Tote-n-Store Question

lagman · 09-23-2013, 01:56 PM

I just picked up a never-been-used 11 gallon tote-n-store from a guy at work for $35!

Here's my question: My GW tank is 32.5 gallons. Just wondering if there is a trick to knowing when the tote is just about full.. I could easily see myself overfilling it. The tank doesn't appear to be transparent enough to see the water level as it fills up.

Thanks,
Dan

3'senough · 09-23-2013, 02:18 PM

I do the count method. Pull the handle count to 10 and close. Take a peak and see how much room you have left then repeat as needed.

Keep in mind that there is going to be a few gallons in the hose and pipe even after you shut the valve, so give it time to drain as you will get an airlock in there once you close the valve. I think 2 ten counts and you will be about 3/4 full IMHO. If it's only grey water it's not the worst clean up to have some spillage.

Old Blue · 09-23-2013, 02:32 PM

For gray water I use a cap that will take a garden hose I have one that is 10 feet long then I put a shut off valve on the end and use that to fill my tote I can see when its full shut it off. Dump and repeat untill tank is empty.

jenoble99 · 09-23-2013, 04:38 PM

I also use a cap with a garden hose hookup. I bought a 10' hose that is reserved for gray water only. However, our tank came with a short length of hose for rinsing that is the perfect length to go from the waste water outlet to the tank sitting on the ground. Our tank is 22 or 25 gallon, don't recall specifically. This allows me to connect to the small vent/flush port and view the tank level through the large outlet end. I'm not sure how your tank is configured, so my method may not be possible. I just barely open the valve instead of lettin'er rip, would much rather it take longer than have a mess.

bigbird · 09-23-2013, 08:40 PM

I also use to the cap with a garden hose hookup and the hose I made is short 3 ft 3/4 id clear vinyl. They do sell hose fittings for 3/4 id. I take the big cap off the tote and let the hose lay inside while dumping for viewing the level. I drains better then the large hose because the small hose angles in lower. This is necessary sometimes because my jayfeather is a low rider. We never worry about the black tank since it takes a week to fill and we only stay for 5 or 6 days

clubhouse · 09-24-2013, 11:01 PM

X3 on garden hose

clutch · 09-25-2013, 10:29 PM

You can buy a float at a RV store and it screws into the top threaded part of the tote. As the tank fills the float rises.

What ever you do, don't pull the valve and turn your back on it. Pay close attention to how much it is filling.

Bassdogs · 09-26-2013, 08:05 AM

Is all of this really necessary? What i mean is why use the tote tank thing and make 2 or 3 trips to the dump station when it seems easier just to disconnect, unplug, and hitch-up and make the run to the dumpstation. Then pull right back onto the pad, same levelers already in place, and reconnect everything.

When we have an extended stay we can easily last 5 - 7 days [probably more] by using the CG facilities during the day. Black tank usually isn't the issue, but grey tank will fill from kitchen dishes mostly. I've just used a couple of 5gal plastic buckets w/lids to draw down the grey and take it to the dump when we head out on a road trip.

Have watched folks deal with the totes [connecting, disconnecting, transporting, reversing the process, and repeating the same 2 or 3 times. I'm usually back on my pad and heading down to the beach to fish when they are still cleaning and stowing their totes etc.

clubhouse · 09-26-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Is all of this really necessary? What i mean is why use the tote tank thing and make 2 or 3 trips to the dump station when it seems easier just to disconnect, unplug, and hitch-up and make the run to the dumpstation. Then pull right back onto the pad, same levelers already in place, and reconnect everything.

When we have an extended stay we can easily last 5 - 7 days [probably more] by using the CG facilities during the day. Black tank usually isn't the issue, but grey tank will fill from kitchen dishes mostly. I've just used a couple of 5gal plastic buckets w/lids to draw down the grey and take it to the dump when we head out on a road trip.

Have watched folks deal with the totes [connecting, disconnecting, transporting, reversing the process, and repeating the same 2 or 3 times. I'm usually back on my pad and heading down to the beach to fish when they are still cleaning and stowing their totes etc.

Absolutely worth it!

I can fill 25gal of gray water in my tote, get to dump station, dump and return in far less than 15min. Typically it's once a day, sometimes every other day, but never multiple time a day. I don't see how hitching up, towing the TT to dump station and the resetting up could either be faster or easier.

Plus, we use water the same whether we have a sewer hookup or not. Daily showers, dishes, hand washing, etc all done inside. We have a TT for these amenities, if I couldn't use them I would not have a TT.

Lastly, if some folks are going to the dump station with their tote multiple times a day, then their tote is just to small.

Bassdogs · 09-26-2013, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clubhouse

Absolutely worth it!
I don't see how hitching up, towing the TT to dump station and the resetting up could either be faster or easier.

We have a TT for these amenities, if I couldn't use them I would not have a TT.
.

To each their own I guess. My reasoning is based on a reasonably full tank dump maybe once a week. We very rarely have a site with a sewer hookup but making use of the CG facilities makes the most sense for us. The amenities in our TT are there to use as needed, but thats also why we stay at CG's with clean and modern facalities. If they do and you don't use them, why go there? Just a different perspective on what makes the most sense for our situation.

33 RLDS · 09-26-2013, 02:03 PM

I have never seen inside the facilities at any campground we been to. Clean or not we prefer our own. Going back to the original post, I also think an 11 gallon is just to small. But if I had to use it, just fill through the big dump hole so you can see the level..

bigbird · 09-26-2013, 02:26 PM

Since you already purchased one 11 gallon tote Lagman why not just buy one or two more and fill them as much as you can easily lift into your truck . At least you won't have to drag it along to the dump at turtle speed like the bigger ones

clubhouse · 09-26-2013, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

I have never seen inside the facilities at any campground we been to. Clean or not we prefer our own

Funny and true for us too.

If it was just DW and I, maybe grown kids, I could see using the CG facilities occasionally. But with small kids, youngest being 1 and oldest is 8, using any CG facility is considerably more work for me than toting gray water.

Seann45 · 09-27-2013, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

I have never seen inside the facilities at any campground we been to. Clean or not we prefer our own. Going back to the original post, I also think an 11 gallon is just to small. But if I had to use it, just fill through the big dump hole so you can see the level..

I paid big money for the RV and the bathroom so I use it.. I could never understand why people want to go to the shower room ... much nicer to shower shave etc in the comfort of my RV.

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