Porta Loo or not??

trevskoda said:
Funny thing today im fitting out the loo in my van and switch on here to read the same.
Anyway im fitting the long type with electric flush but there is a we swing out bottle above the casette whats it for,in fact im not sure how the whole contraption works & how does a man jobey get down that we hole as it dont look long or big enuff.:scared:
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Trevor,

you could never fill an Elsan Bristol in one sitting, the bucket holds 20 litres!

Bristol Toilet - Elsan
 
No no your from France, there are just 2 footprints and a hole in the ground.

But how do you stop the sea water coming back up the hole of the squat toilet?
 
richardstubbs said:
Admittedly it's a bit weird sitting on a plastic box in a van the first time you do it, but once you've been away with a porta-potti in the van you'll realise how useful it is. My wife hated the idea of it, but once she actually needed to use it she was converted, and now wouldn't be without.

A few things from our experience:
  1. The thetford ones are loads better than the others. They're made of a different, more rigid plastic which is easier to clean, have a level gauge, an emptying spout and flush better. Otherwise just buy the cheapest one - all the cheap ones are pretty similar.
  2. The blue chemical stuff stinks; I can't bear it. We used to use the green stuff, but now use Asda smartprice bio washing liquid, which seems to work just as well and leaves the holding tank lovely and clean
  3. No need for any of the pink stuff in the flush tank really. We stopped using it a few years ago with no apparent difference
  4. On the face of it a bigger one seems to be a good idea, and they're certainly a bit more comfy. But you'll want to empty it pretty regularly, so if cupboard space is at a premium, get a little one

Thetford type:
THETFORD PORTA POTTI QUBE 365 TOILET WITH FREE AQUA KEM AND AQUA RINSE 92817 | eBay - there are small ones too which are a bit cheaper.
Cheap one:
NEW PALM SPRINGS 10 LITRE PORTABLE TOILET FOR CAMPING | eBay - if you look around you can get these for about £25.

Don't be tempted by the 'bucket' type, e.g. Kampa Khazi - you'll have to empty it before moving or it runs the risk of spilling. The porta potti type is sealed so is fine to drive with. Oh, and don't buy the special toilet paper, it's useless. Lidl cheapest stuff is ideal, because it breaks up with the swishing around...
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Thank you

Yes - I think I have made my mind up with the THETFORD PORTA POTTI QUBE 365 seems to be a popular make and model.
 
when the door opens

:idea-007:
Get curtains With weights or clips on bottom, so they dont lift.
Wife chat away outside to passing stranger at Swanage.:heart:
 
band driver said:
:idea-007:
Get curtains With weights or clips on bottom, so they dont lift.
Wife chat away outside to passing stranger at Swanage.:heart:
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Well I know she wont use it in the van so using a loo tent is next best thing to a van with open curtains!
 
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Practice makes....

Our van has a thetford loo built in, quite cosy as it is a medium wheelbase panel van but, non the less perfectly useable. We were sailors previously and had no problem using the loo on the boat, presumably because you really are usually on your own. When we started using the van there was a slight reluctance to using the loo for serious stuff, so to speak. Ok off to public loo and using a cafe in France when it suddenly occurred to us that our loo is perfectly hygienic, we know who has used it and no one rattles the door in mid session. On balance far more sensible than using other means, the only concession is the occasional use of the "modesty radio" in the background.

Emptying is never a problem and if you use the toilet blue or the bio washing liquid then the whole thing is quite civilised.

And you have a handy selection of books on hand.......
 
First time we came used our self build van, many moons ago, we didn't have a porta loo. John didn't think we needed one - we had one on second trip!!!! Not having one is OK until it's a very cold wet night. You can't really put up a toilet tent when wilding.
 
dr dave said:
I agree that without a built in loo you will be restricted on where and when you 'go' Regarding the bucket and chuckit they are o/k if stationary but have to be secured when moving or the spillage could be dire, also the cassette ones are a tad more discrete and you can easily empty them in public toilets or supermarket toilets, if you secrete it in a large bag for life this is easy. Because carrying a bucket full of effluent into Tesco looks a bit brazen to me. Use the cheapest bio liquid you can get in the holding tank, also agree that the cheapest toilet paper you can buy is best plus you can keep a sprayer of cleaning fluid next to the loo for bowl cleaning purposes without using the flusher. Empty said loo at every opportunity better to keep emptying it than to ending up with it full to the brim. Oh and do learn to sit properly in alignment as the inlet hole is quite small if you don't collateral smearing will occur. ;)
Dave
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its only what they deserve :lol-053:
 
tidewatcher said:
Our van has a thetford loo built in, quite cosy as it is a medium wheelbase panel van but, non the less perfectly useable. We were sailors previously and had no problem using the loo on the boat, presumably because you really are usually on your own. When we started using the van there was a slight reluctance to using the loo for serious stuff, so to speak. Ok off to public loo and using a cafe in France when it suddenly occurred to us that our loo is perfectly hygienic, we know who has used it and no one rattles the door in mid session. On balance far more sensible than using other means, the only concession is the occasional use of the "modesty radio" in the background.

Emptying is never a problem and if you use the toilet blue or the bio washing liquid then the whole thing is quite civilised.

And you have a handy selection of books on hand.......
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Do you mean PLAYBOY.:scared:
 
Grimola said:
Thanks everyone for fast replies - you confirmed what I was thinking but its good to get opinions of experienced wild campers as we haven't been out in a camper as yet.

So any recommendations - is it worth paying £100 when a £50 does the same job, I am only aware of the cassette type. I guess the other type is a glorified bucket with a seat and lid? I would be good to have the option of leaving for a few days between emptying just in case we cant find anywhere. No smells/leaks in a confined space is a top priority.
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Which one is a personal choice I have the Porta Potti Excellence because I cannot get on and off the low ones the Excellence is as high as a normal toilet I made a padded cover so in my van it just looks like a seat.
 
trevskoda said:
Funny thing today im fitting out the loo in my van and switch on here to read the same.
Anyway im fitting the long type with electric flush but there is a we swing out bottle above the casette whats it for,in fact im not sure how the whole contraption works & how does a man jobey get down that we hole as it dont look long or big enuff.:scared:
Click to expand...

The swing out bottle is for the flushing water.

When we first went away in our very first cheap little old caravan, my parents lent me the Porta Potti from their campervan but we didn't use it. We were on a campsite with the toilet block about 400 yards away but we managed. We were a lot younger then.

Nowadays I wouldn't be able to cope with a 400 yard walk. :D
 
That's because it's £24.89 the £13.99 is a toilet seat, still cheap though.

My second Elsan Bristol came from a car boot sale £2, you can never have too many toilets.
 
I had one of those Elsan Bristol loos at one time, in a fetching shade of pink. Got it from a car boot, sold it again at another car boot. I didn't realise they still made them. I made the mistake of leaving it all week till it was full. They hold such a lot I could barely carry it to the CD point at the end of the week.

Now I have a little Thetford Porta Potti 335 which fits in a cupboard.
 
Caz said:
I had one of those Elsan Bristol loos at one time, in a fetching shade of pink. Got it from a car boot, sold it again at another car boot. I didn't realise they still made them. I made the mistake of leaving it all week till it was full. They hold such a lot I could barely carry it to the CD point at the end of the week.

Now I have a little Thetford Porta Potti 335 which fits in a cupboard.
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The first one is green my second one new came from a car boot sale and is pink, isn't it a small world.

They are just the right size for a dustbin liner..........well it stops people going through my rubbish
 
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Picking up on a fairly old thread, if there's a later one please can you link it?
I've just bought a Thetford 145, collecting it later in the week. It's mainly for times when there are no local facilities, and am looking at what to buy for consumable items.

From what I've read, there are 3 main items all of which seem expensive if you buy the brand name items so any alternative suggestions are welcome. I read somewhere that many campsites will only allow septic tank friendly / eco chemicals to be emptied?

Loo Roll - Lidl cheapest stuff is ideal
Waste Holding Tank - A couple of options Asda smartprice bio washing liquid (no longer available) or Brownhills of Newark. I'm not too far from Newark so it's a possibility.
Flush Tank - Brownhills again , any other options?

Thanks
 
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