Julie Chickery - Chickery's Travels

Odor Free RV Black Tank Tips

Banish black tank smells forever with these simple steps! Don’t be afraid to use your RV bathroom. Not having to use public restrooms or bathhouses when we travel is one of the reasons we love RV travel.

We’ve been living and traveling full-time in our RV for four years, using our bathroom just as we did in our sticks & bricks home. Even in the sweltering summer heat (we spent a couple in Florida), we were able to keep our bathroom and RV odor free by using the method we’ll outline in this post.

Continue on to read our step by step process or watch the video below.

Step 1. Keep the tanks closed until ready to flush.

If you are at a location with a sewer connection, you may be tempted to keep your camper’s black tank valve open and let the sewage flow freely. Don’t. This will result in the dreaded poop pyramid. Ever use an open pit toilet? You know the ones with no water at the bottom. Everything just starts building up. You need a lot of water to keep things flowing smoothly. In fact, I usually refill the toilet and give it an extra flush after most uses just to keep plenty of water in the tank. This will also help dissolve the toilet paper fully. Bottomline: Water is your friend and keep the tank valve closed until you are ready to dump.

Step 2. Flush the tank regularly.

It is important to flush your RV black tank regularly. This is easiest when you are at a campground with sewer hookups. We empty our black tank about every 5 – 7 days. If it is not 3/4 full, we add water to assist in completely draining the tank. We also recommend emptying it before travel to reduce the extra weight (water weighs ~8 lbs per gallon).

Open the valve and drain the black tank completely.
Back flush the camper’s black tank. Our main black tank has the built-in backflush inlet that most newer RVs come with. The black tank for the 2nd bathroom does not, so we purchased a Camco Dual Flush Pro Holding Tank Rinser. We backfill our tank for 4 minutes. Drain and repeat 1-2 times until the water is clear. I used to run inside and watch the tank monitor, but that got old so now I stay outside and time it.
Once the water is running clear, close the black tank valve, and backfill the black tank with about 2 gallons of water. Since we have the built-in system, we just time it for 90 seconds. If you don’t have that, you can do it from inside by flushing the toilet and letting the water flow down into the holding tank for that long.
We follow a black tank drain and flush cycle with a gray tank flush. We also have two gray tanks — one for the main bathroom (sink/shower) and one for the kitchen and the second shower. If are at a site with sewer hookups, we leave the main one closed until we’re ready to dump the black. We leave the 2nd gray tank open to drain as water is used. If you only have one gray tank and want to leave it open most of the time, we recommend closing it a day or two prior to your black tank flush so you can essentially wash out the sewer hose with the soapy gray water.
Finally, when we get back inside the RV, we add two capfuls of Calgon water softener and about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of liquid dish detergent (some people say Dawn, but we use a generic).

Step 3. Remember, Water is Your Friend

As previously mentioned, using plenty of water is the best thing to keep the RV black tanks flowing smoothly. Don’t be afraid to use it. We both often flush an extra time or two just to add water to the holding tank.

Water availability was a problem we encountered with our first boondocking experience. Also, although we were able to use the portable sewage system, we didn’t have enough water available to back flush the tank as we described above. Our solution was to drive to a dump station every other week. If you don’t have a washout at home, you can book-end boondocking or partial hook-up stays with full hook-up campground stays.

Learn More About Your RV Water Systems

Check out our book, A Complete Novice’s Guide to RV Water System’s Maintenance you want to learn more about your RV water systems, from preventive maintenance like flushing the water heater to sanitizing the freshwater tanks. It’s short, full of photos, and written in laymen’s terms. Even better, it’s free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited!

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8:00 am by Julie Chickery

Pros & Cons of Full-Time RV Travel

Full-time travel sounds pretty glamorous, and we really enjoy it for the most part. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t drawbacks to it as well. In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of full-time RV travel. Watch the video below or continue reading for the top 5 advantages and disadvantages of full-time RV life.

Do you know how people ask if you want the good news or the bad news first? Well, I always choose the bad to get it out of the way. So that’s what I’ll do here. First I’ll list what I consider the challenges of the full-time RV lifestyle, and then the benefits.

Drawbacks of Full-Time RV Travel

We’ve experienced each of the following to a certain extent over the last six years of our full-time RV journey. Believe it or not, some of them are more recent than others. So, just know these aren’t necessarily things you only experience at the beginning of your full-time RV travels. In fact, you may be so enamored of the freedom of your new lifestyle that you may not notice the challenges your first year or two.

Continual Upkeep is Required. No matter what make or model of RV you buy, regular maintenance is a fact of life for full-time RVers. Think about it, you are driving your home down the road at 60 mph on a regular basis. Also, since RVs are meant to be mobile, they are also built to be lightweight–so the fittings and fixtures aren’t as high quality as a traditional sticks & bricks home. Then add in that you either have automotive systems in your RV or tow vehicle. Plan for routine maintenance and be flexible in your plans when the unexpected occurs. Most importantly keep a sizable maintenance savings fund. We will be writing another post soon about out-of-pocket expenses we’ve incurred even with the manufacturer and extended warranties.

Fluctuating Expenses Wreaks Havoc on the Budget – With so many variable costs (maintenance, fuel, campgrounds, etc.) it is very difficult to stick to a regular budget. We are very strict about maintaining a budget and have gotten better at anticipating changes before they occur. The most important thing you can do is track your expenses. We use the every dollar app and immediately log each and every penny that we spend. This helps us maintain awareness of where our money is going and make changes where needed. Click here to see our full-time RV travel expenses last year.

Internet Woes. We purchased a Pepwave router to go with our Verizon hotspots. They aren’t cheap, but we’re still working remotely, and it was getting more and more frustrating trying to get a decent signal. Even when you get a good signal, mobile internet just doesn’t reach the level it did in the house. The Pepwave allows us to link to our cell phones, hotspots, and the campground WiFi (when available) from one location and even set priority orders. Click here for a very informative guide on staying connected using cellular data.

It Can Be Lonely. Hitting the road means leaving your family and friends behind. It can be difficult and costly to get back to visit regularly. Also when you’re traveling full time, you rarely spend a substantial amount of time in one place. Because of this, it can become very hard to build meaningful relationships. When you do make genuine friendships, you often leave shortly thereafter.

My greatest full-time struggle is missing my sons!

Uncertainty. Some people like the spontaneity of the full-time travel lifestyle. However, I’m a planner. For people like me, the uncertainty of long-time travel can be disconcerting. Not having a clear plan for the future, and in some cases not even knowing if you’re going to make enough money for the future, can be a very daunting and stressful experience.

While these are all legitimate downsides of full-time travel for me, they may not be for you. Everyone is different and every journey is unique. For me, the following advantages make it worth this full-time travel lifestyle.

Benefits of Full-Time RV Travel

Experiencing New Places. I have always loved travel! I enjoy visiting small towns and big cities alike. I take solace in a walk on the beach or the woods and equal pleasure at a national park or museum. Traveling by RV allows me to keep moving and experiencing new places.

Rainbow Springs was one of my favorite places we’ve visited so far.

No packing. Extended travel is so much more enjoyable when you have your stuff with you. One of the things that I have always had a hard time with is packing lightly. I always want to have options of clothing. In addition, traveling by RV allows you to take all your toys (bikes, kayaks, snorkel gear, etc.) with you when you visit new places.

Having Time to Smell the Roses. One of the main reasons we wanted to travel full-time in an RV was so that we could enjoy slow travel. We enjoy staying in a location for at least a month. During the winter we often stay for up to 3 months in one spot. This gives us a chance to experience more of an area and get to see it as locals do. Read more about our slow travel style.

Growing our Relationship. After raising three boys, we thought we had a very close relationship and we did. However, living and traveling full-time together in this small space has brought us even closer together. We have learned how to communicate with each other better and our relationship is stronger for it.

Learning Flexibility. I’ve always been a planner and have a contingency plan for the main plan. Traveling full-time has taken me out of my comfort zone because there are too many variables to anticipate. It has helped me learn to be more flexible.

Learn more about how you can live full-time in an RV here.

The Verdict

The full-time RV travel lifestyle is so different from any other. Though it’s filled with undeniable benefits and brings you incredible experiences, it is by no means an easy way to live and comes with a lot of its own challenges. These are just a few considerations to make when deciding if full-time RV life is for you. What other concerns do you have? Drop us a note in the comments and let us know.

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Full-Time RV Travel is not always glamorous. There are pros and cons to it like anything else. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the full-time RV lifestyle.

Full-Time RV Travel is not always glamorous. There are pros and cons to it like anything else. These are the 5 things I hate about full-time RV travel.

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8:00 am by Julie Chickery

Guide To Using Military Campgrounds

Did you know the military operates campgrounds on many of its bases? They are an affordable option for your travels around the United States if you are an eligible patron. Situated in some of the most picturesque vacation destinations, military campgrounds and the bases they reside on offer numerous amenities. And they are usually a great value! Read this guide to learn more about how to take advantage of this terrific benefit!

Patrick FamCamp RV Site — Patrick Air Force Base Family Campground

Who is Eligible?

The military has a large system of campgrounds and recreation areas. But who can use them?

Although bases tend to have their own specific rules on this, in general, to use a military campground you must be an active duty service member, National Guard or Reservist, military retiree, or 100-percent service-connected disabled veteran. Surviving family members of service members killed in action who have access to other benefits like healthcare and medical retirees and their families also typically qualify.

As of Jan 1, 2020, under the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018, all veterans with a service-connected disability rating (between 0-90 percent) can now use the base exchanges, commissaries, and many MWR facilities INCLUDING campgrounds! Read this article for instructions on how to access the base if you fall under this new access category.

If you want to look up the official DOD policy, it is DOD Instruction 1015.10, enclosure 3 which details the Authorized Patronage of Military MWR Programs. But it is important to note that each service has written its own regulation. There’s also a common saying in the military, “There’s a waiver for everything,” which basically means each base can do what they want.

In our travels so far we’ve come across one military campground, the Grassy Pond Recreation Area managed by Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, GA that even allowed non-military affiliated civilians to stay.

Your best bet is to check well ahead of your planned visit to verify specific eligibility rules.

Where Can I Find Them?

Our favorite resource for finding military campgrounds is a free website, militarycampgrounds.us. This privately run website has a map feature that allows you to see where there are military campgrounds. Then it provides detailed information and reviews (with photos and often videos) of each campground.

You can maneuver around the site as a guest, or sign up to get a log in and post your own reviews. We try to review every campground we stay at, and I’ve noticed many others do too.

Are They Any Good?

Military campgrounds range in size and quality, just as civilian campgrounds do. Our recommendation is to read the reviews mentioned above, not just looking at the number of stars, but to see if the writer cares about the same amenities as you do.

Many military campgrounds are big rig friendly with full hookups, but there are older ones that only have partial hook-ups. Some even have overflow or primitive camping areas with no hookups. Most are located on the base, which offers normal amenities like swimming pools, commissaries, and fitness centers. However, some, like the Blue Angel RV Park are off-base and have their own activities like kayak rentals, sailboat lessons, paintball, and mini-golf.

Can I Make Reservations?

Many base campgrounds take reservations which really makes planning simpler. This is especially helpful in locations that are in touristy spots. For example, Florida is a high-demand area in the winter. MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL takes reservations one year in advance and manages a very large (100+) waiting list. On the other hand, Patrick Air Force Base near Cocoa Beach is first come, first served.

The Navy even has an online reservation system, http://ngis.dodlodging.net. NGIS stands for Navy Gateway Inns & Suites, but many Navy campgrounds allow reservations on the site. We’ve used it successfully for a couple of Navy campgrounds in Florida, and one in Tennessee. The only thing we don’t like about the system is that you have to type specific dates and see if anything is available. If not, you change your dates and try again. There is no feature to see the next open available date like the National Parks system.

What If I Don’t Have An RV?

Did you know many military bases/posts rent travel trailers? Options include fully outfitted trailers that remain in place at the base campground, as well as those available to tow behind your vehicle to travel. In addition, many military campgrounds offer tent campsites. You can often rent the tent too! — Travel Trailers for rent at Fort Belvoir

I love that many military bases even rent travel trailers and tents!

Offerings may include trailers that remain in place at the base campground for you to enjoy with your family. Other bases have RVs for rent to stay local or take on a road trip.

Finally, most military campgrounds offer tent campsites and you can rent the tent too!

Other Important Tips

Verify Base Access

Due to heightened security requirements, many bases/posts only allow RVs and trailers to enter via commercial vehicle gates. These are often closed after hours and on weekends. We’ve been to a few that have required us to contact base security to meet us at the gate. Always check with the campground during duty hours for specific instructions on base access.

Pay A Visit To The Outdoor Recreation Office

Outdoor Recreation programs vary by location, but most have rental equipment like kayaks and bicycles. Some even run a marina with rental boats and certification courses. Many also have trips & tours to local attractions. No matter what your plans are, it is always a good place to start before you go out exploring the local area!

Check Out Discounts at the Base Information, Ticket, and Tours Center

Whenever we move to a new base, we always check out the Information, Tickets, and Tours (ITT) office. This is where you can get special military discount tickets for a variety of local attractions. There is an ITT office on most military bases and even many satellite locations.

The ITT office also has tons of brochures, highlighting lesser-known local events alongside the major attractions. It’s a great way to get to know the area around the base and discover a new part of the country.

Military Campground Reviews

We always read the reviews on the free website, militarycampgrounds.us while planning our trips. We also make a video of all the campgrounds we stay at. You can view them below.