Portable Tote

[chaimemet]

Looking at non full service state parks and will need a Tote due to over active life-style. Which brand? Are low profile models necessary? Where do we store these convienences?

[Fyrzowt]

Can't help with the brand...
Low profile makes it easier to get the water from the dump valve to the tote.
I stored mine in the tow vehicle when I used one.

[TBRich]

Other things to consider:

Ease of pulling: larger wheels are better...also a handle that allows you to put it on a ball hitch and tow it to the dump site...

Size: bigger isn't necessarily better...don't get one so large that you can't lift the thing into your truck when it's full if you need to...

Features: some have all the "pieces" you need built in...hoses, connectors, auto shut-off, handle that fits on a ball hitch, etc...that's what I would want...

I can't really say what brand is the "best" but you should be able to find several options if you look around on line...here's a place to start...a Thetford model sold at Campingworld:
Thetford SmartTote and SmartTote LX Portable Waste Tanks - Camping World

Good luck! Let us know what you decide to get and why...

[mi silver]

Hi I have a 99 safari which I found was too low to the ground for gravity to work when emptying your black or gray water tanks.I would make sure your trailer is high enough fot the tanks to empty into the tote, REMEMBER s--- or sewage doesn't run up the hill .Seriously My trailer is only about 8 1/2 inches inches tall where the black and grey water emptyping gates or tubes are. I know the height differs with other A/S years and models. I bought a tote one of the "blue boys" and its just too tall.I often wonder if other A/S trailers have this problem.Just measure 1st too be sure.Good Luck!
Michigan Silver

[chaimemet]

called AS CS the nearest model they had to mine has an external outlet pipe height of 9" +. The Thetford 18gl XL model has a height of 14"3/8.

[dnrtheil]

We use a blue tote, it'll just fit under the back of the Tradewind depending on how level the ground is. If it will not fit under the back I have a 10' garden hose section, so I can move the tote farther away and still place it under the Airstream, typically I'll use a hose about 12" long. I had a Thetford Smart tote first, but the 3" sewer hose that is permanently attached, is attached at the bottom, so I sent it back. So far in the one year I've owned our A/S I have not had to dump the black water into the blue tote, just use it for grey water. I thought that if I ever had to dump the black tank into the tote, I would not want the sewer hose to connect at the bottom which is why I sent the Thetford back and found this blue tote on Craigs list for $50.00 plus shipping. I am pretty sure its a 25 gallon model and does not have a bar to hook to the truck, juts a molded handle. I currently use a length of chain with a vinyl cover and two hooks, in which I can hook it to the tow vehicle and pull it to the dump station, or to the bumper of the A/S if we are leaving for home.

Derek

[Lumatic]

I got a blue 22 gal Tote Along blue boy rather than a Thetford. The product reviews on the Thetfords were not that great. Personally speaking much less than 22gal is not enough volume. Much more and you need a forklift. I second the above post that being able to tow with a hitch to the dump station is very very handy.

[chaimemet]

I see in the manual pictures that the LX model has a flexible neck that can lower the hose height.

SmartTote Portable Tanks
"Pull out the sewer hose (Fig. A). If 1. necessary, lift the finger tab to lower the hose.
Remove the sewer hose cap.2.
Connect the sewer hose to the RV dump"

So it seems then that by hooking up this way you can get around the problem of the height of the tote being at 14 5/8" and the AS at 9" +. Pressure from the AS tanks will push the grey/black out anyway.

[clancy_boy]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

I got a blue 22 gal Tote Along blue boy rather than a Thetford. The product reviews on the Thetfords were not that great. Personally speaking much less than 22gal is not enough volume. Much more and you need a forklift. I second the above post that being able to tow with a hitch to the dump station is very very handy.

I can vouch for the Thetford not being a "quality" product. I bought one early on when there were few reviews. Got mine at Camping World. The bottom connecting hose constantly comes off so I always have to check it - YUCK. It does not empty fully - even with the lifting and sloshing to try and rid it of all the fluid - there always seems to be a cup or two remaining. Makes it difficult to clean out when placing back in storage. I have used mine for both black and grey - so cleaning was a necessity.

Maybe I'm not a tote person - just the thought of using one makes me feel yuckey.... Gotta go take a shower now....

[easyride]

Just bought a Tote-along on Ebay,22 gal with all accessories[I did have to add Thetford end on short hose they sent] I think it was $107.00 + aroud $ 20.00 ship. I couldn`t find anything near that anywhere else. Dave

[empresley]

Your thread was a reminder that I needed to order a tank for the Argosy.

Haven't ordered anything from JC Whitney since driving a VW in the 60s.

Here was the info.
22-gal. 2-wheel Tote-along Portable Drain Water/Holding Tank
Item ZX186199U Original $162.39 Sale $99.99

Includes all the connections and the vehicle towing bracket.
Today's (maybe everyday) special was no shipping cost for orders over $75.

[easyride]

Originally Posted by empresley

Your thread was a reminder that I needed to order a tank for the Argosy.

Haven't ordered anything from JC Whitney since driving a VW in the 60s.

Here was the info. on a 22 gal.
22-gal. 2-wheel Tote-along Portable Drain Water/Holding TankZX186199UEach$162.39
$99.99


Includes all the connections and the vehicle towing bracket.
Today's (maybe everyday) special was no shipping cost for orders over $75.

You had to post that just to make me feel bad dave

[empresley]

Originally Posted by easyride

You had to post that just to make me feel bad dave

Sorry... not intended.

Come to next year's CanOpener & a few adult beverages will be our treat.

[easyride]

Originally Posted by empresley

Sorry... not intended.

Come to next year's CanOpener & a few adult beverages will be our treat.

May have to do that,just getting time off is hard part. Dave

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by empresley

Your thread was a reminder that I needed to order a tank for the Argosy.

Haven't ordered anything from JC Whitney since driving a VW in the 60s.

Here was the info.
22-gal. 2-wheel Tote-along Portable Drain Water/Holding Tank
Item ZX186199U Original $162.39 Sale $99.99

Includes all the connections and the vehicle towing bracket.
Today's (maybe everyday) special was no shipping cost for orders over $75.

That seems like a pretty good price...they are tempting, but so far we have not bought one, wondering if we really need one...there are just 2 of us, and we have managed a week with our 19' Bambi without having to dump the tanks, just by being conservative with water use and monitoring levels closely...and in most of our camping situations so far, having a tote would just save us the inconvenience of hitching up to take the Bambi to the dump site...which, admittedly, would be nice...but then we rarely stay in one place that long, and usually there is a dump station so we can dump when we leave. Then there's the space it would take up... >sigh< The inward debate continues...

Maybe I'll find (a clean) one at a garage sale sometime! (That's what I say about things that I want but don't really need...and believe it or not, it has happened!)

[overlander63]

We got our Thetford tote because it has the bottom fitting. I don't like that there remains a bit of whatever you put in it, but the other option was a blue tank that would have to go uphill to get the water into it.

[Nextlevel]

I just ordered a low profile blue tote (15 gallon) designed for tent tailers from rvupgrades.com . It is on the flatter side so everything should run down hill

[bevman]

I learned a valuable lesson on my recent trip (only my third with the Flying Cloud) to Ferndale, CA, and the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. It was on the occasion of the "Tour of the Unknown Coast" 100 mile bike ride and the fairgrounds was the HQ.

The organizers AND the fairgrounds advertised "full hookups", so I didn't take the tank. I was peeved to find out that their definition of FH is a plug and hose bib.

Next time, I'll throw the tank in the truck to allow for all interpretations.

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by bevman

I learned a valuable lesson on my recent trip (only my third with the Flying Cloud) to Ferndale, CA, and the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. It was on the occasion of the "Tour of the Unknown Coast" 100 mile bike ride and the fairgrounds was the HQ.

The organizers AND the fairgrounds advertised "full hookups", so I didn't take the tank. I was peeved to find out that their definition of FH is a plug and hose bib.

Next time, I'll throw the tank in the truck to allow for all interpretations.

Wow. That's a new one...I hope you administered a little "education" to the powers that be...

[empresley]

Originally Posted by TBRich

... but so far we have not bought one, wondering if we really need one...

Well... actually we don't really need one...

but Blanche is always telling me that I'm full of it...
seemed to be the perfect pick-your-own Father's Day gift.