First off use gloves :) and maybe some alcohol/sanitizing wipes as needed. Be sure to always DRAIN BLACK TANK FIRST. As it starts to drain, hook up the hose to the sewer flush inlet. If the black tank is not at least 2/3 full, add some water to the toilet to get it that full. You can do this by pushing the toilet pedal partway (not fully) down. Also be sure to TURN OFF BLACK SEWER FLUSH water before you close the black tank valve so it does not back up and leak into the RV! Very important! Once the black is showing empty and the inlet flush has rinsed for a minute or two, you can shut of water flush and close black valve. Then pull/open the gray tank to drain it. Lastly, remove the sewer hose and use the non-potabable water hose to rinse the sewer hose before storing it. Also, you do not want to leave valves open while at campsite because you will smell the stink from the campsite tanks in your RV. Monitor your tanks to know about when to go flush.
Very helpful info. I have a question though. What if you're camping in a somewhat remote area? Are there places available where you can pay a fee to dump your water?
It's a year later and by now you probably have answered your own question. I did a google or duck duck search to answer that question. We live in rural area in NW MT. Wonderful low maintained and no maintained campsites including ones you pay for too. There are quite a few no fee campsites around Koocanusa Res/Lake and also below the dam originally set up for locals who fished and camped along the river when the Dam was built in the 70's. Anyway now a lot of Canadians and out of state folk have discovered these wonderful campsites too. So there is no dumpsites at the low maintained free campsites. No power or fresh water either. So where does one dump their black and grey water? Search engines to the rescue. The local Libby MT chamber of commerce has a dumpsite and small campground. Campground is 10 a night and dumpsite is 2 for anyone. They call the dumpsite a 2 dollar donation but oh yeah they will expect payment they are THE CHAMBER of Commerce. But also Exon Town Pump has a much better easier to access FREE dumpsite with water for flushing out your tanks too if you need that. So guess where we recommend folks go...TOWN PUMP TOO. One word I beg of everyone be respectful not only of others who will use it after you but to the Town Pump, Chamber of Commerce or any where you find such a wonderful service offered. Make sure you do it right and keep it clean and if there were any accidents you take care of them properly right then and there. We don't want to loose this service by any means. So check on line ahead of your trips to locate any pay for service and availability to what services you need. One problem here is no longer does the Corp maintain fresh water at the Dam area as they once did at Dunn campsite where anyone could go through and fill up. That's been closed as far as I know for over 20 years since we moved here yet it still stands and just is locked out. I suspect a problem developed with the water source or pump itself and never repaired. So finding fresh water may be far more difficult than not. The Town Pump does not have clean fresh drinking water but the Chamber does again for a fee or their sign says for campers staying nightly only. I used to go and fill twice a year a 5 gallon jug for making sun tea. I'd just do it for years and no one called me on it until one day there's that snotty sign telling you NO WAY no drinking water for you. Our well water here is very hard. Town water is naturally soft snow melt run off water and just 1/4 to 1/3 added to a gallon of our well water renders it prefect for making TEA. Hardwater for some reason just doesn't work well alone. After that I have friends that will share their town water so that's what I now do. But really who wants to feel like they are stealing filling up a 2 to 5 gallon jug of water? Anyway search engine search for clean water fills too if you aren't staying in maintained campsites or boondocking. Happy camping everyone and think outside of the box and spread that attitude.
