toilet talk - cassette vs. holding tank vs. composting vs. anything else
OKA said
08:07 PM Apr 19, 2022
Hi and I'm keen to learn about toilets.
I've 2 slide-on campers in the sights.
Only one will be bought...
One has a holding tank and flushing toilet, the other a cassette type.
Should these differing types sway me either way?
I've never used either.
What works and what doesn't?
I'm intending lots of remote travel and corrugations.
What breaks or leaks?
How relatively easy are they to empty at dump sites?
The third category I've yet to research are composting toilets.
Anyone?
Thanks in advance for educating me.
Dave
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:16 PM Apr 19, 2022
The first thing to understand is that the more remote the travel, the less dump points you will see. Our travel habits mean that less than 10% of our toilet waste will go into a dump point.
A casette toilet, used normally, will generally last 2 people for 3 or 4 days before it needs emptying. If you cant find a dump point, you will need to dig a hole somewhere that won't be "discovered" by someone else accidentally. That needs a decent shovel and 10 minutes and the 20L casette can be carried to the hole and emptied.
Usage is "normal", with faeces and urine flushed with water into the same tank.
A holding tank could be 20L or it could be 100L. Either way, it is a fixture under the vehicle. Physically emptying it requires the vehicle to be close to the dump point. That is easy if there is a dump point available. Carrying the contents any distance is problematic. Emptying frequency is obviously dependent on its capacity. Great solution for a large vehicle with a large capacity tank that spends its time mainly in tourist presincts with dump points available.'
Again, usage is "normal", with faeces and urine flushed with water into the same tank.
Composting toilets are characterised by the requirement to separate urine and faeces and no flushing water is used. This happens while it is used by the design of the bowl. Urine goes into a seperate container of a few litres (needing emptying every couple of days) or a larger tank under the floor with longer emptying frequency. The faeces drop into a tank which includes a composting agent where it is mixed manually each time it is used with an external lever and kept slightly damp to compost. A tiny fan runs consistently to keep smells outside and to keep the moisture level under control. The composting mass is emptied into a compostible plastic bag every 3-4 weeks. It can be disposed of into a normal rubbish bin or burried in the bush.
Each option has its own advantages. We have used a traditional cassette successfully in the bush for many years. Our new build vehicle will have a composting toilet.
Cheers,
Peter
BAZZA44 said
08:40 AM Apr 20, 2022
Our first van with a toilet was had a holding tank and as Peter said you have to find somewhere with a dump point to empty it. This entails connecting a sewage hose to the tank fitting and to the dump point to empty. Very restrictive, even in van parks because you have to park next to the dump point.
The van we have now has a cassette and can be emptied almost anywhere, can carry to a dump point or dig a hole like Peter. Easy.
I am not sold on composting toilets.
Barry
woolman said
10:26 AM Apr 20, 2022
Having used bothholding tank and cassette, cassette wins hands down, especially when you have a second cassette. Mainly is that I am not required to take motor home to dump point. I do lat tow a car behind motorhome. The other issue I found was a lot of dump points are above road hieght it it is really hard to push s#$#$t up hill from a onboard tank. . A tank and tote tank is another option, maybe in some minds
It is horses for courses. Reaally think about how you i tend to be camping.
Neil
86GTS said
11:21 AM Apr 20, 2022
I'm a cassette man myself. We don't stay in CP's very often but when we do I like walking thru a busy caravan park carrying our full cassette to the dump point to empty it. I've noticed that other campers veer out of the way pretending that they haven't seen you. A bit like when Jesus parted the waters of the Red Sea. No-one speaks to you even on the way back. It doesn't bite, its only s**t.
KevinJ said
12:20 PM Apr 20, 2022
86GTS wrote:
I'm a cassette man myself. We don't stay in CP's very often but when we do I like walking thru a busy caravan park carrying our full cassette to the dump point to empty it. I've noticed that other campers veer out of the way pretending that they haven't seen you. A bit like when Jesus parted the waters of the Red Sea. No-one speaks to you even on the way back. It doesn't bite, its only s**t.
You should carry it on your shoulder. That would get some comment.
OKA said
12:35 PM Apr 20, 2022
Thanks everyone for their collective wisdom and wit!
Looks like the votes are in and cassette's get the cigar.
Dave
On The Move said
01:25 PM Apr 20, 2022
We carry a porta poti 365 as well as our cassette
Using the cassette for night time and porta poti for No2
When free camping gives us approx 7days in the bush before finding a dump point
Ray
Bulldozer said
02:03 PM Apr 20, 2022
Wow you guys do it Tuff! in the bush, I think I'll just stick to caravan parks, my wife likes 5 stars, well sometimes 4 stars. I get the job of cooking and emptying the dunny, maintaining the car and van. the wife gets the job of sleeping in.
Onedodger said
03:23 PM Apr 20, 2022
Another vote for the Cassette plus we have a second one for those times we cannot dig a hole or the dump point is not handy.
Aus-Kiwi said
08:22 PM Apr 20, 2022
We have black storage tank . I have an old sealed paint bucket with small hole in top to empty if theres no access to dump point ? . It has a good pump on it . I find emptying when you can is the best !! Never know when the next drop point is !! Although the red centre is easy to dig and bury wast . Which btw is mainly water ! Almost no solids . The pump does a good job of mincing ! 15m hose gets most places . Then flush with grey / fresh water .,
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 20th of April 2022 08:24:51 PM
Whenarewethere said
09:46 PM Apr 20, 2022
To avoid using your bucket when possible:
https://toiletmap.gov.au/
Are We Lost said
10:57 PM Apr 20, 2022
Thanks Whenarewethere. That link could come in useful at times.
Whenarewethere said
07:19 AM Apr 22, 2022
Removing all the pre-installed rubbish on phones & installing "bucket" info would save infinitely more of societies issues & reduce stress!
I always mention this link to people, often if a funny non embarrassing way, & all have been very appreciative.
Pradokakadudavid said
01:39 PM Jun 3, 2022
One of the most useful accessories I bought with my caravan was an additional Thetford toilet cassette. Added to a suitably sized, sealed plastic box to hold the cassette when full (from Bunnings) I simply remove the full cassette, replace it immediately with the second, empty cassette and then place the "sealed" plastic crate that contains the full cassette into my 4x4 until I get to a dump point. This simple procedure has made life in the bush very easy. I also bought three sealed plastic buckets from Bunnings that I can also use to store excess toilet waste until I get to a dump point, if I need to. Coping with the limitations of one toilet cassette is something that you don't have to do, albeit it with a bit of extra expense.
Aus-Kiwi said
03:35 PM Jun 3, 2022
I have a pump off my black tank . It also works as sludge pump
Breaking things up ! Hose is long enough to reach most dump points . Im
Sure some are installed so they cannot be used ? In most cases its fluid anyway !! Everyone seems to deny doing # 2s ! Except my grandson .
A casette toilet, used normally, will generally last 2 people for 3 or 4 days before it needs emptying. If you cant find a dump point, you will need to dig a hole somewhere that won't be "discovered" by someone else accidentally. That needs a decent shovel and 10 minutes and the 20L casette can be carried to the hole and emptied.
Usage is "normal", with faeces and urine flushed with water into the same tank.
A holding tank could be 20L or it could be 100L. Either way, it is a fixture under the vehicle. Physically emptying it requires the vehicle to be close to the dump point. That is easy if there is a dump point available. Carrying the contents any distance is problematic. Emptying frequency is obviously dependent on its capacity. Great solution for a large vehicle with a large capacity tank that spends its time mainly in tourist presincts with dump points available.'
Again, usage is "normal", with faeces and urine flushed with water into the same tank.
Composting toilets are characterised by the requirement to separate urine and faeces and no flushing water is used. This happens while it is used by the design of the bowl. Urine goes into a seperate container of a few litres (needing emptying every couple of days) or a larger tank under the floor with longer emptying frequency. The faeces drop into a tank which includes a composting agent where it is mixed manually each time it is used with an external lever and kept slightly damp to compost. A tiny fan runs consistently to keep smells outside and to keep the moisture level under control. The composting mass is emptied into a compostible plastic bag every 3-4 weeks. It can be disposed of into a normal rubbish bin or burried in the bush.
Each option has its own advantages. We have used a traditional cassette successfully in the bush for many years. Our new build vehicle will have a composting toilet.
Cheers,
Peter
The van we have now has a cassette and can be emptied almost anywhere, can carry to a dump point or dig a hole like Peter. Easy.
I am not sold on composting toilets.
Barry
Having used bothholding tank and cassette, cassette wins hands down, especially when you have a second cassette. Mainly is that I am not required to take motor home to dump point. I do lat tow a car behind motorhome. The other issue I found was a lot of dump points are above road hieght it it is really hard to push s#$#$t up hill from a onboard tank. . A tank and tote tank is another option, maybe in some minds
It is horses for courses. Reaally think about how you i tend to be camping.
Neil
I'm a cassette man myself. We don't stay in CP's very often but when we do I like walking thru a busy caravan park carrying our full cassette to the dump point to empty it.
I've noticed that other campers veer out of the way pretending that they haven't seen you. A bit like when Jesus parted the waters of the Red Sea.
No-one speaks to you even on the way back. It doesn't bite, its only s**t.
You should carry it on your shoulder. That would get some comment.
Looks like the votes are in and cassette's get the cigar.
Dave
Using the cassette for night time and porta poti for No2
When free camping gives us approx 7days in the bush before finding a dump point
Ray
Another vote for the Cassette plus we have a second one for those times we cannot dig a hole or the dump point is not handy.
We have black storage tank . I have an old sealed paint bucket with small hole in top to empty if theres no access to dump point ? . It has a good pump on it . I find emptying when you can is the best !! Never know when the next drop point is !! Although the red centre is easy to dig and bury wast . Which btw is mainly water ! Almost no solids . The pump does a good job of mincing ! 15m hose gets most places . Then flush with grey / fresh water .,
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 20th of April 2022 08:24:51 PM
To avoid using your bucket when possible:
https://toiletmap.gov.au/
Removing all the pre-installed rubbish on phones & installing "bucket" info would save infinitely more of societies issues & reduce stress!
I always mention this link to people, often if a funny non embarrassing way, & all have been very appreciative.
One of the most useful accessories I bought with my caravan was an additional Thetford toilet cassette. Added to a suitably sized, sealed plastic box to hold the cassette when full (from Bunnings) I simply remove the full cassette, replace it immediately with the second, empty cassette and then place the "sealed" plastic crate that contains the full cassette into my 4x4 until I get to a dump point. This simple procedure has made life in the bush very easy. I also bought three sealed plastic buckets from Bunnings that I can also use to store excess toilet waste until I get to a dump point, if I need to. Coping with the limitations of one toilet cassette is something that you don't have to do, albeit it with a bit of extra expense.
Breaking things up ! Hose is long enough to reach most dump points . Im
Sure some are installed so they cannot be used ? In most cases its fluid anyway !! Everyone seems to deny doing # 2s ! Except my grandson .