We are considering purchasing one of the portable waste containers. I've searched for previous posts and have found a good deal of information. But what concerns me is the likelihood that the container will spill,break, or flip while towing it to the dump station. I understand the speed limit factor. Has that happened to anyone? Is it common? I'm terrified of driving it and it leaking and causing an uproar within the campground.

I had a Barker tank several years ago that started to leak after only a few uses. I called Barker and they offered to replace it for free or I could pay a difference and get a larger tank. Then a camping friend one time ran over a stone in the road while towing his tank to the dump station and cracked the tank on the bottom. There is not a lot of clearance on the bottom. I'm very careful towing the tank on campground roads and always go slow. I have the Barker 4 wheel model and often tow it by hand to the dump.

If you are careful, leaking and breaking is not common, when considering the thousands in use everyday. We have used the same Barker for 7 years now, without a problem. (knock on wood.)

I head one from Thetford. Never had that problem. Just go slow.

I have another question. Do you purchase it to match the size of your holding tank? Or do you go smaller for ease of use?

I have a Thetford two wheel tank that is 29 gal. My gray tank is 30 gal. When full my Thetford is over 240 pounds. A larger tank may be to difficult to dump. So, you could go with a smaller tank and dump it more often. I would not worry about matching the size of my tank to the size of my holding tank. I leave my gray tank dump valve open and let the water run into my tank. Then dump when it is almost full.

Question on portable waste containers | Good Sam Community

travelzoo
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
I had a Barker tank several years ago that started to leak after only a few uses. I called Barker and they offered to replace it for free or I could pay a difference and get a larger tank. Then a camping friend one time ran over a stone in the road while towing his tank to the dump station and cracked the tank on the bottom. There is not a lot of clearance on the bottom. I'm very careful towing the tank on campground roads and always go slow. I have the Barker 4 wheel model and often tow it by hand to the dump.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
If you are careful, leaking and breaking is not common, when considering the thousands in use everyday. We have used the same Barker for 7 years now, without a problem. (knock on wood.)
Road_Phantom
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
I head one from Thetford. Never had that problem. Just go slow.
Crawfordville
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
I have another question. Do you purchase it to match the size of your holding tank? Or do you go smaller for ease of use?
miltvill
Explorer II
Oct 21, 2013
I have a Thetford two wheel tank that is 29 gal. My gray tank is 30 gal. When full my Thetford is over 240 pounds. A larger tank may be to difficult to dump. So, you could go with a smaller tank and dump it more often. I would not worry about matching the size of my tank to the size of my holding tank. I leave my gray tank dump valve open and let the water run into my tank. Then dump when it is almost full.
Drippin
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
We changed out the small plastic wheels for larger wheels with tubes from Tractor Supply and the clearance is improved and it does not make any noise when towing to the dump station.
skipnchar
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
In general terms,I can hitch up and take my trailer to the dump, do what is needed, return to my site and be shipping a cold one before most can complete the multiple trips needed to do the job. Just my own observation
dadmomh
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
Our blue tote is about a 15 gallon. It's served us well for 8 seasons and we bought it from my dear cousin who had used it for a few before that. Personal opinion is that emptying more often with less weight to maneuver around would be easiest. DH just considers it part of his Saturday morning job after breakfast. He has been known to make 2 trips, but it's rare. We're fine for a 4 day weekend.
clubhouse
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
I have 32 gal waste tanks and a 22 gal barker 2 wheel. We only tote gray, and taking 22 gal at a time has worked great. We are a family of 5, dont conserve water very well and dumping 22 gal every day or two has been much easier and quicker than hitching up and towing to the dump station. Never have we had to shuttle gray water more than once/day.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2013
I use the Thetford portable tank as well. Wheels are heavy duty and the handle is designed to tow it. On a 4 night stay I usually dump the Gray water 1 to 2 times, but the black is good until leaving. I have dumped the black tank on extended trips though. These are on sale at camping world with free shipping at the moment. Never had a spill or issue towing. There is a little red indicator that pops up when it is full - I usually don't fill it to the top - but that's just me. I'm not sure I could ever break camp and tow the TT to the dump station and get it back and set up again before having the time to make two trips with the portable tank.