Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-30-2019, 04:17 PM   #1
Winnie-Wise
 
SLOweather's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 462
Pay as you "go"??

I realize that I've been out of the ol' RV/camping loop for a while, but this one was new to me.

At Col. Allensworth St. Historic Park in California this week I saw my first self-pay credit card solar powered dump station.



Sorry, didn't get the solar panels in the picture.

Clearly installed and run by a concessionaire, swipe your card for $10, the lid lock is released for one minute to stick your hose in, and, apparently, after 15 minutes, if the lid is still open, an alarm sounds.

That's some pricey poop. I elected to bring our waste home, but I did see 2 Sprinter based rigs use it.
__________________
2014 Sunstar 31KE
1988 Suncruiser 31 RQ
1968 Travco 210
SLOweather is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 02:00 AM   #2
Site Team
 
Eagle5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: South Bend, WA
Posts: 2,416
All of the rest areas in Washington have free dump stations. I will appreciate my 40 gallon black water holding tank even more if this pay as you "go" trend continues.
Eagle5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 10:40 AM   #3
Site Team
 
creativepart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Spring Branch, TX
Posts: 7,780
Lots of RV Dump site phone Apps out there. You'll be surprised, they are all over the place. Once when we were on the way home I stopped at a nearly empty campground and asked if I could dump there and they said sure - dump and fill the fresh water tank for $5.

Many Texas rest areas have dumps and we use them all the time. There is a rest area on I-10 30 miles from home and lots of time we plan to just stop there when on our way home from a trip out west.

But I've never seen a self service place like the one you've seen. I doubt they are very common. One wonders if you could even make back the installation and operational costs on a system like that.
__________________
2017 Winnebago Adventurer 37F
2016 Lincoln MKX Toad
creativepart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 11:31 AM   #4
Winnie-Wise
 
SLOweather's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 462
I found their web site.


SaniStar Dump | The World's First Automated Dump Station


But the location map is broken...


Quote:
Sani-Star currently has installations in 46 States and 2 Provinces across the U.S.A and Canada; in large national travel centers, National Forest campgrounds, city and county campgrounds, gas stations and convenience stores and even national retail stores. Sani-Star’s unique ability to allow dump station operators to conveniently and securely collect payment has resulted in rapid growth. RV dump stations are expensive to operate and maintain and Sani-Star’s unique system allows for campground operators and business owners to recoup these costs and run a more efficient operation.
If upfront costs and budgets are a concern, Sani-Star can even carry up-front set-up and installation fees. We simply install the Sani-Star automated system and you start recouping costs from day one. We even offer parts and 24 hour phone support for the life of the service agreement.
__________________
2014 Sunstar 31KE
1988 Suncruiser 31 RQ
1968 Travco 210
SLOweather is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 02:40 PM   #5
Winnebago Master
 
AJMike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Apache Junction, AZ
Posts: 1,244
Apparently the search functionality does not work either. Looked for one within 200 miles of a specified city and a specified zip code, but got an error message.

Presumably their dump stations work better than their web page.
__________________
2020 Regency Ultra Brougham, IB model
2022 Jeep Wrangler Sport S toad
Roadmaster baseplate and tow bar
AJMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2019, 06:03 PM   #6
2018 Minnie Winnie 22M
 
mcfflyer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 49
Everything costs money...

I'm not sure what the issue is here. That you have to pay to dump or that it's an automated system? In my 40 plus years of camping in a motor home, I've almost always had to pay to dump. And now the fees are in the $5-$10 range, whether at a dump site in a national forest or stopping by a commercial campground.



I went to the California State Parks website (www.parks.ca.gov) and it addressed these automated pay dump sites currently in 10 state parks, including the one that is our favorite.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1029


Everything costs money, and it always seems like the parks are at the bottom of the list. Since we use those dump sites, I don't see the issue with paying for them. The state parks have pay showers. Is this any different? I wonder if the state park in question, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park even had a dump site before this one was put it?

I should note that Caltrans in California used to have more free trailer dump sites at the rest stops along the freeways, but most are removed now, mainly due to damage from vandalism.



Lee
mcfflyer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 07:11 AM   #7
Winnebago Owner
 
puttin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 245
This looks like a complicated solution to a simple issue (a common occurrence these days it seems). Just pay or include it when you make the reservation. Credit card problems eliminated. JMHO
puttin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 12:19 PM   #8
2018 Minnie Winnie 22M
 
mcfflyer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 49
Quote:
Originally Posted by puttin View Post
This looks like a complicated solution to a simple issue (a common occurrence these days it seems). Just pay or include it when you make the reservation. Credit card problems eliminated. JMHO

But what if the campground either never had a dump site or the one they had was in desperate need of repair? A company comes in and offers to put one in for you, give them a contract, they'll dig the hole, put in the vault and have automatic credit card activated site, and state parks gets a cut of the revenue? I'm guessing that company would then service the dump site, pumping it out as needed. And with the locked cap on the dump site that only unlocks when you pay, prevents others from using it without paying. Makes sense to me, and is a reasonable solution.
mcfflyer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 12:39 PM   #9
Winnebago Owner
 
puttin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 245
In a perfect world that may be true. It's not, so it wouldn't. I've never met a simple dump station that was out of order...some are dirty but you deal with it, right? A skimmer installed by some idiot would never be detected here- in time to save lots of trouble anyway. You set up the thing through some vendor- maybe he's around tomorrow, maybe not. Like I said- keep it simple. In all the time I spend researching the rv industry, this is very very far down the list of pressing problems. Let's get quality control corralled in, and parts procurement solved with our rigs. We would then be much happier campers!
puttin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 01:15 PM   #10
2018 Minnie Winnie 22M
 
mcfflyer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 49
Then a simple solution is for you to not use them. Solves all of your problems and fears. I'll choose to use them if I need to. I'm guessing that the campground referred to at the top of this thread never had a dump site to begin with and this is their way to get one.


And I most certainly have found dump sites out of order and closed. As I said before, Caltrans used to have many more dump sites at freeway rest areas, but closed them due to damage and vandalism.
mcfflyer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2019, 09:40 PM   #11
Winnebago Master
 
YGoHom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 500
I've been camping the southern California beaches for decades and these pay stations are now being added to existing dump stations.
If it keeps the station operational, I'm in. I'm tired of finding CA dump stations out of order.
__________________
2018 INTENT 26m
Safe-T-Plus, CHF, SuperSteer rear trac bar, RoadMaster front/rear anti-sway bars, SumoSprings, 400w solar.
YGoHom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2019, 05:25 AM   #12
Veteran RV Owner
 
armullis59's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 120
Flying J here on the east coast charges to use their dump station....you pay inside and get a code on your receipt to punch in to open the dump door.

Florida State Parks all charge something to use their dump station only. If you are staying in the state park campground, use of the dump station is included.

No Florida Interstate Rest Areas that I know of have dump stations. Some Georgia Rest Areas do and it was free last time I used one.
__________________
Arthur & Sheila Mullis with "Cam" the Kitty (FMCA # F474120)
Driving 2016 Winnebago Adventurer 37F, Towing 2018 Ford Explorer 4x4 Platinum
FCC License: KO4WSO
armullis59 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
ERA 170M, 2017: "Mode Switch" vs. "Disconnector"? bigfatguy Electrical | Charging, Solar and Electronics 0 04-08-2018 11:00 PM
Leak "Drip" "Drip" Kitchen Faucet LeeB Plumbing | Systems and Fixtures 6 04-17-2016 04:40 PM
Do you winterize your rv or pay to have it done ewaldo General Maintenance and Repair 47 10-27-2013 07:53 PM
Dish Network pay as you go jdefant Electrical | Charging, Solar and Electronics 9 07-25-2011 01:20 PM
New XZE Tires - "drifting" "sloppy" feel J&SW Running Gear, Axles, Brakes, Wheels and Tires 16 03-11-2011 10:37 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.