Cheap, easy DIY TOTE septic system | Cabin, RV, Tiny home, off grid

2 free totes, some pipe and a bunch of concrete rubble. Thats what it took to put in this cheap, DIY septic system. This is a proven design and is identical to the system that I have been running at my cabin for nearly 4 years now with great success. I tried to cover some more of the details in this video. A standard tank is always your best bet BUT if its not feasible then this is a great option. With growing interest in the off grid, tiny home and RV/nomadic movements a simple and low cost system like this might be the most reasonable option. If you compare the functions of this system to an actual septic tank they are identical. If you wish to have a functioning bathroom in your off grid cabin or tiny home but cant afford or dont want to hire a professional then a simple and affordable DIY system like this might be a great option.

#RVlife #Tinyhome #Diyseptic #Offgrid

[kennethwoodward]

Nosey neighbors snitched me out to health department and mine was even better with clean outs and openings in top cut out and buckets set into place for easy pump out but they caught me in a area that has codes for septic only so be sure if your going to do this you don’t have nosey neighbors and/or codes

[thevanmarterfamily]

Super helpful gave me some good ideas for doing mine. I need a temporary septic for my RV for about 3 years while I build my home this is going to work perfectly.

[robbypro]

Old brake drums or rotors work great to put on top to locate also.

[michaelsolomon]

Hey, want to come to California and install one of these for me. Free stay and vacation time at the cabin! This video is awesome

[teamfunu]

Good project.... my two cents...use a slip joint coupler or rubber coupler between tanks... Use silicone and butt coupler on inside and outside together... I use treated plywood around tanks to strengthen the outside... again good job 👌

[avdigital]

Do you have a drawing or diagram of this showing what's going on inside the tanks, what position the "t's" are to be in, the distances where the pipes go, the grades of the drainage pipes, etc? Also, I missed what the buckets were for. The black 90 degree piece was for the input, correct? I'm not a plumber at all. I'll watch it again sometime before I start my project. Thanks!

[dromans]

Mine works fine, and I never drilled a hole in the 90 lol ha ha ha

Never knew I had to tell I watched your video

[raydreamer]

Next time baffle your pipe from the first tank that leads into your second tank. The baffle should be place so it is level horizontally with the liquid that would be in the tank. This baffle prevents any larger solids from passing from your first tank to your second tank. Baffling can be made either by cutting a end cap to open the top half of the cap before gluing into place or by just heating up the end of your straight pipe so it can be lifted into the horizontal position creating a baffling effect. Great video

[kennethwoodward]

And so I did it ! Even put clean outs to the drain field thru the tote costed a lil bit more but I figure this way before my leach field gets stopped up I could clean the screen that I used in it also the smaller holes on top I cut them and slide two five gallon buckets into the hole and sealed them in I also splurged on some lime rock 2” but still way cheaper then having a plumber do it or having an expensive septic installed

[rongray]

I have been looking for this type of material for an off grid project. Great video!! Blessings to you and your family!!

[donmcdaniel]

So please explain the plastic in the ditch. How does water leach into the soil when plastic just makes laterals a swimming pool hold liquids in? Is there hole in the plastic liner?

[cannibalchainsaw]

Great Idea! I'm remodeling a barn into a workshop, and it's really annoying having to go home to use the bathroom. It might get a deuce once every other week or so, so I'm not spend the money on a permanent septic system.

[selltech]

Great job. This will work great out on my land here in the Dominican Republic. I have a container out there and want to put a bathroom in it. Will there be a problem with toilet paper in this system?

[kidsinthewoods]

Question. If using 45s should a couple holes be drilled to break the vapor lock? Or is that only for 90s?

[rainman]

Stop fighting with pliers twisting the wire you have a drill. Cut off the ends an even distance and stick in the drill chuck. Done in 5 seconds and much tighter than by hand.

[greatcars-sale]

Great wrap idea on the tanks with solar panels like you said probably not needed but i would do.

[christophernunn]

The plastic tanks may need underground protection from larger moving stones through ground movement, the internal water pressure is not always able to overcome the external presser on these IBC tanks and can buckle in. I always carefully dig a hole slightly bigger don't need metal cage they just rust away put on a shallow concrete base then centre the assembly and start working concrete down the sides then over the top making the necessary allowance for inspection covers, vents etc about 2" to 3" all-round gap giving a cocoon protection. I enjoyed your content very interesting.

[tylorkates]

This heavily influenced my septic build and it's been good so far 4+ months

[fredrickemp]

I would only put the outlet pipe only 4 inc below the outlet of the solid side. And I would put a T on the water side also. there should be tail pieces on your baffles to mid tank. The cleanest part of the tank. Don’t know how long I’m going to use this for or how many people will be using it. But it’s pretty small.But if you have it pumped out periodically Should do you just fine. The cleaner the water going it to the field the longer it lasts.

[chadbrailer]

I can't find anyone to dig a hole lol. So my local machine rental is what I'm going to have to do. How long has it taken you to fill a 300 gal tank I may not even leach mine just 2 people in our 2 story tiny home