Better to have larger black or gray tank?

[TarheelBornGal]

Hi ladies!

All other things being equal (and they never are, of course, but humor me), would you rather have a rig with a larger black tank than gray, or gray tank larger than black, or both the same size? I guess it comes down to which one you fill up first, typically. Since we've never RV'd before, we have no idea. We're still in the process of researching for our first RV, and I'm just curious after looking at the specs of some of the ones on our "short list".

Thanks!
Emily

[cpatinjones]

Larger grey. The grey tank holds the kitchen sink, bathroom sink and shower water discharge. The larger you can get for both, the better in my opinion.

[linann]

This is an easy decision . . . I'll choose a larger black tank every time. I've never once had the grey tank fill up before the black, and have to pour water into the gray tank for rinse water. Even if we are at site with full hook-ups we rarely hook-up until we are ready to leave and just want to empty the tanks.

I use the microwave and paper plates as much as possible. The slow cooker, skillet or outside grill clean up quick and easy. Since we are camping in a smaller rig, we take showers at the bath house.

[MelissaD]

I have a bath and a half in mine. I have 4-40 gallon tanks (160 gal total). Fresh water 47 gallons.

Black #1 is master bath and will last 5-6 days without rationing.
Gray #1 is shower and master bath sink and will normally last 3-4 days with the 3 of us. Oxygenics shower head at 2.5 gpm. Partner uses hot shower to help manage pain.
Gray#2 kitchen sink is 2 maybe 3 days max. The flow restrictor is removed from the kitchen sink because she wanted more flow to fill pots but leaves the water running while doing dishes. Since I normally have full hookups, I'd rather pull the drain valve than argue about water usage.
Black #2 is the half bath toilet ad sink it will last 7-10 days unless the grandkids are visiting then maybe 2-3 days (9 additional people)

If I don't have sewer, I have to dump every 3 days because of gray water.

Gray tanks fill up 1st as a rule. If my Gray #2 was a 60-80 gal I'd be happy. I could last 4-5 days then.

Many people who boondock I've read will wash dishes in a dish tub and dump it outside in a bush or down their toilet to extend gray tank capacity.

There are many techniques of tricks to make tanks last longer. All depends upon you and what you want to do. Also depends upon your partner(s) and their attitudes.

[MandysMom]

We RV in a 22 ft Leisure Travel van part of the time, which has 9 gallons black and 27 gallons grey. We can go up to 4 or 5 days being very stingy with use, for hubby and I. Our other RV is a 40 ft 76 converted GMC bus with huge tanks, black over 50 and the grey about 80 and carry maybe 150 gallons fresh water. Husband and I could probably boondocks (no hookups) for several weeks with care. Always the black is second to fill up and grey is the limiting factor. Like Melissa said, black holds toilet water only for most RVs with exception being situations like hers with a combo tank which holds water from one sink and that toilet. The grey get water from shower, kitchen and main bath sink. Many people have trouble ESP at first grasping what we call Navy showers ( we are both retired Navy and the term refers to shipboard where they are sometimes very limited by their fresh water tanks and learn to take very quick showers). A Navy shower means you step in first,then turn on water, some even put a bucket in to catch water while it becomes hot, then turn around in shower water to wet your body, then you turn water off. You then soap up and then turn water on to rinse and get out. Some people say they can do this in as short as two minutes. Not sure I believe that but you get the idea. If you are to stay in parks with hook ups tank size is almost a non issue. Myself, in our next RV will look for a absolute minimum of 45 gallons rack for black and grey. And water larger than that. I have heard at times that fresh water should not be much larger that capacity of grey plus black. Ask away as many here have years of experience at both park camping and boon docking.
Velda
76 GMC bus and 2005 Leisure Travel van
2 cats, hubby. And disabled son and me

[TarheelBornGal]

Thanks for the replies so far, ladies! Very helpful!

We are looking at smaller RVs -- 24-28', nothing like the size that some of you have. Tankage of all is in the 23-35 gallon range each, not huge. We do hope to boondock some and stay in mostly state/federal campgrounds, with occasional stops in commercial parks.

I know what navy showers are since we used to own a small (30') sailboat! We took showers in the marina bath house most of the time, but when we were at anchor, we'd have to take quick ones in the "head".

The three RVs we're most interested in now have three different tank configurations -- one has black/gray the same size; one has black bigger than gray; and the third has the reverse. Obviously this is not the only determining factor, just one of many!

Additional feedback most appreciated, especially from those of you with smaller rigs/tanks.

Thanks!
Emily

[longdog2]

Definitely with those who think the gray tank should be bigger. I have one black and two gray tanks, all pretty large.

[JudyJB]

My grey and black tanks are both the same size--30 gallons each. I have to dump my grey tank 2-3 times more often than the black tank, so I wish I had a much larger grey tank.