Black and grey valves while camping

[WearyTraveler]

I’m in an rv park for the next couple of days, learning about my new toy. When I bought this, the seller told me to keep my black and grey valves open so that everything would flow into the septic hookup. Basically, both tanks drain constantly.

A buddy that owns a 5th wheel says he leaves grey open to drain and black closed. That allows any solids to float and soften etc... making it easier to drain.

I saw in an article that both should remain closed so that when I leave I can drain black first then use the grey to wrench the pipes a bit.

Which is correct? Or which is “more correct?”

Thank you!

[pstandiford]

If we are going to be in one location long enough for the gray tank to fill up we will leave it open. Generally close it two days before we leave so that we have enough in gray tank to rinse the sewer hose. If you leave the black valve open solids will settle out and build up in your tank. Of the two options you listed the second is correct. The first is very wrong.

[cavie]

Never leave the black open EVER. If left open water will come out and poo and TP will build up in the bottom of the tank. You will not like the results if that happening. Hold the gray of not. That choice is yours. My gray stays open. Every dump station I have seen In a campground has a water hose for cleaning the sewer hose.

[JamieGeek]

Yup: Black closed always and wait until its at least 2/3 full before emptying. Don't want dry stuff piling up in there.

Grey valve your choice. We leave it open but we have a tornado on the black tank and just flush everything when we're done anyway.

[lwmcguire]

You have received some good advice
One more note is if you have a washer then it pays to leave that tank open until just long enough to build up the flush water. Sometimes DW forgets to tell me she is going to wash several loads and it fill that tank fairly quickly

[CHUCK52]

my typical situation is no sewer on site,so that always works. just do the same, only you don't have to break camp to dump. you also have the added safety of not having the hose end come out of the drain and make a mess you don't want to be trying to clean up.

[Bob Denman]

We leave both of ours closed....
... And dump them as needed...

[PictureTheSouth]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

We leave both of ours closed....
... And dump them as needed...

What Bob said.....

[The Gritz Carlton]

Just another example of how stupid RV Sales Goobers are. Most of them have never used a camper for a weekend...much less ever owned one. If every time one of them told an outright lie they would age 5 years, they wouldn't last a month in the business. Black always closed, period...dump when full. Gray is a 50/50 thing. I let it fill also before dumping. Too many roaches and stuff in the sewers to let them stay open.

[EA37TS]

Black closed and Grey open. When we are breaking down I will close the grey before dumping the black and have DW run the water in the sink for a few minutes. I dump the black tank, then flush it with the black tank flush, fill it to 2/3 using the black tank flush and drain again. I then drain the grey tank and button things down.

With the new Accolade instead of an outdoor shower hose and head I have a quick connect utility hose with a garden hose nozzle. I may start using that to rinse the sewer hose before packing it up. Haven't made a firm decision on this yet.

[mountainsam]

My stinky slinky stays stored until time for first dump. After first dump all valves stay closed and wet bay locked.

[Bob Denman]

About those valves...

ALWAYS know their status!

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1572821284

[Patriot]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

We leave both of ours closed....

... And dump them as needed...

Absolutely correct.