I've been thinking about toilets a lot lately. I'm designing how the toilet fits into the latest van build. With toilets you have to decide how you want to deal with the nasty. The choices range from digging a hole in the woods to the old standard rv toilet and black tank. We prefer the composting toilet, because it's nice to have a place to go that's easy, convenient and we think dealing with dry, basically dirt is less nasty. Our experience with black tanks on boats and our older van are that they smell and are just nasty to dump. The following blog goes through the pros and cons of toilet options. Let me know what you think is the best option.
The Standard RV Toilet with a Black Tank
First up, we have the classic RV toilet with a black tank. This type of toilet is the most common choice for campervan owners, and for good reason – it's easy to use, easy to maintain, and offers a familiar experience for those who are used to using traditional toilets.
Advantages:
Familiarity: If you've used a regular toilet before, you'll feel right at home with an RV toilet.
Easy to use: No special skills or knowledge required – just sit down, do your business, and flush.
Low maintenance: With a black tank, you can simply dump the contents at an RV dump station and rinse the tank with a hose. Easy peasy.
Disadvantages:
Limited capacity: Depending on the size of your tank, you may need to empty it every few days.
Odors: If you don't use the right chemicals or clean the tank regularly, your RV may start to smell like a porta-potty.
Water usage: An RV toilet requires water to flush, so you'll need to make sure you have a sufficient water supply.
The Composting Toilet
Next, we have the composting toilet – a more eco-friendly option that doesn't require a black tank. Instead, waste is broken down by natural processes and turned into compost, which can be safely disposed of or even used as fertilizer.
Advantages:
Environmentally friendly: Composting toilets are a sustainable and eco-friendly option.
No black tank: No need to deal with the hassle of emptying a black tank.
Low water usage: Composting toilets use little to no water, which can be a big advantage if you're camping in an area with limited water resources.
Disadvantages:
Expensive: Composting toilets can be quite pricey, with some models costing a thousand dollars or more.
Maintenance: While composting toilets don't require a black tank, they do require regular maintenance to keep them functioning properly.
Learning curve: If you're not used to using a composting toilet, there may be a bit of a learning curve as you figure out how to use it properly.
The Cassette Toilet
Last but not least, we have the cassette toilet – a compact, portable option that's perfect for smaller campervans or those who don't want to deal with a black tank.
Advantages:
Portable: The cassette can be easily removed from the toilet and taken to an RV dump station for disposal.
Low maintenance: Cassette toilets are easy to clean and maintain.
Space-saving: Cassette toilets are compact and take up less space than traditional RV toilets.
Disadvantages:
Limited capacity: Depending on the size of the cassette, you may need to empty it every few days.
Odors: If you don't clean the cassette regularly, it can start to smell.
Water usage: Like traditional RV toilets, cassette toilets require water to flush.
So, which toilet is right for you? It really depends on your personal preferences and camping style. If you're looking for a familiar experience and don't mind dealing with a black tank, a standard RV toilet may be the way to go. If you're environmentally conscious and don't mind spending a bit more money, a composting toilet
have you used the trelino toilet, I saw it in a picture for this blog post. I currently use a cassette toilet (Dometic) for #1 and a bucket/bag/gamma lid solution for #2. Do you know if putting a bag in the Trelino would work for #2?
I’m super curious about the whole “#2 doesn’t smell without pee…but also think this sounds dubious at best” so I’d like to have the option of bagging and gamma-lidding #2 if necessary.