Dumping and Maintaining Wastewater Tanks

Dumping and maintaining Casita gray and black waste water holding tanks isn’t the most glamorous topic we might discuss, but it certainly is an important topic for most who are new to Casita Life.

Some new to Casita Life decide to order their new Casita as a standard model, sans bathroom, to save on trailer weight, gain extra living and storage space, or because they don’t want to deal with dumping a black water tank. Others elect to order a deluxe model Casita with an onboard bathroom, that provides a marine-style toilet with black water waste holding tank. Having camped with and without an onboard marine toilet over 45 years, Dorrie and I long ago decided an on board toilet is essential equipment. And, its utility has increased as we have become senior campers.

Most RV hard shell campers and even some pop up campers today have marine-style toilets. Marine toilets aren’t like house toilets. Because there’s no toilet water tank, you need to do a two-step flush: Push the handle or pedal halfway down to fill the marine toilet bowl with water, then push it down all the way to flush into the black water holding tank.

Your Casita Tongue Weight Is Critical To Safe Travel

NHTSA data shows an estimated 50,000 trailer towing related accidents occur each year. Most of these accidents are a result of preventable side to side trailer sway. Crosswinds, drafts from passing semi-trucks or descending hills using incorrect braking technique can initiate trailer sway. In such cases, the rear of the trailer can act as a pendulum that increasingly swings back and forth. As the trailer makes this swaying movement, it can push the tow vehicle into fish-tailing movements. The intensity of the swaying movements can lead to trailer flipping over, which may, in turn, overturn your towing vehicle.

Uneven weight distribution -- too much weight loaded in the rear of the trailer -- is a significant cause of trailer side to side sway increasing to disaster, once it starts. Packing a few tens of pounds to the rear of the trailer can make profound changes in the rig's sway control stability. But properly balanced trailer weight can naturally dampen and stop trailer sway.

But by following a few simple guidelines, you can stay on track, towing with the utmost ease and safety. Swaying trailers are almost always the result of the center of gravity weight not being far enough foreword from the axle, which commonly referred to as insufficient tongue weight. Increasing tongue weight increases stability, but don't add too much weight to your tow vehicle's hitch.