Waste Tank Flush Systems....which works best?

[JThiessen]

Anybody have experience with different waste tank flush systems? It seems that the basic two types are the Flush Kingor Hydro Flush which just install on the dump fitting, or the kind that you run a line to the tank and plumb in some fittings that spray the tank.



SInce my tanks are new and clean, I figure now is the best time to install one (if I end up with the plumbed in kind). BTW, the whole undercarraige of my rig is enclosed, so getting to the tank might be a PIA.....

 

[SHobbs]

JThiessen

My current unit has the flush system built in, just hook a hose to the connection and let it run for a few minutes. I am not real familiar with the ones that hook to the dump fitting, some of those also grind up the waste when you use them. If you can get to the underbelly I would suggest plumbing one to the tank with a conection for a water hose to do the flushing. The reason I say that is would you really want to hook up a flush system everytime you want to flush the tank and then have to find a way to store it without getting everything nasty. Mine works great, no fuss no muss. Keeps the tank clean and the tank sensors work perfectly everytime. I would also suggest using Odorlos tank treatment as well, it has been the only product I have found that will stop tank odor and has not affected the sensors. I don't think getting to the tanks would be a real P. I. A, just drop the cover underneath and the tank should be there, there might be some insulation to move temporarily though. BTW, being that the tanks are new and clean, no better time to mess with them, lol. Good luck

 

[RustyJC]

Our last 2 5th wheels have had the built-in black tank flushing system. I would highly recommend it!



Rusty

 

[JThiessen]

So I would suspect that both types of systems are pretty much unusable at places like rest area dump stations (which I typically use the most), since they normally just have a cut off small hose for water..... ?

 

[RustyJC]

Probably, unless you supply the hose. I always carry a general purpose garden hose (as opposed to potable water hoses) for washing the RV, flushing the black tanks, etc. , so I would just use my hose to flush the tank in the situation you describe.



Rusty

 

[rweis]

I have BRIGHT YELLOW hoses for the flush system and the traditional WHITE for drinking water. I also carry a hose Y with a backflow preventer on the YELLOW side so there is no way anything can contaminate the drinking water either in my rig or in the park water system. If the dump station has a cutoff hose I just unscrew that one and connect mine to flush (try not to leave it).



My ALFA came with a tank flush mounted in the wall of the tank. Seems to work well, keeps it nice and clean. I get a little fanatical about cleaning the tanks, but have never had an odor problem either.



Bob Weis

 

[R-N-R]

I installed a multi-directional spray head on the black tank with hose/female fitting mounted to the side of the trailer. Camping World sells the kit for about $25. They also sell a water thief which is a short piece with a rubber end to fit over bad or missing threads/hose with the other end male threaded.

 

[BigMike]

I've got the flush system in my Cardinal. Most dump stations don't have a hose with a male threaded end, so I carry my own. It's a little 10' hose gray in color. Nothing but clean water passes through it. The waste comes out through the tank. I used to have one of the systems that connect to your dump fitting. You connect a high pressure hose to it and it would back flush the tanks. The nice thing about that was you could back flush all your tanks, gray and black. My system only flushes the black tank, which is definitely the most important! No matter what kind of system you have, dumping tanks is not one of the more pleasant parts of the trip.

 

[R-N-R]

I actually installed two of the Quickie Flush w/Access Kits, one on the black tank and one on the grey tank. An RV Hydro Flush with Anti-Siphon Valve is certainly better than nothing, but it takes too long to do a mediocre job. Here is the Water Thief that I referred to earlier.

 

[JThiessen]

That water thief is a good idea. Depending on what kind of PDI pickups I have this afternoon (walk through inspection), I might have the dealer plumb a Quickie in (also depending on what he'd charge me). I know I can easily do it, but if the price is right, having a small amount of insurance on the workmanship may be nice to have down the road. Other wise, I'm going to buy one and hopefully install it this weekend.

 

[R-N-R]

The thought of drilling a hole into my black tank scared the crap out of me, so to speak. I recall going out there dressed for battle with the exception of a desired gas mask. It actually was not bad at all, the installation or the fumes. I did use a hand drill verses an electric (black tank fumes??), the install took about 20 min per tank and has worked great ever since. One note, the hose mounting brackets that attach to the side of the trailer have rusted over the past couple of years. You might consider spraying them with something before installing.



Good Luck,

Bill

 

[merryman]

In addition to installing the "quicky flush" in the black water tank, I brought the tubing from it up into a storage compartment and into the back of a 24 inch long piece of 4 inch PVC pipe mounted to the top of the compartment. I connected that tubing to a 25 coil hose that stores in the PVC pipe, and have a screw in plug in the female end of the coil hose. To flush, I remove the plug, pull out the coil hose and hook up---providing there is a hose bib available; when done, disconnect from the bib and push the coil back into the PVC and reinstall the plug.

I allso have the "water thief" but have not yet had occasion to use it with the coil hose.

Vaughn

 

[R-N-R]

:-laf A flushing system on steroids! Sounds very nice