I have been RVing for 20 years and have avoided the use of a portable waste tank up to this point. My wife always hated the "government wash rooms" at state parks so most of the time we have stayed at private parks with full hook-ups. Well I decided we are going to try and save some money so we are taking the boat out to the lake and reserved a spot at the local state park for $20 a day, no waste hook up. I understand how to use one the only question I have is should they be used for "black" water? My RV only has one tank so both black and grey water would need to be transferred at the same time. Because of the nature of "black" water does this work or should a macerator be used?

We also have a single tank, maybe 35 gals, and after 10 years here's what we have found. Suzie and I by ourselves, 4 days no problem, but we'll be full. This is being careful, dump the dishwater out, use the available facilities when possible, and use common sense. At the track we can make 3 days being careful. It's surprizing how fast 35 gallons fills up. If you think you will have to go to the dump station, just allow time for it. I have always found the Restrooms in state parks to be pretty good, except for Georgia, but that's another story. My blue boy sits in my warehouse, as I found it's not worth the hassle of lugging it around, but your situation may be different and it may work for you.

I have a large (80 gal) portable at my TT in GA. I have a dump port to the septic, but it's on the other side of the storage building, so I tow the tank with the Mule. A macerator is unnecessary.

If the park has a dump station, consider how you'll get the portable to it - 30 gals of black water will weigh 240 lbs. If it doesn't, consider how you'll transport a full portable to a dump station...

I've always thought it would be nice to have a driver controlled remote waste dump valve. Maybe dump when somebody's tailgating, take care of 2 problems at once!

...something like this:

http://www.thetford.com/HOME/P...bid/545/Default.aspx

and with Steves ingenuity just a switch on the dash and a output into the exhaust like the old thetford exhaust system...

well...he could...have fun ....!

That would be awesome! With a hose discharge we could even repel boarders in close quarters. Sweet.

I had a 1973 Revcon with an exhaust based waste disposal system.It had a screw device that fed the waste into the exhaust just after the manifold and was controlled from the dash. darned thing never did work well so i reverted to dump stations.

Didn't they used to plumb the waste drain right into the exhaust on the old RV's back in the day. I think I read that.
I used to have an old cabin cruiser boat that the commode would just dump into the lake.

quote:

Originally posted by Neil T.:
Didn't they used to plumb the waste drain right into the exhaust on the old RV's back in the day?

One system was called a Thermasan. It sensed engine RPM, engine vacuum, exhaust temp and road speed. It would introduce sewage into the exhaust in such a manner that it would all be burned. The bacteria was burned and the water was vaporized. It was said to smell like popcorn.

In those days, on a motorcycle, I kept a clear distance behind premium RVs, so I cannot verify the popcorn thing. I can, however, verify their cleanliness, as I saw several Airstreams that had them connected to the exhaust of the tow vehicle with no apparent discoloration on the trailer.

It was usually found on premium RVs. As the premium market became more predominantly diesel, their sales fell off, as the diesel exhaust is not hot enough.

It was not a good device or RVers who practiced water conservation, though. It dealt with liquids better than it did with solids. I wonder how it would work with the chemicals today that claim to break down solids.

The true tailgater cure. All who wander are not lost.