Tote Tanks

Choosing a portable RV waste tote

A tote tank is a wheeled portable holding tank — you drain your rig's tanks into it, wheel or tow it to a dump station, and empty it there. It's the fix for long stays at sites without a sewer connection, so you're not hitching up and moving the whole RV just to dump. Size it to how much you'll haul and how you plan to move it.

• Capacity. Totes here run 15 to 36 gallons. A smaller 15- or 21-gallon tote is easier to move when full and fits a compact rig; a 36-gallon like the Camco Rhino handles longer gaps between dumps but is heavy and awkward once loaded, so match the size to how far and how often you'll haul it.
• Wheels and steering. No-flat wheels won't go soft in storage. A steerable front axle and tow bar, like the 36-gallon Rhino's, lets you pull the tote behind a vehicle at walking pace to a distant dump instead of muscling it by hand.
• Tow setup. A Barker universal tow bracket and a tow adapter connect the tote to a vehicle hitch or bumper. Move a full tote slowly and only on the campground property — these aren't built for road speed.
• Included and add-on kits. Some totes ship with a hose kit and gate valve; the Camco Tough-Pack adds a 7-piece hose and storage set. A Thetford SmartTote strap gives you a better grip for shorter hauls.

You'll need a short hose to connect your rig's outlet to the tote's inlet — the sewer hoses and kits category has the tote-tank hoses with fittings pre-attached. Handle the connection at your rig the same as a normal dump, gloves and all, using the gate valve to control the flow.