We just got one of these for the boat, and we really like it! We needed something that I can easily carry out of a rocking boat up narrow steps through tight spaces, so this rules out all of the crank-type systems. The removable waste bucket fits the bill. This little humanure-type system is super simple, and the polypropylene is really easy to clean. We experimented and found that the solid waste smell was minimal even without the fan, but the fan helps keep the washroom humidity down. Helpful hint: two cups of white vinegar in the liquids container prevents any smell at all!
Also those saying it isn't a composting toilet... no, alone it doesn't compost, it is part of a system that can be used to compost... just like a "countertop compost bin" isn't actually composting, it is a collector for a compost pile. It is what the industry and users have decided to call that style of toilet though, so as they are all called that, then that is what they are now.
One downside of the urine tank in this is that it's hidden. So you can't see its level. In a Nature's head, the entire tank is transparent, which is nasty but certainly helps you see that it's filling up and prevents you from peeing into a full tank which might be quite nasty. And the Airhead has a clear strip, that also shows level very prominently on the outside of the unit.
"Composting" means a specific thing. Granted, the material in an Airhead or Nature's Head doesn't have time to actually compost, but it definitely starts the process. And the emptying process is not disgusting at all unless you're extremely fastidious. It's pouring dirt into a bag. If a person can't handle pouring dirt into a bag, they are probably too prissy to live in an RV anyway. It's still much less disgusting than emptying out a stinky, nasty black tank full of sewage, and let's not even talk about what happens when said black tank malfunctions and starts burping back stench into the vehicle, for instance. Or even flooding sewage back into it. None of which can happen with a composting toilet. However, reading up on the instructions from Sun-Mar, they say nothing of layering in plastic bags, and they do say you need to have coconut coir in this as well, and to pour some more in after each use, so it is intended to be a real composting toilet, just without the stirring function. Which means you can line it with a bag first and then lift out the bag. This is both a positive and a negative compared to the stirring models.
Another innovating helpful product you have helped your RV/Van community with~ Thank you for everything you research & test that prove useful~ you seem to always think outside the box~
Though I plan to have a composting toilet I can’t believe that they are so expensive!!! They are not a technological miracle! $600-$1000 for a little-tykes toilet makes me insane! But thanks for the review. That definitely looks much better then the others.
I could see myself using this. It has answered many questions and doubts I had about composting toilets. However much it costs, I'd be willing to buy it. I'm researching vanlife for travel to escape midwestern winters.
Yes, I do agree this does not appear to be a true composting toilet. I think what he has is what they call in Alaska (and in the older days) a "honey bucket."
As a VanDweller I have used a “dry” toilet for the past 5 years and There’s a couple of problems I see with this particular toilet. Number one cost, 600+ dollars for a toilet is a little much in my book. Number two there is no way to visually see how much urine you have in the jug. That can lead to overflowing the jug. Two gallons is a lot of urine and that could lead to orders. And thirdly one has to remove the diverter to take out the urine jug when it needs emptying, not something people want to touch no matter how clean you keep it. I think with a little tweaking this could be an absolute game changer as far as Boondocking toilets go. Thanks for your review.
Couldn't you lift the jug a little to see how much urine is in it? The diverter has a lot of area one could hold to take it out. If someone was soiling that far up on the diverter in my rv Sun-Mar they'd have to find another place to go relieve themself or they'd have the job of cleaning it.
I don’t own a composting toilet yet but have been researching them all. As far as I can tell all of them you have to lift the urine tank out to see the level so not sure why that would be an issue. I really like this one as described by him. The Natures Head seems to be a good one but I will have to remove it from my shower pan to take a shower so this one looks to be easier to remove.
My son and I built one that doesn't have a viewer because he said it was gross when I suggested it... and realistically, I had no desire to crouch down at floor level to look at pee through a tiny window. It is very easy to check, I just lift the seat and look down. I've found though that we have a good feel now for when it needs to be changed. I suspect the same thing with this one, you just lift the diverter and check. As for touching, I clean ours every few days anyway like I would a regular toilet and end up touching it, just as I do when I clean the toilet at home and have to lift the seat assembly and give it a good clean. I touch this one less than when I had preschool-aged sons at home who couldn't pee straight and had to clean up after them.
Per the instruction for it (link on the Sales page listed above in the description for the video), you need to add bulking material such as peat moss (to reduce the moisture content of the solids and permit composting action) and possibly organism mix for the unit to compost the crap (like most composting toilets). The reason for the cost difference is that this unit does not evaporate the liquid waste as do the others that cost ~$400 more, so you are left with dealing with the collected urine and other liquid waste.
Steve that company makes a variety of different toilet types. Including a waterless version that has expensive cassettes (which I would not choose). This one and the Separett Weekend are far superior.
We simply line our toilet in our Casita with a plastic bag. Put the seat down. Put in a handful of kitty litter or coconut fiber to absorb liquid. Do #1 or #2 or both. Close the lid. At daylight, tie off bag , place in a 5 gal. bucket and seal. Keep outside. Dispose of when possible. No clean up of toilet needed. No residual odors. Bathroom has a fan vent. The featured toilet in this video, as many people have commented, is not a composting toilet. A luggable loo for about 20.00 , not including 2 5 gal. buckets with lids for about 10.00 is a better value for many situations. There is something out there for everybody.
I've been trying to talk the hubby into swamping out our RV toilet for a composting one. He hated the idea of lifting the entire base up to shake out the debris. Currently we do not poo in ours only using it for liquids. I'm thinking maybe getting a luggable loo to keep in the shower for the solids. Using coconut core each time and it's light enough to pick up and shake instead of using a stirring thing. No fan. But at least it will be a good experiment to see if we can manage composting before we make a permanent swap. Oh btw our swap would include a diverter of liquids into the black tank. Any thoughts from this RV community?
Curious about the smell. With no way to "stir" the solids, even if you put in wood chips, sawdust, etc. you've basically got a 4-week old bucket of poo sitting there. I thought the agitators in other toilets helped with the drying of the contents (cutting down on smell), but this design lacks that. Sure the smell gets pulled out by the fan...but the smell outside...that's gotta be pretty raw. Especially if you vent through the floor! Can anybody comment on the long-term outdoor smell for this model?
For my purposes, I'll keep my black tank. For other times, four parts water to one part you know what ratio is good liquid plant food. A shovel and eight inches of digging for the other.
My biggest questions are, doesn't the exhaust stink up the area around you on a still day? and would like to actually see the cleaning / maintenance procedures. I'm thinking more along the lines of an incinerator, but this was a good, educational video. Thanks!
The Cinderella brand toilets do exist, and they have the Cinderella Motion incinerator that is fueled by propane. One slight drawback might be the fact that it's literally 10 times more expensive than this unit, and I believe Cinderella are still working on approval in the US (available in the EU already though.)
I just ordered a TinyJohn Incinerating toilet to replace the standard water toilet in my rv. I will let you know how it goes as soon as I get it working. If I did not go with the TinyJohn, I'd definitely get this GTG.
We have a homemade version of this, a number of people are commenting that there is no way of viewing. I was going to make a viewing port and my son (who was building the fiberglass shell with me) flatly refused saying it was gross. It really hasn't been an issue, I lift the seat and can look down and check easily if I want, but frankly, after a while you get to have a feel for when you need to empty the jug. We've been using ours part-time with a 1 1/2 gallon jug and we've never come close to a problem. I also have a backup jug with me that we can switch out if we need to... which is also useful if you need to do an enzyme soak.
Cost is a great selling point compared to the alternatives except the old fashion bucket. I wouldn't suggest to anyone to try to drive over the parts. Polypropylene can break and break down with a extreme temperatures. Definitely a product to check into. I like the 2 gallon urine collection reservoir. Good vid.
Again.. Thank You for the very useful information. Not only can I use this in my cabin but I can put it in my van or travel trailer when I am traveling.
I cannot express how much I appreciate your videos. I have been very concerned about what type of toilet I will put in my van build. Most I've seen so far are very low to the ground. I have severe arthritis in both knees. This toilet is as high as a chair high toilet. Thank you for this and all your great videos.
Thanks for adding another competitor to my list of composting toilets. The Airhead had the lead over Nature’s Head for me but this GTG unit may just take over as it’s $400 less than it’s competitors. Thank you again!
Have you ever used it? Also, this is not a composting toilet. It does seem like it fits a niche that is currently missing, but not the composting niche, at least not the way it was described here. It looks like you could use it like a composting toilet if you didn't use the bags, but the solids container looks to be about half the size of the NH.
I wana see how this compares with a Nature's Head Compost toilet. Anyone out there who can share their experience thatll help others decide on which system is the best?
I have used the Natures Head for about 4 years and I love it, makes boondocking easy. For two of us the we could go about 6 weeks before we had to empty the solids, the liquid tank was usually about 2 days. Very Easy to clean and is solid, you do have to remove to empty the solids but it was pretty easy.
The nature's head has a stirrer. This one would need peat moss added after each use as a "flush" since it doesn't have a stirrer I would think. Seems like the stirring would start the composting process so it wouldn't be as stinky when emptying it out. I have a nature's head, but I haven't emptied the composting part yet, as I only use it about once a week. So it's lasted all summer. The nature's head also has a flap to open when going number 2, so you don't need to open it when only going number 1. This one looks open all the time.
Thanks for sharing the info on the composting toilet. I think this item would also be usefull for those on a septic system, just saying. Be safe. Peace
This is awesome! It is pretty much exactly what I was going to build out of wood. This is a better option I think. You are new to me but already more helpful and informative than most. Thanks! Subscribed and liked!
Great review! It's nice to see more options out there! So much better than the basic bucket method. And, easier to deal with than a lot of the composting toilets on the market. This is a great choice for a lot of people. Thank you for sharing new products and information. I know it has given me some new ideas.
Thank you for your wonderful help! I am a widow that has worked since 5 years old. I believe in learning how to do for yourself. My goal is to boondock and travel the rest of my life. I am blessed with good health and the ability to want to learn. I appreciate your instructions in the videos and I know I will study and figure the best plan for me. Thanks Sunny
Thanks for this and the other posted videos. I just discovered you today and looking forward to using the things learned to better my boondocking experience.
What does the bottom look like will it Allow for the height of the flange because I have two composting set up’s and neither one of them will sit flat over the flange that covers the black water tank and one of them they rock One company let me cut out the bottom some but it was a real pain and it’s never worked exactly perfect so what we need is sides to come down lower than the bottom so the bottom of the toilet to be up a little bit so that it will sit flat on the floor, over the flange. Will this sit flat over that mounting flange as well as the cover for the pipe? To stop black water take Oder. I cleaned out the black tank today. But not sure if it will work
Unlike the residential type, the rv toilet flange screws off. First, remove the screws, then rotate the flange counterclockwise. You may need a hammer and screwdriver. Happy camping.
What effect does the fan have on your AC since it's basically exhausting cooled air from the RV while it's running? Do you leave the fan running or just have it on until until the system has been emptied?
Great question. The windows and exhaust fans are kept closed while I am running the heat pump. The fans in the heat pump are controlled by the unit's processor.
The Lugable Loo does not separate feces from urine. Sewage smell largely arises from no separation. So separation is helpful; and easier for men. This dry toilet separates urine into a bottle which is then carried to be emptied into a toilet or wherever. The feces are collected in plastic bags and disposed of by composting, or, more commonly, just as dog waste is...tossed in a garbage pail.
The liquid is used to water the local foliage or as he said in the video, dumped in the black tank. The solids, once the garbage bag lining the bucket is full, go in a garbage can. Some would scoff at this but I would argue that it's no different then chucking baby diapers. From experience, be careful not to rip the bag.
Good point. You really need to add and On and OFF 12Vdc switch and use it when you need it. Additionally you really need a way to block it (plumbing valve) as the wind generated by driving down the road can often blow back into the vehicle through this vent and stink up your vehicle even if the fan is on as it is not very powerful. By the way the seat is elongated.
It's a tiny little 60 mm fan I would imagine, same as in a Nature's Head or Airhead. They draw tiny tiny amounts of power and it would probably be barely noticeable compared to any other power draws in an RV.
Now that you won't be using your blackwater take for sewage, you can modify your plump so this tank can be used for Freshwater or Gray water. Any plans on doing this?
Great job presenting the info. What do u do with the urine? Just empty it into a toilet somewhere or pour it on the ground or what? I agree, the whole carrying and emptying those cumbersome composting toilets has been a deterrent. This seems as effortless as taking out the trash
Susan I actually used a compost toilet epa-certified for 2 and 1/2 years living up in a cabin there was completely off-grid no Plumbing I had to urinals what I took one out I would save it for about 10 days turns into good fertilizer with nitrates and I used to water my flower beds and my pine trees in the mountains it's actually very good fertilizer
There are no actual "composting" toilets made for either RV's or boats. The entire composting process takes several months to complete. This is why actual composting systems have a very large rotating composting drum below the toilet. It requires this large drum because none of the material is removed until it has completed the composting cycle. Therefore, the composting drum must be large enough to hold the entire household's solid waste and composte material with additional room for enough air to maintain the aerobic process of composting. So then, ALL 'composting' toilets made for rv's and boats are actually just urine diverting dry toilets. Now as to needing a mixer on an actual dry toilet: All other brands of rv dry toilets use a mixer which is why the use of a bag to empty the toilet is impossible. And they incorporate this mixer to allow the consumer to assume that it will help the composting process. But again, it takes months for the composting process to complete even though the standard rv "composting" toilet must be emptied every couple of weeks. So there really is no benefit at all to having a mixer in the first place, which therefore becomes one of the greatest reasons to forego the mixer altogether. Then, as to the sealing lid on some models, it actually should not seal at all because the toilet needs to be able to draw fresh, dry air into the waste area for the exhaust fan to dry out the solid waste. So again, there is no need for a sealing seat and, therefore, no opportunity for a seal to fail. I hope this explanation helps clear up some of the myths of RV "composting" toilets. Thanks for your great questions! I'll see you out here. Happy Camping.
@@GoneBoondocking Thank you for your meticulous response . You have given me a lot to consider and look into to. I really appreciate you! I hope to meet you someday. Soon to be boondocker! Kathryn
Hmmm 🤔 the fan in the back sure does take up a bunch of room. I do like the idea of not having to remove the entire unit but doesn't the C head do the same thing?
12 vlt wall wart, I'm wondering with the urine tank does it come with a screw on cap for transporting it through a vehicle ? if so is there a treaded plastic molding on the inside of the lid to maybe hold the cap while the terlit is in use, then when you need to dump the urine , you just unscrew the cap from the lid, move it to the urine container, dispose of those precious bodily fluids then when you replace the container , put the screw on cap onto a screw on cap holder someplace.? or is it just splash city when you trip over jax the cat or roxie the dog or a carpet ?
Seems like you’d have to add Peet Moss or no matter what it will stink up a van/RV. I’d vent up. Also all that plastic polluting the world. NO!! Maybe two inner biodegradable bags with peet moss in it, drop a little peet Moss in after every use? I do like the fact that you don’t have to pull it all out and try to clean it with all that bending and lifting. That is really hard on the back so the fact that you could pull out a bag is attractive. I just don’t want to add more plastic to the world.
The vent is to the exterior air, e.g., thru a new hole placed on the side wall or floor of the Roadtrek. However, if feces is covered with cat litter or sawdust and then disposed of daily or in a timely manner, oders aren't an issue.
Thanks for sharing this! I just found out about this toilet only a few days ago. I was wondering what it was like. Thank you for such a detailed description of this. Now I know that sadly this unit will not work in my van due to its hight. Thank you so much for saving me time and money! Keep up the good work! :-D
Definitely going to need something like that if you have a “loose” movement. The reason composting toilets work acceptably well is that the solids dry out rapidly. If they don’t dry out, you have a very nasty pile in there! That is why they all separate the urine somehow.
Does this toilet NOT use peat moss, or coco coir??? Couldnt you put composting material in the bags, for odor control....rather than just folding over the plastic poo bag?
The material looks translucent enough so it no doubt is readily visible, but I reacted to that too, you'd have to open it up and try to look at it that way. Nature's Head and Airhead both have tanks that are external, you can easily see their level at all times to avoid overfilling and they can be removed easily for emptying. It's not nearly as pretty as this solution, but it is more practical.
Looks like a good cheaper alternative to the other brands I’ve seen in rvs and vans. Questions. So no mixing like the other brand? On the instructions page, it just says to add “Compost Magic” before and after. Another one. Does the top cover seal enough to create sort of a negative pressure with that fan in the back running? I believe I saw a video by FitRV couple that they had an issue with a seal in the beginning and that caused an issue. Love your straight to the point videos. Thanks.
Hi Chris. That's right; no mixing. The other brands use a mixer (which becomes the whole problem with not being able to use a bag to empty the toilet) assuming that it will help the composting process. But it takes months for the composting process to complete even though the standard composting toilet must be emptied every couple of weeks. So there really is no benefit at all to having a mixer in the first place, which therefore becomes one of the greatest reasons to forego the mixer altogether. As to the lid, it doesn't seal because it needs to be able to draw fresh, dry air into the waste area for the exhaust fan to work. So there is no need for a sealing seat and, therefore, no opportunity for a seal to fail. Thanks for your great questions! Happy Camping.
There are no actual "composting" toilets made for either RV's or boats. The entire composting process takes several months to complete. This is why actual composting systems have a very large rotating composting drum below the toilet. It requires this large drum because none of the material is removed until it has completed the composting cycle. Therefore, the composting drum must be large enough to hold the entire household's solid waste and composte material with additional room for enough air to maintain the aerobic process of composting. So then, ALL 'composting' toilets made for rv's and boats are actually just urine diverting dry toilets. Now as to needing a mixer on an actual dry toilet: All other brands of rv dry toilets use a mixer which is why the use of a bag to empty the toilet is impossible. And they incorporate this mixer to allow the consumer to assume that it will help the composting process. But again, it takes months for the composting process to complete even though the standard rv "composting" toilet must be emptied every couple of weeks. So there really is no benefit at all to having a mixer in the first place, which therefore becomes one of the greatest reasons to forego the mixer altogether. Then, as to the sealing lid on some models, it actually should not seal at all because the toilet needs to be able to draw fresh, dry air into the waste area for the exhaust fan to dry out the solid waste. So again, there is no need for a sealing seat and, therefore, no opportunity for a seal to fail. I hope this explanation helps clear up some of the myths of RV "composting" toilets. Thanks for your great questions! I'll see you out here. Happy Camping.
Like your videos and hope you continue. Lot of people will benefit. However, this new toilet seems like a 5-gallon bucket on steroids, and as such, outrageously overpriced at $600. The actual five-gallon bucket / Luggable Loo version, for less than $20, is only a little less convenient.
Composting toilets have came a long way recently. This one is better than most I’ve seen. Have you checked out the Separett brand? It’s really expensive but the urine diverted is plumbed into the gray or black tank instead of a container. Awesome job explaining everything! How would you go about plumbing this one?
Does not the solid waste need to be turned after use with the earth medium which has been added to the solid bucket? ? Or is this a system with no medium and is used as a bucket only?
Just discovered your channel. Awesome. Living in a Class C for 3 months. Just only learning the basics. Want composting toilet and looking at another brand. The Sun Mar is interesting but it's not really a composting toilet. You can't mix all the stuff in the bowl like real composting. It's more precisely a waterless toilet. This is an observation not a criticism. I now have to worry about bags with poop and where to discard plus expense of bags. Once composted at least you can bury/discard on most public lands and be done with it. That's the whole point of boondocking I'm guessing. Just my opinion for now. Will do a lot of research. I can't wait to learn about your solar because I dream of going electric in future. Thank you for your You Tube videos which are going to be so helpful
Nice product and nice presentation, but this is not a composting toilet, its just a better solution for a portable toilet.....
We just got one of these for the boat, and we really like it! We needed something that I can easily carry out of a rocking boat up narrow steps through tight spaces, so this rules out all of the crank-type systems. The removable waste bucket fits the bill. This little humanure-type system is super simple, and the polypropylene is really easy to clean. We experimented and found that the solid waste smell was minimal even without the fan, but the fan helps keep the washroom humidity down. Helpful hint: two cups of white vinegar in the liquids container prevents any smell at all!
Where is the composting componet ?
Seems to be a glorified bucket, regardless of the name.
Also those saying it isn't a composting toilet... no, alone it doesn't compost, it is part of a system that can be used to compost... just like a "countertop compost bin" isn't actually composting, it is a collector for a compost pile. It is what the industry and users have decided to call that style of toilet though, so as they are all called that, then that is what they are now.
Home D sells it. They don't call it a composting toilet.
"Sun-Mar GTG Portable Electric Waterless Toilet"
One downside of the urine tank in this is that it's hidden. So you can't see its level. In a Nature's head, the entire tank is transparent, which is nasty but certainly helps you see that it's filling up and prevents you from peeing into a full tank which might be quite nasty. And the Airhead has a clear strip, that also shows level very prominently on the outside of the unit.
"Composting" means a specific thing. Granted, the material in an Airhead or Nature's Head doesn't have time to actually compost, but it definitely starts the process. And the emptying process is not disgusting at all unless you're extremely fastidious. It's pouring dirt into a bag. If a person can't handle pouring dirt into a bag, they are probably too prissy to live in an RV anyway. It's still much less disgusting than emptying out a stinky, nasty black tank full of sewage, and let's not even talk about what happens when said black tank malfunctions and starts burping back stench into the vehicle, for instance. Or even flooding sewage back into it. None of which can happen with a composting toilet. However, reading up on the instructions from Sun-Mar, they say nothing of layering in plastic bags, and they do say you need to have coconut coir in this as well, and to pour some more in after each use, so it is intended to be a real composting toilet, just without the stirring function. Which means you can line it with a bag first and then lift out the bag. This is both a positive and a negative compared to the stirring models.
Nice design, but it doesn't sound like any composting is happening here when you are using plastic bags that just go into the garbage.
Another innovating helpful product you have helped your RV/Van community with~ Thank you for everything you research & test that prove useful~ you seem to always think outside the box~
Thanks so much for your kind remarks.
Oregon Strong he is an amazing guy for sure
I was hoping we could compost human waste without contributing to the plastic bag problem.
garnet mcbride you can get biodegradable bags
Google simploo in the UK almost identical but you can also buy their carbon filter that gets rid of smells , so no air outlet needed
Good idea. Thanks for watching.
Though I plan to have a composting toilet I can’t believe that they are so expensive!!! They are not a technological miracle! $600-$1000 for a little-tykes toilet makes me insane! But thanks for the review. That definitely looks much better then the others.
Just get a $ 15 painter's bucket at Walmart.
Have you looked into incinerating toilets? I'm having a friend in Europe gift me one that uses propane...
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I could see myself using this. It has answered many questions and doubts I had about composting toilets. However much it costs, I'd be willing to buy it. I'm researching vanlife for travel to escape midwestern winters.
No offense but Composting toilets can and do go much longer than two weeks. Also, what you have here is not a composting toilet.
Yes, I do agree this does not appear to be a true composting toilet. I think what he has is what they call in Alaska (and in the older days) a "honey bucket."
As a VanDweller I have used a “dry” toilet for the past 5 years and There’s a couple of problems I see with this particular toilet. Number one cost, 600+ dollars for a toilet is a little much in my book. Number two there is no way to visually see how much urine you have in the jug. That can lead to overflowing the jug. Two gallons is a lot of urine and that could lead to orders. And thirdly one has to remove the diverter to take out the urine jug when it needs emptying, not something people want to touch no matter how clean you keep it. I think with a little tweaking this could be an absolute game changer as far as Boondocking toilets go. Thanks for your review.
Couldn't you lift the jug a little to see how much urine is in it? The diverter has a lot of area one could hold to take it out. If someone was soiling that far up on the diverter in my rv Sun-Mar they'd have to find another place to go relieve themself or they'd have the job of cleaning it.
I don’t own a composting toilet yet but have been researching them all. As far as I can tell all of them you have to lift the urine tank out to see the level so not sure why that would be an issue. I really like this one as described by him. The Natures Head seems to be a good one but I will have to remove it from my shower pan to take a shower so this one looks to be easier to remove.
My son and I built one that doesn't have a viewer because he said it was gross when I suggested it... and realistically, I had no desire to crouch down at floor level to look at pee through a tiny window. It is very easy to check, I just lift the seat and look down. I've found though that we have a good feel now for when it needs to be changed. I suspect the same thing with this one, you just lift the diverter and check. As for touching, I clean ours every few days anyway like I would a regular toilet and end up touching it, just as I do when I clean the toilet at home and have to lift the seat assembly and give it a good clean. I touch this one less than when I had preschool-aged sons at home who couldn't pee straight and had to clean up after them.
Nice but its not a composting toilet its a waterless toilet
It is nice
Per the instruction for it (link on the Sales page listed above in the description for the video), you need to add bulking material such as peat moss (to reduce the moisture content of the solids and permit composting action) and possibly organism mix for the unit to compost the crap (like most composting toilets). The reason for the cost difference is that this unit does not evaporate the liquid waste as do the others that cost ~$400 more, so you are left with dealing with the collected urine and other liquid waste.
The instructions on the website say to use a composting medium.
Steve that company makes a variety of different toilet types. Including a waterless version that has expensive cassettes (which I would not choose). This one and the Separett Weekend are far superior.
@@shdwbnndbyyt, Nature's head and Airhead etc toilets do not evaporate the urine, you still have to empty those too.
I own a Sprinter van that I converted to a camper. I really like this one. Thank you for for the video.
We simply line our toilet in our Casita with a plastic bag. Put the seat down. Put in a handful of kitty litter or coconut fiber to absorb liquid. Do #1 or #2 or both. Close the lid. At daylight, tie off bag , place in a 5 gal. bucket and seal. Keep outside. Dispose of when possible. No clean up of toilet needed. No residual odors. Bathroom has a fan vent. The featured toilet in this video, as many people have commented, is not a composting toilet. A luggable loo for about 20.00 , not including 2 5 gal. buckets with lids for about 10.00 is a better value for many situations. There is something out there for everybody.
I've been trying to talk the hubby into swamping out our RV toilet for a composting one. He hated the idea of lifting the entire base up to shake out the debris. Currently we do not poo in ours only using it for liquids. I'm thinking maybe getting a luggable loo to keep in the shower for the solids. Using coconut core each time and it's light enough to pick up and shake instead of using a stirring thing. No fan. But at least it will be a good experiment to see if we can manage composting before we make a permanent swap. Oh btw our swap would include a diverter of liquids into the black tank. Any thoughts from this RV community?
Curious about the smell. With no way to "stir" the solids, even if you put in wood chips, sawdust, etc. you've basically got a 4-week old bucket of poo sitting there. I thought the agitators in other toilets helped with the drying of the contents (cutting down on smell), but this design lacks that. Sure the smell gets pulled out by the fan...but the smell outside...that's gotta be pretty raw. Especially if you vent through the floor! Can anybody comment on the long-term outdoor smell for this model?
I guess you have never had a cat...once shit dries, there isn't any smell. The odor comes from urine, which is in the seal plastic jug.
Would love to get feedback from several users of this toilet after using for several months :)
Thanks for a great intro. If only the fan vent could be mounted on the sides as an option many boaters would love this!
Outstanding. Please do a follow up in a few months, thanks for your time.
Welcome and thank you
Gone Boondocking
yes gd video. Could u please set it on ground or lower, to get better inside view?
For my purposes, I'll keep my black tank. For other times, four parts water to one part you know what ratio is good liquid plant food. A shovel and eight inches of digging for the other.
My biggest questions are, doesn't the exhaust stink up the area around you on a still day? and would like to actually see the cleaning / maintenance procedures. I'm thinking more along the lines of an incinerator, but this was a good, educational video. Thanks!
The Cinderella brand toilets do exist, and they have the Cinderella Motion incinerator that is fueled by propane. One slight drawback might be the fact that it's literally 10 times more expensive than this unit, and I believe Cinderella are still working on approval in the US (available in the EU already though.)
I just ordered a TinyJohn Incinerating toilet to replace the standard water toilet in my rv. I will let you know how it goes as soon as I get it working. If I did not go with the TinyJohn, I'd definitely get this GTG.
We have a homemade version of this, a number of people are commenting that there is no way of viewing. I was going to make a viewing port and my son (who was building the fiberglass shell with me) flatly refused saying it was gross. It really hasn't been an issue, I lift the seat and can look down and check easily if I want, but frankly, after a while you get to have a feel for when you need to empty the jug. We've been using ours part-time with a 1 1/2 gallon jug and we've never come close to a problem. I also have a backup jug with me that we can switch out if we need to... which is also useful if you need to do an enzyme soak.
Cost is a great selling point compared to the alternatives except the old fashion bucket. I wouldn't suggest to anyone to try to drive over the parts. Polypropylene can break and break down with a extreme temperatures. Definitely a product to check into. I like the 2 gallon urine collection reservoir. Good vid.
I just got a Separett Weekend unit for the very same reasons. I'm going to plumb it to the combined grey and formerly black tank.
Again.. Thank You for the very useful information. Not only can I use this in my cabin but I can put it in my van or travel trailer when I am traveling.
You sure can. Happy camping!
I cannot express how much I appreciate your videos. I have been very concerned about what type of toilet I will put in my van build. Most I've seen so far are very low to the ground. I have severe arthritis in both knees. This toilet is as high as a chair high toilet. Thank you for this and all your great videos.
You are so very welcome.
I would consider this toilet for my next build. best one so far.
Thanks for adding another competitor to my list of composting toilets. The Airhead had the lead over Nature’s Head for me but this GTG unit may just take over as it’s $400 less than it’s competitors. Thank you again!
I'm liveaboard and owned all three compost heads. My choice for compact size is Airhead.
The Airhead is a good choice for boats because of the rear profile that is a better fit against the side of a hull.
I like the design and need a new toilet for one of my vintage trailers, but $604. Sounds like a lot for what is basically a portable toilet.
I like this composting toilet easy to clean small in size better than a square box that we have
Have you ever used it? Also, this is not a composting toilet. It does seem like it fits a niche that is currently missing, but not the composting niche, at least not the way it was described here. It looks like you could use it like a composting toilet if you didn't use the bags, but the solids container looks to be about half the size of the NH.
The best composting toilet is a hole in the ground and a drum of compost mixture - a little tent around it total cost...$10
I'll hand the misses a shovel. 😂😂😂
I wana see how this compares with a Nature's Head Compost toilet. Anyone out there who can share their experience thatll help others decide on which system is the best?
I have used the Natures Head for about 4 years and I love it, makes boondocking easy. For two of us the we could go about 6 weeks before we had to empty the solids, the liquid tank was usually about 2 days. Very Easy to clean and is solid, you do have to remove to empty the solids but it was pretty easy.
The nature's head has a stirrer. This one would need peat moss added after each use as a "flush" since it doesn't have a stirrer I would think. Seems like the stirring would start the composting process so it wouldn't be as stinky when emptying it out. I have a nature's head, but I haven't emptied the composting part yet, as I only use it about once a week. So it's lasted all summer.
The nature's head also has a flap to open when going number 2, so you don't need to open it when only going number 1. This one looks open all the time.
Well done. Thank you for such an informative video. I’ve been looking at upgrading from my five gallon bucket and gamma lid.
Thank you for watching, happy camping
Great video! Love the way you explain things!! Thank you for making this life style, just that much better!!! I can't wait to get there!!
Thank you. It is wonderful out here. 🏕
Home D sells this thing and titles it - Sun-Mar GTG Portable Electric Waterless Toilet
Thanks for sharing the info on the composting toilet. I think this item would also be usefull for those on a septic system, just saying. Be safe. Peace
Thank you for watching.
This is awesome! It is pretty much exactly what I was going to build out of wood. This is a better option I think. You are new to me but already more helpful and informative than most. Thanks! Subscribed and liked!
Thank you so much!!!
Great review! It's nice to see more options out there! So much better than the basic bucket method. And, easier to deal with than a lot of the composting toilets on the market. This is a great choice for a lot of people. Thank you for sharing new products and information. I know it has given me some new ideas.
Thank you for your wonderful help! I am a widow that has worked since 5 years old. I believe in learning how to do for yourself. My goal is to boondock and travel the rest of my life. I am blessed with good health and the ability to want to learn. I appreciate your instructions in the videos and I know I will study and figure the best plan for me. Thanks Sunny
So glad I could help.
Sunny Brown God bless you and good luck
Add a little spagmoss, or coconut fibre first?
it sounds grate!! never knew id be so excited over a toilet. it sounds just exactly what im looking for. ill be getting one soon. thank-you
thank you for watching, happy camping
That is going to piss of all the people who paid $1000 . No pun intended
Thanks for this and the other posted videos. I just discovered you today and looking forward to using the things learned to better my boondocking experience.
You are welcome,thanks for watching. 🏕
Hi. Woww this is Good News Thank-uuuu. And it's True... This is NOT A COMPOSTING Toilet. it's a WATERLESS Toilet. But TFS :o)
What does the bottom look like will it Allow for the height of the flange because I have two composting set up’s and neither one of them will sit flat over the flange that covers the black water tank and one of them they rock
One company let me cut out the bottom some but it was a real pain and it’s never worked exactly perfect so what we need is sides to come down lower than the bottom so the bottom of the toilet to be up a little bit so that it will sit flat on the floor, over the flange.
Will this sit flat over that mounting flange as well as the cover for the pipe? To stop black water take Oder. I cleaned out the black tank today. But not sure if it will work
Unlike the residential type, the rv toilet flange screws off. First, remove the screws, then rotate the flange counterclockwise. You may need a hammer and screwdriver. Happy camping.
What effect does the fan have on your AC since it's basically exhausting cooled air from the RV while it's running? Do you leave the fan running or just have it on until until the system has been emptied?
Great question. The windows and exhaust fans are kept closed while I am running the heat pump. The fans in the heat pump are controlled by the unit's processor.
Good review. I learned something about RV toilets. Thank you. 👍🏻
What is the difference between this and a luggable loo or just a bucket.? Where’s the composting part? Seems very expensive for what it does?
The Lugable Loo does not separate feces from urine. Sewage smell largely arises from no separation. So separation is helpful; and easier for men.
This dry toilet separates urine into a bottle which is then carried to be emptied into a toilet or wherever. The feces are collected in plastic bags and disposed of by composting, or, more commonly, just as dog waste is...tossed in a garbage pail.
That's what I told the misses. 😎😎😎
Ah, there is alway 2 sides to a decision. Mine, and my wife’s. 😂
About $620. Couldn't resist.
Would you recommend using this without the exhaust system? I want a unit for a van.
Sure
Where do you dispose of the waste bags and urine, when near full?
The liquid is used to water the local foliage or as he said in the video, dumped in the black tank. The solids, once the garbage bag lining the bucket is full, go in a garbage can.
Some would scoff at this but I would argue that it's no different then chucking baby diapers. From experience, be careful not to rip the bag.
Does the fan run 24/7 to keep the smells out? Couldn’t this drain the house batteries? I like the concept. Is the seat elongated or round?
The seat IS elongated!! Nice!!
Good point. You really need to add and On and OFF 12Vdc switch and use it when you need it. Additionally you really need a way to block it (plumbing valve) as the wind generated by driving down the road can often blow back into the vehicle through this vent and stink up your vehicle even if the fan is on as it is not very powerful. By the way the seat is elongated.
It's a tiny little 60 mm fan I would imagine, same as in a Nature's Head or Airhead. They draw tiny tiny amounts of power and it would probably be barely noticeable compared to any other power draws in an RV.
Now that you won't be using your blackwater take for sewage, you can modify your plump so this tank can be used for Freshwater or Gray water. Any plans on doing this?
robinrutschman Grey maybe, but not fresh! You would need to replace the tank and associated piping before drinking out of it.
robinrutschman I think you meant black and gray tanks. Fresh is drinking water.
Yeah I don't have any plans of yet. Thanks for watching
This appears to be just a more elaborate porta podie. Not a composting toilet.
This looks great. I will have to check the cost... I so like urine separator systems!
👍
Great job presenting the info. What do u do with the urine? Just empty it into a toilet somewhere or pour it on the ground or what? I agree, the whole carrying and emptying those cumbersome composting toilets has been a deterrent. This seems as effortless as taking out the trash
Susan I actually used a compost toilet epa-certified for 2 and 1/2 years living up in a cabin there was completely off-grid no Plumbing I had to urinals what I took one out I would save it for about 10 days turns into good fertilizer with nitrates and I used to water my flower beds and my pine trees in the mountains it's actually very good fertilizer
What is the composting part? How does this toilet compost anything?
There are no actual "composting" toilets made for either RV's or boats. The entire composting process takes several months to complete. This is why actual composting systems have a very large rotating composting drum below the toilet. It requires this large drum because none of the material is removed until it has completed the composting cycle. Therefore, the composting drum must be large enough to hold the entire household's solid waste and composte material with additional room for enough air to maintain the aerobic process of composting. So then, ALL 'composting' toilets made for rv's and boats are actually just urine diverting dry toilets. Now as to needing a mixer on an actual dry toilet: All other brands of rv dry toilets use a mixer which is why the use of a bag to empty the toilet is impossible. And they incorporate this mixer to allow the consumer to assume that it will help the composting process. But again, it takes months for the composting process to complete even though the standard rv "composting" toilet must be emptied every couple of weeks. So there really is no benefit at all to having a mixer in the first place, which therefore becomes one of the greatest reasons to forego the mixer altogether. Then, as to the sealing lid on some models, it actually should not seal at all because the toilet needs to be able to draw fresh, dry air into the waste area for the exhaust fan to dry out the solid waste. So again, there is no need for a sealing seat and, therefore, no opportunity for a seal to fail. I hope this explanation helps clear up some of the myths of RV "composting" toilets. Thanks for your great questions! I'll see you out here. Happy Camping.
@@GoneBoondocking Thank you for your meticulous response . You have given me a lot to consider and look into to. I really appreciate you! I hope to meet you someday. Soon to be boondocker! Kathryn
Hmmm 🤔 the fan in the back sure does take up a bunch of room. I do like the idea of not having to remove the entire unit but doesn't the C head do the same thing?
I'm thinking about moving it to the side.
As toilets go....that's really nice looking, sturdy, and less expensive.
...and no more dump stations...
Also does the fan run on battery or is there an electrical plug?
12 vlt wall wart, I'm wondering with the urine tank does it come with a screw on cap for transporting it through a vehicle ? if so is there a treaded plastic molding on the inside of the lid to maybe hold the cap while the terlit is in use, then when you need to dump the urine , you just unscrew the cap from the lid, move it to the urine container, dispose of those precious bodily fluids then when you replace the container , put the screw on cap onto a screw on cap holder someplace.? or is it just splash city when you trip over jax the cat or roxie the dog or a carpet ?
Kathleen Reyes theres a plug. I just looked up the product instructions.
How is the fan powered?
Seems like you’d have to add Peet Moss or no matter what it will stink up a van/RV. I’d vent up. Also all that plastic polluting the world. NO!! Maybe two inner biodegradable bags with peet moss in it, drop a little peet Moss in after every use? I do like the fact that you don’t have to pull it all out and try to clean it with all that bending and lifting. That is really hard on the back so the fact that you could pull out a bag is attractive. I just don’t want to add more plastic to the world.
Biodegradable bags are a great option. Thanks for watching.
Can this be vented into black tank of an existing rvsuch as a Road trek?
no
The vent is to the exterior air, e.g., thru a new hole placed on the side wall or floor of the Roadtrek. However, if feces is covered with cat litter or sawdust and then disposed of daily or in a timely manner, oders aren't an issue.
Thank you for sharing this information! Does one need to use the composting material?
Yes, I have course wood chips. And you can also use peat moss.
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this! I just found out about this toilet only a few days ago. I was wondering what it was like. Thank you for such a detailed description of this. Now I know that sadly this unit will not work in my van due to its hight. Thank you so much for saving me time and money! Keep up the good work! :-D
Thanks for watching, Happy camping
Do you add a medium (saw dust, kitty litter, etc) to mix with waste?
Definitely going to need something like that if you have a “loose” movement. The reason composting toilets work acceptably well is that the solids dry out rapidly. If they don’t dry out, you have a very nasty pile in there! That is why they all separate the urine somehow.
Course wood chips.
Sun-Mar recommends coconut coir, and that makes perfect sense, it's probably the best material for composting toilets.
yes
Great presentation and looks to be a better option to do the doo! Poop on :)
When does the composting occur?
Thank you for sharing! Awesome!
You're very welcome. Happy camping.
Thank you for that video but I did not get the name of the toilet what's the name of the toilet?
Sun-Mar GTG
David....thank you soo very much for the information...awesome product...but how much does this thing weigh? It looks sooo easy to use...
Good review on your part, but it's still way too expensive.
Thank you, happy camping
@@GoneBoondocking I'm hoping that someone comes out with a product like that for under about $250. In the meantime I'll keep using my homemade one!
Does this toilet NOT use peat moss, or coco coir??? Couldnt you put composting material in the bags, for odor control....rather than just folding over the plastic poo bag?
Thank you sir. I appreciate your help.
Is there a way to see how full the urine bottle is
The material looks translucent enough so it no doubt is readily visible, but I reacted to that too, you'd have to open it up and try to look at it that way. Nature's Head and Airhead both have tanks that are external, you can easily see their level at all times to avoid overfilling and they can be removed easily for emptying. It's not nearly as pretty as this solution, but it is more practical.
Lift out the "seat" and look ? The bottle is pretty translucent. Might need a flashlight.
Love the lower price point!
Looks like a good cheaper alternative to the other brands I’ve seen in rvs and vans. Questions. So no mixing like the other brand? On the instructions page, it just says to add “Compost Magic” before and after. Another one. Does the top cover seal enough to create sort of a negative pressure with that fan in the back running? I believe I saw a video by FitRV couple that they had an issue with a seal in the beginning and that caused an issue. Love your straight to the point videos. Thanks.
Hi Chris. That's right; no mixing. The other brands use a mixer (which becomes the whole problem with not being able to use a bag to empty the toilet) assuming that it will help the composting process. But it takes months for the composting process to complete even though the standard composting toilet must be emptied every couple of weeks. So there really is no benefit at all to having a mixer in the first place, which therefore becomes one of the greatest reasons to forego the mixer altogether. As to the lid, it doesn't seal because it needs to be able to draw fresh, dry air into the waste area for the exhaust fan to work. So there is no need for a sealing seat and, therefore, no opportunity for a seal to fail. Thanks for your great questions! Happy Camping.
@@GoneBoondocking but what about bugs? With no seal will it get those nasty fruit flies?
🤔 *So a separating dry toilet, NOT a composting toilet.*
Pricey for something made so simple, but thanks for the video
Nope. NOT a composting toilet.
There are no actual "composting" toilets made for either RV's or boats. The entire composting process takes several months to complete. This is why actual composting systems have a very large rotating composting drum below the toilet. It requires this large drum because none of the material is removed until it has completed the composting cycle. Therefore, the composting drum must be large enough to hold the entire household's solid waste and composte material with additional room for enough air to maintain the aerobic process of composting. So then, ALL 'composting' toilets made for rv's and boats are actually just urine diverting dry toilets. Now as to needing a mixer on an actual dry toilet: All other brands of rv dry toilets use a mixer which is why the use of a bag to empty the toilet is impossible. And they incorporate this mixer to allow the consumer to assume that it will help the composting process. But again, it takes months for the composting process to complete even though the standard rv "composting" toilet must be emptied every couple of weeks. So there really is no benefit at all to having a mixer in the first place, which therefore becomes one of the greatest reasons to forego the mixer altogether. Then, as to the sealing lid on some models, it actually should not seal at all because the toilet needs to be able to draw fresh, dry air into the waste area for the exhaust fan to dry out the solid waste. So again, there is no need for a sealing seat and, therefore, no opportunity for a seal to fail. I hope this explanation helps clear up some of the myths of RV "composting" toilets. Thanks for your great questions! I'll see you out here. Happy Camping.
Gone Boondocking l
Awesome video! Keep 'em coming.
Thanks a bunch!!!
Fantastic! Thank You for Sharing!!!!!!!!
Thank you for watching.
Very affordable compared to the Nature's Head.
Narrower on the bottom is not a good idea. Just as in glasses. Til over easier?
Where is the composting. How does just solid waste break down by itself.
It is NOT a composting toilet.
Thanks for the great review!
Thank you
Interesting stuff. Good job on the presentation.
Thank you
NOT A COMPOSTING TOILET!!!
Just a fancy looking poop-in-a-bag.
Like your videos and hope you continue. Lot of people will benefit. However, this new toilet seems like a 5-gallon bucket on steroids, and as such, outrageously overpriced at $600. The actual five-gallon bucket / Luggable Loo version, for less than $20, is only a little less convenient.
Thank you for the information
Thank you.
You are welcome, thank you for watching.
Composting toilets have came a long way recently. This one is better than most I’ve seen.
Have you checked out the Separett brand? It’s really expensive but the urine diverted is plumbed into the gray or black tank instead of a container.
Awesome job explaining everything!
How would you go about plumbing this one?
All it takes is a simple hose to the black tank. Thanks for watching. Happy camping.
Gone Boondocking
Thank you
Separette makes a great toilet but it's pricey. I do like how their design rotates the bucket.
This one is a little easier for a van set up tho
@@GoneBoondocking What? This has a solid bottom. Solid. I saw it. You showed it. There is no plumbing. Please explain.
Does not the solid waste need to be turned after use with the earth medium which has been added to the solid bucket? ? Or is this a system with no medium and is used as a bucket only?
Just discovered your channel. Awesome. Living in a Class C for 3 months. Just only learning the basics. Want composting toilet and looking at another brand. The Sun Mar is interesting but it's not really a composting toilet. You can't mix all the stuff in the bowl like real composting. It's more precisely a waterless toilet. This is an observation not a criticism. I now have to worry about bags with poop and where to discard plus expense of bags. Once composted at least you can bury/discard on most public lands and be done with it. That's the whole point of boondocking I'm guessing. Just my opinion for now. Will do a lot of research. I can't wait to learn about your solar because I dream of going electric in future. Thank you for your You Tube videos which are going to be so helpful
When I boondock,ŕ I bring a shovel dig a hole crap in a bucket then, when nobody's looking, dump that in the hole. bye bye poop
great idea
Would like to see in your RV