When we decided to upgrade from a tent to a popup camper, it was a wonderful decision. There are pros and cons to every kind of camper, but with a popup…you may or may not have a toilet. Ours did not. So I decided to modify my camper so that I could have one, and I’m going to share what I did and hopefully give you some ideas.
Before camping in a tent, we had a 5th wheel camper, so I know a few things about camping with a toilet. I thought not having one in our popup was going to be a deal breaker, but I have found a way around it.
Portable Toilets
The option we chose for our popup camper was the Zimmer Portable Toilet. When we first purchased it, we hadn’t started renovations so I was able to store it in a cabinet up front. The fact that it is portable gives you the flexibility to move it to where you need it.
Portable toilets would be a great option for car camping or van camping also. You could purchase a shower tent and keep it outside of your camper too. The shower tent would give you the privacy you needed.
Side Note: Things we found out after using our shower tent… Be careful after you use soap, the floor tarp get very slippery. Second- the shower bag isn’t all that great, there isn’t much pressure but it’s better than no shower. We plan to modify the shower bag and will update the post when we do.
How to Use A Portable Toilet
What I do to get my toilet ready is first, I add a little water to the bottom. Next, I add some “blue stuff” to help with the smell. It’s called Porta-Pak, it’s a tank deodorizer. They are meant for larger RV toilets, so what I did was make a mason jar with a scoop so I could get just a little at a time. I cut open all the packs and put them in the mason jar.
I normally just add a small scoop each time I use the toilet, and it’s plenty. After I add the blue stuff, I fill the top tank with water. This tank is so you can “flush” after you go. Note: We don’t poop in our camper toilet unless it’s an absolute emergency. It’s mainly used for just number ones.
To empty the tank, you just detach it from the top, and you can empty it at the dump station or just pour it into a toilet and flush. It’s so easy.
In the future, we are going to change the cabinet where we keep the toilet so that the counter lifts up when you want to use it. Right now, I have to slide it out of the cabinet in front of the door to use. This is no big deal, but when it gets a little more water in it, it can be heavier. I put felt pads on the bottom to help it slide easier across the floor.
This last trip we took, I kept the toilet outside in the shower tent and I liked it out there. It kept me from having to pull it in and out of the cabinet.
Composting Toilets
I wouldn’t recommend a composting toilet for a popup camper, but if you have a skoolie or a van camper that you need a toilet in, this is a great option. My dad lives in a tiny house, and this is what he uses. It’s pretty easy, and once you invest in the toilet itself, it’s pretty low maintenance.
You can buy a bag of sphagnum peat moss, and it should last a very long time. To fill your toilet or refill it after emptying, pour two one-gallon bags of pre-moistened sphagnum peat moss or coconut fiber into the base of the toilet. The sphagnum peat moss should rise to the level of, or cover, the agitator bar in a horizontal position. The sphagnum peat moss should be damp and crumbly, never wet or soupy. Make sure you turn the crank daily to mix the compost.
When it’s time to empty your toilet, flip the two latches on the sides and lift the upper section up a few inches. Put the lid on the liquid bottle and lift it out of its holder. To empty the main tank un-hook the 12-volt power connector and the vent hose and then slide the upper section off its open-ended hinge. Undo the 2 thumb screws on the base and it’s ready to empty. Because there are no liquids in the main tank, even full it is never heavy. The unit is sized so that a kitchen garbage bag will go over the end of the main tank. Flip it over and you’re done. There is no need to clean the tank when you empty it, any left-over matter will help start the composting process all over again.
The urine side should be emptied every other day or so under normal daily use for two people. The solids should be emptied after about 80 uses. Things start composting quickly so the solids take up little space. All that is needed after use is a spray bottle with water and a toilet brush. It’s good practice to not get a lot of water mixed with the solids.
Cassette Toilet
A cassette toilet is similar to a regular RV toilet, except with a holding tank. A cassette toilet looks a lot like my portable toilet but you install it and it can’t be used outside of where you put it. The difference between it and a traditional RV toilet is the holding tank is smaller than a traditional RV toilet.
You can install a cassette toilet in a popup if you would like a more permenant solution without installing a holding tank. Normally the holding tanks are 5 gallons where a traditional RV holding tank is 15 to 20 gallons.
Conclusion
So basically, you have options and some pretty good ones. We love our portable toilet. It gives me just enough in my popup to make the trip enjoyable since I can’t go outside like the boys do.
