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vavroom · 11-19-2018, 11:00 AM

On leaving Oldtown, WA a few weeks ago, as I was emptying our black water tank, a cap at the end of the hose fell off. Obviously it had worked itself lose in transit! So instead of going down into the campground septic system, the black water started to gush out of the hose. I didn't even think. I stuck my thumb in the hose's hole to stop it gushing. I felt EVERY. Little. Lump coming through the pipe. All 60 gallons worth

Being a bit discombulated after that event, it turns out I FORGOT TO CLOSE THE VALVE to the black tank. I did put the cap on the sewer drain though.

I discovered I'd forgotten to close the valve when we got to our next stop where we were connected to sewer. When I saw that the sewer drain pipe showed it was FULL of dark brown, malevolent looking slushy water!

I needed something to drain the pipe in. Did not own a bucket. I made my way on foot to a feed store about a mile down the road (we were in a rural area with lots of farms around). I asked the guy if they had buckets. They did. He asked what size. I said I'm not sure, show me what you have. He asked why. I told him this story. He laughed. I thought he was going to pass out he was laughing so hard. Gasping between breaths he said "Robin Williams. RV"... Then burst out laughing again.

So I get a bucket. Go to pay for it. He said "nope, the bucket's on us, thanks for the laugh and good luck"...

Sooo, I have a free bucket, and a LOT more experience

I ain't making those mistakes again. I hope

Jean n Steve · 11-19-2018, 11:14 AM

charliez · 11-19-2018, 11:16 AM

A Forest Gump would say, it happens

Not the end of the word. Wash your hand or throw your shoes into a dumpster, whichever applies and go on about life.

Bahamaniac · 11-19-2018, 04:14 PM

First lesson to learn: ALWAYS wear gloves when dumping!

G Schulz · 11-25-2018, 04:01 PM

Thanks for sharing the story, it was good for a laugh, even had to show my wife. At least you got a free bucket.

Old-Biscuit · 11-25-2018, 04:14 PM

Thanks for the visual.......

Next time just close the dump valve, get a gallon zip lock bag, hold it under the sewer cap and crack open the hose connection on sewer cap to slowly drain dump line a little at a time
Don't have a hose connection on sewer cap...buy a cap that does have one

Oh wait.....you now have a bucket...never mind

Ray,IN · 11-25-2018, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahamaniac

First lesson to learn: ALWAYS wear gloves when dumping!

And never say never again. Karma has a way of returning.

AnotherMike · 11-25-2018, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahamaniac

First lesson to learn: ALWAYS wear gloves when dumping!

I'm also pretty new to RVing, but one thing a friend with a decade of RV experience told me was to buy a box of rubber gloves and a half-dozen pairs of cheap work gloves the next time that Harbor Freight has them on sale. You an get them prices ranging from 50 cents a pair to a buck a pair. Dollar stores may be an alternate source of both.

Always wear the rubber gloves when dumping waste, and put a set of work gloves over them.
Consider the rubber gloves as one-time use, and the work gloves as use-until-you've-spilled-crap-on-them.

Keep a couple of pairs of work gloves and a bunch of the rubber gloves in the storage compartment nearest to the dump valves. Have the new unused gloves in zip-lock bags, and the current pair of work gloves near the compartment door.

Anyway, that's his advice. Being new to RVs I'm always willing to learn better ways of doing things.

Old-Biscuit · 11-26-2018, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherMike

I'm also pretty new to RVing, but one thing a friend with a decade of RV experience told me was to buy a box of rubber gloves and a half-dozen pairs of cheap work gloves the next time that Harbor Freight has them on sale. You an get them prices ranging from 50 cents a pair to a buck a pair. Dollar stores may be an alternate source of both.

Always wear the rubber gloves when dumping waste, and put a set of work gloves over them.
Consider the rubber gloves as one-time use, and the work gloves as use-until-you've-spilled-crap-on-them.

Keep a couple of pairs of work gloves and a bunch of the rubber gloves in the storage compartment nearest to the dump valves. Have the new unused gloves in zip-lock bags, and the current pair of work gloves near the compartment door.

Anyway, that's his advice. Being new to RVs I'm always willing to learn better ways of doing things.

I never wear gloves.
They interfere and don't give your body a chance to build up your immunities

Besides I can't smoke a cig and eat my sandwich while dumping. Gloves are clumsy

twogypsies · 11-26-2018, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherMike

Always wear the rubber gloves when dumping waste, and put a set of work gloves over them.
Consider the rubber gloves as one-time use, and the work gloves as use-until-you've-spilled-crap-on-them.

Why bother with the plastic gloves if you're putting regular ones over them? You'll be touching the regular ones many times.

Just use the plastic ones for dumping and then toss. . . being sure you take them off correctly so you're not touching the outside.... which will again, defeat the purpose.

gvette85 · 11-27-2018, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

I never wear gloves.
They interfere and don't give your body a chance to build up your immunities

Besides I can't smoke a cig and eat my sandwich while dumping. Gloves are clumsy

Got a good laugh off this one. Reminded me of a guy that used to pump out the Port-a-John on our construction sites.He actually did eat a sandwich while pumping it out.

keymastr · 11-27-2018, 05:54 PM

I have an outdoor kitchen with a sink with hot water and soap so no gloves are needed. Comes in very handy.

Bob_C · 11-27-2018, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

I never wear gloves.
They interfere and don't give your body a chance to build up your immunities

Besides I can't smoke a cig and eat my sandwich while dumping. Gloves are clumsy

Well, yeahhh!

Searching_Ut · 11-27-2018, 06:31 PM

Ya have to love those Robin Williams moments. My only one was 30 plus years into my rv life. Timber ridge trailer, dump valves on cables right by dump lines. Always checked they were closed having heard campfire stories about removing cap with valve opened. Guess I never had to think about the physics before because things had gone to plan. Was standing in bad position and learned a lot of crap can fill the tube between the cap and valve, and it can have more pressure than you would expect.

On the plus side I was wearing rubber gloves so my hands remained clean so I didn’t get the shower valve dirty when I took a shower. Ever since my RVs have always had a second gate valve installed at the outlet.