first load today was a success!
only needed 600 gallons to top things off, so it sloshed a little on the way home. used the tow/haul setting on the truck. took about 20 min to drain to the cistern, little gets left behind due to the incline locally, so i'll just have to account for that and water the driveway as I park it again. don't want to leave water in the drain pipe in winter, that would be very bad.
took fewer tries to park it as well, so all put away until next week.