Posted 2010-03-31 5:34 PM (#118302) Subject: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Grant Twp., MI
Hi all - has anyone had any "bad" experience with the Outlaw conversion - black holding tank? I don't mean to be "indelicate" - but in our 4-Star trailer - the tank is sorta up in the floor and its about 19" wide by 65" long - about 5" deep on one end and about 3" deep on the other. Seems like the toilet is centered in such a way over the black tank - that the poo just "piles" up a little...and doesn't seem to "slosh" around...we are thinking about changing this tank...anyone else have any thoughts about this? This is our NEW - USED trailer so we are getting to know it on a personal basis.
Posted 2010-03-31 5:44 PM (#118303 - in reply to #118302) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
If you're not moving, the poo will pile up under the loo. Make sure you add enough water when you begin camping so things can easily spread out once you move. I try to add enough to just cover the bottom of the tank, then add my waste disintegrator thingy. I've not had any problems with that set up even after a week of camping, and I do notice how it will pile up.
Posted 2010-03-31 6:29 PM (#118304 - in reply to #118302) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
Great topic POOO.. :)
I noticed that I have to stir the soup on long stays to knock down the pile of Pooo.
We have one of those hose wands from the RV section in walmart. (we refer to it as the wand of death) That and one of those trap opener items are indispensable.
Oh rubber gloves and hand sanitizer are my weapons of choice.
Dam we will shovel Horse manure all day but when it comes to the human ones I just shiver.
When we are ready to visit the dump station (to dump the dump) I add as much water from a hose as I can to allow the tank to slosh about on the way to the station.
Just a word of advise. Caution on touching and not sanitizing. I picked up a nasty case of Giardia (Beaver Fever) last summer from who knows what during a dump station visit after a large rain, there were puddles of I supose rain water that I had to kneel in to unload the load.
Thought I was cashin in the farm in about three days later and a visit to the ER.
Posted 2010-03-31 10:22 PM (#118310 - in reply to #118302) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Before we leave on a trip, I dump in a small bucket of water mixed with disinfectant. (Aprox 3 1/2 gal) Having fluid in the bottom of the tank before it is utilized, eliminates the collection of solids. As was previously stated, almost filling the tank before dumping, will help with a more complete drainage.
There have been many postings about the usage of ice cubes added to the tank, and agitated by pulling the trailer down the road. The ice loosens anything adhered to the interior tank's surface, and easily flushes out later.
This isn't a problem with your conversion company and the tank they installed. It is more simply, a matter of having enough fluids to break down the solids.
Posted 2010-04-01 5:51 AM (#118315 - in reply to #118302) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
It's not the fault of your conversion company. It's the nature of how these tanks are installed on our trailers. There's not enough room for the waste to fall and generate speed that would cause it to spread on impact in the tank. To illustrate my point, on motorhomes, the waste tanks are in basement compartments. That gives anywhere from 10"-16" of fall before hitting the tank. I've had the same problem, I usually grab a stick from the woods and push it around from top side. I know a disgusting proposition, my dad's a plumber so I've seen worse.
Posted 2010-04-01 6:49 AM (#118316 - in reply to #118302) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Location: Central Arkansas
Over the years, I have only had this issue in one trailer that had the toilet mounted on the same side as the dump valve. On my LQ, my dump valve is on the drivers side and my toilet is on the passenger side. This setup seems to utilize the space in the tank better.
Posted 2010-04-01 8:41 AM (#118318 - in reply to #118302) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Good grief just when I thought I had "read it all". LOL But this is really good info to know. We are new to this black tank thing too. A couple of weeks ago when we left a camping park we went by the RV dump and after the black tank had drained I went inside the LQ and opened the walk through door. My husband handed me the water hose through the escape door and I (turned off water pump) stepped on the flush valve and put the hose into the toilet and we ran water into the tank as it drained. This seemed to do a really good flushing job.
Posted 2010-04-01 9:01 AM (#118319 - in reply to #118302) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
The biggest thinkg that you can do to help is to use more water when you flush. Granted, you will have to dump your tank more often, but you will have far less problems when you flush. Changing out your tank will not help the problem.
Posted 2010-04-01 9:41 AM (#118321 - in reply to #118319) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Grant Twp., MI
HI ALL!!! Thanks for the great suggestions..I will say that our previous trailer the toilet was on the opposite side of the release valve, while in this trailer the toilet is on the same side as the dump valve....we have always used a hose and rinse through the toilet after dumping...but we never had that pile up issue before...we also do not put toilet paper down the toilet..just save and used those old Wal-Mart plastic bags! Our way of re-cycling!
Posted 2010-04-04 12:56 PM (#118428 - in reply to #118390) Subject: RE: "Indelicate" black tank question?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 522 Location: Tucumcari NM
That is exactly why I use a shavings toilet with poo powder. No odor, no nasty stuff. You can convert a standard toilet by just using a plastic garbage bag as a liner.
"Indelicate" black tank question?
