I occasionally have to lacerate my brownie (grocery) bag to drain off some unintentional lemonade before I send the brownies to a landfill. Easypeasy. My concern is for how these elements interact with the environment. My ideal situation is to add that golden-nitro-compost -accelerant to an actual compost bin (leaves, grass clippings, weeds, etc) where it can benefit the earth, plants, and microbes. The solid stuff can be incinerated in a vented ammo can before being added to soil. I realize that's more effort than most people are going to make unless you're truly offgrid for life...
We have the OGO composting toilet, we have been using it for 2 years and we are extremely happy with it. Very good quality, absolutely no problems, powerful motor and very easy to use Using coconut coir, it can easily last 1 month. The diverter is extremely well designed By the way, we never open the front door, I can remove the waste bin from the top 👍 It is absolutely odorless and there is no need to install an air intake or an air outlet. In the end, we save on water and our black tank is now a gray tank, for a total of 70 gallons of gray water, perfect for boondocking.
Thank you, I am looking at getting a Truck camper without a bathroom, so this was very helpful. I must say I never thought I would watch an hour-long video on toilets, but here we are.
We've had a cassette toilet for 2 camping seasons. Even clean and bleached, it still smells. The seal keeps most of the smell in, but opening it, even when it's clean, really smells. Otherwise, we like it; it's sturdy and 'sits' like a normal toilet.
@@lynnw7155 I have a cassette toilet as well, and what I do is take a natural cleaner, no chemical, and spray it once in the bowl, maybe twice a week, and it takes the smell away. I try and keep it off the seal so as not to dry it out. I am the only one using it. More often if there’s more people.
@@Metoo1111 What natural cleaner do you use? Also, by keeping it "off the seal" do you mean you only spray enough to dampen the bowl - but not run down and pool on the seal?
so....a home depot bucket, a toilet seat on top with a biodegradeable bag and using some type of animal litter, a chore of once a day throwing away a bag of poo as you do with a cat for instance is really the way to go. less expensive than all and something most people with pet cats do anyway.
I go even smaller in my 22' van...I have the liner of an "instapot" with a bag in it - hahaha -tie it up and throw it away. Also use public toilets when I can!
I can’t believe I just spent over an hour of my life watching this……..brilliant and thorough review of portable toilets! I have a VW camper and am looking to change up my Thetford 365 for something, less chemical and water dependent and also a bit less splashy when emptying. Being a lady of a certain age I use the loo a lot overnight and feel that a urine full indicator is a must have to avoid overspill. 💦 😮
Your potty vocabulary is top-notch. Love all the euphemisms haha. Made me laugh out loud while learning about these essential van life companions. Also, would you guys ever do a video about van security? I'd be interested in learning what you have learned over the years
We've had the Laveo DryFlush for a few months now, and it's been a game changer for us. It's a good height, feels like a real toilet, and haven't had a problem disposing of the bag/cassette thing. In fact, you can put it in a regular garbage can. It's been a lot less of a hassle than anything else we've tried.
I want Laveo and Separett Tiny to combine forces. Lemonade goes in the pitcher, brownies in the bag. I saw something similar to Laveo where the flush system would seal the brownie bag after each flush (so that you don't have to wait until the entire foil cartridge is used up before disposing. yuck.) I'm imagining a system kind of like how individually packaged bags of Doritos are made. Brownies go in, bag is sealed and cut, and then drops into a bin. Each flush gives you a little sealed bag of brownies you can then throw away as soon as you want.
I am getting ready to retire. In preparation for that I will be custom building a small towable trailer with the intent to travel throughout north america. I found this entertaining as well as educational. Thank you for taking the time to present these popular methods of waste control and disposal.
We used the nature’s head for ten years on our small houseboat. The separator function was different and worked very well. When the latch was closed it allowed “all” the liquid to flow forward into the bottle. It looks like they tried to copy the more recent competitors with the molded piece. Customer service was excellent and personal. Properly loaded there were no problems with the “product” being stuck in the corners.
It important for people who suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel or overall strength issues to be aware if you can not lift 2 gallons of milk, you probably can't lift a toilet to empty it.
This was the most extensive review on van toilets I’ve ever seen. I agree about the older ones that remain expensive but have not evolved through the years. Currently I have a bucket with a Johnny compost diverter (eBay $20) and a seat/lid. It’s not luxurious, but I paid less than $50. It’s hard to spend 1k when this does what I need it to do. Thanks- your new subscriber.
Thank you for the time you put into this. It is very helpful as we are an older couple converting a cargo trailer to a camper and do not want to worry about a black tank. We have been considering the composting toilets but it is interesting to see all the options as well as pros and cons. Very well done with good info and good humor. 😁
I never knew I could be so entertained by a toilet video. Very well done sir 🎉😂. I’m doing a Cargo trailer conversion and I’m considering two luggable loos surrounded by a wooden frame. This way there will be no danger of the milk and brownies sharing space 😆
Another CTC here and so far have only used 1 bucket for #1. I have thought about this idea too and wondered why more people don’t discuss this option. However with age / circumstances beyond some people’s control - a separator I think is the way to go at least on one of the 2 options just in case.😉 Example: 1 Trelino type and 1 bucket.
One option you missed is the Throne Composting toilet. It started as a DIY kit but also comes fully assembled. I like that it uses a regular elongated seat, so it is more comfortable for my big a... and "tackle box". It separates and layers in a bucket, no odors in my RV.
Great informative video! Well done. Comments on the install of the OGO. The vent outlet rotates. Great for vent pipe placement when space is tight. The intake and vent fans can be swapped from side to side. Super useful for exacting install. The agitator button and pee light can also be switched over although OGO didn't leave a hole for that swap so you have to drill your own but easy to re-run the wiring due to the wago connectors. Also, the plug and vent pipe can be easily removed after install if you need to remove the toilet temporarily, to have more space in the shower for example.
Ben, great video! Nice job and thank you for including us. Can't wait to see it installed and get your honest feedback. You can remove the solids bin from the top you will just move (push) the trap door up with the bin or your hand. Best wishes!!
I’m developing an off grid property & this video has really gone over all the option of which I am aware! Excellent explanation of each type & the options within each method!! Thank you for explaining this topic in an entertaining manner! I agree with the earlier comment that “ don’t crap in my air fryer” is the best line!
Boxio is better than what you have just shown, for the lid there is already a cord to fix it and for the inlet there is a handle. Boxio works for us now for 2 years absolutely great.
I bought a boxio before seeing this video, it also has a plug that goes into the urine hole. My issue is NZ legislation for freedom camping says it needs to be ventilated according to manufacture instructions or needs to be sealed. The lid does not form a air tight seal and the NZ freedom camping inspectors say I can’t modify the toilet 🤷🏼♀️ I did wonder about making a sealed vented box to house the boxio but unsure if they would accept that . Not throwing away a perfectly great toilet to appease lawmakers that prefer chemical loos over environmentally friendly ones. Any tips here ?
Amazingly helpful. Just started transforming my 3.5t Lutin van (box van with bit over cab) for full time living Now i know what toilet i will get. Cheers brother
This is absolutely the most thorough discussion of toilet options on YT. But you left out arguably the best dry flush toilet- the Wrappon Trekker. It has Laveo's "flush it and forget" approach, but with more convenience and portability. It's like a one used bucket toilet that ties up the contents for you.
@@dross24MA I agree. To your first point, there are now Chinese knockoffs that cost ~$500. To your second point, it'd be nice if their propriety bags were biodegradable. But the fact is, a lot of toilet options in real world application, require using a plastic bag for disposal.
I have the Trelino that you showed. It was slightly different but most cosmetic. It cost $525 and the small ones were about $325. 3 different heights available. I really like mine. For me, it is easier to use because it is taller. Very convenient. Even if the bottle would overflow, the basic unit would hold it in and could easily be rinsed out saving a disaster in your van. Totally worth every penny.
Great Video! Very helpful for us during or Cargo Trailer conversion. We converted a bus 4 years ago and went with the five gallon pail and diverter pee bottle. What a mess. We remodeled and went with the incinolet and it worked very well. The draw back was the ungodly odor for an hour. Incinolet said that the process didn't smell. Wrong!!!
Great coverage, - however on the Thetford 565 with the electronic flush as an owner of this, I wanted to give you the honest, - unabridged pros and cons. The Pros, are that it is a tall and comfortable to sit on and we got the optional floor mount that they sell for it to keep it attached to the floor of our 28 foot Winebago that we made completely camp-ground free. The toilet paper holder on the side was pretty useless and came apart after about three months use but not a deal breaker. The cons. When the waster tank is full it is NOT like he shows in the video, - simply carry it out by the handle "Oh look how easy".. No.. The bottom tank holds nearly 5 gallons of waste and though I tell myself I'm emptying it every three days, I nearly never do and wind up lifting the very heavy tank to dispose of. It has handles in the front and back and you will use them both to take this to where your dumping. I have emptied this out at welcome center rest stops once, but usually Pilot or Flying J have dump stations and water. When we dock at my parents house in the midwest when it's full I dump this in the house toilet and it's "doable". By far in our quest to be campground free and off-grid the pros far outweigh the cons for this. As a backup we got the Boxio composting toilet and I used it once and it worked awesome.
First of all, many thanks for sorting through all the toilets! That's a great help to many folks! I have a Trobolo toilet and it is the model that sits higher than the example shown. The higher height is perfect! The toilet is comfortable. I wish the urine container was larger but it will last two days if I am alone. At first I had difficulty being sure the urine made it into the separate container but with experience that became a non-issue. The toilet is very well made and I appreciate that it is made in Germany so I am avoiding Chinese garbage that looks good but doesn't hold up.
Some of these manufacturers forgot one important aspect of these products - size and portability. Some of these products, even if nice, they are like taking the toilet from your home and bringing with you on the camping trip. Besides that - thank you for the very nice overview/review of these products.
For pretty much my entire life, I've been what you call "an indoorsy" girl. I don't know what happened to me but I am now hoping to plan a 6 month van/rv trip all over North America. This video on toilets has been AMAZING :) Answered all my questions. I watched it yesterday and today my husband and I are watching it together. If that doesn't spell romance I don't know what does. Thank you!
I don’t know what happened to me either, I’m caring less about material things and living on less, bought a van and taking my first trip from Minnesota to Detroit Michigan this month.
Thank you for your incredibly thorough review of so many toilets. We are getting ready to have a van built and have been interested in the tiny by separret. I'm happy you spoke so highly of them as it makes me feel better about the initial expenditure. Thanks again.
I wasn’t planning on watching the whole thing but it was so entertaining that I couldn’t resist. My favorite. “Burning Man is kind of a challenging environment. If we lived in a society that valued toilet rights, Burning Man would be one gigantic war crime.”
We just traveled for a month in a rented van with a traditional black tank system. We were curious what all the other options were. Thanks for putting this together. You make Sir John Harrington proud.
It's not wasting water, it's utilizing water for sanitary reasons, the water doesn't go away, we're still using the same water the dinosaurs pooped in , the earth recycles it
I got a medium size Trelino with a wooden lid held in place by magnets instead of the soft close plastic lid. The lid does not bounce off when I am driving. The lid is completely removed when the toilet is used. The wooden lid allows the Trelino to also be a small table or foot stool. I got this when I was still tent camping, but planning to buy a van for a DIY camper. The Trelino fit under my camping cot and is currently kept under the bed I built for my van. The medium size Trelino is about the size of a milk crate or bankers box and it is a bit taller than the small size without being too tall to tuck under the bed. It is comfortable to use. As a female, I have had no issues with where to sit for proper separation of pee and poo. I did make a small modification to the pee jug to help make it easier to completely empty. I cut a 5/8 inch hole in one of the upper corners of the jug and used a rubber stopper to seal it. When I empty it, I remove the stopper and pour through the hole like a tea kettle. because the hole is in a corner, it is easier to completely empty the jug than it was when I removed the lid from the center of the top of the box-shaped jug. The stopper was actually sold as an accessory by Trelino, probably to plug the urine hole in the separator, but I never used it for that. I empty my Trelino after one or two days of use. It is mostly used after dark or before sunrise. It is never very full when I empty it, but I empty it frequently so it won't become full.
We have the cuddy - love it. Agree agitator misses corners which is why we keep our little camp shovel in closet with cuddy The fan is very quiet - we had a 12 volt outlet installed in toilet closet. Good set up
You have made a very sensible and practical video. Thank you 😊 I have one comment regarding the composting toilets contra the separation toilets using a bag to hold No. 2. Now, I have used a Separett Villa toilet in my cabin for 10 years, and I absolutely love it. It functions as a composting toilet because I empty it out in a bin at the back of my garden occasionally. I always do this the day I'll be mowing the lawn. So after emptying the toilet bag, I throw in an armful of grass cuts etc immediately afterwards. And then I leave the whole thing for at least a year to compost. - I think, that keeping a composting toilet in a van is absolutely pointless. The toilet will have to be emptied every month or less. And at that time nothing has been turned into dirt. The human waste and the toilet paper will be easily recognizable and cannot be dumped in nature! And the bin must be very, and where do you go to clean such a thing! 🫣 Conclusion: I do agree with you that the Separett Tiny is the best choice, or one of the cheaper ones of the same kind. As long as you use a pea can ad well as a bucket lined with a plastic bag to keep your waste separate you'll be fine 🤗 Lene from Elsinore
Thanks for making this really useful and informative video. It helped me decide what would work best for me and saved lot of research time! I have only one comment which might improve your presentation. You look at all the relevant information except how easy the unit is to clean. I get that most men don't clean the toilet, but someone has to and you do not address this essential chore. Some regular toilets are much easier to clean than others, and I am sure this is also the case for van toilets. I was trying to figure out what cleaning the unit would be like, but it would be great if you actually address this in your comparison. Maybe add this in your next iteration! Thanks again for a really helpful video that is completely about informing your audience, not trying to sell me something! Bravo!
I have an air head for almost 2 years in a bus and I aam now in South Carolina. It is pretty easy to clean but I seems that is needs to be cleaned out every two or three weeks with full time usage ( 1 person). The biggest issue for me is bugs in the summer. I have tried different types of composting material, diatomaceous earth and gnatrol. Nothing seems to work. Looking for another option, maybe a smaller bin the needs to be emptied more often but is much easier to empty.
Fantastic review. Enthralling. Because it was so long, I needed to break my viewing time into view number one and view number two. The second view was longer. Of course it was. :) Despite its length, the video was a delightful combination of insightful and entertaining. Thanks.
Dry Flush toilets like the Laveo is the best possible solution in our circumstances. We have about 8 months use with the Laveo and find it is truly a flush and forget experience. Very sanitary, odor free, no cleaning of any kind. Not having to deal with the waste in any way means zero ick factor. Disposal of the cassette into the nearest trash/ dumpster is very convenient. You can confidently leave a half filled cassette in the toilet for weeks and no odor or leakage etc. You mentioned possible leaks in the Mylar but it’s also in a full plastic bag liner and in a plastic bin so no way it will ever leak into the toilet body itself. The main downsides are initial cost of toilet, the cost per flush and for some the amount of plastic and Mylar liner going into the land fill. For managed use over a 3 day trip two people can easily get by with one cassette. That’s been our experience. We use public bathrooms when traveling and if staying at a campground we use their bathroom during the day. The toilet reserved for nighttime and emergencies or when a public bathroom is not available etc. We also have the Wrappon Trekker dry flush toilet system which works in a similar fashion. Instead of a continuous Mylar cassette it uses a vacuum heat seal bag to seal each deposit separately into a medium size ziplock bag sized packet. Easily disposed of in any trash can. There are no less then 5 dry flush toilets on the market now. $600 to $$1600 so lots of options. I have a side by side review of the Laveo and Trekker so you can click on my Avatar and go to our UA-cam channel and check that video out. Good luck to all on their choice of toilet. It really is a difficult choice and it all depends on how you plan to use it, how strong your stomach is and ultimately your budget.
I’m a 60+ woman and I use a urine bottle (laundry detergent) with a girl funnel. I find it easy for late night. I have a bucket with coconut core for #2. I’ve been using them for years. My trips are usually no longer than 4 days so this solution has worked for me. I like the simplicity of function and clean-up.
ROTFLMAO! Thanks for updating your old review. I'm full-time on the road and would like to get rid of cassette toilet but the tech is just not there yet for composting toilets - there's a good reason sewage treatment systems were developed as you note.
Trelino works for me, although yes, pricey for a square bucket. I was dying trying to count how many euphemisms you could come up with in one video. I lost count at 'baking brownies'.
Good demo. Missed seeing the C-head composting toilet. I use one and does have pros and cons. Biggest advantage, doesn't require power. Otherwise, great.
@jgassa not really. You dump it, close the valve, dump a 5gal bucket of water down the toilet, toss in a packet, and it's ready to use again.. I've been doing it for 10 years now.. pretty simple, am I missing something
@jgassa I've actually installed a bidet in my camper, once you have hot water cleaning, and warm air dry.. you'll never go back to wiping, I promise you.. ✌️
I have the Trelino with the wooden top. I got the tall one because I have really bad knees. It's Perfect!!! The urine jug lasts a long time and everything is easy to change out or empty. I have to say, I'm happy to see that you don't seem to love the Nature's Head. It seemed so hard to empty and clean. The Trelino is expensive, but it's super sturdy and haven't had any issues with it.
Just purchased a Trelino - medium size for my cabin in Alaska. Will see how it works out. Don't have power for the ventilated type, no dependable solar either.
Really nice job on the video. A great place for people start. We have been camper vanning/RVing since the 60's and have had just about all of them. Our new one is a DIY urine separating and actively ventilated. As you pointed out they are pretty simple - buy the urine seperator and combine with a bucket, a bottle and a little carpentry and you are in business. Another nice feature of DIY is you can add features - ours has a magazine/map pocket, TP holder, and it has an upholstered top that serves as an extra seat. You can get some nice kits to DIY one from Germany.
Thank you for this video! I'm designing/dreaming of my ideal tiny home and I wanted to know what the options are and how livable a composting toilet is. This video was SUPER helpful if only for the info that the Nature's Head is too dang tall for my short little legs. I am putting the OGO composting toilet on my install list. Thank you VERY much.
Been thinking of this company to build an upgrade van for me. The fact he knows all about toilets show how much experience he has accumulated in the RV world. I use a cassette toilet in a Solis and love it but it does have an odor from the chemical I use...
So here is my 2 cents. I have the airhead which you didn’t show. Virtually the same as the natures head but none of the issues you expressed. Everything lifts straight up. You could overflow the pee tank though. I had an issue with driving over 50 the fan isn’t strong enough so I added an extra fan that runs when the van is running only. It is completely odorless. No one seems to be honest about that laveo in my opinion. With no active ventilation don’t tell me it doesn’t stink while in use. Changing a diaper in a bedroom can stink up a whole house tell me how a load sitting in a dry bag doesn’t stink until the machine wraps it up and blows the stench out closing that bag. The whole van would be overcome and please don’t tell me how the 20 dollar rv vent in your bathroom solves that,not to mention people who don’t have a bathroom. If I could solve that problem I would probably switch to the laveo. I’ve considered a serious inline fan vented through the floor.
I have a Laveo Dry flush in my tiny house. It is a bit more maintenance than described. You skipped the step where you install a heavy duty trash bag into the unit before you put the cassette in. This makes it pretty easy to empty without damaging the Mylar. If you want to get the most out of it, using a pee bottle is a bonus. If you 'make lemonade' in it you have to put the pee powder (which is not cheap) in it and wait to flush, otherwise the liquid will just rise to the top and escape the bag, making you flush again. I paid $2300CAD ($1665USD) for it and the cassettes cost (with shipping) $50CAD ($36USD) per cassette, so a bit pricey. The amount of flushes you get depends on how much you load that thing up ;-). Consider the size of the actual bowl you may fill the thing before the Mylar bag material runs out. So limiting what you 'flush' to just what you absolutely need to, is key. Maybe only put the toilette paper in for 'baking brownies'. At my age, I could not see myself dealing with compost so the bonus is that you just put this to the curb with the rest of your garbage. Like anything else, its a thing you live with and discover your own way of making it work. I considered the incineration toilet (which is twice the cost initially) but the maintenance reviews were not hopeful so I went with the dry flush. I have only been using it for a couple of months and am still learning. Thanks for showing all the options in one video, it was very informative.
I find a dedicated wide-mouthed thick plastic bottle, like the Nalgene or one similar to the Talenti ice cream, but larger, work just fine for a female to pee with no mess. Thank you so much for such a wonderful compilation and I appreciate this very much!
Cinderella has been a NIGHTMARE to work with. Save yourself from being out like 5k. Just dont do it. They will go to any length to blame you for any issues with their product. Everything voids the warranty to them and no matter what it's your fault. (Even if its something not even possible to be your fault.) Mine didn't even last a full year. Thinking of trying the OGO next- thanks so much for this video!
It is so great to have a detailed review of so many options all in one place. Your eclectic use of a wide range of euphemisms for potty items is histerical. Dealing with bathroom stuff is definitely my #1 concern for vanlife. I can't wait to see how toilet technology develops over the next decades until we are ready to get on the road.
Top notch video man! We all need to solve this issue and you've shared the essential info for decision making with humor and grace. Definitely leaning towards the Ogo vented unit for my build. Would have been Nature's head but it's too tall.
“If I’m baking brownies I’m also making lemonade” my favorite quote of 2024.
Agree 👍
I occasionally have to lacerate my brownie (grocery) bag to drain off some unintentional lemonade before I send the brownies to a landfill. Easypeasy. My concern is for how these elements interact with the environment. My ideal situation is to add that golden-nitro-compost -accelerant to an actual compost bin (leaves, grass clippings, weeds, etc) where it can benefit the earth, plants, and microbes. The solid stuff can be incinerated in a vented ammo can before being added to soil. I realize that's more effort than most people are going to make unless you're truly offgrid for life...
We have the OGO composting toilet, we have been using it for 2 years and we are extremely happy with it.
Very good quality, absolutely no problems, powerful motor and very easy to use
Using coconut coir, it can easily last 1 month.
The diverter is extremely well designed
By the way, we never open the front door, I can remove the waste bin from the top 👍
It is absolutely odorless and there is no need to install an air intake or an air outlet.
In the end, we save on water and our black tank is now a gray tank, for a total of 70 gallons of gray water, perfect for boondocking.
How much does it hold?
@@jenniferwilliams493 Depending the use and the ambient humidity it varies between 1 and 2 months.
But it's easy to dump and refill.
This guy knows his shit
🙄 ,ok I admit you said it before I could, lol .
Thank you, I am looking at getting a Truck camper without a bathroom, so this was very helpful. I must say I never thought I would watch an hour-long video on toilets, but here we are.
We've had a cassette toilet for 2 camping seasons. Even clean and bleached, it still smells. The seal keeps most of the smell in, but opening it, even when it's clean, really smells. Otherwise, we like it; it's sturdy and 'sits' like a normal toilet.
@@lynnw7155 I have a cassette toilet as well, and what I do is take a natural cleaner, no chemical, and spray it once in the bowl, maybe twice a week, and it takes the smell away. I try and keep it off the seal so as not to dry it out. I am the only one using it. More often if there’s more people.
@@Metoo1111 What natural cleaner do you use? Also, by keeping it "off the seal" do you mean you only spray enough to dampen the bowl - but not run down and pool on the seal?
I'm amazed at the robust library of euphemisms for types of waste and anatomy
A sure sign of a nimble mind.
Watched to the end. I'd rank this in my top 10 best information videos I've seen on the Tube.
so....a home depot bucket, a toilet seat on top with a biodegradeable bag and using some type of animal litter, a chore of once a day throwing away a bag of poo as you do with a cat for instance is really the way to go. less expensive than all and something most people with pet cats do anyway.
Hahahahaha!
I go even smaller in my 22' van...I have the liner of an "instapot" with a bag in it - hahaha
-tie it up and throw it away. Also use public toilets when I can!
I can’t believe I just spent over an hour of my life watching this……..brilliant and thorough review of portable toilets! I have a VW camper and am looking to change up my Thetford 365 for something, less chemical and water dependent and also a bit less splashy when emptying. Being a lady of a certain age I use the loo a lot overnight and feel that a urine full indicator is a must have to avoid overspill. 💦 😮
Your potty vocabulary is top-notch. Love all the euphemisms haha. Made me laugh out loud while learning about these essential van life companions.
Also, would you guys ever do a video about van security? I'd be interested in learning what you have learned over the years
I agree, he is quite the potty mouth
@@BlackHeartScyther😂
Not all hero's wear capes sir, some wear ready set van t-shirts, thanks for this video
LOL "Here's my air fryer, please don't crap in it" ... still laughing at this statement. Great informative video.
Thanks mate for the time spent reviewing all these thunder boxes. I think the OGO Composting toilet has my vote. Cheers !!!
I got the squirts !
The" Laveo" reminds of Jiffy Pop. Or Jiffy Poop, in this instance.
So many hysterical comments with your dry sense of humor. I’m 😅laughing. You are perfect for this video. Thank you.
We've had the Laveo DryFlush for a few months now, and it's been a game changer for us. It's a good height, feels like a real toilet, and haven't had a problem disposing of the bag/cassette thing. In fact, you can put it in a regular garbage can. It's been a lot less of a hassle than anything else we've tried.
Please don’t tell me it doesn’t stink beyond belief during use. The afterwords I agree must be great.
Do you pack around 💩 bags for several days or?..
"You could have a 'totally hot' trash can, and never even know it"....LMFAO! Great comprehensive and detailed review. Bottoms up, way up!
I want Laveo and Separett Tiny to combine forces. Lemonade goes in the pitcher, brownies in the bag. I saw something similar to Laveo where the flush system would seal the brownie bag after each flush (so that you don't have to wait until the entire foil cartridge is used up before disposing. yuck.)
I'm imagining a system kind of like how individually packaged bags of Doritos are made. Brownies go in, bag is sealed and cut, and then drops into a bin. Each flush gives you a little sealed bag of brownies you can then throw away as soon as you want.
Biodegradable bags too. Great idea.
What about when you get the runs. Omg. These all suck. It happens.
One more toilet to mention is the Wrappon Toilet which is similar to the dryflush but individually seals the business
Total barrier to being out without a toilet. This really helps!
I am getting ready to retire. In preparation for that I will be custom building a small towable trailer with the intent to travel throughout north america. I found this entertaining as well as educational. Thank you for taking the time to present these popular methods of waste control and disposal.
I call mine the Kamala throne .
We used the nature’s head for ten years on our small houseboat. The separator function was different and worked very well. When the latch was closed it allowed “all” the liquid to flow forward into the bottle. It looks like they tried to copy the more recent competitors with the molded piece. Customer service was excellent and personal. Properly loaded there were no problems with the “product” being stuck in the corners.
It important for people who suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel or overall strength issues to be aware if you can not lift 2 gallons of milk, you probably can't lift a toilet to empty it.
This was the most extensive review on van toilets I’ve ever seen. I agree about the older ones that remain expensive but have not evolved through the years. Currently I have a bucket with a Johnny compost diverter (eBay $20) and a seat/lid. It’s not luxurious, but I paid less than $50. It’s hard to spend 1k when this does what I need it to do. Thanks- your new subscriber.
Thank you for the time you put into this. It is very helpful as we are an older couple converting a cargo trailer to a camper and do not want to worry about a black tank. We have been considering the composting toilets but it is interesting to see all the options as well as pros and cons. Very well done with good info and good humor. 😁
I never knew I could be so entertained by a toilet video. Very well done sir 🎉😂. I’m doing a Cargo trailer conversion and I’m considering two luggable loos surrounded by a wooden frame. This way there will be no danger of the milk and brownies sharing space 😆
Another CTC here and so far have only used 1 bucket for #1. I have thought about this idea too and wondered why more people don’t discuss this option. However with age / circumstances beyond some people’s control - a separator I think is the way to go at least on one of the 2 options just in case.😉 Example: 1 Trelino type and 1 bucket.
One option you missed is the Throne Composting toilet. It started as a DIY kit but also comes fully assembled. I like that it uses a regular elongated seat, so it is more comfortable for my big a... and "tackle box". It separates and layers in a bucket, no odors in my RV.
Great informative video! Well done. Comments on the install of the OGO. The vent outlet rotates. Great for vent pipe placement when space is tight. The intake and vent fans can be swapped from side to side. Super useful for exacting install. The agitator button and pee light can also be switched over although OGO didn't leave a hole for that swap so you have to drill your own but easy to re-run the wiring due to the wago connectors. Also, the plug and vent pipe can be easily removed after install if you need to remove the toilet temporarily, to have more space in the shower for example.
Ben, great video! Nice job and thank you for including us. Can't wait to see it installed and get your honest feedback. You can remove the solids bin from the top you will just move (push) the trap door up with the bin or your hand. Best wishes!!
I’m developing an off grid property & this video has really gone over all the option of which I am aware! Excellent explanation of each type & the options within each method!! Thank you for explaining this topic in an entertaining manner! I agree with the earlier comment that “ don’t crap in my air fryer” is the best line!
Boxio is better than what you have just shown, for the lid there is already a cord to fix it and for the inlet there is a handle. Boxio works for us now for 2 years absolutely great.
I bought a boxio before seeing this video, it also has a plug that goes into the urine hole. My issue is NZ legislation for freedom camping says it needs to be ventilated according to manufacture instructions or needs to be sealed. The lid does not form a air tight seal and the NZ freedom camping inspectors say I can’t modify the toilet 🤷🏼♀️ I did wonder about making a sealed vented box to house the boxio but unsure if they would accept that . Not throwing away a perfectly great toilet to appease lawmakers that prefer chemical loos over environmentally friendly ones. Any tips here ?
Amazingly helpful.
Just started transforming my 3.5t Lutin van (box van with bit over cab) for full time living
Now i know what toilet i will get.
Cheers brother
This was such a comprehensive video on rv/van toilets! Thanks so much‼️
This is absolutely the most thorough discussion of toilet options on YT. But you left out arguably the best dry flush toilet- the Wrappon Trekker. It has Laveo's "flush it and forget" approach, but with more convenience and portability. It's like a one used bucket toilet that ties up the contents for you.
$1.50 / flush for that one. (sigh)
@@keithprice3369 Yeah, its not cheap. But you only have to flush when it's full (or stinky)!
Sorry, but I think the Wrappon is expensive both financially and eco-wise.
@@dross24MA I agree. To your first point, there are now Chinese knockoffs that cost ~$500. To your second point, it'd be nice if their propriety bags were biodegradable. But the fact is, a lot of toilet options in real world application, require using a plastic bag for disposal.
Thanks for the work you put in it was a big help i had been trying to find something for grandma and i didn't crap about portable toilet options
I have the Trelino that you showed. It was slightly different but most cosmetic. It cost $525 and the small ones were about $325. 3 different heights available. I really like mine. For me, it is easier to use because it is taller. Very convenient. Even if the bottle would overflow, the basic unit would hold it in and could easily be rinsed out saving a disaster in your van. Totally worth every penny.
Great Video! Very helpful for us during or Cargo Trailer conversion. We converted a bus 4 years ago and went with the five gallon pail and diverter pee bottle. What a mess. We remodeled and went with the incinolet and it worked very well. The draw back was the ungodly odor for an hour. Incinolet said that the process didn't smell. Wrong!!!
Great coverage, - however on the Thetford 565 with the electronic flush as an owner of this, I wanted to give you the honest, - unabridged pros and cons. The Pros, are that it is a tall and comfortable to sit on and we got the optional floor mount that they sell for it to keep it attached to the floor of our 28 foot Winebago that we made completely camp-ground free. The toilet paper holder on the side was pretty useless and came apart after about three months use but not a deal breaker. The cons. When the waster tank is full it is NOT like he shows in the video, - simply carry it out by the handle "Oh look how easy".. No.. The bottom tank holds nearly 5 gallons of waste and though I tell myself I'm emptying it every three days, I nearly never do and wind up lifting the very heavy tank to dispose of. It has handles in the front and back and you will use them both to take this to where your dumping. I have emptied this out at welcome center rest stops once, but usually Pilot or Flying J have dump stations and water. When we dock at my parents house in the midwest when it's full I dump this in the house toilet and it's "doable". By far in our quest to be campground free and off-grid the pros far outweigh the cons for this. As a backup we got the Boxio composting toilet and I used it once and it worked awesome.
First of all, many thanks for sorting through all the toilets! That's a great help to many folks! I have a Trobolo toilet and it is the model that sits higher than the example shown. The higher height is perfect! The toilet is comfortable. I wish the urine container was larger but it will last two days if I am alone. At first I had difficulty being sure the urine made it into the separate container but with experience that became a non-issue. The toilet is very well made and I appreciate that it is made in Germany so I am avoiding Chinese garbage that looks good but doesn't hold up.
Some of these manufacturers forgot one important aspect of these products - size and portability. Some of these products, even if nice, they are like taking the toilet from your home and bringing with you on the camping trip. Besides that - thank you for the very nice overview/review of these products.
Well done Mate, It answered ALL my questions & I didn't have to say a thing. Once again well done.
For pretty much my entire life, I've been what you call "an indoorsy" girl. I don't know what happened to me but I am now hoping to plan a 6 month van/rv trip all over North America. This video on toilets has been AMAZING :) Answered all my questions. I watched it yesterday and today my husband and I are watching it together. If that doesn't spell romance I don't know what does. Thank you!
I don’t know what happened to me either, I’m caring less about material things and living on less, bought a van and taking my first trip from Minnesota to Detroit Michigan this month.
I really like how Thorough you are. The pros and cons are very clear. You did a great job😊
To say that I was disappointed when that really was an air fryer would be an understatement.
Thank you! My first look and answers a lot. Next to research what to do with the compost and possible disaster such as near misses.
Thank you for your incredibly thorough review of so many toilets. We are getting ready to have a van built and have been interested in the tiny by separret. I'm happy you spoke so highly of them as it makes me feel better about the initial expenditure. Thanks again.
We have the Separett Tiny in our Rv for 2 years now and it is absolutely fantastic!
Thank you so much for taking the time to go over all these options!
I wasn’t planning on watching the whole thing but it was so entertaining that I couldn’t resist. My favorite. “Burning Man is kind of a challenging environment. If we lived in a society that valued toilet rights, Burning Man would be one gigantic war crime.”
We just traveled for a month in a rented van with a traditional black tank system. We were curious what all the other options were. Thanks for putting this together. You make Sir John Harrington proud.
Thank you for this video🙏 Very informative! We are trying to decide what toilet to put in our motorhome and this was exactly the info we needed.
Great video, Ben! Thank you!! (Discovered your channel this weekend! Happy to learn you are right here in Trenton\Hamilton!)
Fascinating. I’m considering a tiny house, or even a basement toilet. We really need to stop wasting water on regular toilets
I am building my tiny house on wheels we have a cassette toilet
It's not wasting water, it's utilizing water for sanitary reasons, the water doesn't go away, we're still using the same water the dinosaurs pooped in , the earth recycles it
Well it was a great educational video. I had no idea that there were that many options. Great job Ben!!
I got a medium size Trelino with a wooden lid held in place by magnets instead of the soft close plastic lid. The lid does not bounce off when I am driving. The lid is completely removed when the toilet is used. The wooden lid allows the Trelino to also be a small table or foot stool. I got this when I was still tent camping, but planning to buy a van for a DIY camper. The Trelino fit under my camping cot and is currently kept under the bed I built for my van. The medium size Trelino is about the size of a milk crate or bankers box and it is a bit taller than the small size without being too tall to tuck under the bed. It is comfortable to use. As a female, I have had no issues with where to sit for proper separation of pee and poo. I did make a small modification to the pee jug to help make it easier to completely empty. I cut a 5/8 inch hole in one of the upper corners of the jug and used a rubber stopper to seal it. When I empty it, I remove the stopper and pour through the hole like a tea kettle. because the hole is in a corner, it is easier to completely empty the jug than it was when I removed the lid from the center of the top of the box-shaped jug. The stopper was actually sold as an accessory by Trelino, probably to plug the urine hole in the separator, but I never used it for that. I empty my Trelino after one or two days of use. It is mostly used after dark or before sunrise. It is never very full when I empty it, but I empty it frequently so it won't become full.
Good idea about using their anti-splash plug in a new disposal hole!
We have the cuddy - love it. Agree agitator misses corners which is why we keep our little camp shovel in closet with cuddy
The fan is very quiet - we had a 12 volt outlet installed in toilet closet. Good set up
You have made a very sensible and practical video. Thank you 😊 I have one comment regarding the composting toilets contra the separation toilets using a bag to hold No. 2. Now, I have used a Separett Villa toilet in my cabin for 10 years, and I absolutely love it. It functions as a composting toilet because I empty it out in a bin at the back of my garden occasionally. I always do this the day I'll be mowing the lawn. So after emptying the toilet bag, I throw in an armful of grass cuts etc immediately afterwards. And then I leave the whole thing for at least a year to compost. - I think, that keeping a composting toilet in a van is absolutely pointless. The toilet will have to be emptied every month or less. And at that time nothing has been turned into dirt. The human waste and the toilet paper will be easily recognizable and cannot be dumped in nature! And the bin must be very, and where do you go to clean such a thing! 🫣 Conclusion: I do agree with you that the Separett Tiny is the best choice, or one of the cheaper ones of the same kind. As long as you use a pea can ad well as a bucket lined with a plastic bag to keep your waste separate you'll be fine 🤗 Lene from Elsinore
Thanks for making this really useful and informative video. It helped me decide what would work best for me and saved lot of research time! I have only one comment which might improve your presentation. You look at all the relevant information except how easy the unit is to clean. I get that most men don't clean the toilet, but someone has to and you do not address this essential chore. Some regular toilets are much easier to clean than others, and I am sure this is also the case for van toilets. I was trying to figure out what cleaning the unit would be like, but it would be great if you actually address this in your comparison. Maybe add this in your next iteration! Thanks again for a really helpful video that is completely about informing your audience, not trying to sell me something! Bravo!
Thanks for the reviews. I’m in the infancy of researching toilets for a proposed tiny house.
Cheers,
John from Down Under 🇦🇺
Fantastic video. So helpful ! I love how you balanced excellent information with a sense of humor.
I have an air head for almost 2 years in a bus and I aam now in South Carolina. It is pretty easy to clean but I seems that is needs to be cleaned out every two or three weeks with full time usage ( 1 person). The biggest issue for me is bugs in the summer. I have tried different types of composting material, diatomaceous earth and gnatrol. Nothing seems to work. Looking for another option, maybe a smaller bin the needs to be emptied more often but is much easier to empty.
Tackle box got me 🤣
Yes! 😂
Thanks so much! RV toilets are no longer a mystery!
"If you're out there in the world....having a great time.....and then the good Lord decides to speak to you....." OMG! haha
Fantastic review. Enthralling. Because it was so long, I needed to break my viewing time into view number one and view number two. The second view was longer. Of course it was. :) Despite its length, the video was a delightful combination of insightful and entertaining. Thanks.
I’ll never look at an air fryer again without laughing
Dry Flush toilets like the Laveo is the best possible solution in our circumstances. We have about 8 months use with the Laveo and find it is truly a flush and forget experience. Very sanitary, odor free, no cleaning of any kind. Not having to deal with the waste in any way means zero ick factor. Disposal of the cassette into the nearest trash/ dumpster is very convenient. You can confidently leave a half filled cassette in the toilet for weeks and no odor or leakage etc. You mentioned possible leaks in the Mylar but it’s also in a full plastic bag liner and in a plastic bin so no way it will ever leak into the toilet body itself. The main downsides are initial cost of toilet, the cost per flush and for some the amount of plastic and Mylar liner going into the land fill. For managed use over a 3 day trip two people can easily get by with one cassette. That’s been our experience. We use public bathrooms when traveling and if staying at a campground we use their bathroom during the day. The toilet reserved for nighttime and emergencies or when a public bathroom is not available etc. We also have the Wrappon Trekker dry flush toilet system which works in a similar fashion. Instead of a continuous Mylar cassette it uses a vacuum heat seal bag to seal each deposit separately into a medium size ziplock bag sized packet. Easily disposed of in any trash can. There are no less then 5 dry flush toilets on the market now. $600 to $$1600 so lots of options. I have a side by side review of the Laveo and Trekker so you can click on my Avatar and go to our UA-cam channel and check that video out. Good luck to all on their choice of toilet. It really is a difficult choice and it all depends on how you plan to use it, how strong your stomach is and ultimately your budget.
I’m a 60+ woman and I use a urine bottle (laundry detergent) with a girl funnel. I find it easy for late night. I have a bucket with coconut core for #2. I’ve been using them for years. My trips are usually no longer than 4 days so this solution has worked for me. I like the simplicity of function and clean-up.
ROTFLMAO! Thanks for updating your old review. I'm full-time on the road and would like to get rid of cassette toilet but the tech is just not there yet for composting toilets - there's a good reason sewage treatment systems were developed as you note.
Thank you for one of the most detailed looks at camper toilet options great light hearted humour and user knowledge, definitely worth a watch
That was a crap load of information and well worth watching. Luking forward to your hands on review of the Ogo.
Excellent and very educational video. Thank you for taking the time to expain all the options. As of now, I'm still in none of the above category.
Layering like a …. Cake 😂 you did a great job
This has been valuable as I’m on my journey to occupy a pop up on my vintage Chevy pickup. 👍
Thank you for this indepth review video of the various types of mobile toilets. It helped me finalize my purchase decision.
What did you end up going with?
Ogo
Trelino works for me, although yes, pricey for a square bucket. I was dying trying to count how many euphemisms you could come up with in one video. I lost count at 'baking brownies'.
Good demo. Missed seeing the C-head composting toilet. I use one and does have pros and cons. Biggest advantage, doesn't require power. Otherwise, great.
Awesome video, you gave me great advice for my van build. thank You!!!!
I installed the Tiny Separett in my RV. I absolutely love it! It's so nice not having to deal with a black tank.
Attaching a hose and pulling a handle was too much work?
@@Liimpy It takes more than that to properly care for a black tank.
@jgassa not really. You dump it, close the valve, dump a 5gal bucket of water down the toilet, toss in a packet, and it's ready to use again.. I've been doing it for 10 years now.. pretty simple, am I missing something
@jgassa I've actually installed a bidet in my camper, once you have hot water cleaning, and warm air dry.. you'll never go back to wiping, I promise you.. ✌️
I have the Trelino with the wooden top. I got the tall one because I have really bad knees. It's Perfect!!! The urine jug lasts a long time and everything is easy to change out or empty. I have to say, I'm happy to see that you don't seem to love the Nature's Head. It seemed so hard to empty and clean. The Trelino is expensive, but it's super sturdy and haven't had any issues with it.
Just purchased a Trelino - medium size for my cabin in Alaska. Will see how it works out. Don't have power for the ventilated type, no dependable solar either.
Really nice job on the video. A great place for people start.
We have been camper vanning/RVing since the 60's and have had just about all of them.
Our new one is a DIY urine separating and actively ventilated. As you pointed out they are pretty simple - buy the urine seperator and combine with a bucket, a bottle and a little carpentry and you are in business. Another nice feature of DIY is you can add features - ours has a magazine/map pocket, TP holder, and it has an upholstered top that serves as an extra seat.
You can get some nice kits to DIY one from Germany.
Thank you for this video! I'm designing/dreaming of my ideal tiny home and I wanted to know what the options are and how livable a composting toilet is. This video was SUPER helpful if only for the info that the Nature's Head is too dang tall for my short little legs. I am putting the OGO composting toilet on my install list. Thank you VERY much.
Very good succinct information. Would like more information about smells - how effective are the separator WCs about smell. Is an exhaust necessary?
Been thinking of this company to build an upgrade van for me. The fact he knows all about toilets show how much experience he has accumulated in the RV world. I use a cassette toilet in a Solis and love it but it does have an odor from the chemical I use...
Have been considering the OGO for our off grid trailer. one bit of the thinking is extending time off grid by reducing water use in the toilet.
Love to see you review the Joolca GottaGo. I'm very interested in that toilet for my new van.
So here is my 2 cents. I have the airhead which you didn’t show. Virtually the same as the natures head but none of the issues you expressed. Everything lifts straight up. You could overflow the pee tank though. I had an issue with driving over 50 the fan isn’t strong enough so I added an extra fan that runs when the van is running only. It is completely odorless. No one seems to be honest about that laveo in my opinion. With no active ventilation don’t tell me it doesn’t stink while in use. Changing a diaper in a bedroom can stink up a whole house tell me how a load sitting in a dry bag doesn’t stink until the machine wraps it up and blows the stench out closing that bag. The whole van would be overcome and please don’t tell me how the 20 dollar rv vent in your bathroom solves that,not to mention people who don’t have a bathroom. If I could solve that problem I would probably switch to the laveo. I’ve considered a serious inline fan vented through the floor.
Just purchased the ogo 12v option. Hoping it works well. Thanks for the solid video!!
We’re looking to put some kind of toilet in an outbuilding on a concrete slab where plumbing’s not an option & this video has been super helpful.
I have a Laveo Dry flush in my tiny house. It is a bit more maintenance than described. You skipped the step where you install a heavy duty trash bag into the unit before you put the cassette in. This makes it pretty easy to empty without damaging the Mylar. If you want to get the most out of it, using a pee bottle is a bonus. If you 'make lemonade' in it you have to put the pee powder (which is not cheap) in it and wait to flush, otherwise the liquid will just rise to the top and escape the bag, making you flush again. I paid $2300CAD ($1665USD) for it and the cassettes cost (with shipping) $50CAD ($36USD) per cassette, so a bit pricey. The amount of flushes you get depends on how much you load that thing up ;-). Consider the size of the actual bowl you may fill the thing before the Mylar bag material runs out. So limiting what you 'flush' to just what you absolutely need to, is key. Maybe only put the toilette paper in for 'baking brownies'. At my age, I could not see myself dealing with compost so the bonus is that you just put this to the curb with the rest of your garbage. Like anything else, its a thing you live with and discover your own way of making it work. I considered the incineration toilet (which is twice the cost initially) but the maintenance reviews were not hopeful so I went with the dry flush. I have only been using it for a couple of months and am still learning. Thanks for showing all the options in one video, it was very informative.
I find a dedicated wide-mouthed thick plastic bottle, like the Nalgene or one similar to the Talenti ice cream, but larger, work just fine for a female to pee with no mess. Thank you so much for such a wonderful compilation and I appreciate this very much!
Holy crapper PHD Crapper I am Impressed.
Shopping and this is a information packed cliff hanger. Thank You!
Oh my mom always taught me to keep the lever closed on the port-a-potty until you need to flush to avoid smells coming up whilst pooping
Thanks for the 'tour' of the options available!
Cinderella has been a NIGHTMARE to work with. Save yourself from being out like 5k. Just dont do it. They will go to any length to blame you for any issues with their product. Everything voids the warranty to them and no matter what it's your fault. (Even if its something not even possible to be your fault.) Mine didn't even last a full year. Thinking of trying the OGO next- thanks so much for this video!
It is so great to have a detailed review of so many options all in one place. Your eclectic use of a wide range of euphemisms for potty items is histerical. Dealing with bathroom stuff is definitely my #1 concern for vanlife. I can't wait to see how toilet technology develops over the next decades until we are ready to get on the road.
I laughed at "brownies and lemonade", and I'm definitely going to use those terms from now on!
Renovating an old Gulfstream and trying to decide what to do. Great information!
Your euphemisms alone made watching this worthwhile. “Sticky Ickies” indeed.
Top notch video man! We all need to solve this issue and you've shared the essential info for decision making with humor and grace. Definitely leaning towards the Ogo vented unit for my build. Would have been Nature's head but it's too tall.