Pumper Seeks Efficient Alternative for Pumping RV Holding Tanks

Problem-solving pumpers share the challenges they face working at campgrounds.

Interested in Trucks?

Get Trucks articles, news and videos right in your inbox! Sign up now.

Trucks + Get Alerts

This feature in Pumper reports noteworthy conversations that take place at the Pumper Discussion Forum, an online forum for industry professionals found at www.pumper.com. Pumper Discussion enables exchange of information and ideas on septic and drainfield installation and maintenance, trucks and equipment, portable sanitation, chemical and additives and much more. Information and advice in “Overheard Online” is offered in good faith by industry professionals. However, readers should consult in depth with appropriate industry sources before applying such advice to a specific business situation.

Question:
I bought a product with an adapter for pumping RV holding tanks and I thought it would work pretty well, but it didn’t. I liked that it had the shut-off right there so you don’t have to run back and forth to the truck if you’re working alone. I have also tried putting a 2-inch hose into the standard 3-inch RV drain hose supplied by the customer. Are there other methods and easier ways to risk not sucking in the tank? By the way, I have the customer hold the toilet open so it can pull air.

Answers:
I built my own device using a 2-inch tee and glued the PVC flex RV hose over it with the RV adapter on the other end. Then I bought an inside house vent, which opens by vacuum when you flush a stool, and a 2-foot cam lock for the vacuum hose. I hook it up to the RV, turn on the vacuum, and open the black water valve a little at a time until it’s completely open. If the vacuum gets too great, the inside house vent opens and pulls air so you don’t crush the tank.

I will not hook up to an RV. Too much liability. I’ve used a bucket and it can be messy. A larger vessel is much better. A plastic kid’s pool is just about perfect, especially if you are working alone. I usually rent the customer a holding tank if they are going to be camping at one location for a long time.

The biggest problem I have with RVs is with the cheap cost of dump stations - free or almost free around here. The folks about lose it when I quote a price. After I give them a price, they run into town and pay $10 to dump at the city RV park. So for the most part I don’t pump them. For the few I have done, I like to use the bottom 1/3 of a 55-gallon barrel. We have a county RV park about 20 miles from town without a dump station that I will get a call from once or twice a year. Not too bad if I can get three or more customers.

Too many people are doing them for next to nothing just because “I can dump for free just down the road.” I don’t play that game either. I usually do them with a toilet truck if I’m in the area for $50. If I have to make a special trip, it’s at least another $50.

The upside to RVs, if you happen to have a jetter, is “the mound of doom.” I have an old 250-gallon holding tank I cut in half and slide under the dump valve. I stick my suction hose in the tank, so I don’t have to worry about it filling up. Then I jet back up the dump pipe until it’s clean. I had a tip drilled out so it provides more flow and less pressure. This helps flush the tank, plus I don’t have to worry about the jets cutting the plastic tank. I don’t know that they actually would, but I don’t want to take the chance.

By the time that they have messed with the clogged RV tank for a while, they will pay to have you fix their mess. I usually charge around $200, sometimes more if it takes longer or is a bigger tank with more liquid to pump. I’ve had RV repair places call me to do this for them.



Discussion

Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. Comments are moderated before being posted.