Probably a stupid question with an obvious answer but my wife has asked me to ask so here it is.
Obviously caravan first timers!
Not even taken it out of the driveway yet, so be gentle on me.
Is it normal for the toilets in the caravan ensuites (ours is a Thetford toilet) to have a pissy little dribble of water when flushed?
I can see that the water dispensing mechanism resembles a water pistol with similar pressure, so do not expect it to perform like a normal in-housed toilet with considerable water pressure, but if you are supposed to be able to use these for number twos', they must be kidding!
It would take me more time to clean it that to do the deed(to quote Macbeth)!
Yes and I know you are all going to say "use the toilet block for number two's which is an obvious solution) but that is not the point of my question which is, is this pissy performance (pun intended) normal operation for a caravan toilet?
Kind answers would be appreciated.
Regards
David
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Nissan Patrol TIL and highly modified Retreat Fraser full offroad version
Yes its generally only a small amount of water squirting out enough to wet the pan .
Certainly not a big flush like a home toilet. If you use nappy san or a similar product and add about half a litre water you will find that will be sufficient. Every time its used it and you flush more water is added your number two will love it . Just use it you wont be sorry.
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Keep your eyes open so you can see where you are heading
50mm water in the bottom of the canister with your additive of choice. Have your meeting then with a disposable glove on if you are concerned, wipe around bowl with baby wipes and put in bin not canister. Every few days use a disinfectant wipe to keep a healthy toot. If you are not mobile for a few days go around to toot canister opening and give canister a bit of a shake. Nothing like being a good s..t stirrer.
Water flush not really needed anymore. Power can even be unplugged from toot so power and water actually saved. That's always a good thing.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
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50mm water in the bottom of the canister with your additive of choice.
Two inches of water wasted in bottom of canister, Not on my watch - water too precious to prematurely fill canister.
We use "Laundry Soaker" put in dry after every empty - no need to add any liquid other than urine. We utilise a spray bottle of water with eucalyptus added before(add slippage) and after use for rinse.
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Their is no such thing as a stupid question, David (Pradokakadudavid)
I also have a Thetford toilet, as they are probably the most common
As only about an eggcup full of water, comes out of the spout, when we flush, it is not the same as a flushing toilet, as we have in our homes
I have a squirt bottle, full of water and a little eucalyptus oil
Before a number 2, I squirt the bowl, as this seems the help the slippery slope
After the main event, most times the toilet paper, does not go through the hole
When you flush the toilet, the bit of water is enough to drag the toilet paper, down to the main arena
After the performance, I close the slide, and flush again
This allows water to sit on top of the slide, (about 6 millimetres), therefore making a smell tight seal
I will then squirt the bowl again, as the eucalyptus oil, is a kind of disinfectant
I have no idea of the ratio, between the water and eucalyptus oil
When I purchased my second hand motorhome, it came with the Thetford toilet stuff, and I found (for both me and the wife), we did not like the smell
We use either Napisan, or Boost, both available from supermarkets
What we watch out for, is the sodium percarbonate, content, higher is better, and we look for the 32%, as some are as low as 28%
Not a stupid question .. It's a good question that many are perhaps not game to ask.
Yes, it is normal just to have a water pistol like squirt of water when 'flushing'.
The first 'trick' is to keep the bowl slippery with a squirt of Olive Oil spray with every empty & occasionally in between if you wish. An alternative is 'slippery' silicon spray.
Then leave the flap open for number 2's & position yourself so that your aim is true & you hear that re-assuring 'plop' as the deposit goes straight in to the tank. It's all about practice.
After flushing with the flap open, any remaining matter on the bowl can be removed with a judicious wipe of toilet paper after a squirt from a water bottle containing a little soapy water or the solutions suggested by previous posters. In fact, I use a water bottle to 'flush' rather than the unit's flush button. If you are that way inclined a little eucalyptus or other nice smelling stuff can be added to the water. I usually don't bother.
And yes, during the day I use the CP ablutions block.
re Chemicals .. After years of using nappy soaker stuff, I have gone back to using the commercial chemical additives. Nicer smell by day 3.
At the recent Melb caravan show we purchased a bottle of stuff from Dometic that you spray into the bowl before you sit down and it stops poo sticking to the bowl. Haven't used it yet but it must work mustn't it, would they lie to me? Anyway we decided on having a punt to see if it works. Let you know next June on our way to Cooktown.
-- Edited by Gus1949 on Tuesday 17th of December 2019 04:51:42 PM
The limited squirt is all do do with the limited amount of water in your main tank, if "off-grid". If hooked up it is a different matter.
One point to remember, if your system is like ours, always remain seated while you flush as the seal between bowl and tank requires some weight in place to ensure no leakage sideways.
That means even the males get to sit for number ones.
And note that it could be that the inner lip on the seat does not extend very far down into the bowl.
There are some vids on-line about all of this.
We use the bowl dry. No probs so far, but we are used to portable camping type loos.
Not a silly question at all. Perhaps lots wanted to ask but did not
Some answers but here is my addition. Whatever you put in the loo you will need to empty out later. So while a big long flush would be good if on mains water for some reasons, the emptier(David) would be getting plenty of work lugging it to the disposal point more often !! Not a job we love for sure !
Hi David. Not a stupid question. You say a dribble, is that correct or is it a squirt that comes out at pressure and runs around the bowl ? that is how the water should come out.
As far as using the toilet you do not have to aim with slide open or sit on toilet to flush.
We have been using Thetford toilets for about 15 years now and have never had trouble at all. Use for number ones and twos.
To use for twos we give a squirt of flush water to put a small amount in bowl, do the deed, then stand and flush again to wet paper, open slide, close slide all done no mess to clean.
We use Thetford chemicals as the emptying is much more pleasant than with napisan etc.
Lubricate the seals with olive oil ( not vegetable oil ) or silicone grease.
No "1s" are the worst enemy, ie most volume in our experience. "2s" dissolve better in the additive, so try to water a gum tree if possible, but some great extra hints above.
I guess what shocked us the most is the number of small rigs that don't have showers or loos. Yup, they haz bedz. and the kitchen space is usually enough to cook for a hungry army battalion, but no loos or showers! Some caravan parks can be pricey. But after a day touring on the bikes, one wants to get civilised before bed! Oh well, we can get some portable /tent based stuff. Part of the fun, I guess.
!! Not a job we love for sure !
