Whether you are primitive camping, have a favorite tent site or use a pop-up camper for your outdoor adventures, you are probably missing one thing that would make your outing much more comfortable. Can you guess what it is? Well, if you have ever experienced ‘nature calling’ without a bathroom facility in the immediate vicinity- you guessed correctly- that one thing is a portable toilet. In fact, if you have females or kids in your camping party, a portable camping toilet can make everyone’s trip much more enjoyable.
Portable toilets are often referred to as “camping toilets,” but they’re not just limited to camping trips. Portable toilets are used any place where traditional facilities are inconvenient or absent entirely—from boats to campsites to cabins to workshops.
There are lots of different options when you’re shopping for a portable loo. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to all the various setups you can use, and show you a few of the best we’ve found. Our in-depth reviews will help you learn about the pros and cons of each approach and each model in particular.
Portable toilets and chemicals are important for caravanners and campers alike. When you need to go to the toilet it’s great to have access to one of your ‘home comforts’ even when you’re away from home, but when you’re staying in a caravan or camping you don’t have the all-important plumbing that takes it all away.
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5 Things When Buying a Portable Camping Toilet
Waste Disposal
Your portable toilet will need emptying at some stage. The question is where do you empty it? While water flush toilets are in some ways more convenient to use they do need special sites to empty them. Many RV sites have these facilities but if you are traveling in the wilds emptying can become a little more problematic. Many areas have restrictions on buying such waste – so check before you travel. Biodegradable sacks, specifically designed for portable camping toilets, are easier to dispose of in open countryside. They usually contain a powder that turns liquid waste to solids. These can then be buried. They should be at least 6” deep and at least 100 yards away from any water source. Toilet paper can take the longest to break down, so it is preferable to have rapidly disintegrating toilet paper (which can usually be found in camping supply stores).
Volume of Toilet
If you are, for example, going away as a couple for an overnight camp, you will obviously need a smaller toilet that if you are going away, as a family, for a week or so. When you are looking to buy a flush toilet it often gives examples of how many flushes the toilet can cope with before emptying. It’s not an exact science, but it will give you an idea of the size of toilet you will need.
Ease of Use
While RV parks and boating marinas usually have a dedicated toilet area, when camping the toilet often needs to be set up each time you stop for any period of time. Part of the selection process in selecting the best portable toilets in our reviews was the simplicity and speed offsetting the toilet up ready to use, it should be born in minds that the location in which you wish to use the toilet can be a factor to consider.
Dimensions of Toilet
Both flush and bag disposal toilets come in a variety of sizes, not just the volume of waste that they can take, but also the measurements. In boats and RVs, where space is often at a premium, take a careful note of the toilets dimensions before you buy. In addition to fitting the toilet into the space, you also need extra space around it to allow for removing the waste container for emptying.
When hiking, the size of the toilet is even more important and possibly a choice of the Cleanwaste Portable Toilet or the Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Complete Toilet System may be worth some consideration. Another important factor, especially for larger people, is the weight capacity that each toilet can take.
Privacy
Most people, when thinking of a portable toilet, think of camping or boating. Another situation where portable toilets can be advantageous is for picnics or tailgate parties. The Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Complete Toilet System is one of the few portable toilets that comes complete with a privacy shelter. But there are several privacy shelters that can be purchased separately that will provide a private are to use the toilet.
