Another blue tote concern

[Mountain_Mama]

So as not to hijack another thread, I'm asking my husbands concern here. We use our tote rarely, but when we do DH will not pull it behind the truck. He loads it in bed of truck. He's concerned the axle will get too hot when pulling and melt the tank. I don't see this happening as I've never seen a post about such, but thought I'd post anyway...although it probably won't change his mind either! LOL! Your thoughts??

[lizzie]

The OP did not ask for our opinion about whether or not she should have a tote or use a tote, but whether it is safe to tow it. I have never seen anybody have a problem with one and we haven't had any issues with ours. My son (The Park Ranger) has seen a lot of tote towing and says he has never seen a problem either. But, one never knows does one? lizzie

[bikendan]

our 15g. Barker cannot be towed behind the truck.
so i always load mine in the truck bed and take it to the dump station.

since we only use our blue tote for gray water, it's not much of an issue except lifting it.
we would never use ours for black water so not worried about it in the truck bed.

[Lantley]

GaryWT wrote:

Another reason we only go to full hookup sites, don't need a blue tote.

Full hook are sites are the exact reason I have a tote. As great as a full hook up site can be . There is a whole world of Water/electric and electric only sites that can be just as great however they just lack a sewer connection.
The tote allows comfortable use and access to those sites. Tote sites are in state parks,COE parks, county parks and other great public campgrounds.
They can also be waterfront,beachfront,lake front or wooded.
Don't get me wrong. I can enjoy a resort with a nice landscaped FHU site, with a big concrete slab,an outdoor kitchen, and furnished patio.
But I can also enjoy a nice serene lake front site that allows me to launch my Porta Bote right from my site. Waking up yards from the beach, or having the bay just over the dunes is priceless.
Did I mention tote sites are less expensive?
My 42 gallon blue Barker Tote allows me to expand my camping destinations and take advantage of all types of sites other than full hook up.
I can stay a week or 2 on an electric only site,using water as needed without having to conserve water. I can fill and dump as necessary to extend my time as needed.
For me it is not about the TOTE at all. But it about the SITE

[2oldman]

If he thinks that, and, won't even come on here himself and ask, it's probably hopeless.

[musicman54]

mine is gray made by theford i like it better then the barker but they both work fine we have a washer and dryer so if were anent in a spot with sewer it comes in handy dont leave home without it

[Ron3rd]

Don't see why some feel the tote is hard to handle. The Barkers have a handle that extends way out giving you a lot of leverage with a 2-wheeler. Just hook it over the ball and away you go.

[tbred]

dodge guy wrote:
A tote is very easy to move around if you drill enough holes in the bottom and set it on the ground when emptying the grey tank! Actually you could just let the hose drain into it all week and it will never fill!!!!

Brilliant!

[musicman54]

i normally pull mine by hand so i know i cant go fast enough to cook the axels

[dodge_guy]

A tote is very easy to move around if you drill enough holes in the bottom and set it on the ground when emptying the grey tank! Actually you could just let the hose drain into it all week and it will never fill!!!!

[mowermech]

hawkeye-08 wrote:
I might have to get me one of these tote thingys. It appears that I might be missing out on some fun others are having.

I had one years ago. Used it once, then it sat under the work bench out in the shop gathering dust and spiders for a couple years.
I sold it in one of our garage sales.
I think I got $15 for it.
I will never buy another one.
WHY, you may ask?
Because I either camp in a park where there are full hookups, or in campgrounds where there are NO amenities. As in, no hookups, no shower room, no dump stations, nothing other than about 4 water faucets (or pumps) for 20 campsites and a few vault toilets. In a place like that, a tote is useless!

[hawkeye-08]

I might have to get me one of these tote thingys. It appears that I might be missing out on some fun others are having.

[LynnandCarol]

We have seen the axle heat up and you can guess what happened!! They were driving to fast. We use the macerator to pump the tanks into the back of our truck where tote will reside until we are done.

[Iraqvet05]

There a times when we couldn't get in a full hookup site at a CG. If it was just the DW and I, we could probably go several days before we had to dump but with a family of 4 (2 younger kids that really don't know the purpose of water conservation) we can easily fill the grey tank in 48 hours. The tote is a big space hog but it is necessary sometimes, at least in our case.

[wa8yxm]

One would hope the wheels turn on the axle, but ... I do know folks who have upgraded the wheels (another thread currently here in fact) and I have seen lots of folks tow 'em

TOW SLOW, that's all i can say,, TOW SLOW like 5mph

But if you want to load 'er into the truck,, No problem there either. If I had a truck I'd put a 55 gallon drum and use my macerator to fill it, then gravity dump.

The wheel mod thread:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28169075.cfm