Portable waste tote on rear bumper...safe?

[llibdliw]

In post #3, look closely at the picture of the tote. At the top there is a black "L" shaped bracket. That bracket hooks over a ladder rung. Secure it there with a light weight ratchet strap. The tote is empty, hang it high so as not to cover a tail light. Problem solved, no weight on the bumper.

[green_plaid]

If I had a ladder I'd definitely go that route but ladders don't exist on my model.

[Marine359]

If you want to go up and down the ladder for chores, like cleaning the top of the slide, setting up solar panels, etc, you will want to eschew ladder mounting the tote, cuz it’s a PITA to remove the tote whenever you want to ascend the ladder. If you use a bumper mount bracket next to the ladder and strap the tote to the ladder, you don’t have to remove the tote to go upstairs. It’s very secure that way.

[Toby Dog]

I don't go upstairs to clean off the slides. I use a ladder and a leaf blower. I carry the 35 gallon tote in the bed of the truck on longer trips where I may need it.
I'm beginning to think dragging the 5er to the dump may be easier than dragging the tote. @300 lbs just hooking the tote to the truck is a chore at 68. We can go 6 or 7 days on our tanks and longer if the bath house is close by. We have 60 gray, 60 black, and a rated 73 fresh. I think the fresh is really 65 or so based on an inline water meter when filling.

[Marine359]

At age 70, I wouldn’t want to wrestle a full 35gal tote either. 27gal is just light enough (60lb less) to tug it around to the truck. I go topsides to clean slide because, one of the times I didn’t do it, there was a small tree branch caught in There, and was just enough to cause water entry during a rainstorm while driving. With a small trailer I don’t have room for a ladder. Surely, with a 5er your system works better for you.

[llibdliw]

I made an assumption (shame on me) while reading your post (#3) that the tote & RV shown in the picture was yours.

While camping I do not go up the ladder unless absolutely necessary.

We only take the tote when we know the site does not have FHU’s. Perhaps we should take it on every trip for other reasons but...

I take the tote off the ladder when I need to use it. It stays on the ground until we leave. At the end of our stay, I stop at the dump station on the way out.

I would not want to break down my site set up to take my RV to the dump station every time I need to dump the black and/or gray water.

With a MH & toad, it could be more difficult unless your toad has a hitch.

Just my humble opinions…




Wild Bill

[Marine359]

My mount is pictured in post# 6.
We always keep it there, because it requires no effort to just leave it there so it’s available when needed. Most times we don’t know if we’ll need it, but always when boondocking or at NP or NF sites.

[ajeff]

When I bought my new trailer I had the bumper cut off and a lot heavier bumper welded back on . I carry 2 spare tires . the manufacture said it was only rated for one spare . I have seen where people said their bumper fell off only carrying 2 bicycles

[Dtyska]

There are quite a few even bumper reinforcement products on Amazon to beef up the bumper system

Visit the ENIXWILL Store
4.2 out of 5 stars14 Reviews
ENIXWILL RV Bumper Reinforcement Safety Support Bracket for Travel Trailer 4-Inch to 4.5-Inch Square Bumpers

[CamperLifer]

Originally Posted by Toby Dog

If you have a ladder on the rig that's the place to put it if it's not already occupied by bicycles.

I have the largest one made and it has a hook for the ladder and I also bungee it.

[Vermont_Darren]

We have a tote and a spare tire on our bumper with no problem, but we would tempt fate by adding a bike rack of anything else.

When you install it, make sure you don't block any brake/backup/running lights, or your license plate.

[kcstrom]

OP, did you ever figure out how to transport your tote? I just picked up a 208BHS a month ago and am trying to figure out how to transport a tote tank since the rear bumper has a sticker that says do not add anything to it. :(

[CamperLifer]

I have the 36 gallon made to hang on the rear ladder.

[Dtyska]

Amazon has an rv bumper support system that beefs up the bumper support