A Major Black Tank Experience October 19, 2016, 08:33:14 pm One of my long-time amigos is on the road in their new to them 37' Itasca Meridian on Highway 1. This couple has RVed for perhaps 40 years, countless miles, and all parts of the lower 48. The husband is incredibly skilled and he has built or repaired an impressive array of projects. So my amigo called me tonight and during the course of catching up on this and that, he told me his recent experience with their black tank.He was doing a black tank dump (drum roll please) and usually, he said he'd secure the fitting into the sewer hole with a rock, his foot or something heavy. This time ... this time he forgot. The black tank on the 37' was full as in really full. And as he pulled the release lever, the sewer hose raised up and showered the area with an astonishing amount of "material" to include his lovely self. My amigo said you could not believe the mess nor how long it took for him to clean it up. One of the worse parts is that he still feels nasty several days later and several showers later. So there is a moral to this story. Now, I'm going to leave the morale of this story up to the imagination of those on this forum, who have demonstrated more than once their ability to find that silver lining in a proverbial "dark" cloud. And so it goes. 2 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #1 – October 19, 2016, 09:45:37 pm Well of he has RV'd for 40 years and this is the first mishap of this nature, I would say- Welcome to the club. FinallyLike drain plugs in boats, everyone has a story. This kind of story is just a lot more disgusting. But not as potentially catastrophic. Of course, the ability to tell the story in the most entertaining way possible is all that matters when it's over.
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #2 – October 19, 2016, 09:59:50 pm Quote from: paul banbury - October 19, 2016, 09:45:37 pmWell of he has RV'd for 40 years and this is the first mishap of this nature, I would say- Welcome to the club. FinallyLike drain plugs in boats, everyone has a story. This kind of story is just a lot more disgusting. But not as potentially catastrophic. Of course, the ability to tell the story in the most entertaining way possible is all that matters when it's over. So Paul ... what's the moral of this story?
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #3 – October 19, 2016, 11:06:10 pm These experiences are the basis of great campfire tales. Embrace and dramatize the experience! 3 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #4 – October 19, 2016, 11:16:05 pm I saw a similar event when I was in line at a dump station. The man in front of me was in a rental unit and took a bath when he pulled the valve. He got things stopped loaded the hose back into the storage bay and drove off leaving me the mess.
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #5 – October 20, 2016, 12:18:04 am The is one of the reasons I only use a rhino flex hose. It stays in whatever shape you turn it and stays in place.Jim 1 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #6 – October 20, 2016, 02:42:31 pm March 20, 2007. We had just completed our maiden outing in our first RV and new TK at a SoCal Caravan Club get-together at Lake Perris. So, of course, this was our first ever dumping experience. The wild blue snake jumped out of that hole and spun around like a loose firehose with me jumping in fruitless attempts to avoid the brown bath. Yeah, it took a looong time to clean up, all the while under the not-so-stifled grins of a parade of the more experienced campers at the adjacent stations. I don't mind providing free entertainment, but you can rest assured that I learned my lesson! -- Jon 2 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #7 – October 20, 2016, 03:41:59 pm Ed, is the moral of the story, " Sh.....errr....crap happens!"?Or, "Secure all valuables"?And so it went,Steve K. 1 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #8 – October 20, 2016, 03:55:38 pm Quote from: Steve K. - October 20, 2016, 03:41:59 pmIs the moral of the story, " Sh.....errr....crap happens!"?Well Steve, it's what I had in mind! And I think you worded it better than I would have. Good job ... LOL
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #9 – October 20, 2016, 04:15:22 pm The shower of sadness....... 1 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #10 – October 20, 2016, 07:17:36 pm The moral could be "Some days are sh%#tier than others" 😜 3 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #11 – October 20, 2016, 10:39:57 pm We've also had the black tank experience, but I'm not allowed to talk about it. fu2015TK
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #12 – October 20, 2016, 10:51:34 pm After my black tank blow up I am ridiculously paranoid about the hose connections. I have tried to get my wife to agree to serve as "the one who steps on the end in the hole to hold it in place". No such luck. When no correct weight is available, I resort to using the universal elbow. But I always hold the valve and the hose where it attaches to the valve as if my life depends on it, one hand in the gate valve poised to slide it closed at the first sign of spewage. It is still a tense moment as I cautiously, gingerly side that gate valve open, carefully closing my mouth and turning my head to squint out of the corner of my eye. Once the flow is established and the hose has won my confidence, I exhale and step back to "enjoy" another eventless dump experience. It never gets old.
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #13 – October 21, 2016, 08:45:38 am I use a sock filled with rocks to hold the sewer line in place. 1 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #14 – October 21, 2016, 12:02:30 pm I use this method.Emptying Black Tank 2 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #15 – October 21, 2016, 05:47:03 pm I'm sure everyone has a black tank story and here's mine. It takes place around 2000, waiting 3rd in line at the Pismo State Beach Campground dump station. In front of me is a SOB Class-C. As #1 finishes up and pulls away, #2 takes an inordinate amount of time getting things lined up. She drives forward, gets out, looks at the positioning, gets back in and backs up a bit. This goes on several times until shes happy with the alignment. I'm about ready to get out and ask if she needs help when suddenly she bends down, grabs the tee handle and lets-er-rip. My jaw dropped as the contents came straight out about 6ft before splattering everywhere. When my mind came to grip at what just happened, I leaped out of my RV and yelled for her to stop. By then the damage had been done and she was now in tears telling me how it was the 1st time she took the RV out. As my father would say... not the brightest bulb on the tree.Jack 2 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #16 – October 21, 2016, 08:48:53 pm Hmmm...Well if you must. But maybe ya better wait till dark and ditch the stogie.Just sayin'Kent 1 Likes
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #17 – October 21, 2016, 11:58:33 pm My husband was riding his motorcycle when the trailer in front of him had a tire explode. The valve on the black water tank sheared off and the contents showered all over him. He resorted to washing the bike and himself at the coin op car wash.
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #18 – October 22, 2016, 09:20:43 am Quote from: Jack J - October 21, 2016, 05:47:03 pmI'm sure everyone has a black tank story and here's mine. It takes place around 2000, waiting 3rd in line at the Pismo State Beach Campground dump station. In front of me is a SOB Class-C. As #1 finishes up and pulls away, #2 takes an inordinate amount of time getting things lined up. She drives forward, gets out, looks at the positioning, gets back in and backs up a bit. This goes on several times until shes happy with the alignment. I'm about ready to get out and ask if she needs help when suddenly she bends down, grabs the tee handle and lets-er-rip. My jaw dropped as the contents came straight out about 6ft before splattering everywhere. When my mind came to grip at what just happened, I leaped out of my RV and yelled for her to stop. By then the damage had been done and she was now in tears telling me how it was the 1st time she took the RV out. As my father would say... not the brightest bulb on the tree.JackWell, at least Cousin Eddie uses a hose!
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #19 – October 22, 2016, 09:52:12 am Quote from: Elizabeth West-Ownbey - October 21, 2016, 11:58:33 pmMy husband was riding his motorcycle when the trailer in front of him had a tire explode. The valve on the black water tank sheared off and the contents showered all over him. He resorted to washing the bike and himself at the coin op car wash.Oh my ... I can feel his pain. Ouch.
Re: A Major Black Tank Experience Reply #20 – October 22, 2016, 12:07:26 pm Quote from: Jack J - October 21, 2016, 05:47:03 pmI'm sure everyone has a black tank story and here's mine. It takes place around 2000, waiting 3rd in line at the Pismo State Beach Campground dump station. What is amazing about this story is the story itself and that Jack could remember where he was 16 years ago and the date of the story. I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday. And so it goes. 2 Likes