Here is where I part company with some folks on these forums. I'm a long-standing user of the Barker 32 gallon blue tote. I purchased this tote for our first camper and have used it relentlessly ever since. At the time, 32 gallons was the biggest they made. Since then, they've come out with bigger (42 gallon I think).
Here's the thing. Some say the larger tanks are too heavy. Well, first of all, they are on 4 wheels that tow behind a vehicle. I've never had a problem with pulling the full 32 gallon tank from the side of the camper to the edge of the road so I could attach to my hitch and tow it to the dump station.
Only time I had difficulty was in Florida at Port St. Joe State Park. I had to pull the tote over sand. But I simply attached a rope to the handle, the other end to the hitch of the truck and pull it right up to the road. Once on the road, I hitched to my truck and towed it to the dump station. Never a problem.
A word of advise ... anything with only 2 wheel ... yes, you have to lift one end, and YES that can be heavy. But 4 wheels, is not a problem, nothing to "lift", just pull it.
My 32 gallon is not so heavy I cannot pull it through grass by hand (which I do at home to get to my septic tank). But I also use my small John Deere riding mower to tow it also.
One thing you REALLY want is a tote that is bigger than your biggest holding tank on your camper. Otherwise you run the risk of overfilling the tote and making a mess on the ground. You may have to make 2 or 3 trips to the dump station, one for each tank, if they completely full, but that is still better than overflowing.
I've been using the same tote, towing behind my truck for over 10 years now. I've towed it in campgrounds, probably at thousand miles now, or more. It came unhooked from my hitch once. That's when I came up with another method to tow it, something that would not come unhooked again.
I transport it in the bed of my pick-up truck. Rinse it out at the dump station, and clean it well for winter storage. At home, I leave the cap off so it can air out, and keep odors from building. Although a little bleach water does wonders too, and then let it dry out.
I replaced the slide valve this past Fall. Barker sent me a replacement 100% free (after having this tank for over 10 years too). I replaced the wheels about 5 years ago when I literally ran the rubber off the wheel. I did buy them myself.
For us, the 32 gallon Barker -4 wheel, side slide valve has served MORE than very well. My tanks are all 25 gallon now. (3 of them) So I can comfortably drain without the possibility of over flowing. When camping I dump my tanks every day. I dump the black first, then with Flush King type valve, I backflush the grey water in to the black tank and flush out, sometimes 3 times, without overflowing the tote. If I go longer than once a day, I can usually only get one tank at a time. Sometimes I wish I had the 42 gallon tank.
Having the tote sure beats having to break camp every day to take your entire camper to the dump station to empty the tanks. Plus, I give me the ability to dump at home too.
Here's how I use to tow it, but no more:
This will never come loose again:
I would not have one without the slide valve. My in-laws got the one with the attached hose you simply lower. Never could figure it out, It always started running before the end of the hose made it to the dump station hole! And made a nasty mess. With the valve slide, YOU control when to let "stuff" go!
At home, I use my John Deere riding mower to tow it from the camper to the back of the yard. But I can pull it by hand also. Most of the time I do. I had to build a platform that was high enough I could drain into my septic tank. There is nothing permanent here. It's just a few cinder blocks and board laid to make a ramp I can drive over, or pull the tote over. This words ... GREAT!
But most important, I don't have to depend on a service or anyone else to take care of MY business!
