Is a Porta Loo necessary

Beth54 · Guru

Is a Porta Loo necessary

Solo Steve · Senior Member

G'day all

Im gearing up for my fulltime trip and seek your opinion as to whether a Porta Potti type toilet is really needed

or will a shovel suffice. Of course it would be preferable to have for free camping but will take up a fair bit of room

in the van.

Thanks

Steve

Solo Steve · Senior Member

Thanks for the reply it took a while to get an answer I think maybe it was a dumb question to ask
Steve

Happywanderer · The Master

It's probably not so necessary for men as it is for woman. I only use mine during the night as don't want to be walking to the loos in the dark. During the day and when travelling I use public toilets.
Men would be able to time their visits to the loos for during the day and behind a tree maybe at night. Just depends where you are camping.

Beth54 · Guru

Solo Steve wrote:
Thanks for the reply it took a while to get an answer I think maybe it was a dumb question to ask
Steve

As someone said on here, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. So ask away! wink

I notice you're a '54 model like me. A very good year! biggrin

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Not a dumb question Steve. We have had a Porta-potti in the caravan and it is still unused after a total of 9 months in the caravan, in 4 separate trips. But its there for emergencies, there just hasnt been one bad enough for us yet!
If you just "Had to go" with no bush where you could use your shovel, and theres nobody sharing your caravan to complain about any odours, you'd be ok. A bucket can be ok for overnight if it is emptied using said shovel.

Happywanderer · The Master

Solo Steve wrote:
Thanks for the reply it took a while to get an answer I think maybe it was a dumb question to ask
Steve

Steve, you asked your question at 5.23pm. They were probably all at Happy Hour. lol

I had read it earlier, but decided to answer once I had cooked tea.

Beth54 · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:
Not a dumb question Steve. We have had a Porta-potti in the caravan and it is still unused after a total of 9 months in the caravan, in 4 separate trips. But its there for emergencies, there just hasnt been one bad enough for us yet!
If you just "Had to go" with no bush where you could use your shovel, and theres nobody sharing your caravan to complain about any odours, you'd be ok. A bucket can be ok for overnight if it is emptied using said shovel.

Rosie, do I take it that you don't have to wee in the night? confuse If so, I'm impressed! biggrin

Happywanderer · The Master

I'm impressed too. I could be up 3 or 4 times.

Solo Steve · Senior Member

Thanks for the good advice im learning that one can rely on the Gurus. I just noticed i've moved from newbie to member ...a long way to go.
And yes Beth '54 produced an excellent vintage.
Cheers Steve

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I just have a camp toilet bucket with a seat and lid on it. Even though 52 was a good vintage as well I find the shovel bit just a bit difficult these days if you need more than a tree. Plus you don't know who was behind that tree before you. A little comfort is all I ask these days. I use the Nappy San idea as well in my mobile toot.

pauline · Guru

Totally agree Doug, better to have it and not want it then to want it and not have it...............as Mum used to say

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Having travelled with all the above options - tree, shovel, lidded bucket, and now onboard loo - I know which one I prefer - the onboard one!! Though if there is a good public loo nearby, thru the day, I would use that.

jetj · Guru

I wouldn't be without a porta loo.

Cruising Granny · Guru

The simple things of life, eh? I used my on-board dunny when I had to go "potty" during the night, 3 or 4 times prior to the surgery which restored my fluid levels, fixed the high blood pressure and allowed me to retain the potassium I'd consumed.
Now it's the pantry.
Life is what we make it, and taking the "dunny digger" and the rolls for a run, could be the highlight of someone's day or evening.
They just don't make bushes like they used to, when they're needed most.
A big truck can double as cover for these natural events.
Public toilets and roadhouses, and now some parking bays provide relief for travellers. Nothing is as hard as it seems.

Sheba · Guru

During the day, so far, I've only used Public Toilets, and have a lidded container for night-time, which gets emptied next morning, at the first Toilet Block I come to.

My longest trip so far though, has only been about a week.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Esmeralda · Guru

I have a porta potti and very glad about it too. When it is pouring rain in the middle of the night or it is -3, there is no way that I will go a dig a hole or even head off for a caravan park toilet. Used to keep the pp under the table but now have a cupboard built under the bed. Also my knees no longer allow for squatting - fine when you are not getting on in years, but .........

Evie n Rhys · Senior Member

I have one too and also have a fold up shower tent when needed. Don't use it all the time but sure comes in handy at times.
Welcome to the site.

vkgreenie · Senior Member

We travel with a Dometic Porta Potti. It has a pressure flush, however only used at nights for a piddley pee. Just mix up two caps of the Woolies brand Nappie San, a couple drops of dish washing liquid, mix with warm water, pour into the holding tank and..........................perfection. ashamed ashamed

We empty the holding tank at dump points....not an issue for us, although we have expereinced the third world jobbie houses in various forms. evileye evileye evileye

My bride is a 10 star camper, so disapperaing into the bush is a real no no. disbelief

We are comfortable in our set up. We don't have an internel shower or toilet in our RertoLiner, however I have built an external annex off the back of the van, for times when we need to protect the other campers from viewing our body beautifuls (he he!!) when showering, or other neccessities of life. biggrin biggrin biggrin

Cheers & beers

-- Edited by vkgreenie on Thursday 27th of September 2012 12:34:22 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Cruising Granny wrote:
The simple things of life, eh? I used my on-board dunny when I had to go "potty" during the night, 3 or 4 times prior to the surgery which restored my fluid levels, fixed the high blood pressure and allowed me to retain the potassium I'd consumed.
Now it's the pantry.
Life is what we make it, and taking the "dunny digger" and the rolls for a run, could be the highlight of someone's day or evening.
They just don't make bushes like they used to, when they're needed most.
A big truck can double as cover for these natural events.
Public toilets and roadhouses, and now some parking bays provide relief for travellers. Nothing is as hard as it seems.

I'm worried CG. confuse biggrin

Rip and Rosie · Guru

We've used public loos, CP toilet blocks, a folding stool with bucket under, bucket with a lid, shovel and a tree................ all have their place, and their problems.

Getting old now and the knees are crook, so squatting isn't the top option any more.

Also have been disgusted at the toilet paper littering our country when not properly buried. Its bad enough that many public loos are revolting, but many corners of camps and rest areas are becoming the same.

In addition, we travel with a van (as opposed to using motels etc) because we can set our own standards with nice linen, crockery, etc. It seems crazy to then use 3rd world toilet habits.

Personally, I don't want to contribute to the white streamers marking stinky little mounds of waste all over this country. As we pick up after the dogs, and take our garbage with us, we will not be leaving our personal waste on the ground either.

We have recently purchased a portapottie and I'm looking foreward to the next trip to try it out.

Happywanderer · The Master

I hope you got the 20 litre and not the 10 litre Rosie. I have the 10 litre and find the height a bit low for the knees so have swapped with my son who had a 20 litre in his camper trailer. He won't mind. lol

Rip and Rosie · Guru

I checked Marj, 20 litre....... will be fine on the knees, but where to store it.

Happywanderer · The Master

Myrtle doesn't have a lot of room. I took one of the single seats out in the house part and it sits there, can be used as anothert seat. Just looking for a square cushion to make it look pretty.

Oxley · Veteran Member

I had one in my caravan many years ago, stored in the shower area, but I refused to use it, I just don't like having my ablutions that close to where I eat and prepare food, might have been the old boy scout in me (and the caravan was sometimes unusable after somebody had been) but the wife and kids wouldn't use it if put it outside in suitable tent.

Thank the maker for divorce, I made sure I got the van, and she got the porta potty.

Bent Axle Bob · Senior Member

Last trip I went up the west coast and stopped for 3 weeks at Cleaverville Wilderness Camp. As the name suggests, it is a wilderness, no water, no toilets only a dump point, thus on board toilets or porta pottis ARE a requirement. That being said, it is a remarkable spot and I will be heading back there next year, probably in June for another extended stay

I have no doubt there are other sites where the situation would require a pp

Beth54 · Guru

My first stage of NOT going bush, was a chair from the camping shop, with a hole in the middle. You could either clip in a plastic bag, or dig a hole underneath. It was okay, but the porta loo is much better. I'm finally getting used to emptying it, but it's taken awhile. Disposable gloves are a must. Particularly when you see the mess some people make of emptying at the dump point.

As well as my knee problems, other health problems mean I couldn't be without the porta loo these days.

Solo Steve · Senior Member

After taking in all the comments I think I'll start out potti free and buy one on the road if necessary

Beth54 · Guru

Solo Steve wrote:
After taking in all the comments I think I'll start out potti free and buy one on the road if necessary

You may have gotten more info than you really needed Steve!

jules47 · The Happy Helper

You could always make your own like this one -