Porta Potty Forum

How close does the truck need to get to the porta potty for delivery and service?

Luis A.asked 54 viewsDelivery, Placement & ServicingTruck accessDeliveryRestroom trailerPlacementService visit

I'm planning a backyard wedding reception for about 80 people this summer. The party will be four hours, with a catered meal and a champagne toast. I'm looking at a restroom trailer to keep things comfortable for guests. The issue is my property: the reception area is about 150 feet past a gate at the end of a long gravel driveway.

For a restroom trailer, I know the delivery truck needs to tow it into place. For weekly service, the vacuum truck needs to get close to pump it. How close does the truck need to get to the porta potty for delivery and service? Can the service hose reach 150 feet, or does the truck need to drive through the gate onto the lawn? What do I need to tell the rental company when I call?

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Brad L.Kansas City, MO

The service truck needs to get much closer than 150 feet for a normal pump-out. Most vacuum trucks carry hose on a reel, and a long pull across a lawn through a gate is slow, messy, and easy to kink or snag. Ask the rental company their max hose reach before you book, and tell them the gate-to-pad distance in plain feet.

Delivery is a different problem. A restroom trailer gets towed into place, so the tow truck usually has to drive through the gate onto firm ground at the pad. Soft grass after rain will eat dualies. Measure gate width, any turn radius past the gate, and whether the truck can back out without chewing up the lawn.

When you call, say: gate distance, surface (gravel vs lawn), overnight parking for the trailer, and whether they need water fill or generator space next to the unit for a service visit. If they cannot reach 150 feet with hose, they will tell you the pad has to move closer to the driveway. Better to hear that now than on delivery day.

0
Marcus B.Chicago, IL

A restroom trailer's vacuum truck needs to park within 25 to 50 feet of the unit for a standard pump-out, not 150 feet. Brad is correct that a long hose pull is problematic. The rental company will confirm their specific hose length, but 150 feet is far beyond typical service access. For your wedding, the bigger issue is the initial delivery and setup. The tow truck must pull the trailer through the gate and onto level, firm ground. Measure the gate width and the turning space past the gate to ensure the truck and trailer can maneuver. Also, a restroom trailer requires a fresh water tank fill and a gray water pump-out at service, so the driver needs space for a hose from their truck to the trailer's connection points, which are usually on one side.

  • Megan H. That 25 to 50 foot window matches what I have seen on job pads. Measure the gate and turning space before you book so delivery day is not a surprise.

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