The Downside to Boondocking and Harvest Hosts
In our travels, we have boondocked several times now. We have had combinations of utilities from everything to nothing just depending on the situation. Our current campsite is at a Harvest Host in Mesa that offers water and power so overall we are well off BUT we are staying 10 nights and as every RVer knows, 10 days is way too long to go on your gray and black tanks without dumping. Two days after arriving and before my wife's sister joined us the next day, we wanted to dump the gray water tanks. We have a portable waste tote we use when we don't want to move the trailer to dump. That makes things easier ... usually.
We've done this procedure several times now and all went as expected transferring the gray water to the tote and loading it in the bed of the truck. The trouble occurred when we headed over to the suggested dump site at the nearest Chevron. They had an RV dump station but when we went in to pay, they denied us asking, "Where's your RV?" Apparently, Chevron has a policy that you can only dump there if you have your RV with you and not from a tote! It was a bit too late for us since we can't exactly put the waste back in the RV now!
We were planning to dump and then head over to the Lost Dutchman State Park nearby so we headed that way grumbling the whole way about how Chevron couldn't actually have that policy and the workers must just not understand. When we got to the state park we were told we couldn't dump there unless we were camping there. Strike 2. After hiking an hour or so, we headed back out to find a dump site.
The ranger at the park gave us a list of local spots to dump. We crossed the first Chevron off the list perfunctorily and with a certain manic zeal. The next closest was an RV repair shop but when we arrived, they told us they had moved recently and this new spot doesn't have a dump site. Strike 3.
On to the next, another Chevron. Surely, this one wouldn't have the dopey workers who didn't understand. I waltz in to pay and am very politely asked "where is your RV? You can't dump unless you have your RV." Apparently, it IS an actual policy. Strike 4.
The next closest site on the Ranger provided list was a storage unit. We called only to find out they closed at 4:00 o'clock and it was 4:05. Strike 5. We called a local KOA who wanted $30 to dump and other local RV resorts all of whom "didn't have a dump station" we could use. Strike 6, 7, 8, 9 ... etc.
At this point my wife pulled out the iOverlander app to check for other options and found another RV parts store with a dumpsite. When we called, they told us they had a dumpsite and we were welcome to use it for free! Finally, after an ENTIRE day driving around Mesa, Gilbert, and Chandler, we could dump. I can highly recommend State Trailer RV and Outdoor Supply. Since we were using their dump station, we went in and they have an amazing variety of parts for your RV! Their Technicians were extremely knowledgeable and helped me decide how to update our 12V power supply so we can make it through the night while boondocking. We'll be supporting them with our patronage for the rest of this trip!
