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10-08-2017, 07:49 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Clearwater
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #20634
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Black holding tank question - Model 3160RL
Hello everyone,
We just purchased a new Montana 3160RL and are getting all settled in. I've read through the very detail owner's manual (NOT!) and cannot find information concerning the black holding tank.
Here's my question, according to my monitor panel, there are 2 holding tanks for both the black and the grey waters. I'm not concerned about the grey water tanks but how exactly do 2 black water tanks work? On my other RV we only had the 1 black and the 1 grey tank. So the question I have is, how is the holding water being distributed between both tanks? I've put the holding tank treatment and 4 toilet fulls of water into the black tank (my standard procedure after dumping my tanks) and my readings are, one tank is 1/3 full and the other is empty. So if the tanks simply fill up one and then spill over to the other, how is the tank treatment getting into the second tank? Reason I'm asking is, in the 2 years we've been doing this full-time RV thing, we've had one black tank issue (when we switched our holding tank treatment, NEVER AGAIN!) and it wasn't a pleasurable experience and not one I ever want to repeat, so I want to make sure I'm starting things out right on this new RV.
Appreciate any help. Thank you, Julia.
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10-08-2017, 08:43 AM
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#2
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sioux City
Posts: 46
M.O.C. #18380
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Hi, We have that same model and there 2 grays and only one black tank. Are you certain you have 2 for black water?
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10-08-2017, 09:27 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Sequim
Posts: 527
M.O.C. #17176
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You only have one black tank. They have a standard panel for all makes, some models have two bathrooms so they have two black tanks. This way they dont have to have a special panel for the different models. A way of cutting cost .
__________________
Dan & Sandy Huhn
2016 Montana 3720 2015 Chevy 3500 SWD Duro Max
Prev 2012 High Country 313RE 2012 Chevy 2500 DMax
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10-08-2017, 10:19 AM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Reno
Posts: 140
M.O.C. #18681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maurice45
Hi, We have that same model and there 2 grays and only one black tank. Are you certain you have 2 for black water?
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We agree with Maurice45. We have a 3160RL and it has 1 black and 2 gray tanks.
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10-08-2017, 12:53 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,697
M.O.C. #12947
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You will eventually learn to ignore the monitor panel for tank levels, except for maybe the fresh tank. Some have been able to maintain the level system, but on most rigs, the system always shows full or close to that, even with all tanks empty. Just use a good tank treatment, drain when you feel the tanks need draining. We wait until the black tank burps, and the grey tanks we drain every day or two.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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10-08-2017, 02:19 PM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Clearwater
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #20634
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Thank you all for your replies. I thought the black was only 1 tank and now understand that the second reading is for a black tank/2nd bath that I do not have on my model. I'll ignore that monitor and use the one only.
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10-09-2017, 08:02 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,318
M.O.C. #17894
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Imo it is bad advise to wait for a tank to burp. Do a search for waste tank leaks and replacement. These tanks are notorious for leaks because of how they are made.
When they are overfull they expand and separate at the top where the 2 parts of the tank are glued together.
Never wait until a tank is full to dump and never travel with more than a few gallons in the tanks
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10-09-2017, 08:25 AM
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#8
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Clearwater
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #20634
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beeje
Imo it is bad advise to wait for a tank to burp. Do a search for waste tank leaks and replacement. These tanks are notorious for leaks because of how they are made.
When they are overfull they expand and separate at the top where the 2 parts of the tank are glued together.
Never wait until a tank is full to dump and never travel with more than a few gallons in the tanks
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Great advise! Thank you for your help. I normally always dump every 5 days or when the tank is reading 3/4 full, which is 99% of the time on the 5th day. I did not know that these tanks have had problems with leaking though and we'll keep an eye on it.
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10-09-2017, 09:23 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Quote:
Originally Posted by juliathetraveler
Great advise! Thank you for your help. I normally always dump every 5 days or when the tank is reading 3/4 full, which is 99% of the time on the 5th day. I did not know that these tanks have had problems with leaking though and we'll keep an eye on it.
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Yes, it's good to have a routine and not rely on the faulty lights. There are 2 of us full timing and I dump every 7 days without fail. Usually about 30 gallons out of a 50 gallon tank. I tested it using my portable tank once when not on FHU.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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