How to Safely Dump the Septic Tanks on a Travel Trailer

---

Dumping the septic tanks on a travel trailer is a crucial part of RV maintenance and responsible camping. While the process may seem intimidating at first, it’s straightforward once you know the steps. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, including safety precautions, equipment needed, and a step-by-step process to ensure a clean and efficient tank dump. All of our campers come with everything you need to dump the septic tanks with every rental.

Travel trailers typically have two main waste tanks:

• Black Water Tank: This tank holds waste from the toilet. It contains solid and liquid waste and requires extra care when dumping.

• Gray Water Tank: This tank collects wastewater from sinks and showers. Gray water is less odorous and often used to help rinse the sewer hose after dumping the black tank.

Knowing which tank is which will help you avoid cross-contamination and make the dumping process smoother.

Before starting, gather the following equipment:

1. Sewer Hose: A specialized hose that connects your trailer’s waste outlets to the sewer drain and can be found in the bumper of our travel trailers.

2. Sewer Hose Support: This helps maintain a gradual slope for the hose, which can aid in waste flow. A common brand that supports this is a sidewinder which can be found in a tote in the storage area of the camper.

3. Gloves: Disposable gloves keep your hands protected from contamination.

4. Sewer Elbow or Adapter: An elbow connector helps create a secure seal between the sewer hose and the campground’s sewer inlet.

1. Put on Gloves and Check Connections

First, put on your disposable gloves for protection. Make sure you have everything in place and are ready to connect the sewer hose before opening any valves.

2. Connect the Sewer Hose to the Trailer’s Outlet

Locate the travel trailer’s sewer outlet. Our trailers have separate valves for black and gray tanks that lead to a single outlet pipe.

• Attach the Sewer Hose: Connect one end of the sewer hose securely to the trailer’s outlet.

• Secure the Hose with an Elbow Adapter: Connect the other end of the hose with an elbow adapter to the campground or dump station’s sewer inlet. The elbow keeps the hose secure and prevents spills.

3. Use the Sewer Hose Support

Place the sewer hose support under the hose to create a gentle slope from the trailer outlet to the sewer inlet. This helps gravity pull the waste through the hose without leaving residue behind.

4. Open the Black Water Tank Valve First

Once everything is connected and secure, you’re ready to start dumping:

• Pull the Black Water Valve: Open the black water tank valve (identified with a black handle). Allow the waste to flow completely into the sewer. You may hear water moving through the hose and notice the tank gauge lowering.

• Wait Until the Black Tank is Empty: It’s essential to allow all black water to empty before moving on to the gray tank. This prevents any clogging or residue buildup in the black tank.

5. Close the Black Tank Valve

Once the black water tank is fully emptied, close the black tank valve securely to prevent any backflow or leaks.

6. Open the Gray Water Tank Valve

With the black tank emptied and the valve closed, you can now open the gray water tank valve:

• Pull the Gray Water Valve: Open the gray water tank valve (identified with a gray handle). This wastewater from sinks and showers is less odorous and will help rinse out the inside of the sewer hose.

• Allow the Gray Water to Fully Drain: Let the gray water drain completely. This will help to clean any remaining black tank residue from the sewer hose.

7. Close the Gray Water Tank Valve

Once the gray water tank has completely drained, close the gray tank valve securely. You’re now ready to disconnect the sewer hose.

1. Disconnect the Sewer Hose Carefully

Carefully disconnect the sewer hose from the trailer’s outlet and the sewer inlet. Be cautious when lifting the hose to avoid spills.

• Hold the Hose High Near the Trailer: Starting at the trailer side, carefully lift and walk the hose toward the sewer inlet. This ensures any remaining water in the hose flows down toward the drain.

2. Rinse the Sewer Hose

If there’s a water hose available at the dump station, use it to rinse the inside and outside of the sewer hose:

• Spray Inside the Hose: Flush water through the hose to remove any residual waste.

• Clean the Outside: Rinse the outside of the hose to ensure it’s clean before storing.

Note: Do not use your trailer’s drinking water hose to rinse the sewer hose. Always use a designated rinse hose.

3. Store Your Sewer Hose Properly

Once the hose is clean, store it in the designated storage compartment on your trailer. Keeping it in a separate compartment ensures that it won’t contaminate other items.

• Dump Only When Necessary: It’s best to wait until your black tank is at least two-thirds full before dumping. This allows for a more effective dump, as a fuller tank uses gravity to help push out solid waste.

• Use RV-Safe Toilet Paper: Only use toilet paper that is safe for RV systems, as regular toilet paper can clog the black tank and make dumping more difficult.

• Dump the Black Tank First, Always: The gray tank water is cleaner and can help rinse out the hose. Always follow the sequence of dumping black first, then gray.

• Not Using Gloves: Gloves are essential for sanitation and protecting yourself from harmful bacteria. Never skip this step.

• Dumping Tanks in the Wrong Order: Always dump the black water tank before the gray water tank to help clean the sewer hose.

• Failing to Close the Valves Properly: Make sure to close both tank valves completely after dumping to prevent leaks.