Question on portable waste containers

[Crawfordville]

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.

[scottsnider]

Got mine on Craig's list for $25. and its a 10 gallons and enough to reduce the need to go with the trailer as often. I don't worry I use to have a portapoty on a sail boat now that is a challenge when full. this with wheels and already on the ground is a piece of cake.

[John_H]

Bought the 27 gallon Tote-and-store. Rigged up a quick on quick off 6" swivel wheel for the front, from Harbor Freight with a pull pin aluminum extended T handle. It has worked out great, only use it for gray water. The hardest part was figuring out how to re-arrange the trucks bed camping load to carry it out of the way until needed. They do have a small ground clearance, would like to find a rod strong enough to make a dropped axial, in order to put on bigger wheels.

[allen8106]

I like the ability to dump without hooking up the rig and moving it but I am now on my third Barker tank in six years. The previous two started leaking. One cracked around one of the screw holes that hold the dump gate to the side of the tank. The other cracked in front of the aluminum plate that bolts the front wheels to the tank. Barker has replaced both of the leaking tanks at no charge and free shipping even though they we both beyond their stated warranty period. I hope this third one last much longer, having said all that Barker has EXCELLENT customer service.

[ckwizard777]

Pauljdav wrote:
I use a macerator pump and put the portable in the back of the truck. I have a Barker 42 gallon and it is a pain to tow. In the back of the truck I can simply drive it to the dump without worrying about it. I even put the rubber "off road" tires on it and it still tows like crap. Especially over speed bumps that are common at many parks.

Paul

X2

[thomasmnile]

Crawfordville wrote:
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.

No, never, not even close. Cap on mine is bayonet screw on type. I would have to do some spectacularly stupid driving to dump a load of "honey".

As long as you tow the loaded tote at low speed, no worries.

[Bucky_Badger]

skipnchar wrote:
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

I would like to see a video of that some day

[Crawfordville]

We ended up purchasing a 27 gallon Thetford. We used it for the first time over the long holiday weekend. As many of you reported it was not a big deal to operate. We used it for both gray and black. To my surprise it is not messy at all. No drops, nothing. We arrived on a Wednesday and left on a Sunday and only had to empty gray and black one time each. There were 5 of us camping and we didn't cut back on water usage - i.e. - navy showers, etc.

[Pauljdav]

I use a macerator pump and put the portable in the back of the truck. I have a Barker 42 gallon and it is a pain to tow. In the back of the truck I can simply drive it to the dump without worrying about it. I even put the rubber "off road" tires on it and it still tows like crap. Especially over speed bumps that are common at many parks.

Paul

[wmoses]

Lantley wrote:
... I believe for maximum efficiency the tote should be as large as the gray tank

Agreed.

[kmwaterboy]

I retrofitted an old hand truck to carry our tote to the dump station.Where we mostly camp it's all gravel roads and I wanted something with better wheels and more ground clearance.

[Dog_Folks]

Crawfordville wrote:
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?

Some folks say that the larger ones are harder to handle. The Barker has four wheels and side discharge so there is no lifting. Tow it with your car/truck/golf cast. No lifting.

Recently Barker has upgraded their tires to pneumatic.

[DB2BRMI]

We use a 25 gal. blue boy that I retrofitted w/ pneumatic tires. Of COURSE my blue boy is the best (which means I have no experience with other brands). We only use it for grey water. I would suggest that you buy the biggest size you can store and physically man handle. Mine has always "towed" very well but I usually walk it to the dump station (once every 5 days or so - using CG showers). Yup, water is heavy - 8 lbs/gal. - but the "wagon" pulls nicely (get a grip for the downhills!).
DB2

[CincyGus]

I have the Thetford 27 gallon and 30 gallon gray and black tanks. Generally, when the lights show full on the panel, it will hold everything in the tank. I love that it has the hose attached and stores and I don't have to drag a hose in the back of the pickup for dumping.

Travels fine on the ball hitch at idle with me dragging the brake down hills. With two ladies (DW and DD) that don't believe Navy Showers are needed since we bought the tank, I get plenty of use with it, usually every 2 days or so when we are on extended camping trips or week long vacations.

Well worth the <$200 I spent getting it on sale. Hated hooking to dump and releveling the trailer 2-3 times in a week long camping trip.

[thomasmnile]

Crawfordville wrote:
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 have a 15 gal. Barker 2 wheel model. No problem with it, and as posted, Barker will stand behind their product should a problem arise. Keep your speed under 5 mph. on your "dump" run and you should be fine.

As far as size, I didn't want anything larger than what I have due to the weight and my surgically reconstructed lower back. While the tote can't hold the full capacity of either waste tank, it allows me to remove enough to extend our "dry" time until we leave and visit the CG dump station on the way out.