Greetings! Hubby and I are soon to be empty nesters so purchased a '96 Baycrest Park Model on a whim late last fall. We are *** LOVING IT *** but truly are learning more of what we don't know every single weekend! Kind of an adventure but frustrating at times as well. We have never camped in a camper much less a park model in our lives (ok- truth- we only tent camped a few times as well LOL!). So far, we're doing really well and the place, which was vacant for 3-4 years before we purchased it, has cleaned up wonderfully and is serving us well. Hubby has figured out most of the issues either on his own or by the grace of all the kind seasonal folks at our campground. So, the one thing that has us baffled is the frequency with which we need to have the black tank pumped out. We've heard everything from 2-weeks to "eh- you'll figure it out but probably once or twice a season" (a season here is May-October). We have been there, just the two of us, every weekend and last weekend had the two "kids" (college) there as well. Looks like we didn't quite make it two weeks this time... I mean, it's full... it's Christmas Vacation full! We're on the list for this week but would like to have a better idea of whether 1-2 weeks is "normal" or if maybe we have a problem we don't know about. Are black tanks on park models things that "wear out"? If so, how do we go about replacing them? Thanks in advance!!!
Clueless but enthusiastic newbie!
- Thread starter BAMOM2
- Start date
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RVMommaTo6
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new adventure/ project/ life style! Way to jump in feet first, from a couple tent trips to a park model lol, good for you!!
Alfa38User
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Welcome!!
No, tanks do not wear out unless they are damaged accidentally. Be careful when draining them with a pump truck, avoid too much suction as that may collapse them.
I would be amazed if you could go for more than a week or so unless you have a huge tank. Most trailers have a max of about 60 gallons or less and many "Park Models" do not have any tanks at all. They are meant to be hooked to a sewer system at all times.
No, tanks do not wear out unless they are damaged accidentally. Be careful when draining them with a pump truck, avoid too much suction as that may collapse them.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
As Alfa38 says, park models don't come with black (toilet) waste tanks, or gray (sink/shower) waste tanks either. If your park model isn't connected to a park sewer system, you must have an external waste tank of some size. How long is lasts depends on how big it is, but 4 people can generate a lot of waste water in a week or two. Especially 4 people who never before had to be a bit frugal when flushing. You can try to find out how big your waste tank is and whether it is black only or combined gray/black, but its probably academic. Learn by experience how long YOU can utilize what you have, and perhaps adjust your habits a bit to be more frugal with water. Then plan on calling the pumper at whatever interval you find to be a safe choice. In some parks the pumpout service can be scheduled to make regular stops, e.g. every week or whatever works.
The reason you get so many different answers about time between pump-outs if that individual usage varies widely. For example, people who are only in their park model on weekends are going to go a lot longer than those using it every day. And some people simply use a lot more water when they have manual control over the flushing.
The reason you get so many different answers about time between pump-outs if that individual usage varies widely. For example, people who are only in their park model on weekends are going to go a lot longer than those using it every day. And some people simply use a lot more water when they have manual control over the flushing.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
Duplicate question here: http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,121964.new.html#new
Thanks to all of you. I should have been clear that we are not hooked to a park sewer system-- we do have both black and gray tanks as do all of the park models in our campground. We have to schedule honey dips-- $25 during the week or $50 for "emergency/weekend". So part of the inquiry was so we know better how to budget. The majority of the time it will be just the hubby and I and just on weekends. We were careful to purchase RV quick dissolve tissue and be frugal with usage. 
So, looks like our norm will likely be in that 7-10 day range. Dang... there's an extra $100 a month. Oh well... we're loving it anyway!
So, looks like our norm will likely be in that 7-10 day range. Dang... there's an extra $100 a month. Oh well... we're loving it anyway!
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Dont be too frugal with the water in black tank as you don't want stuff drying out and getting clogged up!
2 of us can last a week but we are ot in the trailer all the time. Depends on usage and you will figure it out. Dont you have any gauges?
Dont be too frugal with the water in black tank as you don't want stuff drying out and getting clogged up!
2 of us can last a week but we are ot in the trailer all the time. Depends on usage and you will figure it out. Dont you have any gauges?
Lou Schneider
Site Team
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Does your trailer have a fresh water tank? If so, use it instead of the park connection for your fresh water usage and you can use how quickly the tank empties to estimate how much you are putting into the black/grey tanks.
My trailer has a 40 gallon fresh water tank and 80 gallons grey, 40 gallons black water. I figure I can empty the fresh water tank at least twice before I have to worry about dumping the tanks. The majority of the water goes into the grey tanks so the 2:1 ratio of grey to black water works out about right.
Stock grey/black tank level gauges are about worthless. They use a pair of probes at each level (1/4, 1/2, etc.) to light the corresponding LED when they are immersed in water. The problem is they tend to attract the scum and debris in the tank so they stay fouled and wet after you drain the tank.
The only tank gauges that work worth a darn are the ones like the SeeLevel tank monitors that use sensors on the outside of the tanks.
My trailer has a 40 gallon fresh water tank and 80 gallons grey, 40 gallons black water. I figure I can empty the fresh water tank at least twice before I have to worry about dumping the tanks. The majority of the water goes into the grey tanks so the 2:1 ratio of grey to black water works out about right.
Stock grey/black tank level gauges are about worthless. They use a pair of probes at each level (1/4, 1/2, etc.) to light the corresponding LED when they are immersed in water. The problem is they tend to attract the scum and debris in the tank so they stay fouled and wet after you drain the tank.
The only tank gauges that work worth a darn are the ones like the SeeLevel tank monitors that use sensors on the outside of the tanks.
