A S****Y Issue

Pegsyno1

Guest
Hi
I'm thinking of attending a couple of festivals this year and am very dubious of what to do regarding the "call of nature".
My missus is of the ensuite variety but I only have a T4!
I have seen the Thetford cassette type of thing and think I could persuade her along with the use of blackout curtains!.

Back at home I have a septic tank, do I carry the contents back home (is it safe around corners) and most importantly will the chemical and waste,upset the balance of my septic tank if I simply empty the cassette in it. I am always being told of the dangers of emptying bleach and destroying the bugs that enjoy living down there, any help gratefully received.

Thanks for any advice
 
the blue chemicals will destroy the enzymes in the septic tank so avoid using them, green chemiclas are ok

bertie
 
Without getting to graphic, is it simply a case of pouring down effluent through the spout.
Will it smell in the van on the way to the Public WC's. Can it be left for a day or so without any problems?:eek:
 
Pegsyno1 said:
Hi
I'm thinking of attending a couple of festivals this year and am very dubious of what to do regarding the "call of nature".
My missus is of the ensuite variety but I only have a T4!
I have seen the Thetford cassette type of thing and think I could persuade her along with the use of blackout curtains!.

Back at home I have a septic tank, do I carry the contents back home (is it safe around corners) and most importantly will the chemical and waste,upset the balance of my septic tank if I simply empty the cassette in it. I am always being told of the dangers of emptying bleach and destroying the bugs that enjoy living down there, any help gratefully received.

Thanks for any advice
Click to expand...

Hi Pegsyno1,
welcome to the site, and you can read about chemical additives on here
Thetford, Porta Potti, Portable toilets, cooking appliances
Whatever you do don't put the waste into your septic tank if you are using Blue additives, or anybody else's tank for that matter.:eek:
Another tip, when emptying the cassette, with the valve closed, remove the top slider! It as been known for these little beggers to slide off, and end up at the bottom of the sceptic tank:eek:

Happy Camping:)
 
Your wife should be fine with a Thetford Porta-Potti (or similar). They're quite hygienic, easy to use and can be emptied fairly discreetly in a public loo or you may find the festivals have emptying facilities because you almost certainly won't be on your own with this!

The chemicals tend to mask any smells and they also have a flush for after use. Your wife might actually be pleasantly surprised as well as reassured!
 
There are a very wide range of portable chemical toilets on our website starting with a basic one at £19-99.

Kampa and Fiamma do a good range as well

Peter
 
Porta Potti dilemma

I have a porta potti in my T5 camper. So far I've only it for wee wees and called at a public poilets for other requirements. Do other people do the same or do they use their porta pottis for ALL needs. Surely the pump action flush wouldn't be sufficient!
 
kangooroo said:
can be emptied fairly discreetly in a public loo
Click to expand...


or go the other way - find a full loo area, and when you empty the tank (with a resounding woosh splosh plop plop plop) exclaim "ahhhhhh that feels better" and then internally giggle at the residents of the next door cubicles shocked reaction....

its poo - we all have to deal with it - its ikky - it isnt fun. Be grown up about it! :)
 
Raraman said:
I have a porta potti in my T5 camper. So far I've only it for wee wees and called at a public poilets for other requirements. Do other people do the same or do they use their porta pottis for ALL needs. Surely the pump action flush wouldn't be sufficient!
Click to expand...


You are quite right. End up with any serious skid marks or a sideways log jamb and the flush just won't do the job (just as it won't in the WC back home) so you have a couple of choices. Get the men of the house to do some target practice on the skid marks with their "wee wees" before it dries hard or you can take a standard toilet brush and deploy it in exactly the same way as you do home.

Log jambs are a little more problematic though and I'll leave it to others to describe the procedure without upsetting the more delicate among us. Prevention is better than cure though and with a little bit of practice and by paying close attention to what is going on in your nether regions, it is possible to open the valve at just the right moment so one's "poo poos" drop straight through without even touching the sides. No skid marks and no log jambs. Win-win all round.

Hope this helps
 
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Tony Lee said:
You are quite right. End up with any serious skid marks or a sideways log jamb and the flush just won't do the job (just as it won't in the WC back home) so you have a couple of choices. Get the men of the house to do some target practice on the skid marks with their "wee wees" before it dries hard or you can take a standard toilet brush and deploy it in exactly the same way as you do home.

Log jambs are a little more problematic though and I'll leave it to others to describe the procedure without upsetting the more delicate among us. Prevention is better than cure though and with a little bit of practice and by paying close attention to what is going on in your nether regions, it is possible to open the valve at just the right moment so one's "poo poos" drop straight through without even touching the sides. No skid marks and no log jambs. Win-win all round.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

There should be disposal facilities on site. If facilities are provided for campers/caravanners it will be a requirement. Some Toilet Hire companies do not like chemical toilets being emptied into them.

If you empty regularly you do not need chemical for a weekend, so it would be no different than using the on-site loo, but probably a much more pleasant experience..

Skid marks can be avoided by placing some toilet paper over the bowl surface before use. The flush helps to wrap it up as it goes into the tank. The judged flap opening method is also recommended.

Personally I use my bowl as a bidet and that help to keep it clean. Yes, it fills up sooner but it is easy enough to empty.

The cheap Bio Washing liquid (I use Tesco @ £0.92 for month supply full timing) is also an alternative to chemical additives, I use it and it certainly keeps smells down. It is safe to dispose of these in septic tanks.

John
 
Hi Pegsyno1

I am sure your wife will have no problems with a Thetford. You may have to open all vents and take it in turns to go for a short walk in the morning:) but a little loo roll strategicaly placed (just a single layer)in the pan helps with skid marks and log blocks.
We try to maintain a fluids only policy as the time between empties is longer and less unpleasant.
I agree with all above about blue chems and a septic tank.
Be warned you never see a women empty one so it will be your job. Wait for the flak I get for that but its true.:D
 
My wife emptied our thetford cassette - and shes in a wheelchair.... equality has its benefits... (99.999% of the contents were hers though, to be fair ;) )

We now have a piped version, so just park over the manhole and dump.
 
Raraman said:
Do other people do the same or do they use their porta pottis for ALL needs. Surely the pump action flush wouldn't be sufficient!
Click to expand...

This comes back to the old argument about valve flap open or closed.

Emptying? Best thing is a Public Loo. Thee most fun I've had is to get into a trap and wait until a couple of other doors close. Then empty the contents together with plenty of groans ie "Oh my God, merciful Heavens, what a relief etc" :)

Regarding the comments about "Blue" chemicals: I have been using a "blue" sachet that one just throws the whole sachet into the holding tank together with some water. It seems to be effective and it is labelled as being OK for Septic Tanks. I can't remember what it's called but I'll add the name later
I have also started adding a shot of what is termed Holding Tank chemical to the waste tank and that seems to help with any unwanted odours

The thing that a lot of people don't seem to have much luck with is the "Pink" holding tank additive. Everyone I know complains that it produces some sort of black bits in the holding tank

All the on-board Loos that I have ever had trouble with have mainly come from paper being put down them.
I have now gone over to the Greek system of Loos and have a small bin for waste paper etc. Just put a poly bag in the bin and dispose of it daily - no worries
The Loo is conspicuously labelled "Nothing down here that you haven't ate"

With a Porta Potti, I would build a small frame around it to stop it moving around, especially in the event of an accident
 
guyd said:
My wife emptied our thetford cassette - and shes in a wheelchair.... equality has its benefits... (99.999% of the contents were hers though, to be fair ;) )

We now have a piped version, so just park over the manhole and dump.
Click to expand...

Well done Mrs Guyd but to be even more fair she did not lug a full cassette a couple of hundred yards to have to "man" handle it to empty it and flush it out did she:)
If she did then she is a shineing example to be held up to the rest of our wives.
 
Not 200 yards - no - but 30 - on her lap..... and not a word of complaint. I just told her to wash her hands and get me another beer from the fridge.











Im joking about the beer.... ;)
 
Raraman said:
I have a porta potti in my T5 camper. So far I've only it for wee wees and called at a public poilets for other requirements. Do other people do the same or do they use their porta pottis for ALL needs. Surely the pump action flush wouldn't be sufficient!
Click to expand...

I do exactly the opposite. Number one goes in a pee bottle. You can get female versions too, but I just use 1 litre plastic drinks bottles with a large opening. They are tightly sealable and hygenic. Only number twos go in the the toilet. This means that you can extend the toilet emptying times as most of what normally goes down a toilet is number 1 in terms of volume. The pee bottles need emptying every one or two days, but this is simple to do. The pump flush is sufficient, and always wipe the toilet bowl with paper after use and spray air freshener around. Keep the tank valve open the minimum time and spray air freshener as you open it.

Edit: I do use normal toilet paper, not the super rip off special Thetford toilet paper. This means it does occasionally clog when emptying, but it's nothing a bit of extra hose down water and slooshing around won't solve.
 
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delicate newbie

hi all, as a newbie to MHing, in fact we havent bought the van yet; soon though ; the wife is getting uneasy about the toilet arrangements. she cancelled a greek package holiday last year when she learned of the toilet paper in a bin lark. two things i would like to ask; 1. whats this valve thing for and why, 2. is there a different loo i can fit that will flush the paper like the loo at home.
 
The valve is a small button that lets air in when you empty the tank. You will clearly see it on the oppsite end to the spout.
The thetfords have a flush and the loo paper will go with rest of waste but try not to use silly amounts as it can make emptying and flushing a little more difficult or unpleasant.
 
Yes just stick the loo paper in with the rest. I use normal amounts of normal paper but so long as you flush out with water while emptying it is fine.

There is one slide valve to let the waste into the tank, and another air pressure relief valve as Tbear says to prevent a vaccum building up while emptying. The tank waste valve has a rubber seal to stop any smells coming back up when you close it.

The worst part is emptying. Otherwise you can use it pretty much like a normal toilet.
 
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