Replace with Composting Toilet

[TravelingFamily]

Hi, I have a Class A 2000 Surfside RV. I was wondering if anyone has experience or suggestions on how to take the toilet out to replace with a simple composting one? I’d like to somehow connect the black water to the grey water tank to use as an overflow tank. I despise black water and would love how simple the composting toilet would be.

 

[Van-Tramp]

Have you considered that you will now have to hand-handle ALL human waste after installing a composting toilet? The entire family's pee will be hauled out by hand, and ever few weeks all the poo has to be packaged into a bin and STORED in your RV for up to 6-months (while it composts) before it can be used as compost. If you despise black water, you are only going to get closer too it by going to a composting toilet. If you know this already and still want to do it, I hope someone can help answer you actual question. Sorry I can not be more helpful.

 

[John61CT]

Silly ideas there.

"Composting" toilet is really just "separating / dessicating".

You dispose of the output responsibly as per your preferences, no need to keep any longer than necessary.

The solids usually 2-3 weeks for two people, but depends on diet of course.

The work fantastically, no chemicals and zero smells or "yuck" factor if installed & used properly.

Unless you were too harshly toilet trained as a toddler maybe.

 

[LoveCareThinkDo]

Thanks Van-Tramp and John61CT for posting my standard rant for me. I honestly believe that "composting" toilets are just a con that have been foisted on the "natural and organic" crowds for decades.

 

[deadwood]

I have a composting toilet. I like not having a black tank to dump. The toilet I have is from Separett. It works pretty well. The composting isn't designed to happen in the tank. So there is no mixing that has to happen. Basically it is just a high tech bucket system. I don't worry about pee because it doesn't divert into a bottle like some of the others. I have it diverting into my gray water. When the gray water gets emptied, problem solved. For the solids part I just open the top of the toilet and pull the bag out and throw it in a dumpster. No worse then all the diapers that end up in there.

For me it is worth it to never have to go find a dump station to empty my tank. Plus you can throw anything into it so it never gets clogged.

 

[highdesertranger]

so you say you never have to look for a dump station, where do you dump your grey water?

to the OP it's going to be a little hard to convert your existing blank tank into a grey tank. first off when you remove the toilet you are going to have a big hole in the floor and a big hole on top of the black tank. plus nothing is plumbed to that tank, except some RV's all the water from the bathroom is plumbed to the black tank. but you still have to deal with the big ole hole from removing the toilet. highdesertranger

 

[LoveCareThinkDo]

but you still have to deal with the big ole hole from removing the toilet.  highdesertranger

When I removed the toilet in an old RV I used to own, I found a standard pipe cap (3" or 4" depending) worked perfectly. There will be a ring that the toilet bolts onto. That ring unscrews from the pipe which comes up from the black tank. The pipe cap then screws right into that threaded pipe. Naturally, your mileage may vary. The ring may be hard to unscrew due to hardened plumber's putty, but I doubt the manufacturers would literally glue them in place. 

With that said. I still don't think "composting" toilets are worth it.

 

[John61CT]

Thanks Van-Tramp and John61CT for posting my standard rant for me. I honestly believe that "composting" toilets are just a con that have been foisted on the "natural and organic" crowds for decades.

I am a huge fan of them.

The fact that they don't fully compost is not at all negative for me, I never had any expectation that they would.

 

[John61CT]

I don't worry about pee because it doesn't divert into a bottle like some of the others. I have it diverting into my gray water.

That is now black water, not grey.

 

[rm.w/aview]

 I was wondering if anyone has experience or suggestions on how to take the toilet out to replace with a simple composting one? I’d like to somehow connect the black water to the grey water tank to use as an overflow tank. I despise black water and would love how simple the composting toilet would be.

I can only assume that you haven't searched on youtube or at a manufacturer's website (Nature's Head). Your viewpoint of simplifying is relatable yet clashes with the idea of creating such a project with the associated purchases and installation of all the components to join the tanks et cetera (have you the tools? mechanically inclined?) to create something that you hope to be simpler than opening a valve and then closing it a few minutes later. For true simplicity simply bag the toilet. Coming to "despise black water" is understandable, but it's not going into your blender. Personal preferences are understandable as well, but after pooping in a bag as well as using a cassette toilet the use of blank tank technology is the most agreeable, and simple.

 

[bullfrog]

Correct me if I'm wrong but my old motorhome only has a large black tank with one knife valve you open to dump. Newer ones have 2 knife valves one for the black tank and one for the gray tank so that after dumping the black tank you can flush the hose with the gray tank. Couldn't you by just add a knife valve at the outlet where the hose connects and leaving the grey tank valve and the black tank valve open (or possibly only the grey tank valve if the black tank valve is down stream from the grey valve) connect the tanks or do they have seperate hose connections? I can see extending your stay boondocking by using a separating toilet as some claim they can go several weeks without service. We usually have to dump much more often than that. My understanding is that peeing on the ground more than 200 feet from a water source and out of site is acceptable in most areas. So rather than creating black water I would take a long walk and pee outside. Other than extending your boondocking time I don't see any advantages to doing it this way, but like I said correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[John61CT]

Besides longer between-dealing times, other advantages:

No need for dump stations, e.g. extended stays in wilderness areas, other countries, simply place in the normal solid waste (i.e. household / business rubbish) disposal stream

Output no more disgusting than used coffee grounds

No water used flushing

No toxic chemicals, formaldehyde gross!

This site has good details, including videos

https://www.google.com/search?q=toilet+site:www.gonewiththewynns.com

 

[bullfrog]

They make a test plug I believe sold in the big box stores that would work although I don't know how long they would last and a box would not only cover the hole but give you a platform to mount the new toliet on.

 

[JoeW]

I found a website today that shows how to install a composting toilet in an RV, how to combine the grey and black tanks, and other great tips.  It is 'Gone with the Wynns' at https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/all-composting-toilet

 

[TravelingFamily]

Thank you so much! These are some great links and advice. I’m already sold on composting for the reasons listed above. I really want to conserve water and having to look for places to dump. I want to be able to boondock as much as possible and be as cost efficient as possible. I despise paying to dump my tanks and sometimes there just aren’t free options. Plus the smell is waaaaay less. I’m excited to see if I can get help making this job a possibility!

 

[highdesertranger]

so where do you plan on dumping your "compost waste" because it's not really compost. also government agencies don't recognize composting toilets as being self contained if that ever comes up. I am just saying it's not as simple as everyone is making it out to be. highdesertranger

 

[John61CT]

1. in the trash, using common sense so as not to cause problems

If planning on camping in areas where self-sufficiency is enforced that way

2. install a functional blackwater holding tank system, just do not use it as such, perhaps use tank capacity for extra grey or drinking.

Insert the "composting" (really separation / desiccating system) into what **could** be used as a blackwater tank toilet.

You are in fact packing all your waste back out of their jurisdiction. People could be dumping their blackwater / portapottie out in wilderness areas, chemicals in fact far worse for the environment.

 

[RoamerRV428]

this sounds more ALL about needing tanks to hold grey water, shower water, etc. than it is about black tanks.
water conservation is key. navy shower. everyone gets freshy smelling clean on so little water. your tank lasts a long time vs. compost toilet and its disposal is worse if ya ask me vs. a black tank dump.
sounds like you want bigger tanks on that camper.
way to do it all is water conservation on your tank set up. A true water conservation plan in place is how your tanks go a heck of a lot longer than over the top usage. Even with a lot of people using those tanks. If you put your effort into conservation from washing a dish to brushing teeth to navy shower and more you can easily extend you tank usage for a lot longer, I know for a fact cause we 'played with out tanks' and learned how long we can adjust/change/manipulate our dump times. Saving a buck on dumping might not happen all the time, but for us the whole 'tank system' is worth $10 to dump All controlled in a neat package and this is what we love, you of course could easily go another way and I get that. Any campground will let ya dump if you ask nice, might pay a small fee etc. so dump stations are everywhere if you look and find and know. just suggestions etc...not set in stone, you roll how ya need to roll

 

[WalkaboutTed]

I had a Nature's Head in my hones for seven years. Yes, you have to dispose if the pee, but the bottles are large. A little brown sugar keeps the urine odor down.

I agree with Roamer. Conserving water is the best way to keep the dumping to a minimum. I can go well over a month on all my tanks if it's just me. Hubby and I together can get about 25 days between dumping with conservation and separate drinking water. Before I got the trailer, I was really grossed out at the idea of dumping the blackwater tank. Even though I'm a germ freak (RN), I've develped a routine that isn't too difficult.

But the original poster says he despises the blackwater. And, not everyone has the opportunity to find a dump station at their convenience. A composting toilet is a great alternative. There are knife valves that can attach to both the grey and blackwater pipes. You put that on and keep open the old valves and voilà! Your grey water tank has been doubled. You must let your conscience be your guide as far as dumping your grey water. Keep in mind that your formerly used blackwater tank will always have been contaminated with fecal material. You will have to seriously sanitize it and unless you test for fecal coliform and other nasties, you will not know if you are still spewing shitty water when you empty your tanks.
Ted

 

[John61CT]

But the original poster says he despises the blackwater. And, not everyone has the opportunity to find a dump station at their convenience. A composting toilet is a great alternative.

Especially abroad, but also in urban and true wilderness areas.



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