Camper Question

[Trevor Shipman]

Hey guys,

Well we finally pulled the trigger on a 2008 Star Craft Star Stream. Drove all the way to Tampa to get it a few months ago. Long story short, guy said it was it was in amazing condition, so we agreed to $7,500 based on pictures. Got there after 10 hour drive and it was NOT the trailer he described (condition wise). Long story short ended up getting it for $3,500. So not too bad but I wasn't looking for a project. There was water damage but it's an aluminum frame so it was fixable. So fast forward 3 months, ripped out 1/3 of the floor, new hardwoods, granite going in next week, new led lights, speakers, faucets, decals, and lots of hard work this thing is really coming together and almost lols brand new!

So the real question, I've never had a travel trailer before. Can someone explain the proper way to do the black water tank? Does there need to be some sort of water in there before you "drop one" for the first time? Do I use a powder tab to help with breaking down "items"? Or should I use a liquid? Not too sure the best order of operations are here. Thanks for the help!

Here are a few pics too

 

[Mainah]

Looks like you got a decent deal if you are willing and capable to do projects; which it certainly looks like you are. I want to start with a few words of caution though. Be very careful that the building materials that you use do not add hardly any weight over stock. Campers are generally mass produced with every pound accounted for in the frame and axle engineering with very little left over for add ons. Something simple like upgrading the stock sub floor from 1/2 inch ply to 3/4 advantec, swapping the linoleum for hardwood, or upgrading to a granite counter top can add a good amount of weight. A tag along on the shorter side like yours appears to be me may only be rated to carry 500 -1.5k lbs over its original weight and you need to include everything you add such as food, supplies, water in the holding tanks. Weight distribution is another concern. Adding more weight in the rear could make the trailer squirrelly on the road and put more weight on the trailer axles while adding more weight at the font could stress the frame or over load the ball hitch on you truck. Another word of caution is to make sure between the walls are dried out and that you don't have any mold/mildew. I don't know what caused the damage but that 2x2 aluminum tubular framing not all that strong and neither is the roof members so a careful inspection should be in order. You may have thought of those things already but just thought I would add that in as those things are critical.

There are lots of black tank enzyme products out there. IMO the most practical are tablet or soft tablet based as they are easy just to keep under the bathroom sink. Buying powder or liquid will work too and maybe save a couple of bucks but not worth it IMO. Just buy the top selling prime shipping tablet on Amazon and call it a day IMO. You will want to have a bit of water in the tank prior to solid waste going in. There are lots of videos and tips online about operating a camper. Something I never saw online but figured out on my own was that my trailer hauled better with more weight in the front so hauling with a full fresh water tank (which was at the front on my 37 footer made the ride nicer and my truck was rated for the additional tongue and total weight.

Good luck with the repairs and hopefully there are not any more surprises.

 

[Trevor Shipman]

Looks like you got a decent deal if you are willing and capable to do projects; which it certainly looks like you are. I want to start with a few words of caution though. Be very careful that the building materials that you use do not add hardly any weight over stock. Campers are generally mass produced with every pound accounted for in the frame and axle engineering with very little left over for add ons. Something simple like upgrading the stock sub floor from 1/2 inch ply to 3/4 advantec, swapping the linoleum for hardwood, or upgrading to a granite counter top can add a good amount of weight. A tag along on the shorter side like yours appears to be me may only be rated to carry 500 -1.5k lbs over its original weight and you need to include everything you add such as food, supplies, water in the holding tanks. Weight distribution is another concern. Adding more weight in the rear could make the trailer squirrelly on the road and put more weight on the trailer axles while adding more weight at the font could stress the frame or over load the ball hitch on you truck. Another word of caution is to make sure between the walls are dried out and that you don't have any mold/mildew. I don't know what caused the damage but that 2x2 aluminum tubular framing not all that strong and neither is the roof members so a careful inspection should be in order. You may have thought of those things already but just thought I would add that in as those things are critical.

There are lots of black tank enzyme products out there. IMO the most practical are tablet or soft tablet based as they are easy just to keep under the bathroom sink. Buying powder or liquid will work too and maybe save a couple of bucks but not worth it IMO. Just buy the top selling prime shipping tablet on Amazon and call it a day IMO. You will want to have a bit of water in the tank prior to solid waste going in. There are lots of videos and tips online about operating a camper. Something I never saw online but figured out on my own was that my trailer hauled better with more weight in the front so hauling with a full fresh water tank (which was at the front on my 37 footer made the ride nicer and my truck was rated for the additional tongue and total weight.

Good luck with the repairs and hopefully there are not any more surprises.

Thanks @Mainah for the info/tips. Yeah, we def have added some weight. As we've added things we took it on some test drives to see how it pulls along the way. So far I don't notice a difference. It pulls really well. The granite agreed is a bit much but I have a guy that owes me a few favors so he offered to do it for free so I'll see if it has a major impact, if so I'll put something else in. But yeah, you're spot on with everything you said I think.

I'll order the tabs and call it a day and add a little water before she is used.

 

[Zarrella]

When they do granite in RV's it is usually a very thin granite for purposes of weight reduction.

 

[Wayloncle]

Definitely make sure there is plenty of water before dropping solids!
The first time I used a camper it was a rental, the guy told me "if the site has sewer just hook up the hose and keep the gates open", yeah that equates into a big pile of poo right under the toilet as the water just runs out. That is a pain to clear!

I put several gallons of water in my black tank after I clean it out just to have some in there for next time, while camping I over use water when I pee and make sure the toilet has plenty of watenin it for the next person in case they put solids and don't use much water.

It'll just be easier for you to use lots of water.
I don't use any tablets or anything, just plenty of water and flush it out good at the end of the trip, I don't let the crap sit in the tank long enough for anything to break down....unless it does it within a few days.

 

[Wayloncle]

I also add several gallons of water to the black tank before I leave to go home so It sloshes around in there and cleans the walls off and junk.

I've never had a problem using these methods.
Oh, and I also use regular toilet paper, IMO "RV" paper is a waste of money.

 

[Zarrella]

RV toilet paper is a load of crap! Just another way to get you to spend money in a camping store.

 

[Trevor Shipman]

Hah! Thanks for the tip on the toilet paper. That was on my Amazon order and quickly cancelled, so thanks. Makes sense putting a little bit of water in the tank beforehand so it can slosh around a bit. Great tip!

We are headed to Lake Jocassee at the next weekend for our inaugural trip. Pretty pumped!

 

[tim h]

We add a little bit of bleach to the "slosh around "water. It works pretty well at keeping any odor away.
We also flush a full 5 gallon bucket of water down the toilet and another poured evenly into all of the sink and tub drains.
Making sure to pour a good amount in the kitchen drain in case any food got down there... This is prior to pulling out of the campsite...

 

[Mainah]

To echo and restate what a couple of folks said above. If you get a site with full hook ups do not leave your black tank outlet open. Let your tank fill up to around 3/4 (you will learn how much you can trust your led panel on this) and then open the tank to let it all out. Of course empty it and add water back in before heading back down the road as well.

A couple of years ago we bought a brand new 37 foot, 3 slide, outdoor kitchen, center island, 3 TV, leather couch behemoth to put out at the lake with a dock for our boat 15 minutes down the road and to make a couple of other trips with. The salesman snuck my wife into that model while I was looking at a small and more basic used one My wife and teenage daughter decided that was still too much like camping (they were the ones who had to have a "glamper" and not a camper) and only ever spent one full night in it. They ended up only coming out to enjoy the boat, friends, and campfires but did not want to do the work, I learned two things from that. Don't camp too close to home. Be careful buying your second camper first as everyone may not enjoy it (Not the same for boats though because who doesn't like to boat). I ended up selling it after that season (lost a few grand) and now my boys and I are back to roughing it with what we carry in on our backs when we decide to take a boys trip somewhere.

Have fun camping, don't try and do all the work yourself, and don't forget the bug spray. Enjoy!

 

[Zarrella]

Another thing I do to clean the tank is add ice through the toilet on the trip from home. Acts as an abrasive ...great for cleaning any tank build up. I agree, never leave the black tank valve open. Allow it to build up some volume so it flows fast. Always dump black first and then gray this will allow you to flush your sewer hose.

 

[jcyamaharider]

Everyone has done a great job on explaining the toilet situation. If I could add maybe 2 small things. Make sure you have a clear elbow to watch the solids come out. I know not the best situation but you want to make sure you get everything out that you can. My camper actually has a black tank flush system that you hook a hose up too, I make sure I fill my black tank up to half full a couple of times to make sure I am not leaving anything behind. They also make this type of system that can hook right up to your drain that will shoot water up into the black tank to knock stuff off the walls.

 

[Trevor Shipman]

@jcyamaharider great tip, thanks!

 

[Wayloncle]

Everyone has done a great job on explaining the toilet situation. If I could add maybe 2 small things. Make sure you have a clear elbow to watch the solids come out. I know not the best situation but you want to make sure you get everything out that you can. My camper actually has a black tank flush system that you hook a hose up too, I make sure I fill my black tank up to half full a couple of times to make sure I am not leaving anything behind. They also make this type of system that can hook right up to your drain that will shoot water up into the black tank to knock stuff off the walls.

I forgot that part! I have a clear straight section like the one you posted attached to my hose at all times, good for making sure you get everything out.

 

[Zarrella]

I have it too. I stop using it because its gross to watch....LOL

 

[YamahaForMe]

Another thing I do to clean the tank is add ice through the toilet on the trip from home. Acts as an abrasive ...great for cleaning any tank build up. I agree, never leave the black tank valve open. Allow it to build up some volume so it flows fast. Always dump black first and then gray this will allow you to flush your sewer hose.

Check this out....

Everyone has done a great job on explaining the toilet situation. If I could add maybe 2 small things. Make sure you have a clear elbow to watch the solids come out. I know not the best situation but you want to make sure you get everything out that you can. My camper actually has a black tank flush system that you hook a hose up too, I make sure I fill my black tank up to half full a couple of times to make sure I am not leaving anything behind. They also make this type of system that can hook right up to your drain that will shoot water up into the black tank to knock stuff off the walls.

And This....

 

[swatski]

Oh, great. So far I have learned two things here: 1. I don't want to own a black tank and 2. may be best to just $hit in an ice cooler.

--

 

[PEARCE]

@Trevor Shipman another thing that you can do to keep your black tank clean is when you add the 5 gallons of water after you have dumped. Put in a cup or 2 of Dawn dish soap and let it do it's magic as you drive home. Then the next time you camp you wouldn't necessarily need to put in a sewer treatment product. We personally like using the tablets in ours. All the other recommendations you've gotten so far are spot on. Please post more pics of your new camper when you get it finished.

 

[Trevor Shipman]

@Trevor Shipman another thing that you can do to keep your black tank clean is when you add the 5 gallons of water after you have dumped. Put in a cup or 2 of Dawn dish soap and let it do it's magic as you drive home. Then the next time you camp you wouldn't necessarily need to put in a sewer treatment product. We personally like using the tablets in ours. All the other recommendations you've gotten so far are spot on. Please post more pics of your new camper when you get it finished.

Awesome! Will do. Thanks!!!

 

[YamahaForMe]

Oh, great. So far I have learned two things here: 1. I don't want to own a black tank and 2. may be best to just $hit in an ice cooler.

--

2 -- Agreed... and make sure its a clear cooler so you can see what's going on in there.


Actually, this topic comes up on the RV forum I am on. My personal opinion is, you can spend a lot of time worrying about cleaning your tank, but you are just one "deposit" away from a tank full of crap. Life is too short for this $%#!