The TP Pyramid: A Cautionary Tale from the Black Tank

The Setup

If you’ve spent any time around RVers, you might have heard whispers about the dreaded toilet paper or poop pyramid. If you haven’t, consider this your initiation.

When Mr. Owl and I moved into our RV, we thought we were prepared for anything. We’d done the research, stocked up, and felt pretty confident. But RV life has a way of humbling you. There are things you can only learn the hard way, and this was one of them.

The Mystery Clog

Within our first two weeks, every time we went to dump the black tank it was clogged. The water wouldn’t flow because there was always a mound blocking the way. We’d wrestle with it, get things moving, and then scratch our heads, wondering why it kept happening.

After two messy attempts at fixing it, we were baffled. By the third time, we decided to take a more serious approach.

The Plan

We’d heard about backflushing and thought that might be the answer. The RV’s previous owner had never done it, so we figured the buildup was to blame.

So, Mr. Owl handled things outside while I went inside to “check if the tank was full.” Looking back, this was my first mistake.

The Splash

I lifted the toilet waste pipe cover and—well, let’s just say Old Faithful had nothing on what came next. A pressurised geyser of black tank soup hit me in the face, drenched my clothes, and yes… even landed on my lips.

I’ll let you imagine my reaction.

Here’s the thing: I’m a little OCD about germs. So this wasn’t just gross. It was a meltdown moment. Mr. Owl and I have been together for 20 years, and he swears he’s never seen me lose it like that. And we’ve been through some things, let me tell you.

I don’t know, I think he’s cute.

The Investigation

Once I’d scrubbed myself, the bathroom, and changed into clean clothes, I went straight to the internet. Reddit, as it turns out, is a treasure trove of RV wisdom — and that’s where I discovered the term TP or poop pyramid.

The problem wasn’t the tank. It wasn’t even the RV. It was us.

In our attempt to conserve water — since we didn’t have full hookups — we hadn’t been using enough. And in an RV black tank, water is your best friend. Without it, waste doesn’t break down or move along. It just… piles up. And piles up. Until, well, you’ve built a pyramid.

The Fix

Once we understood the problem, the solution was embarrassingly simple: use more water. Especially if there are solids in the bowl. A gallon or two is a good rule of thumb.

We also realised the whole “special RV toilet paper” thing is mostly marketing. We tried Scott’s thin paper for a while, then switched back to Angel Soft, and both worked fine. As long as you’re using enough water, the brand doesn’t matter nearly as much as the internet makes it seem.

After that, no more clogs. No more pyramids. No more splash zones.

The Facepalm

Of course, hindsight is cruel. Later I learned we could have just poured in some black tank digester with extra water, and the whole mess would have dissolved on its own. No backflushing, no meltdown, and definitely no face full of regret.

That realisation was one big, stinking facepalm.

The Takeaway

So here’s the moral of the story:

• RV toilets are not like home toilets. If you want to avoid a pyramid, water is non-negotiable.

• Don’t waste money on “special” toilet paper unless you like the feel of it. Any brand works as long as you’re flushing properly.

• And whatever you do, never — ever — open the waste pipe cover to check if the tank is full.

RV life comes with plenty of curveballs, and sometimes they’re messy. But if my humiliation saves you from a geyser of black tank soup, then maybe it was worth it.