Community Forums

fansill · 06-26-2011, 10:53 AM

Hello All,

We had a terrific week-long outing at a local state park at the ocean but I had the dreaded Robin Williams mishap while dumping the holding tanks.

After almost 20 years of Rv'ing with none of those unmentionable incidents happening to us, it finally happened. I was dumping the tanks at the dump station on our way out of the park and in my haste did not lock the sewer hose tightly enough to the valve opening. I had very full tanks and of course the massive flow knocked the hose askew and it started leaking and spraying all over my compartment. I quickly shut the valve and was able to re-position the sewer hose and lock it securely, but the damage was done. Luckily, the only place the black water went was around the bottom of the compartment and over my feet...YUCK!!! I was able to continue dumping and then because there was no-one waiting in line at the dump station, I thoroughly rinsed and washed the compartment and all nooks and crannies with a bleach and water solution. I had my husband come out of the coach with another pair of sandals and the contaminated pair went right into the trash. It was not funny at the time (except to my husband who stood there laughing hysterically...) but now I can look back and chuckle.

I learned my lessons...

1. Pay attention to what you are doing when dealing with that distateful chore.

2. Double check the sewer hose connection.

3. Wear washable flip-flops when dealing with sewer stuff.

4. Step way back as soon as you pull the valve open.

5. And don't forget to shoot your husband if he laughs at you in the middle of a catastrophe....

Wishing all of you better luck than me when dumping your tanks....

Faith in Sunny Massachusetts

Tallyrver · 06-26-2011, 10:57 AM

Dang!! My wife will not even come out of the coach when I dump the tanks.

Wayne

RustyJC · 06-26-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fansill

...I had my husband come out of the coach...

My wife says the only reason she keeps me around is to handle the sewer hose duties.

Rusty

Elkhartjim · 06-26-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fansill

I had my husband come out of the coach

Really? Now this would be an interesting poll for someone to start.

SuperMike · 06-26-2011, 01:01 PM

As my wife would say " What's a sewer hose "

She keeps a dog and so does not bark herself.

offthewall · 06-26-2011, 01:07 PM

When we moved back to a travel trailer after a few years of tent camping, my wife (anxious to get her own toilet while camping) offered to always handle the dumping chores. 14 years, two TT's and two MH's later, I still hold her to that deal

Tha_Rooster · 06-26-2011, 02:11 PM

I have all outside duties and the wife stores stuff away on the inside there is no way she would touch the sewer. My rhino hose works easy and you can keep it straight not like a snake. I'm sure it's funny know but when it happened it was a bunch of crap.

shortlance · 06-26-2011, 02:13 PM

My wife only seems to know that when she flushes the crap goes away.

Route 66 · 06-26-2011, 02:55 PM

Pulling the handle on the black tank causes more apprehension than pulling the handle on a slot machine........you never know what's going to happen.

Wayne M · 06-26-2011, 05:49 PM

Many many moons ago I had back problems and asked DW to slip under the slide and hook the sewer hose up. She asked, "Am I going to get anything on me?" To which I replied honestly, "No." She pulled the cap off the output connector and a gush of water came out. Fortunately it was only the Grey water valve I had inadvertently left open (that my story and I'm sticking to it.) Now! Like others have stated, DW has a curse on the sewer connection and will not go near it.

mbrooking · 06-26-2011, 07:11 PM

Had it happen to me; My lesson was to always let out some gray water first to check the hose connections..

bullheaded · 06-26-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Many many moons ago I had back problems and asked DW to slip under the slide and hook the sewer hose up. She asked, "Am I going to get anything on me?" To which I replied honestly, "No." She pulled the cap off the output connector and a gush of water came out.

This belongs in the "Biggest Lie Thread"

RickO · 06-26-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbrooking

Had it happen to me; My lesson was to always let out some gray water first to check the hose connections..

Ditto.... and, ditto. My Robin Williams moment really did force water from the black tank up through the vent, over the roof and across the awning.

My lesson was to NEVER get distracted when tending to the tanks.

Fortunately, I had gotten distracted while re-filling the black tank for a second rinse so it was not nearly as bad as it could have been.

Rick