Best beloved and I want to purchase a cassette style porta-potty for our older, non-ensuited 17' poptop caravan. Have spent lots of time reading the really great previous forum suggestions about toileting issues (thanks everyone for your great ideas - and now will definitely use Napisan) but cannot find the answer to one question we have: Where is the best place / way to keep it whilst we're actually driving and on the road? Is it best to have it in the van (if so, how does one secure it to stop it moving or sliding) or in the back of our vehicle (a Prado - so would not be partitioned off from the seats)? Having a poptop van, cupboard space is limited and the under-the-bed area is not partioned off and low to the ground. There are no outside hatches or storage compartments. Would really appreciate your ideas and suggestions. Thanks.
oldbobsbus said
06:48 PM Nov 10, 2013
Welcome to the forum Zigzagps....
When we had a Porta-Potti we sat it on a bath mat while traveling and it didn't move much, so I guess you would just put it anywhere you have floor space and take it out when you stop..
I likes the comment of others here on the Bio-Magic thread when they don't put water in the top tank to keep the weight down and just use a suitably labeled plastic bottle to flush with..
If you haven't already purchased a unit yet I would strongly recommend you get a genuine Thetford Porta-Potti as spare parts are readily available for them if needed..
Ohhh and we found the one with a 10ltr base was just a bit low to use but the 20lts tank one is good ...
jules47 said
06:59 PM Nov 10, 2013
I had a portable one in my very small caravan - it fitted into the bottom of the wardrobe - so was stable and safe. Don't forget - it is not NAPISAN - but the home brands that do the job properly!!
wasn_me said
07:43 PM Nov 10, 2013
I made a shelf in the boot for mine. It's the middle sized porta-potti 345. I sat it on blocks of wood until I got the correct position, then made a shelf. I put strips of stick on rubber on the boot lining to stop it rubbing. I've got the oz-trail pop up en suite tent which fits under the table against the wall. I don't use it often but it's handy to have in the van when needed.
You could put some dividing sections to keep it firmly in place under the bed if theres enough height for it under there. You might even be able to build a door into the end of the under-bed storage space?
Happy Daze said
10:41 PM Nov 10, 2013
Oztrail make a canvas toilet bag which suits most brands of popular toilets, they sell for about $30. You could Google Oztrail canvas toilet bag to have a look, the bag has handles, so I guess you could tether it with a loop through the handles and attach it to the table leg if necessary, to stop any chance of it sliding about when travelling. Cheers, Annie
elliemike said
02:40 AM Nov 11, 2013
jules47 wrote:
I had a portable one in my very small caravan - it fitted into the bottom of the wardrobe - so was stable and safe. Don't forget - it is not NAPISAN - but the home brands that do the job properly!!
I would not be surprised if the "HOMEBRAND" was not made by the makers of NAPISAN. Or Whoever.
I worked for Goodman Fielder Baking (Buttercup, Uncle Toby's, Helgas, etc, etc.) and we made all the Coles and Wooloies Homebrand Stuff. Tip Top as well made it using the same recipes as we used. To make the product cheaper for the home brand label various processes are left out to get the price down. Then it is packaged using the Home brand packaging.
Flour as well was packaged in the Flour Mill under the Home brand label. They certainly screw the manufactures down to hardly any profit margin. And we wonder why small industries are going under in Australia.
Ask any Farmer who supplies the Big Two what they think of the homebrand stuff.
As Henry said, "There are no Free Lunches in this World"
Rip and Rosie said
05:50 AM Nov 11, 2013
We have a small pop top as well, and the portapotti just travels on the floor of the van. No worries but we do like to keep it reasonably frequently emptied.
We got ours from Aldi..... Cheap and reliable.
Jayco Gypsy said
12:57 AM Nov 12, 2013
I have a small poptop as well 12ft. Portapottie sits on a rubber backed mat and has never moved, not even on gravel roads. It was a cheapie from Rays several years ago and still going strong. Best part for me is never being caught short on the road looking for a toilet stop. I did buy the smaller one so the tank doesn't weigh to much when it needs emptying and it fits under the bed. Just boost the height with a couple of wood blocks when stopped for the night.
-- Edited by Jayco Gypsy on Tuesday 12th of November 2013 12:59:17 AM
chopit said
01:21 AM Nov 12, 2013
We have a Oztrail canvas bag for our porta pottie. Bought as a package with the loo second hand for $40.
Spotlessly clean so I guess the retired couple only had it for back up.
We are big believers in the various size canvas bags. Clothes, canvas annex,pegs & ropes,loo,tools, first aid ( ready & trained for just about anything). All go in bags. Bigger on the floor and others just tossed on top. Nothing shifts.
zigzagps said
05:49 PM Nov 12, 2013
Thanks everyone for the fantastic suggestions. They are great. Unfortunately couldn't raise the height of the bed, Jacyo Gypsy, as being a pop top, there is an overhead long cupboard above our bed and poor Best Beloved periodically whacks his head on it as it is if he sits straight up quickly without thinking.... Am currently thinking about combining a few of the ideas and getting the canvas cover (love that idea) and already have some spare non-stick mats. Possibly also using an ocky strap or latching-tie-system around it as well. So brilliant ideas. Thanks again.
Keith19837 said
05:41 AM Nov 13, 2013
zigzagps wrote:
Best beloved and I want to purchase a cassette style porta-potty for our older, non-ensuited 17' poptop caravan. Have spent lots of time reading the really great previous forum suggestions about toileting issues (thanks everyone for your great ideas - and now will definitely use Napisan) but cannot find the answer to one question we have: Where is the best place / way to keep it whilst we're actually driving and on the road? Is it best to have it in the van (if so, how does one secure it to stop it moving or sliding) or in the back of our vehicle (a Prado - so would not be partitioned off from the seats)? Having a poptop van, cupboard space is limited and the under-the-bed area is not partioned off and low to the ground. There are no outside hatches or storage compartments. Would really appreciate your ideas and suggestions. Thanks.
I have a Porta Potti on my yacht. (plenty of up and down side to side and tilting to 30 degrees and not boxed in). I use that 'sticky' mat stuff designed for holding mobile phones etc to the dashboard of a car. I also have an ocky strap with a couple of stainless saddles. It's never moved despite some pretty heavy seas and no blow back through the slide either. I find them a little harder to empty than a Thetford style cassette toilet. The Porta Potti have to be totally removed, broken into it's two halves and the lower holding tank emptied. As there is only a rear handle, the unit is pretty heavy and there is a degree of difficulty when emptying. My MH has a Thetford where the cassette is much easier to remove and better balanced for carrying. However, the Porta Potti requires only a 'space' to sit whereas the Theftford generally requires a cassette hatch and is more 'high tech' in its fitting. If you've got a smaller van/camper/boat etc I would go for the Porta Potti. If in a larger van/MH etc, I'ld go for the Thetford.
For what it's worth.
jules47 said
06:16 AM Nov 13, 2013
elliemike wrote:
jules47 wrote:
I had a portable one in my very small caravan - it fitted into the bottom of the wardrobe - so was stable and safe. Don't forget - it is not NAPISAN - but the home brands that do the job properly!!
I would not be surprised if the "HOMEBRAND" was not made by the makers of NAPISAN. Or Whoever.
I worked for Goodman Fielder Baking (Buttercup, Uncle Toby's, Helgas, etc, etc.) and we made all the Coles and Wooloies Homebrand Stuff. Tip Top as well made it using the same recipes as we used. To make the product cheaper for the home brand label various processes are left out to get the price down. Then it is packaged using the Home brand packaging.
Flour as well was packaged in the Flour Mill under the Home brand label. They certainly screw the manufactures down to hardly any profit margin. And we wonder why small industries are going under in Australia.
Ask any Farmer who supplies the Big Two what they think of the homebrand stuff.
As Henry said, "There are no Free Lunches in this World"
Well, all I know is that it works - and the genuine Napisan does not work as efficiently!!!
But thanks for the info!
oldbobsbus said
07:46 PM Nov 13, 2013
Keith19837 wrote:
.
I have a Porta Potti on my yacht. (plenty of up and down side to side and tilting to 30 degrees and not boxed in). I use that 'sticky' mat stuff designed for holding mobile phones etc to the dashboard of a car. I also have an ocky strap with a couple of stainless saddles. It's never moved despite some pretty heavy seas and no blow back through the slide either. I find them a little harder to empty than a Thetford style cassette toilet. The Porta Potti have to be totally removed, broken into it's two halves and the lower holding tank emptied. As there is only a rear handle, the unit is pretty heavy and there is a degree of difficulty when emptying. My MH has a Thetford where the cassette is much easier to remove and better balanced for carrying. However, the Porta Potti requires only a 'space' to sit whereas the Theftford generally requires a cassette hatch and is more 'high tech' in its fitting. If you've got a smaller van/camper/boat etc I would go for the Porta Potti. If in a larger van/MH etc, I'ld go for the Thetford.
For what it's worth.
Just as a matter of interest the brand name Porta-Potti is a Thetford product which is a self contained unit with a top and bottom tank, not to be confused with their line of cassette toilets that are permanently installed in position and usually have an access door on the outside to access the cassette..
Porta-Pottis come in a couple of sizes and several models..
There are also lots of aftermarket portable toilets available that work well and are often a lot cheaper than the Thetford units.
Keith19837 said
04:39 AM Nov 14, 2013
Very true Bob, I think mine's actually a Tote a Tute or similar.
Best beloved and I want to purchase a cassette style porta-potty for our older, non-ensuited 17' poptop caravan. Have spent lots of time reading the really great previous forum suggestions about toileting issues (thanks everyone for your great ideas - and now will definitely use Napisan) but cannot find the answer to one question we have: Where is the best place / way to keep it whilst we're actually driving and on the road? Is it best to have it in the van (if so, how does one secure it to stop it moving or sliding) or in the back of our vehicle (a Prado - so would not be partitioned off from the seats)? Having a poptop van, cupboard space is limited and the under-the-bed area is not partioned off and low to the ground. There are no outside hatches or storage compartments. Would really appreciate your ideas and suggestions. Thanks.
When we had a Porta-Potti we sat it on a bath mat while traveling and it didn't move much, so I guess you would just put it anywhere you have floor space and take it out when you stop..
I likes the comment of others here on the Bio-Magic thread when they don't put water in the top tank to keep the weight down and just use a suitably labeled plastic bottle to flush with..
If you haven't already purchased a unit yet I would strongly recommend you get a genuine Thetford Porta-Potti as spare parts are readily available for them if needed..
Ohhh and we found the one with a 10ltr base was just a bit low to use but the 20lts tank one is good ...
I made a shelf in the boot for mine. It's the middle sized porta-potti 345. I sat it on blocks of wood until I got the correct position, then made a shelf. I put strips of stick on rubber on the boot lining to stop it rubbing. I've got the oz-trail pop up en suite tent which fits under the table against the wall. I don't use it often but it's handy to have in the van when needed.
Oztrail make a canvas toilet bag which suits most brands of popular toilets, they sell for about $30. You could Google Oztrail canvas toilet bag to have a look, the bag has handles, so I guess you could tether it with a loop through the handles and attach it to the table leg if necessary, to stop any chance of it sliding about when travelling. Cheers, Annie
I would not be surprised if the "HOMEBRAND" was not made by the makers of NAPISAN. Or Whoever.
I worked for Goodman Fielder Baking (Buttercup, Uncle Toby's, Helgas, etc, etc.) and we made all the Coles and Wooloies Homebrand Stuff. Tip Top as well made it using the same recipes as we used. To make the product cheaper for the home brand label various processes are left out to get the price down. Then it is packaged using the Home brand packaging.
Flour as well was packaged in the Flour Mill under the Home brand label. They certainly screw the manufactures down to hardly any profit margin. And we wonder why small industries are going under in Australia.
Ask any Farmer who supplies the Big Two what they think of the homebrand stuff.
As Henry said, "There are no Free Lunches in this World"
We got ours from Aldi..... Cheap and reliable.
I have a small poptop as well 12ft. Portapottie sits on a rubber backed mat and has never moved, not even on gravel roads. It was a cheapie from Rays several years ago and still going strong. Best part for me is never being caught short on the road looking for a toilet stop. I did buy the smaller one so the tank doesn't weigh to much when it needs emptying and it fits under the bed. Just boost the height with a couple of wood blocks when stopped for the night.
-- Edited by Jayco Gypsy on Tuesday 12th of November 2013 12:59:17 AM
Spotlessly clean so I guess the retired couple only had it for back up.
We are big believers in the various size canvas bags. Clothes, canvas annex,pegs & ropes,loo,tools, first aid ( ready & trained for just about anything). All go in bags. Bigger on the floor and others just tossed on top. Nothing shifts.
I have a Porta Potti on my yacht. (plenty of up and down side to side and tilting to 30 degrees and not boxed in). I use that 'sticky' mat stuff designed for holding mobile phones etc to the dashboard of a car. I also have an ocky strap with a couple of stainless saddles. It's never moved despite some pretty heavy seas and no blow back through the slide either. I find them a little harder to empty than a Thetford style cassette toilet. The Porta Potti have to be totally removed, broken into it's two halves and the lower holding tank emptied. As there is only a rear handle, the unit is pretty heavy and there is a degree of difficulty when emptying. My MH has a Thetford where the cassette is much easier to remove and better balanced for carrying. However, the Porta Potti requires only a 'space' to sit whereas the Theftford generally requires a cassette hatch and is more 'high tech' in its fitting. If you've got a smaller van/camper/boat etc I would go for the Porta Potti. If in a larger van/MH etc, I'ld go for the Thetford.
For what it's worth.
Well, all I know is that it works - and the genuine Napisan does not work as efficiently!!!
But thanks for the info!
Just as a matter of interest the brand name Porta-Potti is a Thetford product which is a self contained unit with a top and bottom tank, not to be confused with their line of cassette toilets that are permanently installed in position and usually have an access door on the outside to access the cassette..
Porta-Pottis come in a couple of sizes and several models..
There are also lots of aftermarket portable toilets available that work well and are often a lot cheaper than the Thetford units.
Very true Bob, I think mine's actually a Tote a Tute or similar.