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RV
Manual
Return to Rental Rates Page
We are developing an online Manual so that you
may enjoy your RV to it's fullest. This is a work in progress and is subject to
change at any given time. It is also a generic
peace of work and is meant only as a general guide, it should not be taken as
absolute fact. Each RV is distinct and individual in it's own
right, do not take anything written here literally as it may or may not apply to
the exact RV you will be using. Some information provided in these pages
are only suggestions. Please read Your
RV page as we have more helpful information.
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Please note that there is a $45.00
Dumping Charge
if the RV Holding Tanks are not clean on return date. |
You will have both a gray water tank (shower and
sink) and a black water tank (from toilet). You'll need much more capacity for
your gray water tank than black water tank. At a campground you can leave the
gray water valve open once you're hooked up to the campground's sewer system.
When you shower, it goes right through your system, through your hose, and into
their sewer system. But do NOT every leave the black water tank
"open". It needs to be filled up at least 1/2 to 2/3 to create enough
water pressure to flush out completely. A good tip: keep your gray water tank
closed for a day or more before flushing the black tank. Then after dumping the
black tank, drain the gray tank to flush out the hose. Also, after dumping the
black tank for the last time before storage, fill it at least half full of
water, add dishwasher soap, drive down the road to shake it all up. Then stop at
the last dump station before getting home and empty the black tank again. These
systems are really not all that complicated; and they're quite easy to use.
All of the tanks have vents. Be careful that the
pipes remain clear of debris, birds, etc. Usual symptom of blockage is odor in
the rig. When this occurs, check the vents.
Fresh water tank sits above the flooring, while waste tanks hang below, are more
exposed, and can develop leaks -- particularly if you're traveling with full
tanks. Better to empty tanks before traveling. There are kits which can be used
to patch a tank which has developed a leak, providing it is not so large as to
be unrepairable.
Also, don't trust the gauges that pretend to tell
you how full the gray and black water tanks are. They typically don't work
accurately. You'll get false readings. Pretty soon you'll get a "feel"
for how often you'll need to dump the tanks. Pretty soon all this gets to be
easy too!
Accessories
Sewer hoses come in three weights, light, medium and heavy duty. These might be
classified as: tear easily, tear harder, and tear eventually. The heaviest duty
hoses do not compress well, and will require a larger storage compartment.
Couplings and connectors: Their recommendation from
the various brands and styles is the blue Presto-Fit kits.
Hose carriers: Many are carried in bumper, which
tends to rust and scrape the hose when storing and removing it.. PVC carriers
which are vented can tend to minimize this problem, and can offer more space for
extra lengths of hose when a longer hose length is required..
Tote tanks ("blue tank") are used
to fully or partially drain your gray or black water, and drive the waste water
to the dump station in another vehicle. This lets you leave your RV parked when
boondocking.
"A Sewer Solution" -- like mascerator
pump lets you pump uphill. However, it does require the use of water.
Mascerators requires no water, but do require electicity.
Rest area dump stations, and the ettiquette
thereof: Most RVers will find rest areas convenient places to dump. The
"Rest Area Guide" provides a resource for locating a dump stations.
Many states are closing the dump stations due to vandalism and poor manners by
RVers. One of the key problems: Always use a hose. This seems overly simple, but
unfortunately too many RVers violate this rule. And of course clean up after
you're done so the next RVer starts with a clean area.
Chemicals:
Very few RV chemicals still contain formaldahyde. But some parks still require
emptying holding tanks before entering the park. Newer products are enzyme type
-- tablets, liquid, powder, etc. Hot weather will require a bit more chemical to
work effectively. A teaspoon full of baking soda every couple of months can help
fight odor in black water tanks.
Sewer
hoses come
in 10 or 20 foot length hoses. If you have a 20' hose only, you'll be parked
right next to the sewer. If you have a 10' hose, you'll be miles away. Tip: Take
a 20' foot hose, cut it so you have a 6' hose and a 14' hose. Also carry a 10'
hose. That gives you anything from 6' to 30'
Water
hose: Use
this to fill your water tank.
Myths
- "Home brew" remedies are used by
some in lieu of purchased chemicals. Lysol, PineSol, baking soda and even
"a few aspirins" are advocated by some RVers. But some of these
can damage toilet seals and valves. A safer solution are chemicals that are
specifically designed for use in RVs.
- You must use specialized toilet tissues. Maybe
in old recirculating toilets. But now just buy the cheapest brand of regular
tissue, and it will work as well.
- Black waters smells worse than gray water. Not
necessarily, because we seldom put chemicals in gray water. The soaps and
detergents tend to kill off bacteria in the gray water tanks.
- Coyote dumping is okay (down a rabbit hole,
etc). No, that's not okay, and it's illegal. The effluents and chemicals
will permeate the ground and invade water supply resources.
Tips
- Keep your black water valves closed when
you're parked. And leave it until at least 3/4 full. If you need to dump
before it's full, full it w/a hose to 3/4 full before dumping. Only by
having a substantially full tank can you ensure that it will properly empty
all solid wastes.
- Never drag a sewer hose across dirt or
concrete when setting up or preparing to leave -- it will quickly result
tearing. And be vary wary of weed whackers used by RV park maintenance
personnel..
- Be aware of local state laws. A doughnut, for
example, will be required in some jurisdictions -- so be equipped with
fittings which will keep you legal in all states. Oregon is just one example
of a state which has special requirements.
- Always dump gray water after you've
dumped the black water, as it will tend to clean out the sewer hose.
- Use drinking water safe hoses only for fresh
water. Otherwise you'll get a plastic or rubber taste.
- Periodically (every few months) clean fresh
water lines, tank, and hot water tank by flushing and then following w/weak
bleach solution. Also flush weak bleach solution through your fresh water
hose. More specifically: Disonnect from city water, and then drain the fresh
water tank. Next add back about 15 gallons of weak bleach solution. Turn on
each cold water line until bleach smell appears. Wait 4 hours. Then empty
the hot water tank. With city water still disconnected, turn on the hot
water, which will fill the hot water tank w/weak bleach solution. Run
solution to each hot water faucet in the rig until bleach smell appears.
Wait four hours. Next empty fresh water and hot water tanks, refill with
fresh water, and run fresh water through all hot and cold water lines. Empty
fresh water tank once more, and refull with fresh water.
Sewage
Never dump
on the ground anywhere. It's illegal in almost every state. And it's certainly
terrible manners as well. Many service stations out West have a disposal station
for a fee. Flying J is particularly RV friendly. They'll have dump station and
propane. Newer flying J's have fuel plazas just for RVs -- but regrettably
they're poorly designed and often too tight for big rigs -- so bigger rigs will
want to fuel up with the trucks. Some chains are not RV friendly. Petro is one.
Unfortunately some states are closing their dump stations. It's because RVers
use bad manners. Always use a hose; and always hook up the hose to the dump
station first, and then to your RV.
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