- Home Page
- Funny RVing Stories
- How not to Dump Your RV Holding Tanks the First Time
How not to Dump Your RV Holding Tanks the First Time
by Pete
(WY)
How not to Dump Your RV Holding Tanks the First Time
Editors Note: This story was submitted on our Funny RVing Stories Page.
I'm the proud new owner of a 1990 Ford campervan--an Intervec Falcon conversion. This is my first RV, so I've read and studied all the ins and outs of all things RV, especially dumping.
The previous owner told me he dumped the black water a couple of days before, but the sensors on both the black and gray water did not work. The propane and regular water tank sensors work, however. I trusted him, but I just wanted to make sure. After watching a few more videos and reading more articles, I convinced my wife to go with me to the dump station--for moral support, big burly guy that I am. I added water to both the black and gray water tanks; one by hose the other by running out the rest of the fresh water, my hope being that driving around a little bit would loosen up whatever muck is on the sensors (it didn't.)
I pulled up to the dump station, every step rehearsed in my head. Gloves, water hose, slinky, and a plan were at hand. Now, the outlets to the two tanks are completely separate on this van--no rinsing out the black tank with gray at the push and pull of a lever--you have to do one and then the other as separate operations. Additionally, the valves are not easy to get to, especially the black water tank, as it sits underneath the running boards which are already pretty low to the ground.
After reattaching the hose and a good tightening of the hose clamp, the rest of the dump went as planned. Ironically the gray water tank smelled worse than the black. And my sensors still aren't working, but I won't make the mistake of checking that hose clamp each time. My second time to dump, which is coming up soon, might be done at night just to make sure I don't embarrass myself.
Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by clicking on the "Click Here To Post Comments" link located near the bottom of this page.