Utilizing a Vehicle-Mounted Portable Toilet: A Practical Guide

For those embarking on a road trip in a camper van, the addition of a portable toilet can greatly enhance the comfort and cleanliness of the journey. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to install and use a portable toilet in a camper van.

Choosing the Right Portable Toilet

Selecting the right portable toilet is crucial. Common options include cassette toilets, chemical portable toilets, composting toilets, and waterless electric toilets. Cassette toilets, such as the Thetford C223CS, are popular for camper vans due to their easy emptying and cleaning.

Installation

The installation process varies depending on the type of portable toilet. For a cassette toilet, an enclosure needs to be built inside the van to hold the toilet base. The toilet is then plumbed into the camper’s water system to supply flushing water. An access hatch is created on the van’s exterior side to remove the waste cassette easily for emptying.

Composting and portable chemical toilets are generally freestanding and require no plumbing, making setup quicker.

Using the Toilet

Use the toilet as you would a regular one, ensuring to pour clean water for flushing if required (cassette or chemical models). Cassette toilets have a removable waste tank; regularly monitor the waste level indicator and remove the cassette when full. For composting or waterless models, follow manufacturer guidance for adding litter or separating waste to minimize odor.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Clean the toilet bowl and waste tank regularly after emptying. Cassette toilets allow the waste tank mechanism to be removed for thorough cleaning. Use designated chemical agents or composting materials to break down waste and reduce odors. Empty the cassette or waste container at appropriate dump stations, residential toilets, or designated disposal points. Maintain seals and gaskets to prevent leaks and odors.

Odor Control and Comfort

Use products designed to reduce smells, such as special chemicals for cassette toilets or dry composting materials. Ensure good ventilation in the camper van bathroom area. Choose a toilet with ergonomic features such as a swivel seat or proper seat height for comfort during use.

In summary, the most comfortable and clean traveling experience involves selecting the right portable toilet type for your camper van, installing it with convenient cassette or waste tank access, regularly emptying and cleaning it using recommended chemicals or materials, and maintaining odor control through proper use and ventilation.

Some portable toilets are designed for use in compact spaces, such as cars. A class B RV rental may not come with a built-in bathroom. Waste disposal centers or RV dump stations at campsites are typically the best places to empty a composting toilet. Emptying the composting container in a portable toilet should be done about once per week.

Composting toilets are a more environmentally friendly solution as they limit water use and reduce the impact of waste disposal. Essential items for using a portable toilet in a van include toilet bowl cleaning solutions, a toilet bowl scrubber, toilet paper, and sanitization wipes.

Using a portable toilet in an average car may not be very comfortable. To accommodate a portable toilet in a class B RV rental, a space of approximately 2 feet by 3 feet is needed. Privacy considerations should be made when using a portable toilet in a van, such as using blackout curtains and a privacy curtain.

Composting toilets are an alternative to portable toilets in a camper van. Thetford portable toilets are often recommended for use in compact spaces. Our camper vans at Escape don't come with toilets, and many renters prefer them that way. Having a portable toilet in a camper van is an option, but many campsites have public restrooms.

Escape's camper vans can be reserved at 11 locations across the U.S. Escape's camper vans have many helpful features, including a queen-size bed, propane stove, refrigerator, extra storage, sink with a water tank, collapsible benches and tables, bucket seats, and uniquely painted designs.

The urine container in a composting toilet needs to be emptied more frequently than the solid waste container. You can contact Escape for any other questions about their camper vans. A 12-volt power source is needed for the fan that reduces odors in many portable composting toilets. A composting toilet in a van typically has two separate holding containers for urine and solid waste. Cleaning compact portable toilets can be a major downside.