Black tank difference from C class to A class

[opnroad]

Previously we had a Four Winds 28ft C class. Whenever we camped at a full hookup site, I opened the tanks and left them that way without an issue. Now with my Forest River 34ft A class, my black tank seems to be backing up with this process. Are the tanks built differently between class types? Should I keep the valves closed and dump it on intervals? Daily or wait for the inaccurate gauge to tell me it's full? I'm on a 3 month snowbird sit, so I need to figure this out. Please share your system with me.
Thanks.

[ronjhall]

I leave black tank closed. Gray tank open. Have my smart phone send a message every 6 days to dump black tank. We are setting in same place for 4 months.

[vettenuts]

You can leave the grey open but leave the black closed. When the black is nearing time to dump, close the grey and allow it to fill as well so that after dumping the black you can use the grey water to wash out the hose.

Not sure how you got away with that in your Class C, you may have just got lucky. Also, RV geeks has a great video on dumping the tanks.

[opnroad]

This unit has a tank flusher. Can I just attach that whenever I dump and clean out the tank and hose at the same time?

[wildtoad]

As others have said, leave the black closed until mostly full. Once you dump the black tank, then yes you can attach a hose and flush the tank, but don't count on everything getting flushed out. Close the valve and add a few gallons of water to make sure things stay wet.

[nothermark]

There are a lot of things one can do that are also things one should not do as there may be repercussions.

In the case of the tank flusher set it up with a vacuum breaker in the line or you may be drinking your own effluent. It may already have one as many places now require them. Also set it up in a way that lets you observe the amount the tank is filled and what is coming out

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Can't speak to your experience with the Class C, but the problem with leaving the black tank open all the time is that the liquids in the tank outrun the solids out the drain, leaving the solids to "pile up" under the toilet inlet. They will also dry out and harden.

ALSO any tank sanitizer you may add to the tank to control smell will ALSO leave the tank with the liquids. Result is Mt. Everest under your toilet. A good way to clean that up is to add about 5 bags of ice to the tank through the toilet, add some water, and go driving. The ice will batter the mountain slowly to pieces, and after melting will help to wash away the remaining mess.

[Podivin]

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

... A good way to clean that up is to add about 5 bags of ice to the tank through the toilet, add some water, and go driving. The ice will batter the mountain slowly to pieces, and after melting will help to wash away the remaining mess.

VERY clever, thanks for that.
That's one of those ridiculously simple answers, that I would never have thought of.

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by Podivin

VERY clever, thanks for that.
That's one of those ridiculously simple answers, that I would never have thought of.

Much though I'd like to take credit for it, I was actually told this by another RV'er! Take care and enjoy the ride.

[nothermark]

FWIW my observation with C's is that they use a wide flat shallow tank to sit inside the floor wrap. Many of the A's seem to trend to boxier tanks between the rails and with a heated basement compartment. Among other things the wide shallow tank will build up faster if the unit lays so there is a down hill slant away from the toilet while with a slight uphill slant it will maintain a puddle under the toilet helping the pile slide when dumped. OTOH if that pile slumps flatter and is allowed to dry out it will be more of a mess.

[Czar Of Poop]

Here is a website that might be helpful: www.allprowaterflow.com


Happy Camping!

[SpaceNorman]

Originally Posted by Podivin

VERY clever, thanks for that.
That's one of those ridiculously simple answers, that I would never have thought of.

Before you conclude that ice in the black tank solves the problem - you might want to check this out -->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6acEmqvcw

Ice likely doesn't hurt (and it's certainly easier to dump ice down the tank when putting the coach into short term storage between trips). But as a method of getting the black tank clean ... maybe not so much. Just sayin' ....

[F4Gary]

Originally Posted by niceguy9605

Here is a website that might be helpful: www.allprowaterflow.com


Happy Camping!

How much does that cost for a 40 gal black tank?

[Scatterbrain]

Originally Posted by opnroad

Previously we had a Four Winds 28ft C class. Whenever we camped at a full hookup site, I opened the tanks and left them that way without an issue. Now with my Forest River 34ft A class, my black tank seems to be backing up with this process. Are the tanks built differently between class types? Should I keep the valves closed and dump it on intervals? Daily or wait for the inaccurate gauge to tell me it's full? I'm on a 3 month snowbird sit, so I need to figure this out. Please share your system with me.
Thanks.

As others have pointed out, don't leave the black tank open, you're just building a poop pyramid. If you follow the techniques in this video you shouldn't have any issues:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6sv4d3PsTo

Personally I don't leave the grey tank open when parked either. I let it fill up and drain it after the black tank is emptied.

Use a good waste enzyme in the tank and make sure there is always some fluid in the tank, it should help to get rid of the pyramid you've been building. I use this stuff and it seems to work pretty well. http://www.amazon.com/Walex-BIO-1153...words=bio+pack

What toilet paper you use can make a difference as well.
After this video came out we switched out our TP . . . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-twQoVcZTaw