Just putting it out there how much does the next dump point influence you movements (travel) i mean does it play a big part of planning???oh cheers bottoms up
KFT said
08:37 PM Sep 17, 2015
It does if you don't want a full cassette and a cranky wife who cannot use the Loo.
I do keep an eye on where the next dump will be and if we might be going where we may not have access I will dump early so my cassette is empty.
I carry a long handle shovel for those times when you just cannot get to a dump though.
frank
Bruce and Bev said
09:02 PM Sep 17, 2015
dishlicker aka grey hound lol........we do a mix of free camping and CPs (generally the independants who are often $10-20 pn night than the Big parks), low cost and showgrounds - but always look to find a place that will have a loo. We try to use our 'van toilet for liquid only so it helps to keep it cleaner and fresher. I think the threat that my wife has to go into the bush with a trenching spade is enough to put her off. I find wikicamps great for finding dump points and some GPS (like the Hema unit) will show those in the area - how far away and how to get to them. We haven't used the loo for #2's for the past year
dishlicker said
09:02 PM Sep 17, 2015
Thanks kft hadn't considered the sh---- wife must factor that in as well long handle shovel a must thanks.
dishlicker said
09:10 PM Sep 17, 2015
Hi Bruce we also do only free camping but if we needed a dump point we would probably uses a cp if around as yet have not had to use the loo cheers
JohnR said
09:36 PM Sep 17, 2015
Not trying to digress from the subject "dump points", the matter of doing 1 or 2 (s) in your toilet was discussed at a Caravan "Muster" a few years back in a seminar. The seminar was conducted by reps from both Dometic & Thetford. The topic of toilets came up. The rep from Thetford asked the question as to who puts chemical in their toilets and who did only N0 1 s in their toilet. Most of the audience put their hands up. His response was that you are wasting money on chemical and the acidity in pee will eat into your plastic cassette. In other words you need no 2's to make the chemicals work etc.
We are currently camped at Karalee Rock that has flushing toilets and dump point with water. The facility is maintained by volunteers and relies on "donations".
Except for Perth the availability of Dump Points in WA is first class. We have traveled Perth to Broome and back via Great Northern Hwy utilizing both free camps & small CPs. In some instance where there was no water connected there was a bucket of water to flush.
JohnR
Kev Pearce said
09:36 AM Sep 18, 2015
Almost always. Maybe not start of a trip but when planning make sure there is a dump point at a park before booking, or thhere is a public dump point nearby. Need to empty after five or six days so factor that in planning.
jules47 said
10:00 AM Sep 18, 2015
JohnR wrote:
Not trying to digress from the subject "dump points", the matter of doing 1 or 2 (s) in your toilet was discussed at a Caravan "Muster" a few years back in a seminar. The seminar was conducted by reps from both Dometic & Thetford. The topic of toilets came up. The rep from Thetford asked the question as to who puts chemical in their toilets and who did only N0 1 s in their toilet. Most of the audience put their hands up. His response was that you are wasting money on chemical and the acidity in pee will eat into your plastic cassette. In other words you need no 2's to make the chemicals work etc.
We are currently camped at Karalee Rock that has flushing toilets and dump point with water. The facility is maintained by volunteers and relies on "donations".
Except for Perth the availability of Dump Points in WA is first class. We have traveled Perth to Broome and back via Great Northern Hwy utilizing both free camps & small CPs. In some instance where there was no water connected there was a bucket of water to flush.
JohnR
I have been telling people for ages that using chemials - even the nappy soaker - is pretty pointless if you are only using the loo for No 1's.
Sure the chemical will most likely break down the paper, but has no effect on urine. Except for the "perfume" in some of the chemicals - which to me is unpleasant. I usually put a couple of drops of eaucalyptus oil into the cassette for a pleasing aroma.
And I agree WA is first class for dump points - some of the other states could take a lesson. If we cannot find one, we do empty in the bush, in a hole, which we then fill in well.
RodLainie said
10:05 AM Sep 18, 2015
We had no trouble finding a dump point in doing the great lap.Its a toilet use it as such and clean it, I would not send my wife out in the bush with a shovel.
Take Care
Rod
Dunmowin said
03:27 PM Sep 18, 2015
We have no objections to paying around $5.00 to a caravan park to use the dump point if there is not a free one on our planned route. Often, after freedom camping the small cost of $5.00 is far cheaper than a) camping in a caravan park or b) taking a major detour, just to use a free dump point.
Santa said
05:53 PM Sep 18, 2015
dishlicker wrote:
Just putting it out there how much does the next dump point influence you movements (travel) i mean does it play a big part of planning???oh cheers bottoms up
No influence at all Dishlicker.
As others have said, if no dump point in area, which is pretty rare, I carry a shovel.
Happywanderer said
06:11 PM Sep 18, 2015
I empty my cassette whenever I come across a dump point. Might have only used it once or twice, but not being sure where the next one will be, better to take the opportunity.
Dav4Cris said
07:20 PM Sep 18, 2015
We have two cassettes, we try to find a dump point before the first one is full but if not we can change over and go a few more days before it becomes desperate
Desert Dweller said
07:24 PM Sep 18, 2015
If a dump point is on our route we use it, otherwise we dig a deep hole way out in the bush & dump it.
Phil C said
01:09 PM Sep 19, 2015
Now this is a debate that rages in the portals of our caravan. When we cross the Nullabour ( or however you spell it), there is only one dump point between Ceduna and Norsman. I have also noticed that not a lot of CPs in WA have dump points. Correct me if im wrong please.
We have the trusty shovel to "bury the body" if needed, however our plan is to be in a caravan park every stop, so they can look after that part of our waste disposal. The loo will be used for wee or any available wee tree.
Cheers and good luck.
JohnR said
07:18 PM Sep 19, 2015
Phil C
We are currently parked up at 13k Peg Scenic Lookout 13 klm East of Border Village. So we could say we are on the "Nullarbor". We are actually returning to the East after 3months in the "Wild West". Please don't make assertions if you have not been in this part of the world recently. We have just completed Perth to Broome via the North West Coastal Highway aand back to Perth by The Great Northern Highway. We have commented to each other on the number of "dump points" and in some places 2 dump points. As well, the provision of a bucket of water for flushing. (Barradale Rest Stop). With the exception of Perth the state of WA is right up there with the provision of Dump Points. On our way over on the "Nullarbor" we stopped at Woorlba Homestead Rest Area. New toilets and new dump point. My good lady advised Camps Australia of the update.
The locals will tell you that funding via the government royalties program is being utilized in WA outside Perth to make various improvements to infrastructure relating to tourism and in general facilities being utilized by the traveling public.
Some of the best road network in a Australia.
JohnR
Phil C said
07:31 PM Sep 19, 2015
JohnR wrote:
Phil C
We are currently parked up at 13k Peg Scenic Lookout 13 klm East of Border Village. So we could say we are on the "Nullarbor". We are actually returning to the East after 3months in the "Wild West". Please don't make assertions if you have not been in this part of the world recently. We have just completed Perth to Broome via the North West Coastal Highway aand back to Perth by The Great Northern Highway. We have commented to each other on the number of "dump points" and in some places 2 dump points. As well, the provision of a bucket of water for flushing. (Barradale Rest Stop). With the exception of Perth the state of WA is right up there with the provision of Dump Points. On our way over on the "Nullarbor" we stopped at Woorlba Homestead Rest Area. New toilets and new dump point. My good lady advised Camps Australia of the update.
The locals will tell you that funding via the government royalties program is being utilized in WA outside Perth to make various improvements to infrastructure relating to tourism and in general facilities being utilized by the traveling public.
Some of the best road network in a Australia.
JohnR
Cheers John, and thanks for the correction. I was hanging my comments on what I saw in wikicamps app, obviously wrong. yeah and the Nullarbor bit... will never be able to spell it...
Its good news to hear that there are dump points over there, we are heading there soon.
Cheers
mjt57 said
08:48 PM Sep 19, 2015
Please excuse my dumbness on this topic, but what does a dump point look like and where do you find them?
And without trying to be crude about this, how much use can you get out of a "cassette" before it needs emptying?
And when emptying, does it come out all lumpy or liquid, what? And how do you clean it out afterwards?
Dunmowin said
09:02 PM Sep 19, 2015
mtj57 - the dump points vary, but mostly are blue, and stand out, some are stainless steel marine dump points, some are just a drain in a concrete slab. The Camps Australia Wide book has a list of dump points in each state
Just make sure you empty it before it over flows! Ours has a light that indicates it is nearing fullness, but we usually empty every 2 - 3 days. The chemical is only good for holding for three days anyway.
If you are using your asset properly, the chemical will break down the paper and other object to a thick liquid. We clean our cassette completely every 6 months, but at each empty, we hose out at the dump point.
No questions are "dumb" All this is a learning curve, and that is why you have come to this forum.
KFT said
09:06 PM Sep 19, 2015
mjt57, you just happen to be in the right place to get some intelligent answers to your questions.
This is what they usually look like but there can be local variations. The sign is usually normal though.
We can usually get 3-4 days use out of a cassette. We use it for 1's and 2's which is how they are meant to be used
We use a nappy soaker product from the reject shop)oxy boost or something) and drop a tablespoon on top of a no2.
if you empty it a few hours after the above it is usually all liquid
I just rinse out a few times with some shaking to swish the water around.
I use a product like clr but from a different company(cheaper) to clean it a couple of times a year.
The second is a series of three videos on thetford cassette maintenance, well worth viewing just for the understanding, this is a link to the first of the three:
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of September 2015 09:44:50 PM
Fuzzball said
11:58 PM Sep 19, 2015
Our movements aren't hampered by dump points. Our canister usually lasts three to four days (even with three people using it) and it is liquid when emptied. We use Portasol, as it is relatively cheap and works well.
If we can't find a dump point, my husband takes a post hole shovel, digs a hole and buries it.
chaslib said
08:28 AM Sep 20, 2015
We have vacuum flush system with 34ltr holding tank - even though it is chemical free and enviro friendly we still prefer to use a dump point rather than in the bush. We also have a 15ltr water container we have painted black that we use occasionally use if we can't get near a dump point or anywhere suitable to pump it out. As we have a motorhome it is not always easy to pack everything up just to dump the toilet where you can walk to the dump point or somewhere suitable. Our only problem was the set up of some dump points did not allow us access for the discharge hose being non-flexible material. We had to invest in a flexible hose that could go around corners and fences. The disadvantages were some dump points (for example Emerald) were in the middle of a town and really not a good look dumping the toilet outside a tourist info alongside a major highway and next to the town sporting fields with people walking past constantly. Many dump points are constructed/installed with no thought to people with vacuum systems - only cassettes. And some of them are those sponsored by CMCA.
mjt57 said
05:10 PM Sep 20, 2015
aussie_paul wrote:
Might be useful....
Aussie Paul.
The first is a how to use a van toilet video from from a reputable victorian dealer:
The second is a series of three videos on thetford cassette maintenance, well worth viewing just for the understanding, this is a link to the first of the three:
Just putting it out there how much does the next dump point influence you movements (travel) i mean does it play a big part of planning???oh cheers bottoms up
I do keep an eye on where the next dump will be and if we might be going where we may not have access I will dump early so my cassette is empty.
I carry a long handle shovel for those times when you just cannot get to a dump though.
frank
Thanks kft hadn't considered the sh---- wife must factor that in as well long handle shovel a must thanks.
Hi Bruce we also do only free camping but if we needed a dump point we would probably uses a cp if around as yet have not had to use the loo cheers
Not trying to digress from the subject "dump points", the matter of doing 1 or 2 (s) in your toilet was discussed at a Caravan "Muster" a few years back in a seminar. The seminar was conducted by reps from both Dometic & Thetford. The topic of toilets came up. The rep from Thetford asked the question as to who puts chemical in their toilets and who did only N0 1 s in their toilet. Most of the audience put their hands up. His response was that you are wasting money on chemical and the acidity in pee will eat into your plastic cassette. In other words you need no 2's to make the chemicals work etc.
We are currently camped at Karalee Rock that has flushing toilets and dump point with water. The facility is maintained by volunteers and relies on "donations".
Except for Perth the availability of Dump Points in WA is first class. We have traveled Perth to Broome and back via Great Northern Hwy utilizing both free camps & small CPs. In some instance where there was no water connected there was a bucket of water to flush.
JohnR
Almost always. Maybe not start of a trip but when planning make sure there is a dump point at a park before booking, or thhere is a public dump point nearby. Need to empty after five or six days so factor that in planning.
I have been telling people for ages that using chemials - even the nappy soaker - is pretty pointless if you are only using the loo for No 1's.
Sure the chemical will most likely break down the paper, but has no effect on urine. Except for the "perfume" in some of the chemicals - which to me is unpleasant. I usually put a couple of drops of eaucalyptus oil into the cassette for a pleasing aroma.
And I agree WA is first class for dump points - some of the other states could take a lesson. If we cannot find one, we do empty in the bush, in a hole, which we then fill in well.
Take Care
Rod
We have no objections to paying around $5.00 to a caravan park to use the dump point if there is not a free one on our planned route. Often, after freedom camping the small cost of $5.00 is far cheaper than a) camping in a caravan park or b) taking a major detour, just to use a free dump point.
No influence at all Dishlicker.
As others have said, if no dump point in area, which is pretty rare, I carry a shovel.
I empty my cassette whenever I come across a dump point. Might have only used it once or twice, but not being sure where the next one will be, better to take the opportunity.
We have the trusty shovel to "bury the body" if needed, however our plan is to be in a caravan park every stop, so they can look after that part of our waste disposal. The loo will be used for wee or any available wee tree.
Cheers and good luck.
Phil C
We are currently parked up at 13k Peg Scenic Lookout 13 klm East of Border Village. So we could say we are on the "Nullarbor". We are actually returning to the East after 3months in the "Wild West". Please don't make assertions if you have not been in this part of the world recently. We have just completed Perth to Broome via the North West Coastal Highway aand back to Perth by The Great Northern Highway. We have commented to each other on the number of "dump points" and in some places 2 dump points. As well, the provision of a bucket of water for flushing. (Barradale Rest Stop). With the exception of Perth the state of WA is right up there with the provision of Dump Points. On our way over on the "Nullarbor" we stopped at Woorlba Homestead Rest Area. New toilets and new dump point. My good lady advised Camps Australia of the update.
The locals will tell you that funding via the government royalties program is being utilized in WA outside Perth to make various improvements to infrastructure relating to tourism and in general facilities being utilized by the traveling public.
Some of the best road network in a Australia.
JohnR
And without trying to be crude about this, how much use can you get out of a "cassette" before it needs emptying?
And when emptying, does it come out all lumpy or liquid, what? And how do you clean it out afterwards?
mtj57 - the dump points vary, but mostly are blue, and stand out, some are stainless steel marine dump points, some are just a drain in a concrete slab. The Camps Australia Wide book has a list of dump points in each state
Just make sure you empty it before it over flows! Ours has a light that indicates it is nearing fullness, but we usually empty every 2 - 3 days. The chemical is only good for holding for three days anyway.
If you are using your asset properly, the chemical will break down the paper and other object to a thick liquid. We clean our cassette completely every 6 months, but at each empty, we hose out at the dump point.
No questions are "dumb" All this is a learning curve, and that is why you have come to this forum.
mjt57, you just happen to be in the right place to get some intelligent answers to your questions.
This is what they usually look like but there can be local variations. The sign is usually normal though.
We can usually get 3-4 days use out of a cassette. We use it for 1's and 2's which is how they are meant to be used
We use a nappy soaker product from the reject shop)oxy boost or something) and drop a tablespoon on top of a no2.
if you empty it a few hours after the above it is usually all liquid
I just rinse out a few times with some shaking to swish the water around.
I use a product like clr but from a different company(cheaper) to clean it a couple of times a year.
hope that helps
frank
Thanks for posting the picture KFT. I don't normally take photos of dump points...
since doing that I thought I might mention they are not all like that but your post covers that nicely.
frank
Quote, "I just rinse out a few times with some shaking to swish the water around." Unquote.
You have to be careful not to dislodge the float with the magnet on it otherwise full light will not work.
Aussie Paul.
my cassette is 5 years old and the float is fine. must just be some models or brands that have that issue.
frank
Just remembered I did have this picture. (Time to move on me thinks)
Might be useful....
Aussie Paul.
The first is a how to use a van toilet video from from a reputable victorian dealer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bAXYAQQOqY
The second is a series of three videos on thetford cassette maintenance, well worth viewing just for the understanding, this is a link to the first of the three:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMijkBRhUmY
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 19th of September 2015 09:44:50 PM
We have vacuum flush system with 34ltr holding tank - even though it is chemical free and enviro friendly we still prefer to use a dump point rather than in the bush. We also have a 15ltr water container we have painted black that we use occasionally use if we can't get near a dump point or anywhere suitable to pump it out. As we have a motorhome it is not always easy to pack everything up just to dump the toilet where you can walk to the dump point or somewhere suitable. Our only problem was the set up of some dump points did not allow us access for the discharge hose being non-flexible material. We had to invest in a flexible hose that could go around corners and fences. The disadvantages were some dump points (for example Emerald) were in the middle of a town and really not a good look dumping the toilet outside a tourist info alongside a major highway and next to the town sporting fields with people walking past constantly. Many dump points are constructed/installed with no thought to people with vacuum systems - only cassettes. And some of them are those sponsored by CMCA.
Thanks Aussie Paul. Ian Grants is 5 minutes from my place.