Hi Guys - another question from Trish and Dave - porta loos :)
Trish_Dave said
05:53 PM Jun 9, 2013
Hi there again - 82 days to go and counting - question this time is about porta loos. Have realised that this may be a necessity :) as we are not travelling in a van! Does anyone know of a good brand that they can recommend - or are they all of a muchness. We have looked at the porta-potti range and they seem pretty good to me but what does a secretary know about porta loos (not much). Thanks again - and by the way - you guys have been great with all your answers to my queries - I'm quite sure I will have a few more in the next 82 days !!
jetj said
07:20 PM Jun 9, 2013
I've had a Fiamma Bipot for over 20 years and it's still good. I was looking into some cheaper ones because they were a little smaller to fit in a smaller place and some leaked and stuck to the one I have. I also looked at some Dometic ones that had a pipe type thing for emptying above the tank that looked like a good system.
Smaller tanks apart from the obvious having to empty more often are lower making it harder to get down to, a problem for lots of people.
Roving-Dutchy said
07:23 PM Jun 9, 2013
I think they are all much the same,but before you buy work out where you are going to store same as they can vary in size and if you want it to go under a bed or some other spot, the height might be a limiting factor re the size you buy. Cheers David
pubertyblues said
07:23 PM Jun 9, 2013
We bought ours out of the Weekend Shopper. Brand new with all the chemicals.$50 Never had to use it much as pretty good at squatting. Now have a loo in this new van so gave it away to my sister and family for their weekend camps in their Camper trailer. I think they are very much all the same but would check out your Trading Post or a site online. So exi in the shops.
neilnruth said
11:14 PM Jun 9, 2013
We have a porta-potti and have had no problems with it. As someone else said, check out size for where you want it to store. We manage to fit our into a cupboard.
elliemike said
11:18 PM Jun 9, 2013
We have a small one in the Avan. Cant remember it ever being used in the last two years.
Although I have put the toilet tent up a couple of times with it inside, I keep thinking what a waste of space this thing is.
jetj said
11:22 PM Jun 9, 2013
I always feel secure having mine in the van and it earns it's place even if not used lol.
neilnruth said
11:23 PM Jun 9, 2013
Yes, I must admit, my husband is always very reluctant to get the portapotti out. So far our freecamping has had a loo of some sort. I do object on rare occasions and he has to get it out - especially handy when I had food poisoning one trip and needed it all night!
GarrynLyn said
11:26 PM Jun 9, 2013
We had one and changed to a Coleman porta potti, as it has carrying handles and a larger pipe for emptying. Has been good so far.
Gerty Dancer said
11:39 PM Jun 9, 2013
elliemike wrote:
We have a small one in the Avan. Cant remember it ever being used in the last two years.
Although I have put the toilet tent up a couple of times with it inside, I keep thinking what a waste of space this thing is.
Ditto, but we keep it "just in case". Thankfully "in case" hasn't happened and hope it never does.
kiwijims said
11:44 PM Jun 9, 2013
We also have a Coleman Porta Potti, I would recommend you get one with a 20l holding tank, It makes them a little heaver to carry and empty, but you don't have to empty them so often.
Being trying to train the Missis to empty ours, but always get the same reply.............
"YOU do it dear" and there will be a nice cuppa waiting when finished. !!!
kiwijims
JRH said
11:45 PM Jun 9, 2013
Gerty Dancer wrote:
elliemike wrote:
We have a small one in the Avan. Cant remember it ever being used in the last two years.
Although I have put the toilet tent up a couple of times with it inside, I keep thinking what a waste of space this thing is.
Ditto, but we keep it "just in case". Thankfully "in case" hasn't happened and hope it never does.
We carry a Porta Pottie in the van and had to use it crossing the Nullabor between Road Houses as I just couldn't wait. It was a Godsend I can tell you.
Happywanderer said
01:00 AM Jun 10, 2013
I would suggest a 20litre as well. A lot easier on the knees. Did have a 10 litre but swapped it fo the higher one. For those of you who have them but never use them, what do you do overnight to relieve yourselves. I don't always park next to a toilet and if I do I dont always wander around outside in the middle of the night
Rip and Rosie said
02:28 AM Jun 10, 2013
I'm with you Marj...........bit higher makes it easy to use, and never need to wander around in the night time !
Dunmowin said
03:12 AM Jun 10, 2013
One thing we have noticed, and would probably be ... regardless of what ever brand potti you buy, and whatever brand chemical you use - Once in the tank, the chemical only has about 4 days "holding" before it reduces it's effectiveness.
So, in our case, we have an 11 litre holding tank, used for two people the tank is good for 3 days before full (if using exclusively) but if we were using outside conveniences as well, the chemical would start to reduce effectiveness after four days, even though the tank was not full.
If you use public toilet for "No 2s" and only use your potti for "No 1s", the chemical will not be as effective, it needs solid matter to break down.
Bottom line is, it is not necessarily a good idea to have a big tank (i.e. a 20 litre tank) as you will still have to empty it after three days.
The dog lady said
04:45 AM Jun 10, 2013
kiwijims wrote:
We also have a Coleman Porta Potti, I would recommend you get one with a 20l holding tank, It makes them a little heaver to carry and empty, but you don't have to empty them so often.
Being trying to train the Missis to empty ours, but always get the same reply.............
"YOU do it dear" and there will be a nice cuppa waiting when finished. !!!
kiwijims
I have a 10litre because of the weight problem, and also it stows under the bed for travelling. A tad low so I generally put a chair next to it to help me get up again. I try to empty it every 2 to 3 days.
I have tried training the dogs to do this rather yuk job, but I guess I'll have to keep doing it myself. And they don't even get my cuppa ready for when I'm finished
jetj said
05:41 AM Jun 10, 2013
It would be easy to make a small platform for it, to make it higher. You would have to find storage for the platform though. I'm sure you could get something with folding legs with a dual purpose. Something stable so you don't fall off the potti. lol
elliemike said
11:10 AM Jun 10, 2013
Luckily, we don't usually have a problem with getting up in the night to use the toilet.
If we do, in a CP we walk to the camp toilet.
In the bush we water the nearest tree or bush.
We also have those plastic urinary bottles they use in hospitals. Just in case. But I have never used one.
In the event of being caught short in the night and needing to do a No 2 The 10 Ltr Porta Pottie is very acessibe from the Avan boot.
We have a stand for it to raise the height.
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 11th of June 2013 10:27:28 AM
Trish_Dave said
02:22 PM Jun 11, 2013
Thank you all for your comments and advice. Much appreciated. :)
jetj said
07:57 PM Jun 11, 2013
You can buy female urinary devices now that you don't even have to drop your dacks to use. A sheewee is one of them.
neilnruth said
04:27 AM Jun 12, 2013
We've had 3 10lt buckets for ages. Red for overnight, blue for waste water under the sink, white for drinking water. As for me, I don't usually get up in the night. Portapotti is there if there's an emergency.
jetj said
05:59 AM Jun 12, 2013
I hope no one is colour blind! lol
herbie said
07:18 AM Jun 13, 2013
jetj wrote:
You can buy female urinary devices now that you don't even have to drop your dacks to use. A sheewee is one of them.
maybe a his and hers a sheewee for her and a urinal bottle for him called a bottlehim. !!! one in pink and one in blue ..wonder where they would get emptied in the morning.!!!!!
neilnruth said
03:30 AM Jun 14, 2013
Pity we can't use them on the trees in the CP - neighbour has just told my hubby he has used it to water his citrus trees and they have never looked so good!!
Hi there again - 82 days to go and counting - question this time is about porta loos. Have realised that this may be a necessity :) as we are not travelling in a van! Does anyone know of a good brand that they can recommend - or are they all of a muchness. We have looked at the porta-potti range and they seem pretty good to me but what does a secretary know about porta loos (not much). Thanks again - and by the way - you guys have been great with all your answers to my queries - I'm quite sure I will have a few more in the next 82 days !!
I've had a Fiamma Bipot for over 20 years and it's still good. I was looking into some cheaper ones because they were a little smaller to fit in a smaller place and some leaked and stuck to the one I have. I also looked at some Dometic ones that had a pipe type thing for emptying above the tank that looked like a good system.
Smaller tanks apart from the obvious having to empty more often are lower making it harder to get down to, a problem for lots of people.
Cheers
David
Never had to use it much as pretty good at squatting. Now have a loo in this new van so gave it away to my sister and family for their weekend camps in their Camper trailer. I think they are very much all the same but would check out your Trading Post or a site online. So exi in the shops.
We have a small one in the Avan. Cant remember it ever being used in the last two years.
Although I have put the toilet tent up a couple of times with it inside, I keep thinking what a waste of space this thing is.
I always feel secure having mine in the van and it earns it's place even if not used lol.
We had one and changed to a Coleman porta potti, as it has carrying handles and a larger pipe for emptying. Has been good so far.
Ditto, but we keep it "just in case". Thankfully "in case" hasn't happened and hope it never does.
We also have a Coleman Porta Potti,
I would recommend you get one with a 20l holding tank,
It makes them a little heaver to carry and empty, but you don't have to empty them so often.
Being trying to train the Missis to empty ours, but always get the same reply.............
"YOU do it dear" and there will be a nice cuppa waiting when finished. !!!
kiwijims
We carry a Porta Pottie in the van and had to use it crossing the Nullabor between Road Houses as I just couldn't wait. It was a Godsend I can tell you.
For those of you who have them but never use them, what do you do overnight to relieve yourselves.
I don't always park next to a toilet and if I do I dont always wander around outside in the middle of the night
One thing we have noticed, and would probably be ... regardless of what ever brand potti you buy, and whatever brand chemical you use - Once in the tank, the chemical only has about 4 days "holding" before it reduces it's effectiveness.
So, in our case, we have an 11 litre holding tank, used for two people the tank is good for 3 days before full (if using exclusively) but if we were using outside conveniences as well, the chemical would start to reduce effectiveness after four days, even though the tank was not full.
If you use public toilet for "No 2s" and only use your potti for "No 1s", the chemical will not be as effective, it needs solid matter to break down.
Bottom line is, it is not necessarily a good idea to have a big tank (i.e. a 20 litre tank) as you will still have to empty it after three days.
I have a 10litre because of the weight problem, and also it stows under the bed for travelling. A tad low so I generally put a chair next to it to help me get up again. I try to empty it every 2 to 3 days.
I have tried training the dogs to do this rather yuk job, but I guess I'll have to keep doing it myself
. And they don't even get my cuppa ready for when I'm finished
It would be easy to make a small platform for it, to make it higher. You would have to find storage for the platform though. I'm sure you could get something with folding legs with a dual purpose. Something stable so you don't fall off the potti. lol
Luckily, we don't usually have a problem with getting up in the night to use the toilet.
If we do, in a CP we walk to the camp toilet.
In the bush we water the nearest tree or bush.
We also have those plastic urinary bottles they use in hospitals. Just in case. But I have never used one.
In the event of being caught short in the night and needing to do a No 2 The 10 Ltr Porta Pottie is very acessibe from the Avan boot.
We have a stand for it to raise the height.
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 11th of June 2013 10:27:28 AM
You can buy female urinary devices now that you don't even have to drop your dacks to use. A sheewee is one of them.
I hope no one is colour blind! lol
maybe a his and hers a sheewee for her and a urinal bottle for him called a bottlehim. !!! one in pink and one in blue ..wonder where they would get emptied in the morning.!!!!!