Ice in black tank

[Bbouch84]

well has anyone done it to "scrub" their tank while driving??


Pros??


Cons??

[notanlines]

Bill, if you dumped 20# (for an example) into your black tank, how much swerving (NASCAR style) or bumping and accelerating would one have to do to make the ice move appreciably? There are a number of utube videos debunking this myth. Keep in mind that all that swerving and jerking is raising hell with the rest of your equipment.

[flybouy]

I think the benefits are anecdotal at best. I don't seem any harm in it and doesn't cost much to try it. My thinking is this, I've never emptied an ice chest yet that's looked cleaner after being used. I've never considered ice as an abrasive either.

[Logan X]

Yeah, the ice trick doesn’t work. What does work is filling the tank with clean water, adding some dish soap, and let that sit for a day or two. Or do the above and drive for a couple of hours, then drain it.

[travelin texans]

Here's an example!
Add 1 ice cube to a dirty 32oz bottle with about a 1/4 cup of liquid (this time of year use luke warm water) & slosh that ice cube slightly from side to side then see if it cleaned the bottle.
If you could add 3/4 of your black tank with ice it might help, but 1 20lb bag is a waste of ice & time.
After draining/flushing the black tank add a good long squirt of dish or laundry detergent to 2-3 gallons of water through the toilet then when arriving at your next location add more water & drain, that will do better than ice & most chemicals.
I added the detergent after every dump, but only did the fill/drain thing about every 4-6 weeks.

[Alpine]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6acEmqvcw&t=379s

[kb0zke]

We're full-timers, and generally move at least once a week or so. The night before a travel day I dump the soapy dishwater down the toilet. Same thing with the dishwater after breakfast dishes on travel day. When we arrive at the next campground I dump the tanks. I connect everything, then dump just a little of the grey to check for leaks, then dump the black. I backflush grey into black several times.

Why not dump before leaving? As was mentioned above, the sloshing of the soapy water helps clean the sides a bit and it helps break down things. Even though we stay on the highway, some highways are pretty rough, so there is a LOT of sloshing while traveling.

[dwall]

I have never tried it but my thinking is you dump a few bags of ice in and by the time you get in the truck and start rolling most of the ice has melted. Why not just start with water?

[ADQ K9]

I have cleaned coffee pots with Ice and salt water (rock salt)

[wiredgeorge]

I find it hard to believe anyone would take all the time needed to make the ice test box and truck mount just to make a video.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I find it hard to believe anyone would take all the time needed to make the ice test box and truck mount just to make a video.

I agree. But if you think about it, his truck bed is a whole lot better ride than in a trailer. Since towing has been described as dragging an earthquake, Maybe just maybe it does work somewhat.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I find it hard to believe anyone would take all the time needed to make the ice test box and truck mount just to make a video.

The "video producer" is a full timer who has a "RV channel" on U-Tube. There are several people who do much the same. Manufacturers "give him free equipment" to test and report the results. He chooses to do it with U-Tube videos. We have a member who does the same "testing" and reports his results with a monthly newsletter and U-Tube videos...

As to "why he takes the time to make an ice test box... Who knows, possibly so the manufacturer will give him even more expensive "stuff" to test ?????

It's not just a "hobby" with most of the "reviewers", they do it as a profession, either full time or part time and they're "paid for their work" ….

[legger99]

We bought our 29BHS used last year (April '19) and noticed some pretty foul smells coming from the black tank.
We were camping at a full hookup site so I filled it full twice, let it sit, used the tank flusher excessively too.
That seemed to help some, but then right before we left I put 2 bags of ice in the tank.
Drove about 50 miles home and stopped at a local dump site and couldn't believe all the junk that came out of the tank.

The smells went away and maybe the ice worked? I don't know for sure.

There wasn't much ice left after the trip either though.

[IrishSettler]

Empty the black tank.
Pour two 25 lb. bags of ice cubes down the toilet.
Pour a cup of dawn dishwashing detergent down the toilet.
Run about 3 or 4 gallons of fresh water down the toilet.
Drive secondary roads for 50 miles.
Empty the black tank again.
Your black tank gauge should show empty😎.

[GlampingHippie]

We've used the ice cubes before, not with a full tank but maybe 1/4 to 1/3 full.
The ice cubes bouncing around seemed to help break up some solids stuck to the sides and bottom.

[KilroyRock]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I find it hard to believe anyone would take all the time needed to make the ice test box and truck mount just to make a video.

This dude used that same tank to test that black tank flush he's got on the back, so he's using it for multiple videos = $$$

[ctbruce]

Ice should be reserved for cocktails and bourbon.

Besides, by the time you add the ice, add water and go driving around, the ice is either melted or the corners/edges are rounded off.

But, if so inclined and it makes you happy/satisfied, knock yourself out.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by ctbruce

Ice should be reserved for cocktails and bourbon.

Besides, by the time you add the ice, add water and go driving around, the ice is either melted or the corners/edges are rounded off.

But, if so inclined and it makes you happy/satisfied, knock yourself out.

And, just like that, two new "cocktails are born"... Poop (straight up) on the rocks, and for the "pinkie raisers", Effluent sunrise.... carefully poured to maintain the distinct layers of color in your glass.....

[CrazyCain]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

I agree. But if you think about it, his truck bed is a whole lot better ride than in a trailer. Since towing has been described as dragging an earthquake, Maybe just maybe it does work somewhat.

That made my day!!!

[CrazyCain]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

And, just like that, two new "cocktails are born"... Poop (straight up) on the rocks, and for the "pinkie raisers", Effluent sunrise.... carefully poured to maintain the distinct layers of color in your glass.....

This one too!!!!