Look. Nobody starts RVing because they're excited about dump stations. But its part of the deal and you need to know what you're doing or things get ugly. Literally.
Ive been RVing for 15 years. Ive seen things at dump stations that would make a plumber cry. Lets make sure you dont become one of those cautionary tales.
The Basic Process
Black tank first. Always. Pull that valve and let gravity do its thing. When its done, close it. Then open the grey tank. The soapy grey water flushes the hose out. This order matters.
If you do it backwards you're pushing black tank residue through a hose that then sits there. I shouldnt have to explain why thats bad.
Gear You Need
A good sewer hose. Not the cheap one that came with your rig. Get a Rhino Extreme or equivalent. Its worth the $40. A pair of disposable gloves. A clear elbow connector so you can see when the water runs clear. And hand sanitizer. Lots of hand sanitizer.
Etiquette
Dont take forever. Other people are waiting. Have your hose ready before you pull up. Dump, rinse, pack up, move. Five minutes tops.
Clean up after yourself. If you drip, rinse it. If you splash — and you will eventually — clean it up immediately. We're all in this together.
And for the love of all things holy, dont dump your grey water on the ground at your campsite. Its gross, its often illegal, and your neighbors will hate you.
Its not glamorous. But once you've done it a few times it becomes routine. And routine beats panic every time.
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After years on the road I can confirm — this is solid advice.
This is exactly what I needed to read today! Going to try this on our next trip.
took the ATVs out last weekend and tried some of this advice. Solid stuff.
Just got back from 3 weeks in Utah. Wish I had this guide before I left.
Ha we should swap stories sometime!