Being relatively new to RVing, we are beginners in boondocking. I understand about filling fresh water tank for use in the wilderness. I know how to be conservative with showers, washing dishes, etc. because I have tent camped in the past. However, I continue to read about campers carrying extra water in large containers.
What happens if the grey tanks fill? We have a rolling tank, but where do you empty it if you are out in the wilderness?
What is a reasonable amount of time that 2 people can expect to camp in wilderness areas?
Thanks,
Coco
Nancy and Mark
2005 Sunnybrook Solanta 2726
F250 Super Duty Powerstroke Diesel
WE use a plastic wash bowel that sits down in the sink and wash the dishes in that, and dump in the weeds like you did while camping in the tent, just the dish water is all, also carry 2 six gallon plastic water jugs for extra water, we can last a week at least,
Richard
1987 ford f250 6.9 diesel
1997 Innsbruck by Gulf Stream 28ft fifth wheel with slide
and the wife and co-pilot Trudy
I'm thinking, if you can dump dishwater in the weeds, why not brush your teeth water....and shower water too? Nobody p..s in the shower (or in the weeds) do they?
That about covers it, right?
2004 Damon Daybreak 2960F
05 Honda Element LX
In a democracy two wolves and a sheep can vote on what to have for dinner.
Many years ago when tent camping in the middle of nowhere, we buried our waste and watered the plants with gray water. In that environment today, I still water the plants but can't bring myself to burying 25 gals of black waste. We get a week on that size tank and 46 gals of FW.
Water the trees and plants with your grey water, they love it. It won't hurt a thing. We never dump near lakes, streams or creeks. It is a technology that is used in Europe for watering lawns and flushing indoor toilets.
My opinion is that carrying extra water in large containers is a big pain. I use multiple 6 gallon water cans that can easily be handled to re-fill FW tanks. As for emptying the holding tanks, we have used a NUMBER of different options for dry camping. Private campgrounds and public campgrounds alike often will allow dumping of tanks for a nominal fee and local rangers or other authorities can usually guide you to the closest source. As for portable holding tanks...ALL of my tanks are portable, as they're attached to my trailer. Just seems silly to spend the whole afternoon driving back and forth to the dump station when one trip with the trailer (about 45 minutes) takes care of the problem for another week. Just my opinion / Skip
I've suggested in the past that you dump gray water in the bushes and have been slammed for it. Someone said there were bits of food in the water and it would attract bears....HOGWASH! I've camped too many years doing that and have NEVER had problems with bears....and yes, I've camped in bear country.
We carry water in 5 gallon (I think they're 5 gal) containers and refill them at the nearest good water source during the trip. We, too, cook and wash dishes outside. The reason we do that is because we don't want to lose our campsite by moving the 5er....much less go to the pain and trouble of taking it miles away to the nearest dump station.
Dee & Bob
1990 Fleetwood Fifth Wheel
2 cats - Donner and Dasher
kids are grown and on their own
12 grandkids
life is good!!!!
Your account balance is 2ยข, to continue reading my quality opinions please remit payment as soon as possible.
I use phosphate free soaps and I dump my gray in the bush.. no big deal...
now... in the event that your stuck in the bush because a forest fire burns through your way out (just happened to us this year) and you find yourself having to spend another week in the bush till the road out is opened, we dug a hole in the dirt, about 3 feet deep and maybe 3 feet wide... about the size of my roller tank... and dumped the black into it... we let that sit till the water soaked in and then buried the solids, in my case I put a little flag on the dump site so I could notify DNR so they could clean it up they had to... I then hauled the TT about 30 yards away from the black dump... so after we able to drive out I gave the DNR folks the GPS coordinates of my dump site and told them I marked it with a surveyor flag... they guy said it was no problem... and next time I find myself having to emergency dump I could just dump on the surface, but do it in an area of direct sunlight
2006 Springdale 292BHLS
2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT 6.0
We have phosphate free soap and shampoo. I just needed to know that dumping in the bushes would be acceptable.
With limited experience as a backpackers, we learned to dispose of our waste as far as possible from the rivers and creeks. When we took a guided rafting 4 day trip around the Goosenecks in the San Juan River, with the grandchildren, we were told to spit in the river when we brushed our teeth and to pour coffee, tea, etc. in the river because of desert conditions. That was difficult because I had always moved away from the water source for disposal of liquids.
I have planned food that will take minimum preparation and dish washing. In the past when we went on road trips in the van, I vacuumed sealed and froze chicken pot pie, beef stroganoff, meatloaf, etc. We then heated the one dish meal in water in the microwave in the motel room for dinner after a long, long day's drive. I think dry camping will demand that I heat the prepared meals in throw away aluminum pans in order to conserve water. By using paper plates and cups, and plastic utensils, I can almost eliminate dish washing.
Offline
Online
