My Daughter wants a composting toilet in her camper Van?

[Paul an Jane MK]

My Daughter seems to be going through a midlife crisis and wants to give up her career and buy a campervan and tour around Europe.

She sent me a link to www.quirkycampers.co.uk asking what I thought and announced that one of the converters used reclaimed wood and fitted composting toilets.

I had a look at the link but they look like a disappointing d.i.y effort to me, perhaps I am just not hippy enough to get it.

Does anyone know anything about composting toilets in a motorhome??????

 

[DBK]

Someone on here fitted one and has since posted it has been a success.

I'm unconvinced but have never experienced one in a MH so could be wrong.

 

[Yorick]

I thought composting took years ?

 

[Janine]

How would you dispose of the 'compost', I wonder?

 

[audlin]

A composting toilet is very popular with fulltiming Americans and seems like a very sensible idea to me as you can go so much longer without having to look for black waste disposal. The expensive option is buying a "Nature's Head" toilet; the cheaper option is to separate No 1s from No 2s. Check out Cheap RV living website for more info.

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[Jaws]

I think I grew out of vans like that when I was about 17 !

 

[A and B in the Huzzie]

They do work but rely on the correct level of moisture for the composting process. We used coir which is from coconut but you can use sawdust or straw. If the process works correctly then it takes between 1 and 3 months before it needs emptying.

We thought it would be a good idea in our DIY PVC so we went to a glamping site to test it for a week and used it all the time. The result was that it was too wet and the smell was unbelievable. It works at the glamping site because they empty every week but to use it as a way to stay off-grid for extended periods would require number ones to be done elsewhere.

There are a few issues.

• When emptying you need to leave some of the active stuff behind otherwise the process takes a while to start.
• You can't keep adding number twos without more coir then leaving it to become active again.
• I couldn't see how to avoid carrying the tank through the habitation.

We dropped the idea as the requirement to be off-grid longer wouldn't be met but others usage patterns might change that.

 

[Barclaybasher]

Shit !............... I didn't think it was so complicated..

 

[Paul an Jane MK]

Wow Funsters are amazing, you have the answer to a question I never dreamed I would ever ask.

 

[A and B in the Huzzie]

Shit !............... I didn't think it was so complicated..

The concept is sound but it needs a much bigger tank. I first came across one in an alpine hostel where the tank was hidden below the throne and must have been 6*3*3 feet. When emptied it was done via a door in the side, looks like stable waste, had no smell and they only took out some of the waste. After doing ones business there was a little shovel to sprinkle on some sawdust.

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[A and B in the Huzzie]

I just remembered that the small ones, suitable for MH and boating use, have a way to catch number ones into a separate tank which is emptied more often. This tries to stop the mix becoming too wet. Trouble is, after a skinful of 6X, which is usually sold with bog roll, the moisture content is back up.

 

[DBK]

Found the thread I was thinking of.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/nature-head-composting-toilet-for-small-spaces.124612/

 

[Barclaybasher]

The concept is sound but it needs a much bigger tank. I first came across one in an alpine hostel where the tank was hidden below the throne and must have been 6*3*3 feet. When emptied it was done via a door in the side, looks like stable waste, had no smell and they only took out some of the waste. After doing ones business there was a little shovel to sprinkle on some sawdust.

Far too sensible answer on here

I traveled to Belgium in the '60s, my friend's aunt had a bar.....great place......but the only toilet was a hole in the ground............no flush............it was literally a 'shit hole'......once a week it was pumped out...........you knew which day by the smell...It was still a fantastic place....and great memories!

 

[pappajohn]

My God..... Didn't they do this in the dark ages.

Oh Please!, tell her to catch up and fit a Thetford.

 

[h1ghway1]

They had Composting toilets at a music festival I was at... brilliant.. no smell and never a long Q to use

You had to walk up some stairs to the loo, underneath looked like wheelie bin containers which i imagine where swapped out regularly, so much better that the chemical loo's.

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[A and B in the Huzzie]

I traveled to Belgium in the '60s, my friend's aunt had a bar.....great place......but the only toilet was a hole in the ground............no flush............it was literally a 'shit hole'......once a week it was pumped out...........you knew which day by the smell...It was still a fantastic place....and great memories!

You've given me the perfect solution; just cut a whole in the floor of the MH, fit a throne on it and allow it to dump on the deck. Can't see CAMC being too happy though.

 

[Paddywack]

When I lived on a narrowboat a neighbour had one. As others have said it separated number ones and twos, it also required 240 v, something similar to this https://www.ecoethic.ca/products_wl.html

 

[Cheshirecat57]

My God..... Didn't they do this in the dark ages.

Oh Please!, tell her to catch up and fit a Thetford.

And eat a big fat bacon and black pudding sandwich whilst wearing calf skin shoes
Oh and dont use 500 gallons of fossil fuel on a whim

 

[pappajohn]

You've given me the perfect solution; just cut a whole in the floor of the MH, fit a throne on it and allow it to dump on the deck. Can't see CAMC being too happy though.

Used to work OK for British Rail.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

They call that a big bucket and a lid. still needs emptying. Not for motorhomes with limited weight and no capacity for a black TANK.

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[Paul an Jane MK]

My God..... Didn't they do this in the dark ages.

Oh Please!, tell her to catch up and fit a Thetford.

I did tell you she is having a mid life crisis combined with strong ecological principles.

When we meet up, I shall pop back to my Moho and use the Thetford

 

[g3cwi]

Used to work OK for British Rail.

Yes - hard to imagine these days "Do not use toilet in stations" signs and bog roll on the tracks. Sweet.

 

[Speve]

I don’t know what others think but IMHO after fitting the vans out with all that recycled timber and a composter they must be pretty well up to GVW before putting anything else in them.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Yes - hard to imagine these days "Do not use toilet in stations" signs and bog roll on the tracks. Sweet.

I think the do no use still applies having watched a program on the railways a few weeks ago

Looks like someone is selling the recycled dream and producing c**p

 

[Jim]

They call that a big bucket and a lid

Whats a thetford tank? just a funny shaped bucket with a lid

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[Lenny HB]

Quirky Campers = Mr. Bodge built it.

Saw that New Zealand one on Ben Vogel the other night, yuck.

If she wants the composting toilet just to be environmentaly friendly why not fit a SOG.

 

[rangi]

How would you dispose of the 'compost', I wonder?

On the Roof Garden Janine

 

[tacr2man]

There is a reason that what is in majority use , and infrastructure is not set up for composting toilet disposal . What is wrong with current system ? , does she have a composting toilet at home ? When whims take over from reality she will end up with a
disappointing "camping/travel" experience JMHO

 

[chaser]

Might as well go the whole hog and just jump out and go behind the hedge, save all the hassle.

 

[Cat53]

I did tell you she is having a mid life crisis combined with strong ecological principles.

When we meet up, I shall pop back to my Moho and use the Thetford

I love those vans. Absolutely gorgeous.

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