Dumping a Thetford Recirculating Toilet at a Tow-To Dump Station

[glenngrant]

How do folks deal with dump stations that you have to tow your 2019 to?

 

[glenngrant]

Also, how do you flush the blackwater when doing so?

 

[Shane826]

Need more info. What toilet do you have?

 

[glenngrant]

Thetford recirculating.

 

[Shane826]

Oh. Pull the inside EZ-Slide (Thetford’s name for it) dump valve, close the camper, go to the dump station, dump as usual. Close the inside EZ-Slide valve

Recirculating toilet IS the black tank, there isn’t a traditional separate holding tank to rinse out. But you can’t rinse the toilet out with the camper closed.

 

[Kidkraz]

Shane, he has to reopen the trailer to close the inside valve. I think you meant after it stops draining into the dump, you just close the outside valve. Since most dump station will have a line waiting to dump their own trailers, you do not want to make people wait for you to reopen the camper to close that inside easy slide. You can open the trailer once home to close the inside slide valve.

 

[gcavenas]

When we had the Thetford, I just sprayed the bowl with disinfectant to clean it with fresh water, then pulled the valve on the front bottom of the toilet to release the black water into the pipe. Closed down. Dumped. Then drove home. Then it's up to you if you want to re-open to shut the toilet valve or just shut it on the next trip when you set up and charge the toilet. I never noticed an issue with smells or anything.

 

[Robert’s TM]

Shane, he has to reopen the trailer to close the inside valve. I think you meant after it stops draining into the dump, you just close the outside valve. Since most dump station will have a line waiting to dump their own trailers, you do not want to make people wait for you to reopen the camper to close that inside easy slide. You can open the trailer once home to close the inside slide valve.

Black water has an inside and outside valve… after going to the dump station I wouldn’t close the inside valve. I just closed the outside one. Next time you get in the camper, you can close it then.

 

[rickst29]

I'm with Robert on this one. After dumping, close the large outside valve near the TM floor. Many dump stations have a hose for NON-POTABLE black and gray pipe rinsing, you might spray the lower dump tubing with that if you have a compatible connector (before disconnecting your dump hose assembly). Then pull your dump hose and connect the 4-pin connector "cover", that should prevent any further drips from falling out while you go back to your campsite or travel home.

I think that the inner slide valve lasts longer if you use a tiny bit of thetford's "valve lubricant", or a non-formaldehyde "toilet additive" which advertises both anti-stink and lubricant properties. I use addititive with almost no water, a 50/50 mix. Slide slowly, pushing then puling near-floor slide handle a couple of times while wet. I leave it mostly open for long-term storage, but you must be sure to close it before filling the tank for a trip.

 

[Shane826]

Yep looks like part of my thought got cut off. Notice the lack of a period at the end. I’ll fix it.

Edit: Or not. How come there’s no EDIT option for that post? Anyway it should read “Oh. Pull the inside EZ-Slide (Thetford’s name for it) dump valve, close the camper, go to the dump station, dump as usual. Close the inside EZ-Slide valve NEXT TIME YOU OPEN THE CAMPER.”

 

[glenngrant]

Thank you all for the replies. Has anyone used a portable tank for an extended stay or trip?