How long does it take to dump an RV black tank? My nine-gallon tank drained in just 22 seconds. But getting my camper ready, going to the dump station, and returning to a fully set-up campsite took 37 minutes and 56 seconds.
And the dump station was less than a quarter mile away.
Apparently, my toilet requires transportation arrangements.
After eight years of camping in my Little Guy Max, dumping the black tank is nothing new. But as I prepare to live full-time in a small camper with my hubby Tom, I wanted to time the entire process.
Could I comfortably repeat this routine every three to four days?
Come along for my real-life RV dump station test.
My Small Camper Has a Nine-Gallon Black Tank
The black tank holds the waste from my camper’s toilet. Mine has a capacity of just nine gallons.
When I’m camping solo, I can usually get six to seven days between dumps. With Tom and me both using it, that drops to about three to four days.
Those are my personal camping results, rather than a schedule that will work for every RV owner.
For this trip, Thor and I were enjoying two weeks of fall camping at Merrick State Park in Wisconsin. I had more days to enjoy my campsite.
My toilet, however, had reached its departure date.
I wasn’t leaving the campground. I wasn’t even switching campsites. I was hitching up my entire camper because the black tank was full.
No Sewer Hookup Means Moving the Camper
This is the important detail behind my dump-day routine: I didn’t have a sewer hookup at my campsite.
That’s how I usually camp. In eight years, I’ve had sewer hookups only a handful of times.
Without a sewer connection at my site, my routine involves taking the camper to a dump station, then bringing it back and setting up again.
Today’s station was right inside the campground, less than a quarter mile away. This was one of the easier versions of dump day.
Before starting, I guessed the whole process would take 45 minutes.
I put myself on the clock.
Step One: Hitch Up and Pack Up
A nine-gallon black tank sounds like it should mean a quick little errand.
But before I can move my camper, it needs to be ready for travel.
Outside, I have to hitch up and complete my towing checks. Inside, everything that could fall, slide, spill, or launch itself across the camper needs to be secured.
The distance doesn’t change that job. A loose item doesn’t know I’m only driving across the campground.
Taking shortcuts has taught me that lesson before.
When I camp solo, I handle these jobs myself. I hitch it. I haul it. I dump it.
Five or ten years ago, I never would have imagined myself doing all this. Now it’s a familiar routine—but it still takes time.
Step Two: The Actual Black Tank Dump
Once I reached the RV dump station and had my hose connected, I wanted to answer one very specific question:
How long would my black tank take to drain after I pulled the valve?
I started the timer when I opened it.
Twenty-two seconds later, the draining was finished.
That measurement was for the black tank alone. It wasn’t gray water, and it wasn’t the entire dump-station visit. Connecting, checking, and putting equipment away are separate parts of the job.
Nine gallons finally gave me a speed advantage.
Sometimes I wait behind a large RV while its tanks seem to empty forever. When someone waits behind me, they probably wonder how I finish so quickly.
I brought the sample size.
Step Three: Return, Unhitch, and Set Up Again
An empty black tank doesn’t mean I’m finished.
Next comes the drive back to my campsite, backing into position, unhitching, and getting everything set up again.
Backing up is usually the part that makes me nervous. This time, I got into my campsite on the first try—and I was level side to side.
I’m counting that as a win.
Then I finished setting up and stopped the clock.
How Long Did the Whole Process Take?
Here’s my recorded breakdown:
| Part of my routine | Time |
|---|---|
| Hitch up, pack up, and reach the dump station | 22 minutes, 26 seconds |
| Actual black tank draining | 22 seconds |
| Return and get set up again | 15 minutes, 8 seconds |
| Total | 37 minutes, 56 seconds |
Almost 38 minutes for a 22-second dump.
The draining itself was the shortest part by far. Everything around it was the commitment.
This is one timed outing with my camper and my setup—not an average for every RV. A different campsite, equipment, or trip to the dump station could produce a different result.
But it gave me a useful look at what this routine requires.
How Often Would I Need an RV Dump Station Full-Time?
With Tom and me living in this camper, I’m planning around our experience of needing to dump approximately every three to four days.
For eight years, that has generally worked because we rarely stayed in one location longer than four days anyway. Dumping could fit into leaving for home or moving to another destination.
Full-time living changes that.
I want the freedom to settle into a place and enjoy it. If I’m staying longer, I would need to interrupt that stay to empty the tank—or plan around campground bathrooms and accessible dump stations.
When a dump station is nearby, that may be manageable.
When I’m boondocking somewhere remote, finding one and getting there could make the outing more involved.
I don’t want my bathroom to be the most influential member of the trip-planning committee.
Could I Live Full-Time With a Small RV Black Tank?
I know I can manage this camper. Eight years of camping, including plenty of solo trips, have given me practice.
The question is how frequently I want to repeat the routine.
The first few times I dumped the tank alone, I was pretty grossed out. Emptying my own bathroom waste wasn’t what I pictured when I bought a camper.
These days, the dumping doesn’t bother me much.
It’s packing up a comfortable campsite, moving the camper, and setting everything up again that makes me sigh.
That’s one reason I’m interested in a slightly bigger camper with a much bigger black tank. I still love small travel trailers. I’d simply like a little more time between bathroom-related relocations.
What This Test Taught Me
If you’re considering full-time living in a small camper, think beyond how quickly the black tank drains.
Picture the whole outing:
- Getting the camper ready to move.
- Traveling to an available dump station.
- Handling the dump-station tasks.
- Returning to your campsite.
- Getting comfortable again.
My tank emptied in seconds. My camping day had to make room for almost 38 minutes of work.
Would you be happy doing that every three to four days—or would a bigger black tank be on your wish list?
If you’re also comparing small campers for full-time living, watch “7 BEST Small Travel Trailers I’d Actually Live In” next. Each one made my list for a reason—but each one had a catch.
You can also follow my full-time RV living journey on YouTube.
I’ll see you next Thursday!
