I watched Bob's video about pooping. Interesting as all his videos. I have a new pull behind camper but I hesitate to use the toilet because I don't want to have to clean the black water tank. Maybe I should go ahead and use it and learn how and get used to it but...Bob likes the bucket idea. I like his friend's porta potty idea. But there are a ton of them on Amazon. Can anybody recommend a good one? Share your pooping preference! :dodgy:
Porta Potty Pooping People Please
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highdesertranger
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I have the big Thetford. however I only use it where required. in other places I use the bucket method. IMO dumping a black tank is better then dumping a Porta-a-potti. highdesertranger
Moxadox
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I'm forever indebted to the RV repair folks at Freedom RV in Tucson, for turning me on to the black tank additive, "Tank Tech Rx." It's a biological solution to keeping your black tank from stinking. What it is, is a culture of crap-digesting bacteria that turns your black tank into a kind of liquid compost (but I don't think it's composted enough to garden with.) You put about an ounce of the stuff down there and it digests the waste. When you dump your tank, there is very little odor, no need to rinse your tank. It makes things much more pleasant. No chemicals, no artificial smell. The only down side is the cost: about $25 for a quart. But since you only need one oz per treatment, depending on the size of your tank and how often you dump it, a quart can last you several months.
The most important thing to make your dumping experience as pleasant as possible is to add sufficient water along with your deposits. I literally ruined the black tank on my first RV by being too stingy with water, wanting to stretch the time between dumps. Nowadays I often pee outside, saving black tank space, but I put half a gallon of water down with each poo. It totally helps, along with the Tank Tech Rx, to keep my tank healthy and working and, very important, not stinking.
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The most important thing to make your dumping experience as pleasant as possible is to add sufficient water along with your deposits. I literally ruined the black tank on my first RV by being too stingy with water, wanting to stretch the time between dumps. Nowadays I often pee outside, saving black tank space, but I put half a gallon of water down with each poo. It totally helps, along with the Tank Tech Rx, to keep my tank healthy and working and, very important, not stinking.
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I built a seperater type toilet using a C-head for inspiration. I don't have the crank, but I've been using it 2 1/2 years and I like it much better than the black tank toilet. You just have to make sure you dump the urine before it overflows. I built mine out of PVC lumber so I can wash it off with out putting up with wet wood. Sawdust and plastic bags work well for me.
nebyrd229
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Bucket B**ch here, sorry I can’t be of much help. I had a composting toilet, a Coleman camping toilet (which I found to simply be a larger, more sturdy version of the potty trainer I housebroke my kids on LOL), I use public restrooms when available, and showerhouse restrooms if I’m in a pay-park but even then I still prefer my bucket. It’s quick, super hygienic (I change out my bags after each deposit) and I don’t have to wash anything or touch any germy things. To me it’s an no-brainer.
vanman2300
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Gone with the Wynns on YouTube took their toilet out and replaced it with a composting toilet. The brand is nature's head and it is a bit pricey but good. The Wynns made a video on their system explaining everything.
The other advantage is that type of system uses zero water. So you can also put a connecting valve on combining your black and gray tanks together. Less water use plus doubling capacity equals longer time between dumps.
The other advantage is that type of system uses zero water. So you can also put a connecting valve on combining your black and gray tanks together. Less water use plus doubling capacity equals longer time between dumps.
I have a camping potty....but to avoid cleaning it, I have a smaller lidded container that nests in its bowl and is hidden when the lid is down. In that container I have a zip lock baggie for urine, which gets disposed of in the campground or truckstop restroom. For poo, I can remove the small container and spread a large trash bag around the potty seat and use kitty litter, then just close and dispose. So basically the camping potty is for looks and comfortable seating.
Sounds like a very good scheme. As a matter of fact, just this afternoon I took receipt of a 10L porta-potti from ebay, the smallest one of 10L, 15L, 20L, for similar manner of use (except a pee bottle employed here). In some of the LTVAs (long term visitor areas) administered by the BLM, they will not even allow a van in there unless it has a porta-potty. 2 places I have read about are Midland and Hot Spring LTVAs .... "camping without self-containment is not allowed". RV Sue has stayed in Midland for long periods of time. She also has a lot of good general info on her site.GypsyJan said:
http://rvsueandcrew.net/midland-ltva-blythe-ca/
https://www.blm.gov/visit/midland-ltva
bonvanroulez
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QinReno said:
Even a porta-potty does not qualify as self-contained for the LTVAs. You must have permanent black and gray water holding tanks, like an RV or travel trailer.
With a van and porta-potty the only LTVA you can stay at is La Posa south of Quartzsite, and at Imperial Dam, north of Yuma, and only if you camp within 500 feet of a toilet.
highdesertranger
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you can stay at the LTVA's without a holding tank if you are within a certain distance of a pit toilet. I know Coon Hollow off of Wiley Well road it's ok. highdesertranger
Black tanks are not that big a problem for us. Our older motorhome has a combined black and gray tank. We use a seperate gallon freezer bag in an air tight container for paper so only what comes out of our bodies goes in the tank along with shower and sink water. When we dump we run some clean water after and dump again to make sure every thing is clear. On travel days if we have a bag of crushed ice around we dump it down the toilet to help clean the tank as we drive, then dump at our next stop by a national park as we have a senior pass and have never had to pay to dump as we usually boon dock outside the park. I think the single tank system actually works better than the two tank system as more water makes for a cleaner tank in my opinon.
Learning things at an exponential rate around here, 
. Bob Wells seems to be able to live for months on BLM land around the Quartzsite area, and with just the bucket method. From what it sounds, they seem to be more particular if you are in the organized LTVAs than in the open.
There is another thread where someone was amazingly wanting to come up with a method for storing their poo bags for a "couple" of weeks in their vehicle when in the boonies on BLM land. Now that I have a porta potti, I am thinking possibly a good scheme is to use the potti as GypsyJan mentioned, and then store the poo bags "dry" in the bottom of the potti. I don't know about a couple of weeks, but a few days seems doable. If the thing can contain raw black waste without excessive smells, then it seems that black waste in a plastic bag with kitty litter mightn't be so bad. Just thinking.
. Bob Wells seems to be able to live for months on BLM land around the Quartzsite area, and with just the bucket method. From what it sounds, they seem to be more particular if you are in the organized LTVAs than in the open.There is another thread where someone was amazingly wanting to come up with a method for storing their poo bags for a "couple" of weeks in their vehicle when in the boonies on BLM land. Now that I have a porta potti, I am thinking possibly a good scheme is to use the potti as GypsyJan mentioned, and then store the poo bags "dry" in the bottom of the potti. I don't know about a couple of weeks, but a few days seems doable. If the thing can contain raw black waste without excessive smells, then it seems that black waste in a plastic bag with kitty litter mightn't be so bad. Just thinking.
Well, it seems there is no best way to do it. Maybe I'll just follow Bob around and watch him! I have a 2016 R-pod. It's nice. Too nice for me to bring myself to poop in it. It has 3 tanks. The grey and black outlets are combined so after dumping the black, you dump the grey..and then there is an inlet where you can put water in the black for a final flush. At least that's the theory as I understand it. But I still can't bring my self to let that first poop go! I'm a retired Marine captain, and I'm officially heading out into the wild blue yonder next month. I will probably use Bob's bucket method, since it's just me for now, but it's good I have a back up method for things like LTVA. I have found some cool public bathrooms in my sojourn. And the woods. Don't forget the woods. I am from North Carolina. Living in South Carolina. I was stationed in Yuma in the Marines. All I remember is it was so hot it felt like I was in a microwave oven. But after watching Bob's videos, I'm beginning to consider a visit to BLM and NF land, maybe after Christmas as I hear that is the best time. And I want to check out cheap dental in Mexico. My best friend in the Marines was Mexican, maybe I'll pick him up in south Texas on my way out and then I'll have an interpreter. Peace in Jesus fellow pilgrims. All those who wander are not lost. Unfortunately many of them are.
highdesertranger
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if anybody is worried about smell use a separate bucket with a Gamma Seal lid for storage.
QinReno I don't understand. how are you going to store dry bags in the bottom of a Porta-a-pottie? then how are you going to get them out. highdesertranger
QinReno I don't understand. how are you going to store dry bags in the bottom of a Porta-a-pottie? then how are you going to get them out. highdesertranger
vanman2300
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X2 I have mine set up with a plastic bag and a layer of coconut fiber much like the composting toilet. Every time I use it I cover up the evidence with another layer of fiber. The gamma lid keeps what little odor there is left completely hidden. I can go weeks without having to dispose of the bag.highdesertranger said:
