wheeled tote recommendations/questions

azjerry · 02-08-2012, 10:31 AM

With only a 15/9 gallon gray/black water tanks on my trailer I need to get a tote of some kind for draining while at a campground. I've seen the Barker(?) blue and Thetford gray tanks in catalogs but haven't yet looked at them in person. What do you good folks suggest as far as brand, features, size, storage, etc? Bear in mind it will have to be transported either in my TV or in a rack on the bumper.

I also have a question about emptying wheeled totes. If a dump station is available I assume it's fairly easy: wheel there, open, dump, cleanup. But many of the public campgrounds I've seen in the area don't have dump stations. With my previous popups that wasn't a problem as I had a 2 gallon gray water bottle and a porta-potti which were both easy to dump in the nearest outhouse. I can't picture how to dump a large wheeled tote in an outhouse. Ideas?

**Crabman** · 02-08-2012, 11:05 AM

Since your grey tank is 15 gallons I would go with the Barker 15 gallon tote. You can get the tow bracket and tow it to the dumpstation with your truck. If no dumpstation is available, I believe some folks use a pump to transfer the water into the tote while it is in the truck so you do not have to lift it. There have always been dump stations where I camp so I have not had that issue. I use the Barker 22. It will not hold the entire contents of my grey tank, but that`s the largest tank I wanted to deal with.

Barker 15 gallon tote

Seann45 · 02-08-2012, 12:01 PM

Just to be different I would suggest going with a 20 gallon tank so you dont overflow filling the "blueboy" and that way you can drain the black and have room to drain most of the gray at the same time.... ... I found I prefer the ones with a side dump as then you dont have to lift it to dump.... easier on the back.

wiscampsin · 02-08-2012, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabman

You can get the tow bracket and tow it to the dumpstation with your truck.

X2, alot easier than to pull by hand.

Quahog · 02-08-2012, 06:17 PM

I have the Barker 25 gallon and at times, it's a godsend. Like Seann and Wiscampsin said, with the larger one, you won't overfill it and the larger design is easier to pull by hand or with your ball mount (just go slow).

**norty1** · 02-08-2012, 08:01 PM

I have a 15 gallon and have used it for years. No boon docking but lots of parks with no sewer connection. I don't mind making 2 trips to dump the grey water cause I can't lift the end conveniently to get it over to the truck hitch.

15 gallons out of the grey tank gives us plenty of capacity to stay over a week w/o daily blue boy runs. Water conservation is one option that many have problems with. If you can conquer that. your grey water trips will be greatly reduced.

I have lots of friends who can't stay over 2 days in a non sewer site cause they put to much grey water in the tank and don't want the hassle of hauling the grey water.

clutch · 02-08-2012, 10:39 PM

I agree with Seann. Get a side dump. Also get one with the biggest wheels you can find. For some people lifting the tote can be difficult so one with front wheels can be nice. At the last park we stayed at (5 winters) I had lots of practice with totes.

**norty1** · 02-09-2012, 06:34 AM

Another suggestion, is to teach your wife to do it. Has not worked to well for me.

**Crabman** · 02-09-2012, 06:58 AM

A large tote is nice, but they have a small trailer (single axle, in fact) with very small tank capacities, and limited storage space for the tote with an SUV as a TV. Mounting it on the trailer bumper is a possibility. The 15 gallon is not hard to turn upright or pull to your truck from the back of your trailer. With the big 30 to 40 gallon ones, I agree 4 wheels is a must and even then you have to drag it to your hitch. One thing that makes this a little easier is a pnuematic wheel mod that makes it quieter and easier to drag. I did this on my 22 gallon tank. Changed the axle and put on real tires and wheels.

You may also like: