portable waste tank

[rompinroo]

Anyone have any insight to portable waste tanks? We go to quite a few campgrounds that do not have direct hook ups. While we typically do not fill our black tank, I have been known to fill the gray tank. Yes, I do enjoy a daily shower!

[dennismo]

We use a blue tank that hooks onto the ball of truck. Works well. Amazon, camping world etc sells them. They come in several different sizes. Ours is 50 gallon I believe

[bikendan]

We're dedicated dry campers, so a tote tank is a must.
We have a Barker 15 gallon tank, since it's normally just the two of us.
ONLY use it for the gray tank.
Also have 6 gallon FW jug, Honda 2000, 400w inverter for tv, dvd and recharging electronic devices.

[gashog]

I usually never fill my black water tank, but have the same situation you do on the grey water. I'll probably stir up the hornets nest on this thread.... I take extremely good care of my tanks. I treat my grey water tank with calgon and laundry detergent constantly. I put nothing down the grey water drains, but soapy water (no cooking oil or food that would be disgusting). When I dump my grey water it smells like you're doing your laundry. I will say that I've dumped my grey water in my yard several times using one of these and a garden hose Camco RV Sewer Cap with Hose Connection - Walmart.com (make your own conclusion on that statement).
I also have a Barker Tote like this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STYUhbSA9Hc

[DK-in-SC]

We bought a 22gal Barker tote and used it for the first time on Labor Day weekend. The capacity is good but it is very heavy when full.
The dump station at the state park we were visiting was outside the campground and about a mile down the road. I didn't want to tow the tank down the road at 5mph since traffic would be going at 35mph so I tried to lift it into the back of the Expedition. Needed help to get it lifted when full. I think most CGs will have the dump station close enough to tow it so it probably won't be an issue but do keep the weight in mind if you will have to lift the filled tank.


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[ependydad]

Originally Posted by DK-in-SC

We bought a 22gal Barker tote and used it for the first time on Labor Day weekend. The capacity is good but it is very heavy when full.
The dump station at the state park we were visiting was outside the campground and about a mile down the road. I didn't want to tow the tank down the road at 5mph since traffic would be going at 35mph so I tried to lift it into the back of the Expedition. Needed help to get it lifted when full. I think most CGs will have the dump station close enough to tow it so it probably won't be an issue but do keep the weight in mind if you will have to lift the filled tank.

This is why I want a macerator pump- so that I can put the tank in the back of my truck and pump the "stuff" up hill to it. No speed limit due to towing a tank slowly.

[Timex]

Originally Posted by DK-in-SC

We bought a 22gal Barker tote and used it for the first time on Labor Day weekend. The capacity is good but it is very heavy when full.
The dump station at the state park we were visiting was outside the campground and about a mile down the road. I didn't want to tow the tank down the road at 5mph since traffic would be going at 35mph so I tried to lift it into the back of the Expedition. Needed help to get it lifted when full. I think most CGs will have the dump station close enough to tow it so it probably won't be an issue but do keep the weight in mind if you will have to lift the filled tank.


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I have only used mine a couple times since we try to get FHU sites(when possible). Or we limit water usage and use the bathhouse for showers. Wrestling that thing when full is not a fun project. I doubt the wheel assembly would hold up if you were to tow it on gravel roads.

But I do take it with us if I'm not sure of the hookup situation of our destination.

[Timex]

Originally Posted by gashog

I also have a Barker Tote like this one.

BTW, he talks funny.

I didn't understand a thing he said.

[RooVader]

I have a 15 gallon and find the size perfect. I can still toss it in the pickup when pretty full.

My biggest problem, and this might be because my DK is pretty low to the ground, is that I can barely fill it because it is almost level with the drains. I have to open the valve and then sort of manually tip the hose to move the waste along if that makes sense. Repeat, repeat, repeat. It is nice because it is very slow and no risk of overflowing but it is a much longer process than I would like.

[dogevans]

I carry two 5 gal buckets with lids for transporting grey water. I bought
a sewer cap w/ garden hose connection from Camping World and use a
very short piece of garden hose to fill the buckets.

The buckets are very easy to deal with, and do not take up as much room
as a portable tank, to bring along.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by RooVader

I have a 15 gallon and find the size perfect. I can still toss it in the pickup when pretty full.

this is why i bought a 15 gallon tank.

[deartruc]

Originally Posted by dogevans

I carry two 5 gal buckets with lids for transporting grey water. I bought
a sewer cap w/ garden hose connection from Camping World and use a
very short piece of garden hose to fill the buckets.

The buckets are very easy to deal with, and do not take up as much room
as a portable tank, to bring along.

Great in the PUP days. Especially since the drain sits higher on the camper. Sounds like a pain when you have a 30 gallon tank to drain.

[deartruc]

Originally Posted by bikendan

this is why i bought a 15 gallon tank.

Well, when at a cg with a relatively convenient dump location, it is nicer to have a blue tank that can fit (or nearly fit) your whole tank. If you are at a location where it is inconvenient (I haven't been in one but have heard) only fill to half way. I just bought a 25 for a little over $100. The 15 is nearly that much.

[1st timer]

I have the barker 22 gallon tank. I found a nice little spot to store it behind the fresh water tank on my 23ss. 4 bungee cords no drilling! and it is tight.

[itat]

We have the 32 U.S. gallon model like in the video that gashog posted, except ours has pneumatic tires so it's much better to tow for a distance. With a bad back, I need a model I can tow rather than having to lift it. We only use it for the grey tank. I had to toss the bobber gauge because it wouldn't allow air to escape the tank so the grey water could fill it. I'd like to figure out a way to secure the hoop that goes over the hitch ball. When going down a hill with a full tank it makes me a bit nervous. Other than that it works well and I'm happy with it. I have enough room in the pickup bed to carry it there.

[Jimandchris]

Originally Posted by 1st timer

I have the barker 22 gallon tank. I found a nice little spot to store it behind the fresh water tank on my 23ss. 4 bungee cords no drilling! and it is tight.

Nice idea! I'll have to see if our tank will fit under our 23SS in that location.

[RooVader]

The cg I stay at most often has a half dozen huge speed bumps between the sites and dump station. I just decided I would rather do a couple trips with the 15 in the truck bed vs slowly towing a bigger tank. So far I have never needed to do a second trip. I do understand the appeal of the larger ones for sure...just haven't needed more capacity in my case.

[cpd1343]

Originally Posted by deartruc

Great in the PUP days. Especially since the drain sits higher on the camper. Sounds like a pain when you have a 30 gallon tank to drain.

The idea is not to drain the whole tank but to keep it from getting full. Drain just enough to make it to the end of your camping and then go to the dump station. I do the same thing with one 5 gal bucket.

[Pipeman]

I have a macerator pump & a 35 gallon tote. The tote goes into the bed of the truck and I pump into it. I had to get an adapter for the tote to make the drain hose longer to reach the sewer connection on the ground. Use it for black and gray water. I have an 8 ft box on the dually, so the tote goes behind the 5th wheel next to the Tgate.

[deartruc]

Originally Posted by cpd1343

The idea is not to drain the whole tank but to keep it from getting full. Drain just enough to make it to the end of your camping and then go to the dump station. I do the same thing with one 5 gal bucket.

I have a wife and two days. There is no draining enough to get by.