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Reading Time: 10 minutesLast Updated on June 29, 2025 by Paul Clayton
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The Best RV Black Water Tank
The RV black water tank has various sizes and capacities to accommodate different needs. Understanding this component’s functionality and proper maintenance is crucial for all RV owners to ensure a seamless and comfortable travel experience.
Key Takeaways:
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- Black Water Tanks are Essential and Require Maintenance: The RV black water tank is a critical component for holding human waste, and understanding its functionality and proper maintenance (emptying, cleaning, flushing) is vital for a comfortable and sanitary RV experience.
- Portable Tanks are a Solution: Portable black water tanks (like Camco Rhino, Tote-N-Stor, Barker) offer convenient options for waste transport, especially when full hookups or dump stations are unavailable, featuring various capacities and accessories for easy handling.
- Understanding Waste Types is Crucial: RVs utilize two types of waste tanks: gray water (from sinks and showers) and black water (from toilets). Black water tanks hold both liquid and solid human waste, as well as toilet paper.
- Proper Dumping Procedure: Always empty the black water tank before the gray water tank. The gray water then helps to flush out the sewer hose, preventing clogs and odors.
- Chemicals and Water are Key for Maintenance: Maintain a supply of water and specialized chemicals in the black water tank to prevent waste from sticking, break down solids, and control odors. Eco-friendly options are available.
- Flushing is Non-Negotiable for Sensor Accuracy and Cleanliness: Regularly flush the black water tank after emptying to clean its interior, ensure accurate sensor readings, and prevent waste buildup. Modern RVs often have built-in flush valves, or aftermarket solutions can be installed.
- Avoid Traveling with a Full Black Tank: Traveling with a full black water tank can negatively impact vehicle handling, fuel efficiency, and increase the risk of leaks or spills. It’s best to empty it before hitting the road.
The RV black water tank is one of the quintessential installations. It serves the vital purpose of holding and removing unavoidable human waste from your recreational vehicle.
As unpleasant and sickening as the topic may be, you must understand everything about an RV black water tank. No one wants a disaster in the making; there will be one if you are unfamiliar with an imperative component of your RV lifestyle.
The Best RV Black Water Tanks
1. Camco Rhino 15-gallon Portable Camper Tank
Summary
Camco has several RV black water tanks. The 39000 Rhino model has a capacity of fifty gallons. It is a heavy-duty portable waste holding tank for recreational vehicles. It comes with a hose and other accessories.
The tank is durable and leak-free. It is an odorless tote tank priced at $106.41. Variants with larger capacities are available. You may choose between twenty-one gallons, priced at $142.12, or twenty-eight gallons, priced at $180.40.
You may also want to buy the 90-degree Tote Tank Adapter and RhinoFLEX Tote Tank Sewer Hose Kit. Camco offers an inclusive kit that includes all the essentials for managing the black water tank.
The drain hole is relatively low, so emptying is more effective. The interior features a smooth finish, making cleaning, flushing, and rinsing easy. The tank has an integrated rinse feature.
When not in use, a hook can clamp the tank onto the ladder of a recreational vehicle or camper. The tank is made of durable, leak-proof material.
The box comes with a two-year warranty. It comes with an inch sewer hose, bayonet, lug fittings, a fifteen-inch water hose rinse adapter, an apparent double bayonet elbow with four-in-one adapter, three storage caps, a steel tow adapter, and two caps with lanyards to facilitate the rinse connections.
2. Tote-N-Stor 25608 Portable Waste Transport
Summary
Tote-N-Stor has a portable waste tank. The 25608 model has a capacity of twenty-five gallons and is listed for $146.58. You will also receive a thirty-six-inch-long, three-inch drain hose, a tow bracket, and a hose clamp.
When delivered, the tank is completely assembled. Its rugged and durable construction makes it easy and quiet to carry around, and it has rubber wheels.
3. Barker Tote Tank
Summary
Barker has a thirty-gallon tote tank. The product costs approximately $215.00. It has variants, starting from a capacity of five gallons, through ten gallons, and then fifteen and twenty-two gallons.
It is made of blow-molded polyethylene and has zinc-plated steel brackets. It also has heavy-duty wheels, bayonet fittings, a five-inch sewer hose, a garden cap hose, hose adapters, a bayonet cap, stainless steel adjustable clamps, and a drain hose.
4. RecPro RV Black Water Tank
Summary
RecPro makes an RV black water tank. It is also suitable for campers and trailers. Its capacity is 44.5 gallons. It is currently one of Amazon’s highest-rated RV black water tanks.
The tank, priced at $179.95, has a uniform thickness and is more reliable and durable than other molded tanks. This model is much better than thermoformed tanks.
RecPro has adhered to the standards stipulated by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and the Canadian Standards Association in designing this tank, which measures 25 inches wide, 63 inches long, and just over 9 inches high.
RV Black Water Tank Guide
As integral as it is, you can avoid the whole premise of using or even having an RV black water tank. Many people prefer to camp in places that have private or public bathrooms. Access to such facilities may suffice for some people, even if it requires a short drive or hike.
There can be more than one reason for preferring such access or facilities. Not everyone is comfortable dealing with an RV black water tank, especially emptying it occasionally.
Many people prefer a more traditional bathroom than the compact one in a recreational vehicle. Some people may prefer not to use the bathroom in a car that is located near the living quarters, bedroom, or kitchen.
It is, as usual, not to use an RV black water tank as it is to have one and use it every time. A solid and liquid waste holding tank should be emptied and cleaned regularly.
Two types of tanks are used in recreational vehicles: gray and black water. An RV gray water tank captures and holds the water drained from the sinks and showers.
This is also basically waste matter, mostly water, and includes everything from dirt to soap residues and other products. The word gray is chosen because of the waste’s color.
An RV black water tank captures, accumulates, and holds waste from the toilet. The choice of the word black is owing to the apparent reason.
An RV black water tank holds liquid and solid waste. The gray tank rarely holds solid waste. Even if it does, it is unintentional, as some solid matter may get drained down the sink or during a shower.
The RV black water tank holds human waste and water, and flushes it down the toilet. It also holds toilet paper. An RV black water tank should have a proper base.
The internal surface at the bottom of the tank cannot be bare. When not in use, toilets contain some water. The water prevents the waste from sticking to the material.
The water also traps foul odors, preventing them from spreading and contaminating the bathroom and possibly nearby rooms. This is crucial in the case of a recreational vehicle, as it is already a small space, and any odor will quickly spread all around.
An RV black water tank should have some water and chemicals at the base. A wide range of chemicals is available today. These are mainly liquid and can be flushed down the toilet without waste accumulating at the base of the tank.
These chemicals serve two essential purposes. You do not have to use more than one suitable chemical for both functions.
The chemical’s primary function is to facilitate the breakdown of human waste, including solid and liquid matter, as well as other materials such as toilet paper.
The second function is to prevent the odor from spreading beyond the tank, up the drainpipe, and into the toilet, thereby contaminating the bathroom.
You may choose chemicals that can treat the waste and have some scent to combat the odor problem. These days, you can choose eco-friendly chemicals.
The most challenging aspect of an RV black water tank is emptying it. This is unavoidable. Unless you have the money to pay a technician to service your entire recreational vehicle, including emptying the tank, you must do it yourself, and it can be quite an unpleasant experience if you lack the necessary know-how.
First, find a location where you are legally permitted to dispose of the tank’s waste. Then, connect a waste hose to the tank in your recreational vehicle.
Every manufacturer recommends a waste hose for their tanks. It is best not to use an incompatible hose; otherwise, a disaster is likely to occur. Choose a dump station and set up the waste hose, securing it properly and double-checking the apparatus to ensure it is okay.
Your recreational vehicle will need a gray water tank, regardless of your preference for using or not using the toilet facility, and hence having or not having a black water tank.
The gray water tank must also be emptied periodically. You can empty the gray water tank at every dump station where the black water tank can be emptied.
It is best to empty both tanks at the dump station whenever you stop by, or if you know the tanks are sufficiently full. Always empty the RV’s black water tank before the gray water tank.
The actual act of emptying is quite simple. Secure the hose, then open the valve to allow the waste to flow out. Close the same valve after the black water tank has been emptied, and then turn on the valve of the gray water tank.
You may wonder why the RV’s black water tank should have been emptied. The reason is to use the comparatively cleaner water from the gray water tank to flush out any waste in the hose.
The gray water will be cleaner than the black solid and liquid waste.
A bit of this waste getting stuck or lining the inside of the hose is natural and obvious. Since the gray water tank is mostly full of water, it empties quickly, and the waste gushes out.
This pressure causes the hose to be emptied to a large extent.
This does not mean you do not have to flush the RV’s black water tank. You must clean and flush the tank after emptying it, as some waste may remain.
Some of the waste may clog parts of the tank. All modern tanks have sensors that indicate whether they are empty or full. These sensors may not work correctly if you do not clean and flush the RV’s black water tank.
Flushing is also crucial to avoid a buildup of waste that may not get emptied. Your recreational vehicle may have a valve that allows you to flush the black water tank.
It would be best to use a hose, and a rinse valve will run water through it to flush the entire tank. This is the more straightforward way to flush an RV’s black water tank.
Your recreational vehicle may not have a flush and rinse valve. You can install one if you want. There is no shortage of aftermarket options for upgrades. Ideally, it would be best to have the flush valve, as this feature can make life simpler, easier, and more comfortable.
If you cannot have a flush valve, the only other option is manual cleaning. You cannot avoid cleaning and flushing the RV’s black water tank. You may want to consider hiring a professional specializing in this area to handle the job.
Some RV black water tank companies also manufacture cleaning essentials, such as hoses, extensions, and rinsing tools.
These products can clean and flush your RV’s black water tank. Make sure you have a reliable source of water.
The water supply should have sufficient pressure to clean and flush the tank effectively. You need to clean the entire tank, not just the base.
The sides and top of the chamber must also be effectively cleaned. Substantial pressure must be applied to spray water on them to scrape waste off the surface.
After cleaning and flushing, you will have to empty the tank again. This will again require you to drive to a dump station unless you are cleaning, flushing, draining the tank, and disposing of the waste the first time.
There are times when recreational vehicles are on an extended exploration, and the tanks cannot be emptied anywhere due to a lack of access to sewer hookups or dump stations.
This necessitates the use of a portable waste tank as a backup. You can empty the RV’s black and gray water tanks into the portable waste tanks, which can be disposed of at designated locations.
These tanks have wheels to facilitate movement and transport to the dump site.
Can you travel with a full black tank?
The added weight can affect your vehicle’s handling, fuel efficiency, and the risk of unwanted leaks or spills. Furthermore, the constant movement can cause solid waste to break apart, making it more challenging to empty later.
On the contrary, traveling with some fresh, clean water in your holding tanks (both black and gray) is advisable as it aids in flushing out the system and maintaining sanitary conditions. Therefore, emptying your black water tank before hitting the road is best.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a suitable RV Black Water Tank is crucial for a comfortable and hassle-free RV experience. The tank’s capacity should align with your RV’s size and usage needs. A large RV or frequent usage would require a tank with a higher capacity to avoid frequent and inconvenient disposal trips.
Regarding durability, it is prudent to select a tank fabricated from robust materials that can withstand the rigors of travel and regular use.
Leak prevention is another essential factor to consider. Tanks with secure valves and fittings are preferable, as they help prevent potential leakage and avoid unpleasant spills and the associated cleanup.
Additionally, odor control is a significant concern with any RV Black Water Tank. Effective treatments can minimize unpleasant odors, making your RV journey more enjoyable.
Maintenance is also a crucial consideration. Tanks with smooth interiors are easier to clean and maintain, saving you time and effort in the long run. Finally, compatibility with your RV’s plumbing and accessories ensures seamless installation and operation.
By considering these factors, you can ensure you select an RV Black Water Tank that meets your specific needs and provides a reliable service throughout your travels.
