Many projects went through our hands over the years, from a campervan with a cassette porta-potty to a folding campervan toilet and so on. In this blog article, we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of not having an incorporated campervan toilet as well as recommendations for using the restroom when travelling. After over 6 years of occasional van life and a variety of bathroom setups, we feel qualified to address the pros and cons of installing a toilet in your van, as well as suggestions for making do without one. There is also a list of the best caravan toilets included for those of you who absolutely must have one.
This blog article discusses the finest campervan toilet alternatives, as well as recommendations for using the restroom while on the road.
How Do You Select the Best Option?
Campervan Toilet Advantages
- Convenience – Having a toilet eliminates the need to look for a restroom, dig a hole (where permitted), or walk outdoors in the middle of the night.
- Comfort – Sitting on the toilet in your vehicle is more comfortable than squatting.
- Privacy – If you’re camping in a group, having a toilet enables you to perform your business without letting anybody else know.
- Cleaning – There are some filthy public restrooms out there.
Cons of a Campervan Toilet
- Emptying the toilet in the campervan – Whatever kind of toilet you have, you will have to dump it at some time. This procedure is not only unpleasant but when your toilet is full, emptying it takes precedence over whatever excursion you may have planned for the day. Suppose there isn’t a garbage can or landfill close by. You’ll be driving about in your van with a week’s worth of urine and poo splashing around in your toilet or tank, afraid it’ll overflow.
- Smell – When properly cared for, your campervan toilet should not smell, however, this isn’t always the case. Even if it’s the sole deodorizer in an extremely tiny space, you’ll get the odd scent.
- The amount of space it takes up – Campervan toilets aren’t huge, but they take up a lot of valuable room when you’re living in less than 100 square feet. You should also design your conversion and layout around the toilet, since you may not have enough space to keep it after your van is finished. You can’t just put a toilet somewhere and expect to keep everything else in there.
What Are the Best Budget-Friendly Campervan Toilet Options?
Whether or not to incorporate a caravan toilet is a major choice – and one that is quite personal. It’s understandable why some individuals can’t live without a toilet. Something that helps one person may not help another. You should definitely get a restroom facility if you find yourself in need of one. Here are described the top campervan toilet alternatives below, from least costly to most expensive, as well as the best brands available for each van toilet option, so you can simply select what best meets your requirements.
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There Is No Toilet
It’s excellent for folks who don’t want to deal with garbage and want to optimize their van living space.
Pros:
- It Is Completely Free
- You are not required to deal with your own garbage.
- With this done, you’ll have more storage space in your car.
Cons:
- Compels You To Use The Toilet Outside Or In Public Facilities
- There are certain regions (such as Moab and other sensitive desert ecosystems) where it is illegal to dig a hole to defecate.
Not having a campervan toilet installed is disgusting, and there are never enough places to dump it. Also, although having a toilet in the van was convenient, over time that it wasn’t really required.
Instead, it was a type of luxury for which most people are unwilling to make room. You will be inconvenienced either when you need to use the restroom or when you need to empty the holding tank of your campervan. You may elect to be inconvenienced up front in order to avoid tasks and save room in your car. If you opt to pursue the no-toilet way, bear in mind that you must be highly familiar with Leave No Trace principles and how to properly defecate outside.
1. Use an Emergency Toilet
Who it’s excellent for: those who don’t need regular campervan toilet access but need something for #2 emergencies and lengthy off-grid stays.
Pros:
- needs no/minimal cleaning or maintenance
- simple to set up
- less intrusive and cheapest portable toilet for campers (not including wag bags)
Cons:
- may only be applied to #2
- Wag bags are the most costly and least ecologically friendly alternative.
- Bags must be able to be dumped often.
- does not have the feel of a “real toilet”
Because it is more difficult to locate public facilities with COVID, you may opt for a folding portable toilet for the campervan. Furthermore, several scattered camping spots may be closed due to too many people pooping outdoors without obeying Leave No Trace, and you don’t want to add to the situation.
Emergency toilets are the most cost-effective toilet choices, but only if they are used seldom rather than on a daily basis. Special bags, such as Wag Bags or Double Doodie Bags, are required to use emergency restrooms. Both include a pre-loaded waste treatment gel that freezes your waste and is safe for conventional garbage disposal. When you’re through, just close it up and toss it away.
2. A Portable Cassette Toilet.
It’s great for those who want a home-like toilet experience while on the road but don’t want to commit to installing a permanent fixture.
Pros:
- Compactness and diminutiveness characterize composting campervan toilets.
- Does not need venting or installation
- Simple to manoeuvre
- Much less expensive than a composting toilet
Cons:
- Need regular disposal
- Due to the convenience of having everything in one place, most individuals only utilize it for (1) or (2). (you’ll have to put up with foul odours and more trips to the landfill if you don’t)
- Heavier chemicals are used for deodorizing.
Sitting on the seat of a portable cassette toilet sends waste and liquids into a bowl, often known as a “cassette.” Because there is no permanent plumbing, you must remove the whole toilet from your vehicle to dump it. You must apply a sufficient quantity of scented deodorizer, which converts #2 into a liquid and keeps it from smelling.
3. A Composting Toilet.
Who it’s perfect for: those who often go off the grid and those who want to use their van toilet for #1 and #2.
Pros:
- features separate liquid and solid waste chambers
- most environmentally friendly alternative
- the most convenient to dispose of and least often dumped (every 60-80 uses)
Cons:
- The Gold Standard of Mobile Toilets
- It must be fastened down and has to be vented outside.
- Some need 12V electricity.
Composting toilets are a common kind of campervan toilet. Instead of flushing your waste, it is turned into nutrient-rich soil that may be tossed away. Using the toilet for both liquids and solids is acceptable since the toilet includes a dedicated solids tank. Check read our blog article for information on how to properly dispose of solid waste from a composting toilet.
Where To Find Roadside & Off-Grid Bathrooms
You learned there are several options for getting clean after spending a few months in your first Van without a campervan toilet. Campgrounds, petrol stations, food shops, rest spots, trailheads, McDonald’s, and the list goes on and on. It’s true that some are cleaner than others, but if you’re really in a need, you should be able to find one. But what about late at night or while you’re camping off the grid?
You won’t need a urine funnel if you use a wide-mouthed plastic jar. If you’re concerned about others seeing your urine in a jar, we’d suggest wrapping it with duct tape. A dark-coloured Nalgene water bottle with stickers may also be used. Some individuals swear by pee funnels, but others believe they are ineffective.
There are bathrooms everywhere, and after a night of scattered camping, it’s typically rather simple to locate a restroom in town. We’ve only had to dig a hole a few times this summer, but on public property, that is typically an option. If you’re unfamiliar with recommended practices for doing #2 outdoors, make sure to read our blog article regarding how deep the hole should be.
John F.
I’m John, the architect behind campervan designs. I’m passionate about creating innovative conversions, turning each van into the best van for camper conversion. I document my journeys through photography, drawing inspiration for unique campervan transformations that will leave you with the best camper van experience ever.