When Jessica was older and had a family, she took her crew on the road for 2.5 years. They lived in 2 different RVs during that time. One 18 foot long and one 28 foot long. Both pull-behind RVs.
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Last Updated on August 4, 2022 by Jessica Lauren Vine
Trying to find the best RV portable waste tank?
Investing in a portable RV waste tank is one of the best ways to enjoy boondocking or staying at RV parks that don’t have full hookup. They allow you to dump your black and grey tank waste into the portable tank and then dispose of it at a later time. Portable waste tanks aren’t necessarily required, but they’re an excellent commodity to give you more traveling opportunities and freedom.
If you hope to purchase the best RV portable waste tank for your needs, there are several things to keep in mind. First and foremost, your tank has to be readily portable and compatible with your RV. It should also be lightweight and durable and form an airtight seal so that none of the waste or the smell it emanates can escape.
In addition to listing some of the best RV portable waste tanks on the market, this article will also offer a buying guide to make your decision as easy as possible. By using our buying guide or choosing one of the options you’re about to see on this list, you can be sure to have one of the best RV portable waste tanks on the market.
How to Choose the Best RV Portable Waste Tank
Type of Tank
One of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing your tank is that there are three different types. There are tanks that are only designed to hold gray waste, tanks designed to hold black waste, and tanks that can hold both. If you want an all-purpose portable waste tank rather than two individual ones, make sure to purchase one capable of handling black and gray waste.
Size of the Tank
The smaller your portable tank is, the more often you’ll have to dump it. However, if you choose a tank that’s too big, you’ll have a hard time storing it and transporting it when dumping time comes. Therefore, you would do well to find a happy medium between too big and not big enough.
Material of the Tank
Traditionally, portable waste tanks were made of a wide range of materials. However, manufacturers have found that a mixture of plastic and polyurethane are the best materials to use for waste tanks. They’re lightweight enough to easily transport but durable enough to withstand heavy use. Plastic and polyurethane is also UV-resistant and don’t crack or corrode easily.
Price of the Tank
No matter how good or durable your waste tank is, it’s not going to last forever. They go through a ton of wear and tear and get beat up on. Therefore, you shouldn’t spend too much money on your portable waste tank because it’s probably going to give out anyways. However, you want to find a happy medium and make sure to spend enough to get a quality product.
Ease of Use
No matter how tight your budget is, you’ll want to invest in a portable waste tank that’s easy to use. Your tank should have a flush valve where you can easily hook a hose up to, making it quick and simple to eradicate your waste. Without a flush valve, you’re going to have to manually flush the tank which takes time and work.
How Does a Portable RV Waste Tank Work?
The key to using a portable RV waste tank is to not overthink it. You should think of it simply as a go-between for your RV and the dumping station. Here’s a step-by-step look at how to hook up your portable waste tank and how to dump it when it’s full.
- Connect the sewer hose from the sewer port on your RV to the sewer hookup on your waste tank.
- Open the flush valve on the portable waste tank to allow gray and black waste to flow from your RV holding tanks to the waste tank.
- Close the valve when the portable tank is full.
- Close the valves on your RV holding tanks so that waste doesn’t run out when you disconnect the hose.
- Disconnect your sewer hose from the portable tank and RV tanks and put it away.
- Take your portable tank to the nearest dumping station and dump the contents of the tank. You can use your own sewer hose or one at the dump station.
- Make as many trips as necessary to empty your black and gray holding tanks in your RV.
Overall Best RV Portable Waste Tank
Now that you know more about what a portable waste tank is and how they work, let’s dig into a few of the best options on the market.
Camco Rhino Portable Waste Holding Tank
"I mean, if you want to move poop from your camper to the dump site in style, this is it. I could have towed it behind my truck, but I wanted to walk it to the dump site myself. The stylish look, and ease makes it look good. Wheels are big, and the mouth on the tank is big; you know for the wife's turds and bundled up toilet paper.
Great buy, and would buy again." - Dave
If you’ve been RVing for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with the Camco brand. They’re one of the top names in camping and their Rhino Portable Waste Holding Tank is no different. This waste tank is heavy duty is one of the most durable options on the market and is bound to last longer than the competition.
The Camco Rhino is available in a wide variety of sizes including 15, 21, 28, and 36 gallons. In addition to being durable and heavy duty, these tanks are also some of the easiest to use and transport. They come with their own tote and attachment system so you can attach it to your RV ladder during road trips. They also have a steel handle so you can hand-roll it like a suitcase. While the smaller tanks only have two rear wheels, the larger tanks come with four wheels for easier transportation. All in all, there isn’t a better tank on the market.
Pros
- Very easy to transport and wheel around
- Comes in a variety of sizes
- Includes a carrying tote and ladder rack attachment
- Easy to dump when it gets full
Cons
- Slightly on the pricy side
Runner Up Best RV Portable Waste Tank
Barker Tote Along Waste Tank
"This is an okay tote. Two things about it however about it that could be improved. One when driving it will become unhitched to your vehicle if hitting any kind of bump or if going down a hill. Even if you are driving slow! My husband tried it to his truck anticipating that this may happen and it did. The other thing is it is hard to completely empty it. Impossible really, So when you get home you really have to wash the thing out. Other than that it worked well." - Connell
Depending on who you ask, they might put the Barker Tote Along Waste Tank ahead of the Camco. However, these two brands typically take the top two spots on most lists of the best RV portable waste tanks. Like the Camco version, the Barker waste tank comes in several different sizes including 25, 32, and 42 gallons.
Regardless of which size you choose, you’re guaranteed to get a quality and durable product. Each version of the tank has four wheels making it very easy to manually transport or tow the tank from your RV to a dump station. It’s also extremely easy to dump and operate when the tank is full thanks to the 3” gate valve on its bottom. Additionally, every Barker tank comes with its own hose and tote, but you might have to get creative in regards to transporting them from place to place.
Pros
- Extremely durable and strong
- Include a metal handle for easy transportation
- All models come with four wheels
- Include a carrying tote and sewer hose
- Made of a combination of polyethylene, zinc, and aluminum
Cons
- Fairly pricy
Best RV Portable Waste Tank on a Budget
Tote-N-Store Portable RV Waste Tank
"I feel comfortable now carrying my crap to the sewer. Thank You I highly recommend this for the do it yourself" - Paul M.
While the first two names on this list are household camping names, Tote-N-Store is anything but. However, while they aren’t as popular as Camco or Barker, Tote-N-Store portable waste tanks are a great option if you’re on a tight budget. Because of their lack of popularity, these waste tanks aren’t as expensive as others on the market even though they’re of a similar quality.
The tank in question has a capacity of 32 gallons, which makes it great for RVs of all size. It’s easy to transport and contains two durable wheels, a convenient handle, and easily attaches to your RV. Additionally, this tank comes with any accessories you need including a hose, mounting bracket, clamps, and a nifty storage compartment to hold everything inside of it.
Pros
- Very easy to use and transport
- Durable and built to last
- Budget-friendly option
- Excellent capacity
Cons
- The wheels aren’t as durable as those of other tanks
Also in the Running for Best RV Portable Waste Tank
Vingli Portable Tote Tank
Vingli is another name that isn’t as well known as Barker or Camco. However, the Vingli Portable Tote Tank is one of the best on the market and would make an excellent investment for any RVer. It’s also one of the smaller and more portable option on the market and is available in either a 10 or 20-gallon size.
In addition to the small size, the Vingli Portable Tote Tank has massive 6.7” wheels for easy transportation. It also has one of the larger breathing ports to make drainage quick and easy. Finally, this tank is very lightweight and durable, and is made of a high-density polyethylene to ensure this product lasts a long time.
Pros
- Very lightweight and easy to transport
- Highly durable
- Large breathing port and drainage tube
- Includes a sewer hose and storage space to hold it
Cons
- Has had troubles with leaking
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there’s no shortage of great RV portable waste tanks. The best in the business will be durable, lightweight, easy to transport, and easy to store. If you’re thinking about buying a waste tank that doesn’t have these qualities, you would do well to look elsewhere. If you hope to have the best camping experience, it’s important that you have the best RV portable waste tank.
Before you run off, make sure to check out these other RV-related articles.
