I have been looking at buying a Thetford SmartTote2 LX. Suggestions have been made in different forums to match the tank size with the size of the tanks being emptied. Thinking about this, I have a 38 gallon GW tank. I am concerned that a full 35 gal. cart would weigh quite a lot. I have switched to looking at an 18 gal. tank. These have a container level gauge that should help in not overfilling the container. Does anyone have experience using a container smaller than the tank it is emptying? Does it work? Do the features of this container especially the gauge work properly to keep the GW contained?

N&K wrote:suggestions have been made in different forums to match the tank size with the size of the tanks being emptied.That's not necessary. I use a 15 gallon with my 40 gallon tanks. Dump 2-3 times. Water is heavy.I don't know the specific reasons you're getting that advice.

You are wise to consider weight. I see folks pullint their tanks to the dump station behind their rigs. But you still have to move it to the back of the truck. We have a 20 gallon and seldom use.

I use a surplus 30-gallon plastic drum mounted in the truck bed. It's semi-transparent so you can see how full it's getting.My first gray water offload was into a 5-gallon bucket w/ pour spout lid. So yes you can use a smaller container if you want.

I have a 42 gallon tote that I use to dump my 40 gallon tanks. I dump once. I make one trip not 2 it takes 1/2 the time vs. using smaller totes.While a necessary evil dumping is a PIA chore. Why do it twice?I tow my tank to the dump station. I don't have to lift it or carry it. The tank has 4 wheels and I pull/maneuver it like a red wagon. I pull full tank 20' to my truck and tow it from there. I cannot lift 42 gallons of water but I can easily pull 42 gallons of water using a wagon/tote.Getting a tote as large as your tanks is good advice in my book.

40 gal grey tank owner here. I have a 32 gal Barker 2 wheel tote and the long extendable handle gives enough leverage to move it around when full. It's towed by the truck anyway so I don't care much about the weight. If you go larger, go with a 4 wheel model. As to the small 18 gal totes, that wouldn't work for me.BTW, I bought the optional float thingy that goes in the top and found it kind of useless. I either threw it in my tool box or threw it away, don't remember. If you pay attention, you can easily shut the valve off before it overflows.

Thetford SmartTote2 LX usefullness | Good Sam Community

35 Replies

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jun 27, 2015
40 gal grey tank owner here. I have a 32 gal Barker 2 wheel tote and the long extendable handle gives enough leverage to move it around when full. It's towed by the truck anyway so I don't care much about the weight. If you go larger, go with a 4 wheel model. As to the small 18 gal totes, that wouldn't work for me.

BTW, I bought the optional float thingy that goes in the top and found it kind of useless. I either threw it in my tool box or threw it away, don't remember. If you pay attention, you can easily shut the valve off before it overflows.
Lantley
Nomad
Jun 27, 2015
I have a 42 gallon tote that I use to dump my 40 gallon tanks. I dump once. I make one trip not 2 it takes 1/2 the time vs. using smaller totes.
While a necessary evil dumping is a PIA chore. Why do it twice?
I tow my tank to the dump station. I don't have to lift it or carry it. The tank has 4 wheels and I pull/maneuver it like a red wagon. I pull full tank 20' to my truck and tow it from there. I cannot lift 42 gallons of water but I can easily pull 42 gallons of water using a wagon/tote.
Getting a tote as large as your tanks is good advice in my book.
mbopp
Explorer
Jun 27, 2015
I use a surplus 30-gallon plastic drum mounted in the truck bed. It's semi-transparent so you can see how full it's getting.
My first gray water offload was into a 5-gallon bucket w/ pour spout lid. So yes you can use a smaller container if you want.
Oasisbob
Explorer
Jun 27, 2015
You are wise to consider weight. I see folks pullint their tanks to the dump station behind their rigs. But you still have to move it to the back of the truck. We have a 20 gallon and seldom use.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2015
N&K wrote:
suggestions have been made in different forums to match the tank size with the size of the tanks being emptied.
That's not necessary. I use a 15 gallon with my 40 gallon tanks. Dump 2-3 times. Water is heavy.

I don't know the specific reasons you're getting that advice.

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Thetford SmartTote2 LX usefullness

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