Question on emptying black tanks

[swlands]

I have yet to get an RV, so asking y'all - do campgrounds let you just empty your tanks, top up with water and move on? 
What do they charge for this? 

My interest is in camping close to wilderness, boondocking, etc. But you still need to get groceries, water etc. 

My brother has a caravan in NZ and he joined a NZ RV group which has basic sites where this is about all there is. They charge $3 a night, I think, as they only service members - no outsiders at all. And last time I was with him he stopped by a free dump station which they have in some towns. You can empty your tanks and top up with water for free. 

The pertinence is what kind of rig I might contemplate. I am still researching, but it has to all go with flow, so to speak, and I am wondering how the flow goes that I will have to go with.

 

[B and C]

Here in the states, most campgrounds will let you dump and fill, the price varies and is based on region and how big your rig is. There are also a lot of free dump stations. Sometimes I will stay in the RV park for the night to take care of other necessities (long shower, laundromat, etc) when the price is not a lot more than dumping.

I almost exclusively boondock (see above) and can stay out for 14 days before needing to dump, fill, groceries, etc. I chose a class B+ as we always traveled in a van and they can get to places some of my friends can't go because they are too large. The B+ also has bigger tanks and a bigger fridge than a regular B.

This all boils down to what you feel comfortable doing.

Good luck.

 

[ckelly78z]

The majority of campgrounds that have individual sites, and that you pay a nightly fee for will allow you to fill/dump for free (size doesn't matter). This would include State parks, and private CGs. If you are boondocking, it is usually up to you to find a spot that will let you dump

 

[B and C]

If you are not staying in the campground, you will have to pay to dump and fill. If you stay in the campground, dump and fill is included whether the water and dump are at your site or you have to go to a central location in the RV park to do it.

 

[WanderingRose]

On rare occasions, a campground charges a fee for dumping, even if you are staying in the campground, because they would prefer you pay for a full hookup site.

As a class B owner, it rankles me a bit to be charged the same amount as a rig twice my size with huge holding tanks, dishwasher, washing machine, etc. but that’s just the way it is.

Generally, you can find a reasonable place to dump and refill with fresh water, and I’m with B&C to stay overnight in a campground where dumping tanks is only one of the amenities you use.

Flying J and other truck stops also usually have dump stations, and occasionally rest stops on interstates.

I like the AllStays app for finding campgrounds, dump stations, and other things.

 

[swlands]

Thanks people. Sounds like black tanks are workable. My expectation is to not spend too many nights at campgrounds, so my question was intended that if I did NOT stay, would a campground still let me pay to dump the tanks and fill with water, without paying an overnight fee. I get the answer some do, and there are other options. So, it is workable. Also I can see where taking a solid shower, doing laundry, getting internet, blah blah makes a campground stop a regular event anyways. I doubt my budget will run to too many nights at campgrounds, apart from my aversion of them. I am very happy in my own company and really want wilderness.

 

[B and C]

I do RV parks maybe once a month.  There are a lot of other options too.  Most truck stops, some gas stations and some municipalities too.  Campendium https://www.campendium.com/free-camping and sanidumps https://www.sanidumps.com/ have a lot of places and there are a lot of others not on these sites.

 

[wayne49]

There is also:
free (and pay) campsites and free (and pay) dumpsites:
https://freecampsites.net/
To find just dump sites:
https://rvdumpsites.net/

 

[maki2]

The interstate rest stops in Washington state have free waste tank dumping.