Reliance Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 (8630-03) vs Scepter 5-Gallon Water Container

The short answer

For most van kitchens, the Scepter 05177 is the better fresh-water jug. It's 6.8 inches wide, so it slots beside a fridge or into a sink cabinet, it weighs a little over 40 lb full rather than about 61, and its open mouth takes a foot-pump intake hose, which is how most no-plumbing van sinks are built. It has no tap, though, and that's the whole reason to look at the other jug.

The Reliance Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 is the better pick if you want water from a tap with nothing else to buy. It holds 7 gallons, has a spigot that stores inside the cap, and Reliance backs its water containers for five years. The cost is weight and space: about 61 lb full by our estimate, 8.5 inches wide, and it dispenses only when laid on its side.

For the full detail on each jug, read our Reliance Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 review and our Scepter 05177 review. If you're planning a whole sink, start with the no-plumbing campervan sink guide. VanLifeKitchens researches products rather than testing them; the figures below come from each maker's published pages and the Amazon listings, as cited in those reviews.

Spec comparison

Neither maker publishes an NSF/ANSI 61 listing for its jug.

Getting water out

This is the real difference between the two.

Jumbo-Tainer: gravity tap. Reliance's "leak-proof, hideaway spigot" stores inside the cap for travel and screws into the 70 mm opening to dispense. Because the opening is on the top shoulder, the jug has to lie on its side with the spigot low and over an edge, so a cup or pot fits beneath it. No pump, hose, clamps or wiring are needed. Reliance sells a replacement 70 mm spigot assembly that it lists as compatible, so a worn tap is a cheap part rather than a new jug.

Scepter: pour or pump. The Scepter has a main screw cap with a pour spout and a separate breather. There's no tap and no hose port. You either pour from it, which means lifting over 40 lb, or you drop a foot pump's intake hose through the main opening, as our no-plumbing sink guide describes with the Whale Babyfoot GP4618. That's more parts, but it puts water at a sink hands-free with the jug left on the floor.

Edge: Jumbo-Tainer if you want no extra parts; Scepter if you're building a foot-pump sink.

Fit in the van

The Scepter's flat, 6.8-inch-wide shape is designed to pack in rows. It fits a narrow gap beside a 12V fridge or a wheel well, and two or three stand flat against each other under one strap. Its 18.8-inch height is the thing to check.

The Jumbo-Tainer is 8.5 inches wide and 15.3 inches long, so it needs a squarer space. It also needs a second position if you dispense from it in place: on its side, on a shelf or platform with an edge for the spigot to overhang. Measure for both upright travel and side-lying use before you buy.

Edge: Scepter, for narrow cabinets.

Weight and handling

Water is about 8.34 lb per US gallon. By our estimate, the Jumbo-Tainer is about 61 lb full (58.4 lb of water plus Reliance's 2.9 lb empty weight). The Scepter holds 41.7 lb of water; Scepter doesn't publish an empty weight, so call it over 40 lb full.

That 20 lb difference matters every time you refill. Lifting a 61 lb jug onto a counter-height shelf in a van is a strain and a real injury risk. Two 5-gallon cans spread the same water into two lighter lifts, and one can stay full while the other is being refilled.

Both jugs have to be restrained for driving. Reliance says the Jumbo-Tainer's handles are placed so it can be fastened down. Run a cam strap through a handle of either jug to a solid anchor, or box it into a cabinet with a positive-latching door. Liner and bungees aren't enough for this much weight. The stop van kitchen rattles guide explains why. Reliance also says its containers are not stackable when full.

Edge: Scepter.

Cleaning and care

Neither opening takes an adult hand easily. The Jumbo-Tainer's opening is the 70 mm size Reliance's spigot fits, and Scepter doesn't publish its mouth diameter, so for both you'll rely on a bottle brush and rinsing.

Reliance publishes more care guidance: rinse a few times with baking soda and water or vinegar and water (not both together), dry fully before storing, keep out of direct sun, hand-wash the spigot cap, and don't store water longer than 90 days. Scepter's page covers food-grade and BPA-free material but not a care routine. The no-plumbing sink guide's sanitising section applies to either jug.

Keep either jug from freezing full. Store it in the heated part of the van, or empty it, in freezing weather.

Edge: Jumbo-Tainer, for the published care rules.

Value

Both are budget purchases, and at the time of writing the Jumbo-Tainer cost less than the Scepter despite holding more. Check current prices on Amazon, since they move often. What tips the value is what else you'd buy:

• Jumbo-Tainer: nothing else is needed for running water. The spigot is included.
• Scepter with a foot pump: you add a pump, 1/2-inch hose, clamps and a spout, which adds noticeably to the cost of the setup. In return you get water at the sink without lifting the jug.
• Scepter alone: the simplest option if you're happy to pour.

The warranty favours Reliance clearly: five years on its water containers per Reliance's warranty page, against one year for the Scepter per the Amazon listing.

Which one should you buy?

Buy the Scepter 05177 if:

• Your only space is a narrow slot beside the fridge or under the sink.
• You're building a foot-pump sink and want the jug to stay on the floor.
• You'd rather lift 40 lb than 60.
• You want a second can in a different colour for grey water. Scepter sells the same can in sand (05935).

Buy the Reliance Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 if:

• You want water from a tap with no pump, hose or wiring.
• You have a low shelf, platform or tailgate where the jug can lie on its side.
• You want 7 gallons in one container and can handle the weight safely.
• You want the longer warranty and a replaceable spigot.

Many vans end up with both: a Scepter feeding a foot pump inside, and a spigot jug for washing and refilling at camp.

FAQ

Which holds more, the Jumbo-Tainer or the Scepter? The Reliance Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 holds 7 US gallons (26 L). The Scepter 05177 holds 5 US gallons (20 L).

Which is easier to fit in a van? The Scepter. At 6.8 inches wide it fits narrow spaces. The Jumbo-Tainer is 8.5 inches wide and needs space to lie on its side if you dispense from the spigot in place.

Does the Jumbo-Tainer work with a foot pump? It isn't designed for a pump intake. The Scepter is the usual foot-pump jug, with the intake hose run through the main opening. Check any hose against the opening yourself, since neither maker sells a pump adapter for its jug.

How heavy are they full? By our estimate, about 61 lb for the Jumbo-Tainer (Reliance gives 2.9 lb empty) and a little over 40 lb for the Scepter (Scepter doesn't publish an empty weight).

Are they safe for drinking water? Both are sold for drinking water. Reliance cites LFGB and FDA food-contact compliance; Scepter describes food-grade, BPA-free HDPE. Neither publishes an NSF/ANSI 61 listing, and neither treats water. Use a filter or purifier suited to your source, as our water filtration guide explains.

Sources and verification

• Reliance Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 review: specs and sources for the Jumbo-Tainer, including Reliance's product, spigot, care and warranty pages and the Amazon listing (checked 2026-10-13)
• Scepter 05177 review: specs and sources for the Scepter, including Scepter's product and range pages and the Amazon listing (checked 2026-10-13)