Camco Rhino® Tote Tank — Complete Guide

What the Camco Rhino Is For

The Camco Rhino® Tote Tank solves one of the most common RV camping problems: your site's sewer hookup is too far from the RV's waste outlet for a standard sewer hose to reach. Instead of moving the entire RV every few days, you fill the tote tank from the RV, roll it to the dump station independently, empty it, rinse it, and return it empty — hung on the RV ladder or stored in a compartment until next time.

Manufactured by Camco Mfg., Inc. in Greensboro, NC, the Rhino line is available in four standard capacities — 15, 21, 28, and 36 gallons — plus steerable front-wheel variants for the two larger sizes. Every model ships as a complete kit with all accessories needed for fill, empty, and clean cycles.

All Four Models at a Glance

Full Specifications

Specification	39000 — 15 Gal	39002 — 21 Gal	39004 — 28 Gal	39006 — 36 Gal
Capacity	15 gallons	21 gallons	28 gallons	36 gallons
Dimensions (H × W × L)	13″ × 20.5″ × 32.25″	13″ × 20.5″ × 40″	14.5″ × 24″ × 44″	15.5″ × 25″ × 46″
Empty weight	31.5 lbs	34.5 lbs	43 lbs	45 lbs
Full weight (approx.)	~156 lbs	~207 lbs	~275 lbs	~345 lbs
Material	UV-stabilized blow-molded HDPE — smooth interior, easy rinse
Wheels	No-flat wheels	No-flat wheels	Oversized no-flat	Oversized no-flat
Steerable variant	None	None	39005 (+6 lbs)	39007 (+7 lbs)
Gate valve	Built-in slide valve — pull UP to open, push DOWN to close
Tow bar	Removable steel tow bar with detent pin; tow loop faces down
Ladder hook	Included; attaches to wheel assembly with ¼″-20 hex screws
Warranty	2 years from date of first purchase — defects in material and workmanship
Max tow speed	5 mph (8 km/h) — all models, hand or motorized
Sources: Camp Addict; Amazon listings 39000/39002/39004/39006; Camco Official Manual

The Weight Problem — Read Before You Buy

The most common mistake when buying a Rhino Tote Tank is focusing only on gallon capacity and ignoring what that capacity weighs when full. Waste water weighs 8.34 lbs per gallon. The difference between choosing the 21-gallon and the 36-gallon model is the difference between towing a large adult and towing a mature black bear.

Model	Empty	Water Weight (full)	Total Full Weight	Roughly Equivalent To
39000 — 15 gal	31.5 lbs	125 lbs	~156 lbs	A large adult male
39002 — 21 gal	34.5 lbs	175 lbs	~207 lbs	A typical NFL lineman
39004 — 28 gal	43 lbs	233 lbs	~276 lbs	A large gorilla
39006 — 36 gal	45 lbs	300 lbs	~345 lbs	A mature male black bear
The 28 and 36-gallon models require motorized towing for any practical distance. If your campground has tight turns or rough terrain, the steerable front-wheel variants (39005/39007) are worth the extra 6–7 lbs of empty weight.

Kit Contents — Everything in the Box

All four standard Rhino models ship with identical kits — 14 items covering the complete fill, empty, and clean workflow.

#	Item	Purpose
1	3-foot sewer hose (bayonet + lug fittings)	Connects RV waste outlet to tote tank for filling; take to dump station for emptying
2	Clear double bayonet elbow	Connects sewer hose lug end to tote tank sewer connection during fill
3	Black storage cap — sewer hose lug end	Seals the lug end of the sewer hose during storage
4	Small black cap — female flusher connection	Seals the flusher rinse port; remove for Option 1 cleaning
5	Small black cap — male rinse connection	Seals the male rinse port; remove to vent tank during fill AND during empty
6	15″ female-to-female water hose adapter	Used in Option 2 cleaning only; connects garden hose to male rinse connection
7	Clear elbow — one bayonet end	Used during emptying and Option 2 cleaning; connects between fittings
8	Black storage cap — sewer hose bayonet end	Seals the bayonet end of the sewer hose during storage
9	4-in-1 elbow adapter	Universal dump station adapter — accommodates most dump station inlet sizes
10	Orange 3″ storage caps (×2)	One caps the sewer hose connection; one caps the gate valve — install before moving
11	Lanyards (×4)	Tethers all caps to the tank so they can't be lost during use
12	Heavy-duty steel tow bar	Removable; attaches via detent pin; tow loop faces down; also connects to tow ball hitch
13	Ladder hook	Attaches to wheel assembly; allows hanging the empty tank on the RV's rear ladder
14	Hardware	Two ¼″-20 hex screws and lock washers for the ladder hook; requires 7/16″ wrench
Not included: 7/16″ wrench (required for ladder hook installation), garden hose (needed for cleaning), tow ball hitch receiver (if motorized towing)

How to Fill the Tote Tank

1. Position the tote tankPlace it directly below and as close as possible to the RV's waste water outlet. The sewer hose only reaches 3 feet.
2. Remove the orange cap from the sewer hose connectionThe cap held by the lanyard on the side of the tank. Set it aside — the lanyard keeps it attached.
3. Remove the small black cap from the male rinse connection (Item 5)This vents the tank. Do not skip this step.
4. Connect the clear double bayonet elbow (Item 2) to the sewer hose lug end (Item 1)Then connect the other end of the elbow to the tote tank sewer hose connection.
5. Connect the free end of the sewer hose to the RV's waste outletStandard sewer hose connection — same as connecting a permanent sewer hose.
6. Open the RV gate valve slowly and monitor the fillDo not walk away. The tote tank has no overflow valve. RV black tanks often hold more than the tote tank — especially the 15 and 21-gallon models.
7. Close the RV gate valve. Disconnect the sewer hose. Reinstall ALL caps.Both orange caps (sewer hose connection and gate valve) and both small black caps must be installed before moving the tank.

How to Empty at the Dump Station

1. Insert the 4-in-1 adapter (Item 9 on Item 7) into the dump station inletThe 4-in-1 design fits most standard dump station sizes.
2. Connect the 3-foot sewer hose between the adapter and the tote tank gate valveHose runs from the dump station adapter to the tank's gate valve port.
3. Remove the small black cap from the male rinse connection (Item 5)Vent the tank before opening the gate valve. Skipping this creates a vacuum that dramatically slows drainage.
4. Pull the gate valve handle UP to open and drain completelyAllow the tank to drain fully. Tip slightly toward the gate valve if flow slows near empty.
5. Close the gate valve (push DOWN). Reinstall all caps before moving.Verify both orange caps and both small black caps are secured before rolling the empty tank away.

Cleaning the Tank

Clean the tank at the dump station or in any area where rinse water can be safely disposed of. You need a standard garden hose and a water supply. Two rinsing methods are included in the kit.

Option 1 — Female Flusher Connection (Recommended)

1. Remove the small black cap from the female flusher connection (Item 4)The cap labeled with a backflow preventer symbol. This connection includes a built-in backflow preventer that protects the water supply from contamination.
2. Connect the garden hose directly to the female flusher connectionThe connection sprays water inside the tank when the hose is turned on.
3. Turn on the water and rinse thoroughlyThe sprayer pattern inside reaches all tank surfaces.
4. Tip the tank toward the gate valve end and drainRepeat until rinse water runs clear.

Option 2 — Male Rinse Connection (Alternative)

1. Remove the small black cap from the male rinse connection (Item 5)
2. Connect the 15″ female-to-female hose adapter (Item 6) to the garden hose, then to the male rinse connection
3. Turn on water; rinse; tip tank and drainRepeat until rinse water runs clear.

Ladder Storage

The empty tank can be hung on the RV's rear ladder for storage between uses. Ladder storage requires a completely empty tank and must be done with the tow bar removed.

Which Model Should You Buy?

Factor	39000 — 15 Gal	39002 — 21 Gal	39004 — 28 Gal	39006 — 36 Gal
Full weight	~156 lbs	~207 lbs	~275 lbs	~345 lbs
Best RV black tank size	Up to ~15 gal (teardrop, pop-up)	Up to ~21 gal (small trailers)	Up to ~28 gal (mid trailers, small 5th wheels)	Up to ~36 gal (large 5th wheels, Class A/C)
Hand-tow on flat ground	Feasible for most adults	Feasible but demanding	Very difficult — motorized recommended	Not practical — motorized required
Trips for 45-gal RV black tank	3 trips	3 trips	2 trips	2 trips
Best for	Solo, couples, weekend trips	Couples, 1-week trips	Families, week-long trips	Extended trips, minimal dump frequency
If choosing 28 or 36 gal and your campground has tight turns or rough terrain, consider the steerable front-wheel variants: 39005 (28 gal) and 39007 (36 gal). They add 6–7 lbs of empty weight for significantly better maneuverability.