RV Tote Tanks - Size? Model?

the_armadillo wrote:
It sounds like OP has a solution that will work for him but I'll throw in a few comments that may stir up some more suggestions. We often dry camp at times and deal with a similar situation. With a truck available, I would put some sort of transfer tank in the bed and use a macerator. However we have a Thetford Box mount macerator and also a Thetford Smart Tote. One thing we found is that the macerator will not connect to the Smart Tote. I have not yet found an adapter nor a cap that I can modify to pump directly to the Tote tank. I suggested to the Thetford folks back at the Daytona Rally that they need to address this. I'm sure I'll build/modify something to work but just wanted to let others know that the macerator will not connect directly to most tote tanks although I don't know about the Barker tanks.

Barker will accept standard garden hose fitting

It sounds like OP has a solution that will work for him but I'll throw in a few comments that may stir up some more suggestions. We often dry camp at times and deal with a similar situation. With a truck available, I would put some sort of transfer tank in the bed and use a macerator. However we have a Thetford Box mount macerator and also a Thetford Smart Tote. One thing we found is that the macerator will not connect to the Smart Tote. I have not yet found an adapter nor a cap that I can modify to pump directly to the Tote tank. I suggested to the Thetford folks back at the Daytona Rally that they need to address this. I'm sure I'll build/modify something to work but just wanted to let others know that the macerator will not connect directly to most tote tanks although I don't know about the Barker tanks.

otrfun wrote:
Ordered the 25 gal. Tote-N-Store last night from Amazon for $130 with free shipping. Not sure how I missed it--or maybe they dropped the price overnight. Anyhow, this morning noticed the 32 gal. Tote-N-Store was only $3 more ($133 with free shipping). Luckly I was able to cancel the 25 gal. and get the 32 gal. on order instead. Have no plans to max out the 32 gal--just way too much weight! However, it's nice to have that extra headroom for just $3 more.

The 32 gallon Tote-N-Stor's price increased to $157 the day after I ordered it for $133! I've seen this happen a number of times on Amazon. FWIW, if the price goes down during the 30-day return period, sometimes Amazon will refund the difference.

Ordered the 25 gal. Tote-N-Store last night from Amazon for $130 with free shipping. Not sure how I missed it--or maybe they dropped the price overnight. Anyhow, this morning noticed the 32 gal. Tote-N-Store was only $3 more ($133 with free shipping). Luckly I was able to cancel the 25 gal. and get the 32 gal. on order instead. Have no plans to max out the 32 gal--just way too much weight! However, it's nice to have that extra headroom for just $3 more.

Well it's your call. I hope all works out for you.

sljkansas wrote:
otrfun PLEASE read my post above your last post, I added a few more details while you were posting.

sljkansas, thanks, I just reread your post. Good tip about the valve. We've got a Flush King, so we should be covered.

As for purchasing a Barker, no doubt the Barker 3/4 wheeler is an excellent waste tote. Just a tad too much money for something we're not going to use very often. Wouldn't mind getting the less expensive 2 wheel version, but I don't believe Amazon has free shipping on the 25++ gallon version(s).

Thanks again!

otrfun PLEASE read my post above your last post, I added a few more details while you were posting.

As always, thanks to everyone for the informative responses!

Cost aside, using a macerator would be a no-brainer. Never have to move the tank and just let the macerator do all the work! But, hey, probably talking about $375-$450 (Amazon prices) for the macerator and tank. Unfortunately, we won't be dry camping enough to feel comfortable making that kind of investment.

Definitely get the impression it's a big deal to NOT overfill with the black tank--for obvious reasons. Easy to see how constantly keeping tabs on the black tank level could take away from the dry camping experience if I were to get a waste tank smaller than my black tank. Not so worried about overfilling a waste tank with my larger grey water tank. A little soapy water ain't gonna do me in (FWIW, kitchen sink goes to my black tank in our TT).

Anyhow, after reading everybody's responses, I think the 25 gallon Tote-N-Store for $130 (with free shipping) is a good all around compromise (cost & functionality). Received good 4-5 star reviews on Amazon and has a pretty low price. My black tank is rated at 25 gallons (actually a tad less due to air pockets), so I shouldn't have any overfill issues. Still have the option of only doing partial fills if weight or trip length (to the dump site) becomes an issue. My grey tank is 38 gallons, so there will be some compromise here. Kinda get the impression it's definitely not worth the cost, or the sheer physical hassle, to consider a larger, very heavy, 40 gallon waste tote just to accommodate the grey tank, unless we plan on doing some serious dry camping.

Thanks again everybody!

First off get a tank equal to or larger than your largest tank. Then get one of these to put on where your sewer hose connects (valve connects between camper sewer outlet, sewer hose connects to this valve.
I have about 6 ft. of pipe between the tank dump valve and the fitting the sewer hose connects. you'll only make the mistake once on how full you tote is, before you buy the valve. My 3 tanks are 45 gallon each. I was lucky I was dumping a gray tank, when I figured it out.
I have the Barker 42 gallon tote, and have added the pneumatic 10" HF tires also, and would not buy any other tank than a Barker. We volunteer at a State Park for the summer and have seen several of the 3 wheeled totes that have had the front wheel push in and crack the bottom of the tank. You can guess what kind of mess that makes. The small front wheel assembly with a thin walled tank going down the road hits a crack or rock, the bottom fails and ??? hits the road.
Buy a Barker you'll never regret it.

Just FYI, I replaced the wheels because I wore the original tires out, after two years. I'm parked for 6 months or more at the S.P. and don't want to move it every time I need to dump tanks.

I have a 22 gal. blue tote. Generally, I dump to the tote when the grey or black tank is showing 3/4 full. The tote size is just right to empty the tanks and then I can connect it to the TV hitch to tow to the dump station. When you are choosing a tote, remember the weight of water is 8+ pounds per gallon. The tote will get very heavy quickly and manhandling it is not fun when full. The larger the tote, the more difficult it is to manhandle it to the TV, in the back of a truck or any other way to move it to the dump station.