RVing Tips for RVers: When Rving...

• When camping, look for the , RV dumping station or sani station sign.
• Carry an extra garden hose for rinsing in case the dump station doesn't have one. Store this in an area where it won't come into contact with your drinking water hose.
• Do not use your RV fresh water hose for rinsing sewer hoses or the dump area. If you do, then it's no longer a fresh water hose!
• Never leave the black-water tank valve open when hooked up at a campground. Liquids will drain, leaving solids to harden on the bottom of the tank. Also, whenever your neighbor empties their tank there's the possibility of the odors entering your RV.
• Never put anything other than black and gray water into a sewer drain.
• While camping leave campground showers, the dump station, and the campsite as clean as you found them. At the end of your trip, dispose of all trash properly.
• Use non-toxic cleaning supplies and tank additives in your RV holding tanks. For a list of ecologically-friendly waste treatment products refer to the Camp Green Canada website.
• Dump any extra ice down the toilet into the black water tank before you drive, this will help clean the gauge sensors. Also, dumping two cups of baking soda into 1/2 full black or gray tank will help clean the gauge sensors.
• When hooking your RV water hose up in a new campsite, connect one end to the campground tap. Turn on the water and flush the hose before hooking it up to your RV. This assures the inside of the hose is clean as well as getting rid of any water that has been standing inside the campground pipe.
• When emptying your holding tanks, drain the black water tank first and then the gray water tank. This will help to clean the sewer hose out before you store it, as well as insuring a good force flow of the solids in the campgrounds sewer system.
• Be aware of local state/provincial laws when camping. A doughnut, for example, will be required in some jurisdictions, so be equipped with fittings which will keep you legal in all states and provinces. Oregon is just one example of a state which has special requirements.
• Taps at Dump Stations: Remember the tap above the dump station is for cleaning down the dump station and your waste tanks after use. NEVER use the tap above a dump point (sani dump) to fill your fresh water tanks. If a separate drinking water tap is not close-by, wait and fill your fresh tanks elsewhere.
• See Ya' Down The Road Camping Rule # 263 - Do Not Park Near A Dump Station
• Have at least two sewer hoses in your RV - a 10 foot and a 20 foot and a connector coupling, so you can go 10 feet, 20 feet or 30 feet (since I have two drains I have two 10 foot and a 20-foot hoses). Do not buy the cheap bright blue hoses, they often spring leaks during their first or second use.
• Wash the inside and outside your hoses after use. The fine sand and dirt on the outside will puncture holes in the hose when it is compressed for storage.
• What's the secret to making a camping reservation? Often it's making sure you get the right information when you reserve. Ask a few useful questions; do you have a sani dump, is there a user fee, etc.
• Simple steps to empty your holding tanks successfully and the ice cube trick. Visit our Instructions on How to Empty Your RV Holding Tanks web page.

Send your RVing tips to Sanidumps.com.