portable toilets questions

[AstroMark]

Hello we are new to the ideas of traveling towing a trailer so I have a few questions pertaining to portable toilets and showers. I will be towing a westy with a modified Astro van (hence the screen name) My thoughts are to sleep and to cook in the trailer but the van will carry things such as the portable toilet and a portable shower but as I have never done this where do I use the toilet ? Does it need to be emptied each time its used? If so where do I empty it? is there a prefered toilet for road trips? Do all campgrounds have toilets and showers? Last time I camped was while in the Army so there no comparison. Our plan is to work up to driving from California over to New Hampshire & then eventually back. But we are going to try local camping first to see if we enjoy it as much as we hope too. Thanks Mark.

[Ruban&Martha]

You can sit your toilet inside your shower. How often you have to empty it depends on how large of one you get, but most last at least a couple of days. Empty it at the dump station. Be sure and get one that seals the contents securely so you can travel with it, even if its not empty, as not all parks have dump stations.

[Jon Vermilye]

While most campgrounds have at least vault toilets, many do not have showers. Some "Resort" campgrounds don't have bathrooms or showers. One way to check is to use a campground finding app such as AllStays Camp & RV, RVParky, or The ultimate Public Campground List. They describe the amenities at the campgrounds, as well as provide directions, coordinates for your GPS, altitude (helpful for determining temperatures) etc. Most of the app sites let you use their web based search capability for free, although the on line version isn't as handy as the app.

[Bjkj Mason]

We have resorted to using the “wag bag” system and are very happy with it. We purchased a Playberg portable toilet that we keep in the bathroom and it has been a very good find. No messy dumping or black water system. I found wag bag crystals at gardening supply and heavy duty black plastic bags on line so the cost is a lot less than buying the actual wag bags.

It may not be the solution for everyone but it works for us and in all of our years of camping, it seems to be the best solution for us.

[Glenn Baglo]

Those heavy duty plastic bags should preserve your "duty" for a thousand years at least.

[Jon in AZ]

Returning to the OP’s question... Let the size of your portable toilet be dictated by two factors in tension: (1) how long between dumps- bigger is better, and (2) how much you can carry and empty conveniently- smaller is better. Figure 8 pounds per gallon of capacity, since it will be mostly water, plus the weight of the tank. That means a 5 gallon waste tank will weigh around 40-45# when full.

Comfort is also a factor favoring a larger unit- it’s less like squatting and more like using a conventional toilet. Some set a smaller toilet on a platform to make it easier to use.

While they can be emptied in a flush toilet, it takes care not to splash or overflow and make a mess, especially with a larger tank. Vault toilets are better, and dump stations the preferred means of disposal.

If the thought of being that close to human waste makes you queasy, you might want to reconsider a conventional RV toilet with black tank. Or, as many do, limit the portable toilet to liquids only.

[rlun]

A small pop-up tent works well to put the portable toilet in

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by rlun

A small pop-up tent works well for the toilet.

Except, perhaps, in the windy Southwest!

[narnold]

We mostly boondock and use the Cleanwaste toilet and privacy shelter.

[Franswa]

I "lived" with a portapottie on a sailboat for years....something like this:
(I picked this model because the pictures offer a lot of information)



https://www.amazon.ca/SereneLife-Por...3BFPETD6R4BH1S


they work very well...with available hold down kit, when you snap the two halves together it grabs the supplied bales (screwed to a floor like in a boat or the back of your van) and they stay put....even in a heeled sailboat in crashing waves


They are not vented (airtight when closed up) in a boat with good ventilation odor was never a problem.....in a van?...YMMV


Now for the most subjective part: with two people and a 5 gallon waste tank....expect to dump every three days...four + days if you avail yourself of other opportunities when available


have fun

[Glenn Baglo]

Had one of those at my cabin. Left it on the back deck when I sold.
Five gallons of waste weighs about 45 lbs. You get to carry it to the dump.

You get to balance the toilet on the rim of a proper toilet and tip it to empty. You get watch the stuff flow and splash from about two feet away.
Mine required that the flush lever be held partially open to allow air in or the effluent wouldn't exit.
If I never see a porta potti again, it will be too soon.

[Franswa]

yeah but you're old Glenn...the OP might be young and less set in his ways


some people have a very low tolerance for sewage...heck, some people on here won't even use their onboard black tanks because they can't stand RV dumpstations....go figure

[Glenn Baglo]

They call me "grumps".

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by Bjkj Mason

We have resorted to using the “wag bag” system and are very happy with it. We purchased a Playberg portable toilet that we keep in the bathroom and it has been a very good find. No messy dumping or black water system. I found wag bag crystals at gardening supply and heavy duty black plastic bags on line so the cost is a lot less than buying the actual wag bags.

It may not be the solution for everyone but it works for us and in all of our years of camping, it seems to be the best solution for us.

What do your consumables cost per person per day?