off, it was a matter of backing, pulling forward and ooching closer. Then I had to coax my short hose onto the connection (on mine, it is underneath and not on the side) and then do a mighty stretch to reach the dump valve. Fortunately, I did have the elbow. With that and the supplied rock at hand, I was able to get a secure fit prior to releasing the valve. Since I do not have a grey water tank This is a Hacker contact Admin! was winterized anyway) I took a couple of pans of dishwater and poured them into the commode. Release, then poured in a small amount of bleach water. Voila'.

Lastly: don't be afraid of something going wrong. It happens to even the best of them.