Barker 25895 4-Wheeler Tote-Along - 25 Gallon, Blue

I gave it four stars because the seller gave me great service. When the product arrived it was broken. The axle the wheels are on had popped out of the tank and it was not possible to put the axle back in. The box was damaged enough in shipping that it was barely holding things together. Fortunately I don't think any parts got out.Also there were quite a few unexplained gouges in the plastic tank. I did not see anything sharp in the box that could have made these gouges so I'm guessing that they were done at the factory. They don't appear to compromise the tank so I didn't say anything but I do like things that I buy new to actually be new. This had never been used for sewage so it was new in that regard but it looks beat up and used the moment I saw it.I called for assistance and I was advised that I'd need to take one wheel off to put the wheels back on. Unfortunately they use caps that don't unscrew. She advised me that I'd probably destroy the cap I removed. I objected to that but decided to give it a try.I was able to remove one of the caps and preserve it for reuse by using the weight of the two wheels on the axle by repeatedly dropping the two wheels the length of the shaft so that they slammed into the cap a few times. Six or seven tries using the weight of both wheels and dropping them the length of the axle onto the cap -- it eventually popped off and the cap still in good enough condition to use again.Filling the tank I had sewage leaking from the place where the gator connector attaches to the tank. I tightened the gator connectors as well as possible but they don't really work very well. They are not the identical form factor of the typical "gator" connector -- that locks in place with a bit of a snap. It was like I could never fully get the gator connector to "lock" in and therefore had liquid sewage filling the well where the hose connects to the tank and running onto the ground. The woman agreed that they knew about this issue.But she had no solution except to send new caps that also don't have the "gator" style lock capability. If they were to fix the caps that would go a long ways to preventing leaks. When she told me they knew about the issue she offered no solution but mostly indicated that they know about the problem -- the implication was that I'll have to live with it because they don't fix that problem.I suppose I'll have to go and buy real gator connectors, but considering the price of this tank you'd think they'd spring for the extra 1.00 or so that Real Gator connectors would resolve. (not sure they'd even cost more).I have looked at their biggest competitors and this tank appears to be better than the other brands. I may never know. The pneumatic tires are essential for this much weight. The unit towed behind my truck over a gravel road without problems. I went no more than about 3mph and may have driven faster if the distance were significant.I'd like a ramp and winch so I could load it on my truck and drive to a sani-station instead of taking screws out of the sewer drain in the alley. However I'd be scared that the non-locking "not gator" fittings might pop off and dump sewage all over my truck bed and onto the street while winching it up the ramp.Without the locking feature I'd say this unit is to be treated with extreme caution while discovering these failed connectors. How anyone in the RV manufacturing business, especially for handling sewage, would not use the industry standard connectors and opt for something that's almost like them but lacking the "peace of mind" factor of locking connectors. THEIRS DO NOT LOCK PROPERLY.Another thing that is troublesome is that the tank is higher off the ground than my sewage outet on my trailer. I have a recent model 39' Escalade 5th wheel and so would have not expected that I'd have sort of hand pump the black water by dropping the hose to the ground, letting it fill, then lifting up the end closest to the trailer and hand trucking through the pipe. Processing more than 40 gallons of sewage this way is very time consuming, very labor intensive, and probably unnecessary had they designed it about 3" lower and maybe a little wider, longer, or something to allow the sewage to flow downhill instead of hand pumping it, without a real pump, for an entire 46 gallon fill. I guarantee you that you'll get your exercise hand pumping this puppy.If I could buy a reasonably priced 4" maceration pump, that will handle sewage, I'd probably add that to the equation. However if I used a pump to send the sewage to the the Tote tank I'm guessing that the added pressure would spew even more sewage out that leaky connector that goes into the tank. Regardless I've used it once and it only took about an hour to complete the task. It would have been more like 10 minutes If I did not need to do all the hand pumping of the hose.Time passes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It's a week later and I just did my second dump with this product. This time it did NOT leak and the dump went so well, was so quick and easy, that I had to stop by and add another star to my review. I really like this tote as it was super easy. I was done from start to finish in about 5 minutes. One thing I like is the fact that I can keep this tote parked under my rig and dump into the tote when it's convenient -- but I don't have to go dump the tote immediately. Sometimes you need to make room in the tank but there's a reason why dumping at the same time would be a hassle. So I dumped into the tank last night which took all of two minutes to hook up, pull the release, and fill the tote.When dumping my black water into a standard hookup I've always just pulled the lever all the way out and let it rip. No issues there. However when using the tote I recommend you use the release valve gently and in stages so that you can observe when the tank is getting close to the top. The first time I tried it I just opened the valve like I would on a standard hookup and that was just too much flow -- which I think contributed to the leak I had on the first try. I should think that if this company printed a manual with some "best practices" in it that it would be very helpful. Also maybe some videos illustrating these best practices.All in all I think the design is good and the product works well once you adjust how you fill it. Emptying is almost too easy. I don't have a ball hitch on my truck but I found the metal loop that you tow the tote with was perfect for the job. I just dropped a small hammer into the handle/loop with the head upwards and let it just dangle through one of the holes by the license plate. It works perfect. I could have used just about anything that would serve as a hitch pin.

The Blue Beast arrived with wheel axel dislodged. I tried to pop it in by pushing on it, then hammering on it with a 1x2” board, then sprayed it with silicone and hammered and pressed on it again, and then tried to take the axel cap off to slide the axel backwards. I finally had to try what another user had reported...and that was to heat the area and then pushed on the axel with the board. Who knows what damage I caused trying to do all these steps to “fix” the wheel axel. A real PITA to start out for sure.For this reason, I was probably going to request a return. But I decided to give it a try moving some soap rinse water. This resulted in a definite negative experience...maybe one positive comment against a lot of negatives. I ended up with several clear observations...and a definite decision to return...and a complete reversal of strategy of size of tank.It is a bit frustrating because I spent a lot of time reading hundreds of reviews...running a spread sheet to compare models, etc. Hopefully I can save somebody else some time. I had narrowed down my list to 4 brands and 2-3 sizes of each brand including 2 wheel vs 4 wheel. I finally got it down to 2 brands...the Barker vs the black and orange one.1. Very large...much larger than I anticipated with a measuring tape. And because of the lack of any handle to grab makes size unmanageable for all but rolling around. The height alone would be manageable, but the depth and width to grab over it and grasp as a rounded plastic side with no handles made anything but rolling it possible. But it does roll around on all four wheels very easily.2. The venting is a real challenge with this unit. For almost this reason alone, I am giving another brand a try. Others have noted this in the reviews...they were not exaggerating...filling this unit up took some time.3. The side discharge was not an asset. As another review indicated, it was impossible to empty on its side. And, because of the position of the top tube (a few inches from the edge), nearly impossible to empty completely from the top input while standing up on its end. Now in some scenarios, the side dump may very well work very nicely. But trying to maneuver a full 25 gal tote around on a rocky surface, large wheels or not, to get it line up, was not easy. I would have been better off just dumping out the top tube from the get go. Update: The 2nd day, after trying again to get all of the water out, I ended up getting the wet vac out...and then having to clean it. The water, and other particles, was not coming out. The side discharge has a low point and a V directing contents to, but impossible to get the water to go to the side regardless of fiddling with the angle or wheels or opposite side. And with out a handle, trying to get the water out by angling the unit on its side...dang wrestling event.4. The lack of a handle really makes this unit difficult to manage. Perhaps if all you will ever do is roll under or up to your RV, then roll off to dump, it will work. But in most uses, I think the lack of a handle to grab and pull up is a big omission. As it is, the only way to lift it up, to try to empty out the side or the end, is to grab the wheels. At this point, it was new...and clean. But the wheels kept shifting on me...and the handle flopped around. Nearly taking out items to my side as I wrestled with the unit while crouched down and trying to lift it up. Update: After a second day, I can tell you the lack of a handle is going to result in a loss of a finger...or something else more drastic!! Sure..it rolls easy, but eventually you need to pull it around while up right. Which means grabbing the wheels at top...by the sharp edges of the bracket...and it is going to flop around and fall out of your grasp. Best thing to do would be to come up with some other handle for when the tow bar is not in use. In contrast, the other unit arrived...MUCH easier to move around.5. The advice to get a unit “As large as the RV tank size is” is not as important as getting a tote that is manageable. As I said, I read a lot of reviews...both user and industry “Top Model” reviews. Lots of people recommend getting something as large as the size of you tank. Granted, I haven’t done a lot of RVing...and, I didn’t use the Blue Beast but one challenging time. But having wrestled with the handleless, oversized, huge 25 gal tank, I am pretty sure I will NOT empty a complete tank...period! Some people clearly are going to disagree on this because they camp different. If you are buying this and you are parked all the time for long periods, maximum stays, or even long term/full time, then it might make more sense to get a larger tank. My original thought was to get a tote of about 75% of the tank. When the status panel reads 2/3, time to dump if we weren’t ready to leave in the next period of time that we might fill up the tank. But, I decided to go with a lot of review tips, and I got a 25 to equal the 25 onboard...no chance of over filling...fill the RV tank all the way up, empty it all the way. Logical...but...just not practical. As the capacity increases, obviously does the weight, but also the bulk of the empty container. So, for the Barker...to go from 2 wheel 22 gal to the 4 wheel 25 gal add 4” in width and double the weight from 16 lbs empty to 35 lbs. Now add on that there is no handle to pick it up with is a real challenge. Also of note for my particular setup, I am pulling a TT and have watch every lb very closely to not exceed weight or space. My plan was to put this 25 gal, 4 wheel tote in the shower area. The sheer size and lack of a top handle were going to make this very unrealistic. So, here is my updated logic. Take a planned 16 day trip as an example. Only 4 days will be in the same park. The rest are all 1 or 2 nights. So, on the 4 day stay, I will use a 15 gal tote, and dump enough to make it through the stay. Most importantly, I don’t want to move 25 gals of discharge at a time, even it does roll really nice with 4 wheels.6. The accessory hose is better (it was factory assembled contract to previous reviews and even the included instructions...no steel bands and having to heat the item to get it together. But for some really silly reason, they included a two prong hose...despite the fact the unit has 4 prongs. I mean, Barker is 5 cents from a quality hose. But, more importantly, I immediately needed more hose fittings to get this dump system complete...parts that come with the other brand. Update: I have since gotten the other unit in...and it is all complete with lots of options. Much better setup.7. The rinse port is just an opening. I “knew” this on the spreadsheet...just not the impact in function. I am hoping the other brands builtin integrated rinse port works better than shooting water around the three openings trying to get out what wouldn’t come out.For all these reasons, especially #5, I decided to go with the other brand, the black unit with the large orange handle, and in a smaller capacity, with the complete accessory kit...and for a lot less money. I’ll try to update this review if I made a good decision. Update: in just the short period of time that I have gotten the other brand in, with the smaller capacity and built in handle, it is immediately easier to maneuver around just in getting it into place. I’ll update again after it’s first use.

Only thing that could make this better would be a C clamp to keep it on hitch ball. On a regular 2 inch ball it had a tendency to jump off when braking truck. I rotated to a larger ball and worked better but plan to add a C clamp for next trip. Otherwise everything worked GREAT!!!

Solid, bigger than I expected. Easy to use and assemble. The inflatable tires are fantastic and makes it easier to tote.

Great deal works fantastic

Missing cap to hold the wheel on

Les pneus à air sont vraiment fantastiques, le roulement est beaucoup plus doux. Très facile à vidanger et nettoyer. J'adore.

Got my Barker tank and I happened to be the lucky guy who got a tank with wheels installed backwards. When I called and spoke to Barker the guy laughed because they have never seen that before. We're getting ready to head out and now he tells me to fix it myself. Not the type of transaction I was expecting or hoping for.I have talked to a couple that also have the same tank. When going up or down a grade this hitch is not mechanically fastened to the receiver on your vehicle and has the potential to come unhooked like it did for these people. Imagine yourself down in a ditch in a campground on a long weekend with a tank that has come unhooked and crashed in a ditch making a mess, or hit a pedestrian or little kid on their bike, or went into oncoming traffic, because I can and have met a couple who have had this happen to them. I intend on cutting the loop off the hitch bar and rigging up a trailer tongue hitch that will actually latch to the ball on my vehicle.The float gauge on this tank sticks up a couple inches past the top of the tank. I can see this being an issue and getting broken off very quickly if not removed each time you dumped. They told me we'll just read the cap on and forget the float. I personally seem to like the idea of a float and I'm quite disappointed to not be able to use it. Who wants to muck around with a contaminated float bobber each time you dumped, I certainly don't.The hitch is connected to the tank with a small hitch pin with a detent ball to retain it. I think I'm going to go to a local hardware store and get a simple linchpin that will stay connected no matter what. I think it would be highly unlikely for the PIN to come out of the tank, but if I'm that unlucky guy who gets the one tank with wheels on backwards my odds are already against me, LOL. I'm not new to these tote tanks as we've now upgraded from a two wheeled tote tank to this four wheeler. I just got tired of trying to wrestle a 300-pound two-wheel tank through our Campground to hook onto her truck.I bought the 42 gallon tank as I wanted to be able to empty my complete black tank and flush with a bit of gray water without filling a tote tank. This tank will do it but one downside to its size is there are no handles or anything to get a grip and grab onto to lift it in and out of your vehicle. I wish they had designed some sort of way to grab onto this thing when you're handling it. It would make life so much easier.Barker is working on a new design as well as likely every other manufacturer out there. I'm sure at some point they will get this nailed down to a tee.I haven't used this tank yet so I plan on updating my review based on my experience with this tank after use.Cheers and happy dumping!

Worked wonders!

We bought this portable tank to use with our fifth wheel trailer at a seasonal campground that did not have on site septic. Our trailer has 42 gallon tanks so the plan was to do one dump per tank.The Barker portable tank exceeded our expectations. I was concerned about the weight of the tank when it was full. The air filled tires make it easy to pull by hand, even when it is full. I pull it by hand to the road and then drop the handle onto the hitch. The tank rolls nicely behind the truck at a very slow speed. No issues with dumping either. The tank is easy to manoeuver it into position to empty at the dump station.We did buy a 90 degree elbow for the hose coming off the trailer as the top of the tank is level with the bottom of the outlet. That makes it easier to fill.Another tip is to loosen the full indicator to allow air to escape as the tank fills. Same for dumping as it allows air to enter the tank as it empties.We can dump all 3 of our tanks (black and 2 grey, each 42 gallons) in three trips.We had avoided going seasonal st this campground because of the septic not on site. Now that we have the Barker, no issues to have the camper for an extended period without on site septic.Thanks to Barker as we love this campground because it is right on the water!

It costs a bit more but it is worth it in order to have front wheels. It is easy to use, and maneuver. The hose and attachments are fine. As with all totes, drive really slow when taking it to empty. It rinses out well. I wrapped a bungee cord around the ball hitch and tote handle for piece of mind that it would not disconnect when driving.