Community Forums

Jeff426 · 10-18-2016, 07:44 AM

Good Morning Everyone,

We're looking to purchase a portable septic tank. The one we're focused on is the Thetford 35 gallon LX version.
Has anyone used these and have you had good or bad luck with one or the other?
Thanks very much,

Jeff and Lynn

vsheetz · 10-18-2016, 08:04 AM

Barker blue boy here. 42 gallon. Very rugged, ball bearing wheels, level indicator, etc.

Carry it on our rear ladder on one of those inexpensive lawn chair racks. Lift one end into the rack, then pivot up the other end to verticle. Secure with a bungee cord while putting on two cargo straps for travel.

A macerator pump is a good thing to use with such a tank. This avoids having to roll the full tank over grass or other difficult surface, by pumping to the tank while it sits away from the RV or in a carry vehicle.

HD4Mark · 10-18-2016, 08:13 AM

Ours is a Tote-N-Store 25 gallon so I can't comment on the Thetford. I can say that I wished we had gone lager so if you have the room, 35 would be better. Ours has only two wheels so you have to hoist the handle up onto the tow ball. Easy enough for me because I'm a big guy but I imagine there are people that would not be able to. So the four wheels is a good idea.

If the sewer hose that comes with it is anything like the one that came with ours, you will want to take a real one to the dump station. The one we got was a joke unless you can get the thing right over the pipe. I guess what I'm saying is the one you are looking at seems way better than ours. We bought it thinking it would be used for state parks we camp at only for gray water since we can get a week out of our black tank. Then we found one or two parks we would like to stay two weeks at and I ended up hauling the black water also.

To carry ours we put it on one of those cargo racks that goes onto the receiver of the toad. If at a CG we don't need it we can just unhook the rack and leave the tank attached then just set the whole thing somewhere until we leave.

Pay close attention to how full it is getting and when going to dump it all of the connections are tight. Our macerator pump helps filling it from the black tank much nicer.

rjf7g · 10-18-2016, 06:16 PM

I prefer Barker over Thetford...I have owned both and the Barker vents better. I have the big Barker with the pneumatic tires.

Jeff426 · 10-19-2016, 07:25 AM

Thanks very much for your opinions, I just bought the Barker Blue Boy 42 gallon. I really liked the fact that there was a valve which there wasn't on the thetford which looked very good also
All the best,

Jeff and Lynn

tizzyfit · 10-20-2016, 07:28 AM

Nothing looks nicer than one of those portable black tanks hanging off the rear ladder of a $500,000+ motorhome.

Cranemec · 10-20-2016, 08:15 AM

So I have to ask because I am interested in one. What do you do after you dump it? How do you flush it out as there is no grey water to do so?

To the previous poster, I don't like the look of it either but there are not very many $500,000 coaches that come with much bigger than 40 gallon black tanks. We love our local COE parks but having to yellow, let it mellow and worrying about having to break camp to go dump is a pain.

Dr4Film · 10-20-2016, 08:34 AM

Another user of the 42 gallon Barker Blue-Boy!

Changed out the wheels and installed a custom vent. The level indicator goes into the standard vent opening preventing the ability to vent the tank while filling.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

vsheetz · 10-20-2016, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranemec

So I have to ask because I am interested in one. What do you do after you dump it? How do you flush it out as there is no grey water to do so?

To the previous poster, I don't like the look of it either but there are not very many $500,000 coaches that come with much bigger than 40 gallon black tanks. We love our local COE parks but having to yellow, let it mellow and worrying about having to break camp to go dump is a pain.

I usually need to make two trips. Black first, then grey. Just as when dumping tanks directly. Also there is usually a water bib and a hose at the dump site.

Jeff426 · 10-21-2016, 04:34 AM

We try to avoid carrying waste from one place to another but all of us probably do from time to time! We generally figure if we conserve, we can make it 3 or 4 days without dumping, most state parks that don't have dump stations at each site at least have a central dump station. I downloaded an App that gives us dump site locations which is useful. We needed this tank for our storage condo where we have minimal waste onboard and the coach is basically ready for storage. There are other places where it could be used for but Because it is large (42gallon) and because taking would displace other more important stuff, like fishing gear, I don't think we'll take it with us, maybe ever.

All the best,

Jeff and Lynn

HD4Mark · 10-21-2016, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranemec

So I have to ask because I am interested in one. What do you do after you dump it? How do you flush it out as there is no grey water to do so?

The dump station usually has a fresh water hose so I just spray some in, shake it around and dump it again. I try to find a time when the station is not busy so I can do all my dumping, flushing and being careful not to spill while there is no line waiting.

The vent is a garden hose fitting with a male end and cap so I made up a "gender bender" adapter so if the dump station has a standard garden hose I can connect it to the vent and spray is right in to rinse. I put a shut off valve on it too for obvious reasons.