Bathroom/shower

[bullrider700]

I just recently bought an old 20ft pull behind the bumper enclosed trailer. &nbsp;It already has power hook ups, a/c heater and shelves and&nbsp;cabinets. &nbsp;My question is what is my cheapest route to have hot pressurized water to take a shower with in a little shower tent outside. &nbsp;I have been looking at getting the cheapest zodi hot water heater and using a big water tank. &nbsp;Would this be the best/cheapest route for hot water and pressure?<br /><br />Now for the toilet system I may want to install I have no Idea what Ill use. Any&nbsp;recommendations will help! &nbsp;<br /><br />I have a tv, microwave, blow up mattress and a couple cots and will have a stereo in it, and will probably put some type of propane camp stove in it. &nbsp;are there any other recommendations that anyone has for anything else that would be neat to have.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><br />Thanks!!!

 

[Lostinspace]

Porti-potty works for me. It's the quickest. Some of the folks use a bucket.

Wade in NW Florida

 

[josephusminimus]

Evidently you don't plan to be running on 12 volt so your options depend on how elaborate you're willing to get and how much money you want to spend.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="/?forum=183325" rel="nofollow">https://vanlivingforum.com/?forum=183325</a>&nbsp;has a lot of threads on the showers and toilet issues.<br /><br />Happy trails.

 

[bk2valve]

If you just go with what you have and start using it...preferably living in it, at least for a while, you will find out what you need. It WILL change as you use it no matter what you do to it while thinking about it.<br /><br />If there is anything that I believe folks who live in their vehicles would agree on, it is that it will change as you find out what is real for you and what isn't. No way to figure it out ahead of time that I know of......<br /><br />My various rigs change every time I live in them for a while...esp. after a gathering like the Rubbertramp Rondy where you see the great and varied ways that people deal with their roam homes....amazing stuff...<br /><br />Have fun...<br />bri

 

[ontheroadagain]

ya, I would suggest doing it too. The toilet issue is big for me.<br />I went out for a weekend and tried the 5gal bucket with a toilet seat made for this and kitty litter. I did 1's in a separate bottle for dumping later. and only #2's in the bucket with kitty litter covering after each use. The odor and thought of what is below me when on the bucket just didn't sit right. I'm going to try a porta potty that has a flush type valve that opens and drops the waste into the bottom compartment. then spray the inside of the bowl area with something to rinse and sanitize a little bit.<br /><br />I may have to do my business in McDonalds and such and have the bucket for emergency only if the porta potty isn't practical. I foresee dumping the potty a challenge also.

 

[bk2valve]

Interesting OTRA....I don't much like using the bucket loo either but like hauling around my poop in a chemical soup inside the vehicle even less....<br /><br />I prefer a good visit to a private place in the woods or desert but when camped in a place like Quartzsite, that just isn't workable....so I keep a bucket for when necessary.&nbsp; <br /><br />If I was living in a rig fulltime, I think a good toidy solution would be on the top of my list.....<br /><br />What I really like the best and it might be difficult to find here in the US is what many European RVs like the Hymer's have. A cassette style toilet with a outside hatch to open and pull out the lower holding tank and carry off to dump..... they are similar to a porti potti but full size toilet and a easily removable slide-out bottom portion....That way the holding tank is not inside the rig and is not under the rig where it is difficult to access and you have to move the vehicle to a dump station.<br /><br />I have been camped with a group of European Hymer campers in Mexico and it is kinda funny as they all line up at the campground loo with their little "suitcases" to dump into the toilets.....I love the idea though...it is the best of all worlds...<br />Bri

 

[bk2valve]

Here is a youtube of a Thetford cassette toilet...larger than I have seen but very cool none-the-less.....:<br /><br /><br /><br />bri

 

[ontheroadagain]

This video shows one in action being removed and dumped<br /><a href="" rel="nofollow"><br /></a>

 

[Les H]

i have a 2 gallon Coleman porta potti.in my bus, and i use it with straight water, no chemicals. It will last me a week bif im carefull by myself, a long weekend if my wife is with me. cost about $60 @walmart. I havnt figgured out exactly what i want for a shower. I have considdered a 15 or 20 gal spot sprayer like they sell for atv's at tractor supply and an ecotemp L-5 instant water heater, combined cost about $270. I have an on demand water pump and 12 gal fresh tank from an old rv that i stripped, so only really need a water heater, but trying to streamline the process. There are several water heatefs available, from a $100 ZODI to all in one units that are tank and heater and shower attachment for several hundred. A true 6 gal gas/electric rv water heater can be had for around 200, used, or 6-700 new. For now, ihave a $9 solar shower from walmart, and a pile of 3" pvc pipe and fittings left over from plumbing jobs that id love to turn into a rooftop solar shower. Lottsa options, especially if you are willing to tinker some. Someone even posted pics of a water heater made of a tank and a 40 watt lightbulb. Thed are even heat exchangers that will use heat from your radiagor or exhaust systems.

 

[Guest]

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sanitation-Eq...34&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=passport+potty+18l" rel="nofollow">Passport-Potty-18 Liter</a><br /><span style="color: #0000ff;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sanitation-Eq...34&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=passport+potty+18l" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://www.amazon.com/Sanitation-Eq...34&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=passport+potty+18l</span></a></span><br /><br />Decent height, doesn't leak, very sturdy. <br />Either use as flush type and remove "cassette" to empty (nice to have that neck which prevents splashback)<br />Or - line with compost/biodegradable bags for #2's.<br /><br />"hauling around my poop in a chemical soup inside the vehicle" = <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img" /><img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img" /><img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img" /> Ya, no. I'm with you on that.

 

[coultergeist]

I use a coleman camping potty.&nbsp; It was about $50 at walmart.&nbsp; It works well, is easy to dump and clean-up, and stores in a small amount of space.&nbsp; I'm still finishing my build but my plan for a shower is as follows.&nbsp; I have a fresh water tank from a wrecked rv that is use for water supply.&nbsp; I will have an on-demand 12v water pump attached to it.&nbsp; It will feed the cold water faucet of the sink and the input to an instant hot water heater.&nbsp; Walmart has a pretty good one for just over a $100 that I will probably use.&nbsp; Instant hot water heater will feed the hot water faucet of the sink.&nbsp; Shower hose will attach to the sink faucet when I take a shower.&nbsp; Store under the sink when not needed.&nbsp; I have a 2 foot by 3 foot plastic pan that I use as a shower basin.&nbsp; When I am done it will get dumped outside the van or in the sink which empties into a grey water tank.&nbsp; The grey water tank will store under the sink.&nbsp; It is just a 40 quart rolling cooler with a pipe inserted through the top so that the sink can drain into it.&nbsp; It also has a 12v bilge pump installed in it too.&nbsp; It can be taken out and rolled to a grey water pit to dump at campgrounds or the bilge pump can be used to dump it while it is still in the vehicle.&nbsp; Eventually, I will wire a remote switch for the bilge pump so it can also be dumped while I am driving down the road.&nbsp; It will only be dish water and shower water so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[peacetara]

I have a port-a-pottie, the bucket method.....works, but not in a pleasant way.&nbsp; I use "green" chemicals I found at a West Marine, they are supposed to be Environment friendly, and are ok being dumped anywhere (or so it says on the package).&nbsp; Emptying it isn't a big deal, tho it does get a little heavy if you let it fill up ALL the way.&nbsp; I picked my port-a-potty up at West Marine, while they were having a sale.<br /><br />For Showers, I do the spray bottle and baby wipe thing, except when I visit towns, I either do the Truck stop (yay for diesel van, I can get free truck stop showers every 2nd fillup) or I can visit the local hostel, usually for under $5, and sometimes free, can use their shower.&nbsp; Or visit a friend, and use theirs! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; I like not having regular hot showers, it makes me appreciate them SO much more when I DO get them! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />With Love,<br />Tara

 

[Guest]

For those of you who have the luxury, the room, and the extra cash to be installing and maintaining a proper flush toilet or holding tanks & using expensive chemicals - please ignore this post and keep your comments to yourselves.

For the people here who have bigger issues to deal with, like where to park without being harassed, or how you're going to eat for one more day, or how to keep from freezing to death....
Here are some 'observations' from someone who grew up on farms and has worked and lived in 22 states:

There are entire states where raw sewerage rolls right down the open culvert/canal along the edge of the road...aka...past & under driveways; or where raw sewerage flows right into the canals, coulees, streams, rivers and storm drains as water levels rise after a decent rain. It's not illegal and they see nothing wrong with it.
People in those states are usually smart enough not to drink it or swim in it but they still fish dinner out of it.

Human poo is (in many states) allowed to be splatted all over food crops as 'organic' fertilizer. I know, I've hauled it!!!
Grazing animals (wild and domestic) crap out millions of tons of poop and dump millions of gallons of pee all over the ground, every hour of every day - where do you suppose that flows or gets dumped or washes away to when it rains? Right into the water supply.
Consider the overpopulation of cats, dogs and other domestic pets...plus all the wild critters who are peeing and pooping all over the place - most of them carrying some combination of diseases and parasites.

And let's not forget all the humans who gotta go when there's no indoor toilet nearby, or the line is too long to wait.

Not that I'm advocating crapping on the sidewalk in front of God and everyone, but a full blown flush toilet, chemical treatment$, holding tanks, etc. are great IF that's what you can Afford. Otherwise, do the best you can with what you've got to work with.

 

[offroad]

Enjoying the full discussion here. You might investigate how some green outhouses are doing the sanitation job. People buildbecause out houses to use on their own land for years. Technology must be good.&nbsp;

 

[Les H]

4x4, the chinese have been doing it for centuries. Its called "night soil". I just bought a shower/water pump/ water heater , a brand called "Base camp" Has a built in 12 v battery, digital flow and heat controls and uses a 1 lb cylinder. The whole thing is about 20 lbs and a little larger than 1' square cube. I havnt tried it yet, but will do a review when i do. Cost was $150, including tax.

 

[Bodhi]

<br />I have a homemade BucketPotti (made from an end table) and it works great.&nbsp; However, I really like the idea of having a clean out door outside the living area.&nbsp; Time for my brain to start churning out ideas.&nbsp; <br /><br />Where did I put the graph paper, pencil and ruler? <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/idea.gif" class="bbc_img" /><br /><br />Thanks for sharing all this!<br /><br />Peace, Love and Happy Toiletries!

 

[peck]

Showering and going to the bathroom have proven the most difficult problems for me to resolve in preparing to go off the grid. I won't be traveling, and the town I live in has a YMCA. Membership is $35 a month, including locker, which solves one of the issues (they are not open 24 hours/day). However, if I go back to work, I may have to move to a town that does not have a YMCA. What then?<br>Many communities/counties/regions profess to support the homeless. But I've never seen a city park rest room with a shower stall. Isn't there an obvious need for that?

 

[peacetara]

Some homeless shelters have showers, but there is a reason you see so much of the homeless population dirty, showers are few and far between.&nbsp; When I was homeless, I would use the local river to wash.&nbsp; Generally I would just wander in there clothes and all and splash around a while, and then go about my day.&nbsp; Worked pretty well. In the winter, I'd just be dirty.&nbsp; cause warmth was more important <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>With Love,<br>Tara