Camping Out Ideas

How do small portable camping/RV toilets (like Coleman or Thetford) work?

Public Comments

1. They have a tank that you add disinfecting chemicals to, but eventually you need to clean it all out and add fresh chemicals.
2. Portable camping toilets, (porta-potty), and RV toilets are totally different. Portable toilets are just as they say, they are portable. You have a holding section below the seat, that you may put chemicals in to hold down the odor. When full, you must carry the lower portion to a dump facility, such as another toilet. Here you dispose of the waste. This type of toilet may last a family of four overnight at best. In an RV, you may have a very large tank, mines 50 gallons, inside the RV that the toilet is connected. RV toilets are designed to use very little water, unlike home toilets that use 1.6 gallons or more to flush. The RV toilet sets abovr the tank and the waste is deposited into the tank when the foot/hand pedal is pushed. As I said very little water is used, mostly to clean the toilet bowl. You may again put chemicals into the holding tank to keep down the smell. Prior to your tank becoming full, you must drive to a dump facility, if your campground doesn't have full hook-ups, and transfer the waste to a underground tank, via a hose from your RV. Wear rubber gloves and be very careful. The toilet should last a family of a week. Several RV manufacturers are now putting only one holding tank in a RV. They are combining the grey water, shower and sink, with the black water, toilet. Some of these tanks may be as large as 150 gallons, I don't care to carry around that much poop. http://www.campingworld.com/browse/categories/index.cfm/Outdoor-and-RV-Accessories/Bed--Bath/RV-Toilets--Accessories/deptID=4:catID=128:src=brsq The above site may show the difference between the two toilet types in pitcures.
3. They have tanks that you have to empty out.
4. To add to what the others have contributed, if you use the portable toilets a lot, be prepared to replace them every few years or whenever they start to retain a nasty small, even when empty. The plastic tank seems to gradually absorb a sewer odor, no matter how much of the toilet chemicals you put in and after a while, they stink to high heaven! But, if you are dry camping somewhere and that's your only toilet option, go gotta do what you gotta do!
5. If you are looking for a cheap, comfortable camping/ outdoor toilet........go to Lowes, and get a quality aluminum folding chair, and cut a hole in the seat, then attach a nice comfortable toilet seat of your choice......and BAM!!! You have a cheap, comfortable, portable camping toilet that to dont have to empty!!! AND it folds up and isnt hard to store when not in use!!!